慶餘年
Celebrating Life
Fan Xian
Qing Royals + Guards
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Chen Dao Ming: Emperor of Qing |
Li Xiao Ran: Grand Princess Li Yun Rui |
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2nd Prince Li Cheng Ze |
Zhang Hao Wei: Crown Prince Li Cheng Qian |
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Liu Run Nan: Li Hong Cheng (Emperor's Nephew) |
Li Zi Feng: Yan Xiao Yi (Royal Commander) |
Fan Xian's Family
Overwatch Council
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| Yi Rong Guang: Xiao En |
Xin Zhi Lei: Haitang Duo Duo |
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| Yu Xiao Wei: Shen Zhong |
Liu Mei Tong: Emperor of Northern Qi Zhan Dou Dou |
Mini Recaps
[Ep1] Zhang Qing (Zhang Ruo Yun) is presumably convincing Professor Ye (Yuan Quan) of his thesis (analyzing ancient literature with modern concepts) by writing science fiction novels. Ok. I already get this. The story is about rebirth. The title is inspired by the 5th Song in A Dream of Red Mansions = 留餘慶. It happens to match the moral of his story as well.
留餘慶 = An Act of Kindness留餘慶, 留餘慶 (Liu Yu Qing, Liu Yu Qing)Suddenly meet [my] benefactorSo lucky, so luckyMy mother has done good deeds.We/Men should rescue the distressed and aid the poorDon’t be a man like my ruthless uncle or treacherous cousinWho loves money and forgets his flesh and bloodTruly, rewards and punishments are meted out by heaven
It's a song/story about a lady saved by a grandmother, expressing a cycle of retributions and rewards.
Thus begins the (real) drama: 慶餘年 Qing Yu Nian. Fan Xian is a modern, dying man with myasthenia gravis. He's reborn with memories, but restarts as an infant, and he's already wanted. Assassins want to kill him. His mother is dead already.
Uncle Wu "teaches" Fan Xian to control his Qi (= the power that lets Chinese ppl fly). If Wu Zhu wasn't so mysterious, there would be five legendary masters instead of four. However, this powerful man doesn't actually know how to use Qi. And he can fly because...????? Not that Qi makes sense, but still! He still tries to teach, though.
Fan Xian: How!Uncle Wu: I hit you.Fan Xian: And?Uncle Wu: You dodge. Swell.
I don't know how's it going with Fan Xian mastering Qi from Uncle Qu, but he beats Fei Jie in toxicology, which means it's time for Fei Jie to leave. He gives Fan Xian a Token from the Overwatch Council per the President's orders. He was friends with Fan Xian’s mother, Ye Qing Mei. Professor Ye....?
Fan Xian and Fei Jie are sad to leave each other. He's going to miss this snarky, rude brat.
Fan Xian: I'll handle your funeral in the future. LOL. It's insultingly touching somehow. The term 送終 (handling funeral) implies he'll send him off like a son would.
The aloof Grandma comforts Fan Xian that Fei Jie left to protect him. The longer he stays, the more attention he'll attract from the capitol.
Fast forward. Child Fan Xian is Adult Fan Xian. Wu Zhu is .....still Wu Zhu. Anyway, the Red Knights have arrived. They're here to escort Fan Xian back to the capital. It's his father's orders.
FYI. The names sound like other terms:
- Fan Xian's Xian = Idle (nothing to do). But it also sounds like Dangerous/Disdained.
- Wu Zhu ~ No Help
- Fei Jie ~ To Be Puzzling
[Ep2] Fan Xian is almost poisoned by Teng Zi Jing (Wang Yang), an Overwatch Council guard from the 4th Bureau. It was a false order. Fortunately Teng Zi Jing didn't use lethal poison because he didn't want to kill the innocent, but it's not like he can poison Fan Xian, a master toxicologist, anyway. Their fate continues to be near-lethal though. Teng Zi Jian asks Fan Xian for a favour: "kill me". He wants to appear dead for some reason. Maybe that’s why Zi Jing’s name sounds like. 自经 = To hang oneself / To commit suicide???
Fan Xian bids farewell to Wu Zhu. Speaking of him, Uncle Wu Zhu doesn't age. At the end of Ep1, there's this neat transition of the seasons going by, stops at Wu Zhu first, and then finally pans to our ML who has grown up. And yet Wu Zhu doesn't age. Noticing that felt pretty cool.....except everyone else also doesn't age, lol, (grandma, shifu). Fan Xian wants Uncle Wu Zhu to live for himself, but it's like Wu Zhu cannot compute. He's dysfunctioning. Then he remembers what he wants to do. He wants to open a box... Talk about dreams. The key is in the capital, and Wu Zhu leaves a day ahead of Fan Xian.
On the way to the capital, Fan Xian is reunited with Fie Jie who's escorting Yan Bing Yun (Xiao Zhan) to Northern Qi. He's demoted because he’s the leader of the 4th Division where the false assassination orders were from. Fie Jie says it’s fortunate the false orders landed in the 4th (Spy) Division instead of the 6th (Assassination) Division. Fan Xian would have been actually dead.
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| The famous Xiao Zhan scene. |
Yan Bing Yun speaks to Fan Xian from within the carriage. Only his voice is heard and his sword is visible. He wants the Overwatch Token back because Fan Xian is incompetent. Fie Jie threatens Yan Bing Yun to stay inside because revealing his face will jeopardize the spy network at Northern Qi. Yan Bing Yun retreats but leaves a warning: "Fan Xian, we will meet again."
At the capital.
Fan Xian meets Wang Qi Nian (Tian Yu) who scams him into buying a useless map for two taels.
Then a bunch of ladies plan to strip in front of Fan Xian to sabotage him, but he's timely steered away by a man who appears to be a eunuch. The ladies are immediately beheaded in another alley. Now the eunuch needs to pee... He pulls over at a random temple. Fan Xian's like Ok, I guess I'm supposed to be here then. Except he's denied at the entrance. Oh wait, never mind. The guard reopens the door and welcomes Fan Xian to the Heavenly Temple.
[Ep3] There's no god or statue in the Heavenly Temple: just this goddess holding a drumstick. Fan Xian has fallen in love at first sight and forgot to ask Drumstick Girl for her name.
Gong Dian, commander of the imperial soldiers, apologizes to the Emperor that Fan Xian breached their tight security so easily. Your men were just standing around, sir. He wants to investigate the imperial guards, but the Emperor dismisses it because he's the one who organized the one-sided-meeting with Fan Xian.
The Emperor suspects it was the Crown Prince (Li Cheng Qian, Zhang Hao Wei) behind the stripping ladies and that Gong Dian works for the Crown Prince. Gong Dian immediately proclaims loyalty, and returns the painting to the Crown Prince. He burns the rest of his paintings. From now on he will not have any more hobbies to demonstrate his utmost loyalty to the emperor. Poor guy, lol. But he still updates the Crown Prince about the Emperor meeting Fan Xian....
Fan Xian meets his half brother, Fan Si Zhe (Guo Qi Lin). I think Fan Xian's smirk at Fan Si Zhe's name because it's the pinyin for Versace. Fan Si Zhe thinks he's bullying Fan Xian but he doesn't have enough brain cells for that. On the other hand, half-sister Fan Ruo Ruo (Song Yi) absolutely adores Fan Xian and bullies a terrified Fan Si Zhe for attempting to bully Fan Xian. Our outstanding didi runs to mommy to cry. He says he'll feel better if there's money in his palms.
Fan Ruo Ruo is Fan Xian's top fan too because of the stories he attaches to his letters. Her friends are addicted to them too (and to bribe her for updates, she has received a calligraphy from the renowned Literate Zhuang Mo Han of Northern Qi and a sword that Legendary Swordmaster Si Gu Jian has used. Fan Xian gulps. He's guilty. The stories, he says, are from “Mr. Cao’s”. The sister refuses to believe him because a “Mr. Cao” never existed in his life. There exists a Mr. Cao. He's Cao Xue Qin. He’s literally one the great literary masters in Chinese history. Fan Xian can’t take that guy’s credit, lol. More importantly, Fan Ruo Ruo reveals she's at home today because someone sent her an anonymous note notifying her of Fan Xian’s return. Who could that be?
Gong Dian cries – a tear trickles down! – that he cannot fraternize with the Crown Prince anymore. He's got the chills from the Emperor after realizing that today's purpose wasn't to meet Fan Xian, but to test Gong Dian's loyalty of whether he'll attack Fan Xian (for the Crown Prince). Sir, I think you value yourself too much. I assure you the Emperor wanted to see Fan Xian. The Crown Prince is like Some other guy cannot say the words you just did. Not every guy can be this stupid, right?
Stepmom Liu finds Father Fan strange. Her husband, the dad, isn't a heartless man, but he has abandoned Fan Xian at a faraway city without ever visiting him. Why?
[Ep4] Fan Xian bows to his father, Fan Jian. He asks his son for his future plans. Our country boy plans to be rich through inventions like glass, soap, and white sugar, but to his dismay his mother, Ye Qing Mei, already invented them. Her business was the best in the world with myriads of creations.
Fan Xian (dejected): 既生兒何生娘啊 Thou gave birth to son (me), then why make my mother? You ask a really hard question, sir!
Currently, Ye Qing Mei's business is managed by Grand Princess Li Yun Rui (Li Xiao Ran) and rebranded as Underwear Inner Treasury. The Emperor entrusted her with the Underwear even though they're not related. How is she the princess if she isn’t related? Fan Jian wants Fan Xian to take the business back by marrying Grand Princess and Prime Minister's illegitimate daughter, Lin Wan’er (Li Qin) Lovely, a bastard son marries a bastard daughter.
Fan Jian warns Fan Xian to be careful of the political machinations. The Underwear is the royal family’s core wealth and therefore power, and therefore appropriately named. Man power and core is all there. The Grand Princess supports the Crown Prince (= 3rd prince) as opposed to the 2nd Prince. Fan Xian intercepting the “Underwear” is a threat to the Crown Prince.
Fan Xian understands his father's layered intentions. He wants to imply that the Danzhou assassination mastermind is the Crown Prince and not Stepmom Liu. Fan Xian is still skeptical. A new suspect doesn't clear an old suspect. The dad smirks, and conducts a family meeting sans Fan Si Zhe. Aw. Father Fan doesn’t think Fan Si Zhe is even qualified to listen. Fan Jian lays the bare facts to Stepmom Liu. She has the motive, and the means = access the Overwatch Council because her cousin is Concubine Yi (mother of the youngest 4th prince). Stepmom Liu is put to the spot to defend herself. She blurts that if she really did want to kill Fan Xian, she wouldn’t involve her relatives. Logic is sound there. Fan Xian accepts. Family dinner commences! It's uncomfortably cordial between Fan Xian and Stepmom Liu that it's creeping out Fan Si Zhe, who just finds out his mother was accused of murdering his half-brother.
The Emperor summons the Grand Princess. She orchestrated the stripping ladies. She doesn't want Fan Xian to marry her daughter. However, there's no evidence because the Grand Princess executed the imperial maid before the Emperor got to her.
No evidence, but we still get a confession.
Crown Prince scurries in without being summoned. He confesses because he thought the Grand Princess confessed (all because the Emperor deliberately kept her kneeling). He confesses again that he shouldn't have been greedy about the Underwear. The Emperor lectures him again. He doesn't deserve to be the Crown Prince if he doesn't want power.
This unreadable Emperor is only disappointed by their method: using imperial maids is to taint the royal family's reputation. (The Grand Princess is capable of reading between the lines that they can still target Fan Xian. The Crown Prince is too dumb. So he and Gong Dian are pretty much equals, lol. Is Grand Princess supporting CP because she can control him?)
Will someone please let Teng Zi Jing illegally infiltrate properly? Fan Si Zhe keeps interrupting Teng Zi Jing's stealthiness, making him sweat bullets only for him to realize Fan Xian had long caught him. Fan Xian also researched Teng Zi Jing's criminal records. He murdered an imperial minister, which makes it very suspicious that someone with his background can be recruited by the (imperial) Overwatch Council.
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| Teng Zi Jing (Wang Yang) is a lovely guy. Even his sword has hearts. |
[Ep5] Teng Zi Jing was framed for murder by Guo Bao Kun, son of Guo You Zhi (Minister of Rites).
Teng Zi Jing: This world has no black and white (= justice), only rich and poor.
Teng Zi Jing ended up working for the Overwatch Council because they offered to "save" him, and guarantee his family's safety. Sounds like he went from one prison to another. He had asked Fan Xian to kill him in order to reunite with his family, but they disappeared. He wants Fan Xian's help to locate them and will give him his life. Fan Xian agrees without the condition.
The Emperor refuses Eunuch Hou's suggestion to hire a bodyguard for Fan Xian now that the princes are targeting him. Instead, the Emperor asks how many fishes are in the pond. Can't count, your honour. The water is too deep. He throws in the bait and all the fishes swarm in. Eunuch Hou understands. Fan Xian is the bait. Throw him in danger and all things living and all things thriving will want a piece of him. The Emperor is using Fan Xian to lure in all the threats.
Fan Xian is impressed by two people:
- Wang Qi Nian's shameless marketing strategy to sell counterfeit books (which aren't Fan Xian's anyway): 婦女之友. A buzzword, directly translated as "Women’s Friend". It refers to a single man with many female friends, but none of whom can develop a romantic relationship with him. Fan Xian, however, isn't using that definition, but it's literal words "friends of (married) women".
- Fan Si Zhe, the mental calculator. Bro's a new bro when money's involved.
Fan Xian is not impressed with Guo Bao Kun. He prides himself in literature and steps on "Fan Xian's" A Dream of Red Mansions and calls it – one of the four great books in Chinese classics– a disgrace. Then Li Hong Cheng (the Emperor's nephew) invites everyone to a poem competition to prove once and for all who is the best literate. Fan Xian agrees. There's no avoiding his enemies. He had just one meal outside (didn't even eat) and he already attracted the Crown Prince and the 2nd Prince’s followers (Guo Bao Kun and Li Hong Chen respectively.
[Ep6] Fan Xian enters the Overwatch Council. He doesn't have to find Teng Zi Jing's document himself. It will be handed to him because he has the Ti Si Medallion. I don't know how to translate that medallion. It sounds like 替死, which means to die in substation (the fall guy). He also finds his mother's vision inscribed on a tablet right in front of the Overwatch Council. Her dream is to create a world where laws protect humans and not just the nobles. We shall sympathize with the weak and resent the injustice. We shall eliminate oppression and class distinctions. Oh. Hello Communism. (It's also a callback to the poem/song in Ep1). Everyone is born equal and will live like dragons. Dragons are reserved for emperors. He’s the only one who’s allowed to wear dragon designs. It seems the mother wants to abolish the imperial rule. How did the Emperor allow her to inscribe that? Fan Xian understands why his mother was murdered. She wanted to break the rules and rebuild the entire world. Fan Xian doesn’t have that courage. He just wants to live his life well.
Eunuch Hou updates the Emperor of Fan Xian’s itinerary. All of it. The proportion of this world must be 5% regular citizens and 95% spies.
Prime Minister Lin Ruo Fu (Lin Wan'er's father) chills at the Emperor's as an unbidden guest. To chase him out, the Emperor turns up the heat, but before that it seems the PM has checkmated the Emperor in a few simple words. He says he trusts Fan Xian because he has the Emperor's approval. This means Fan Xian's reckless reputation hinges on the Emperor's reputation. If anyone's reneging the marriage, it can only be the Emperor. This is a checkmate? Okaaaaay.
Father Fan Jian incarcerates Teng Zi Jing and punishes Fan Si Zhe for the confrontation at lunch. He thinks Fan Si Zhe sided with (one of) the princes. Fan Xian defends his brother. Fan Si Zhe cannot be involved in the political machinations because even getting a banana from the roof proves to be a challenge. Stepmom was nodding the whole time except the banana part.
Fan Xian wants Father Fan to apologize to Fan Si Zhe, but the father refuses. Fan Si Zhe is too disappointing of a son. Then Fan Xian asks Father Fan if he ever understood why Fan Si Zhe loves money when he never spends a penny on gambling, drinking or playing. He simply loves earning. It's because his father is the Minister of Finance. How much he loves money is how much he loves his father. Although Fan Si Zhe doesn't get a direct apology, he's allowed one request. Guess what this kid, who's hobbling and grinning, asks for. He wants to play Pai Gow Poker! With money, of course. Father Fan chuckles.
[Ep7] It's great family time with Fan Si Zhe vanquishing his dad in Pai Gow. For once, Fan Jian is proud of his son.
The Emperor knows too much about Fan Xian! Who's giving him live updates? He knows that Fan Xian and Teng Zi Jing (and let's ignore Fan Ruo Ruo) had gone on a secretive nightly investigation of Xu Yun Zhang (the source of the assassination orders). He gave Fan Xian access to the document stating Xu Yun Zhang's alliance with the Crown Prince. When Fan Xian returns to the undercover gambling house, everyone vanishes. He realizes his every move is being controlled and whoever is controlling him is pushing him towards danger.
Poetry battle time. Fan Xian bought shizi (persimmons) for the Shizi (Li Hong Cheng). There's a saying about persimmons: 柿子挑軟的捏 = It's the soft persimmons that people choose to squeeze / bullies pick soft targets. Li Hong Cheng is Fan Xian's persimmon.
Fan Xian beats them all with “Climbing High”, a poem from the famous poet, Du Fu. The loser Guo Bao Kun now has to keep his word and never "write poems". Fan Xian made a pun: Write Poem 作詩 (zuo shi) sounds like Write Death 作死 (zuo si) = to court disaster. Foreshadow?
Fan Xian meets the 2nd Prince (Li Cheng Ze, Liu Duan Duan). The Emperor knows and makes sure the Crown Prince knows too by sending him the poem. “Climbing High” is a melancholic poem that seems fitting for the Emperor. He recites the line that means being alone on the pavilion for a lifetime until old age. Does the Emperor want the Crown Prince to be aware of the threat that is Fan Xian or the dangers of being at the top of the world? The loneliness and the decline to come.
[Ep8] This poetry battle is a nest of royal intrigues, but for Fan Xian, he just wants to meet his drumstick girl. He dressed up (um, down) to see her again. She lies that she’s a servant and he lies that he’s a pageboy. Even when they're lying, they're destined. If they can't be destined even if they're lying, geez.
Teng Zi Jing is murderous after he learns Guo Bao Jun made orders to kill his family. He schemes a fight with Fan Xian so that when he becomes a murderer, Fan Xian won't be affiliated. True friend. Fan Xian affiliates himself. True friend. (Pro Tip: Don't associate yourself with murderers tho). He needs to find Guo Bao Kun before Teng Zi Jing does. Well, hello Brothel.
Si Li Li (Li Chun) is the most beautiful courtesan who's still a ~virgin~. She moves her boat, a sign that she will lose her precious first night with Fan Xian. But he drugs her! He takes off her clothes! Then he just leaves. No more hands on her. He only uses his hand to leave a suspicious gap in the door. However, Li Hong Cheng spots Fan Xian leaving. Shortly after, Si Li Li wakes up. She’s not who she seems and has approached Fan Xian with a motive too.
Fan Xian stops Teng Zi Jing before he becomes a Guo-Bao-Kun-murderer. Fan Xian finds it suspicious that Guo Bao Kun used his father’s connection to accuse Teng Zi Jing, but would suddenly change his style and barbarically kill his family. It doesn’t make sense. Upon pulverizing Guo Bao Kun, his testimony aligns with Fan Xian’s deductions. This means the document is falsified. Who could have done that?
Wang Qi Nian.
Wang Qi Nian fabricated the document to protect Teng Zi Jing’s family from Fan Xian, the man who supposedly murdered Teng Zi Jing. Wang Qi Nian thought Fan Xian wanted to kill the entire family. Wang Qi Nian, you’re a good scammer man. Tang Zi Jing is reunited with his family and his toddler boy.
[Newest Update]
[Ep9] It's really touching that Fan Xian and Wang Qi Nian helped Teng Zi Jing. But wait. That will cost Teng Zi Jing 130 taels, which is 5 more than Wang Qi Nian reported to Fan Xian, lol. Oh Wang Qi Nian. By the way, his qinggong (ability to fly) is really good! Did Wang Qi Nian get a manual too?
Fan Xian laid a trap for Si Li Li (the gap in the door, and the knot in her hair). They strike a deal. He won't ask her her identity, and she won't know that he left at night. And Voila! That's how Fan Xian gets an alibi to prove that he didn't beat up Guo Bao Kun when he did beat up Guo Bao Kun. I love Si Li Li's diss testimony. "If Fan Xian left, he wouldn't be considered a man." LOL.
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| I actually feel bad for him, lol. |
#BoyHumour. Guo Bao Kun keeps saying 我去 (wo qu), which literally means “I’ll go” but it’s actually slang for "What the –!".
Then Guo Bao Kun and his father repeat 做死 = “make it so he's dead”. That's a reference to Ep7's pun with Write Poem 作詩 (zuo shi) → Write Death 作死 (zuo si) → MakeDead 做死 (zuo si).
Just when the trial was to be closed, the two princes crash the party. The Crown Prince tortures a testimony from Si Li Li, but she withstands. She did it for her sake because that would be admitting she lied the first time around. Meanwhile, 2nd Prince defends Fan Xian. His people (= Li Hong Cheng) didn't testify that he witnessed Fan Xian leaving the brothel. Does Si Li Li work for 2nd Prince too? Or is that too obvious? The Crown Prince has another trick: he arrested Teng Zi Jing! Fan Xian is now charged with 假死 faking his death. Poor Teng Zi Jing. He has to witness justice failing him again. Then everything is suddenly resolved with the Emperor's decree. The case is abruptly closed. Ok. That kinda ruined the buildup.
[Ep10] Fan Xian directly asks the Crown Prince if he heard of his attempted assassination. The only reaction from him is an exasperated exhale.
Fan Xian bullies a kid and steals his candy, but he took it because it was poison. The culprit was Teng Zi Jing who poisoned his own son to stop him from eating sweets. Omg.
The Emperor summons the judge, Mei Zi Li, who oversaw the case, reminding him of his loyalty. Mei Zi Li was the one who helped the Crown Prince arrest Teng Zi Jing. The judge is scared witless and begs the Emperor to spare his family. The Emperor is merciful, threateningly merciful, and only banishes Mei Zi Li. However, the Emperor’s next orders are to secretly kill Mei Zi Li.
With Fan Xian's rotten reputation, he's expecting good news: the cancellation of his engagement. Nope. He's still engaged.
[Ep11] Fan Xian visits Lin Manor to meet Lin Wan’er, the source of his love woes. But first, he sees Lin Gong, the second brother who dotes on Lin Wan'er (even if she’s a half-sister). Fan Xian impersonates a doctor and scams Lin Gong into believing his skills.
Fan Xian finally realizes Lin Wan’er is his drumstick girl. They keep up the doctor-patient act in front of the brother. Part of Fan Xian's prescription is “ Vomit, vomit, and you’ll get used to it”. This has been said so many times, I finally looked it up and realized it’s a reference to Journey to the West's Pigsy, the pig who's known for being disgusting ugly. He said the line, meaning the more you look at his ugliness, the more you will get used to it, and then maybe you will fall in love with him. JoL's “Vomit, vomit, and you’ll get used to it” is Fan Xian and Lin Wan'er's secret romantic language. The more they see each other, the more they’ll fall in love.
Fan Si Zhe "flirts" with Ye Ling'er...to play Pai Gow. It went well. I like this actress, but too bad she doesn't have many dramas anymore. In JoL2, she will also be replaced by Jin Chen, who was in The Road to Ordinary with Guo Qi Lin (Fan Si Zhe)).
Teng Zi Jing’s son touches a carriage. Whatever's inside almost bursts out from the chained box. The boy knows no fear and gives a pear to the “creature” inside.
[Ep12] Fan Xian tells Lin Wan'er the Red Mansion story. She's an unaccommodating audience finding all the plot holes. At the end, his take-home-message is to never say 不行 (buxing) = No Good / Can't. #BoyHumour. When boys hear it, they hear "Down there is 不行".
Ye Ling’er witnesses Si Li Li giving a medallion to a man. She's shocked at his identity, whom we can't see. She's supposed to leave the city, but stays for one more day because the 2nd Prince plans to invite Fan Xian here.
Fan Xian is puzzled at Teng Zi Jing's words: 近朱者赤近墨者黑 (= Those who handle cinnabar are stained red; those who work with ink are stained black. You are the product of your environment.) This proverb shouldn’t appear in this time. Is this world real (in history) or is it fantasy?
Teng Zi Jing’s son finally calls him father.
Fan Xian makes medicine to treat Lin Wan’er’s tuberculosis, but she ends up drunk. He tells the sleeping Lin Wan’er another story about an Emperor who gave up his throne and never returned to his hometown (= his original timelines). He wanted to spend the rest of his life with the one he loved most. Is this a hint to the ending? Fan Xian also wants to tell Lin Wan’er that he’s from another world. He thought his life here was meaningless until he met her. She gives him meaning.
[Ep13] Cheng Ju Shu attacks Fan Xian as he's on his way to meet the 2nd Prince (who invited Si Li Li). Teng Zi Jing dies to protect Fan Xian.
The 2nd Prince realizes he’s the main suspect because he’s the one who “lured” Fan Xian. Then he suspiciously glances at Si LI Li who’s indifferent to the news of Fan Xian’s assassination.
Fan Xian doesn’t suspect the 2nd Prince. It's too obvious. Instead Fan Xian wants to know the Crown Prince’s whereabouts.
The Emperor summons both princes for an interrogation, scaring them both for defying the law. Then the Emperor receives a message from the Overwatch Council: they plan to release Cheng Ju Shu. He orders the eunuch to inform Fan Xian.
1st Bureau Director Zhu Ge is releasing Cheng Ju Shu as a bargain with Northern Qi to exchange for war intel. Fan Xian rages at Zhu Ge for sacrificing a life.
Zhu Ge: He's just a guard.
Fan Xian is enraged. Teng Zi Jing isn’t just a guard. He’s someone’s son, someone’s husband, and someone’s father. Fan Xian is banished from Zhu Ge's office. Then Fan Xian demands Wang Qi Nian if anyone heeds to the tablet, the one his mother inscribed. No. That’s why it’s outside and covered in dust. But Wang Qi Nian seems to understand.
Fan Xian takes justice into his own hands. He kills Cheng Ju Shu right in the open for everyone to witness.
[Ep14] As Fan Xian avenges Teng Zi Jing, he remembers his words: “If there is no one whom you would die for then there is no meaning in life.” These words etch into Fan Xian's heart. Here's his meaning in life. Cheng Ju Shu had a chance to survive if he took Teng Zi Jing’s son as hostage, but he didn’t because he was the only one who wasn't revolted at him. Cheng Ju Shu ate a pear from the little boy.
The Emperor compliments Fan Xian for murdering cleverly.
Zhu Ge arrests Fan Xian who is then protected by the 3rd Bureau (Fei Jie's division). Fan Xian assures the crowd that he can handle it.
Zhu Ge continues to escort Fan Xian to jail. A second obstacle: Wang Qi Nian. He’s here with a valuable tip that Cheng Ju Shu is invaluable to Northern Qi. Zhu Ge received a fake message and therefore killing Cheng Ju Shu is a military merit. However, Zhu Ge knew it was fake. He played along to deceive his enemies, and now Fan Xian a Zhu Ge’s plans. He has to be punished.
A third obstacle: Yan Ruo Hai, the 4th Bureau Director and the father of Yan Bing Yun, who was dismissed because of Fan Xian. The third one's the charm. Yan Ruo Hai has orders from the Emperor to release Fan Xian. Ugh. Again!! Wang Qi Nian and Zhu Ge are thoroughly surprised that Fan Xian’s ultimate saviour is the Emperor. Fan Xian isn’t. He planned it. To kill one of the strongest Northern Qi enemies in front of the Qing citizens is protecting their pride and announcing their invincibility. Fan Xian protected himself with this political move.
Si Li Li burns her boat and leaves the capital city.
Teng Zi Jing's wife tells Fan Xian that Teng Zi Jing stayed in the city not for gratitude nor for duty, but for their friendship. Teng Zi Jing valued Fan Xian like his confidant, a younger brother, someone he could die for. And now Fan Xian lost Teng Zi Jing, his confidant, his ge, someone he could die for..
Fan Xian's revenge for Teng Zi Jing is far from over. There’s still the mastermind and so he looks into the two female assassins. They are the disciples of Si Gu Jian, the Grandmaster. However, it’s not his style to assassinate. He’s the Great Master, after all. Those female assassins must have another master. Something tells me it’s the Emperor. This Emperor is forcing Fan Xian to act, and killing someone Fan Xian cares about is the best way. Fan Xian suspects they're associated with the military, and sneaks into the General’s manor, but everyone is murdered. The corpses hang from the ceiling for Fan Xian to see. It is a warning, and it is a threat.
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[Ep41]
[Ep42]
[Ep43]
[Ep44]
[Ep45]
[Ep46]
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