In ep 46, we see Fan Xian starting his journey back to the Qing kingdom now that his diplomatic mission is complete. Before he left, he paid a visit to the elderly scholar Zhuang Mo Han to have a few parting words. The two left on good terms. In the beginning of episode 46, the saintess Hai Tang Duo Duo stops the envoy to give Fan Xian a few things from Zhuang Mo Han. Turns out, he died shortly after their meeting in the morning and he bequeathed his entire life’s catalogue of work to Fan Xian. The scholar thought that Fan Xian’s work should not be forgotten and believes he can bring forward the world’s knowledge.

Fan Xian is taken aback and saddened by this sudden news of the scholar’s passing. After all, he was touched by Zhuang Mo Han’s parting words that he, Fan Xian, should live happily and without constraint. That does seem to be in line with his dream, but for some reason all the stars align to not allow that to happen. 

Hai Tang Duo Duo is about to part ways with Fan Xian when suddenly, Shen Zhong’s sister rushes to the group and shouts that they need to run. There’s an ambush! Her brother is on his way to kill them!

[Cathy]

Ummm I’m not entirely sure how she got there before Shen Zhong’s men, but before we know it, a slew of masked assassins arrive to attack Fan Xian and company. Shen Zhong flies out from the trees shortly after. This is his last ditch effort to kill Fan Xian before they return back to the Qing kingdom. A heated battle ensues but there are multiple parties. Fan Xian and his men are defending themselves against Shen Zhong’s men but the imperial guards from the Qi kingdom are also present. They are there to help defend Si Li Li who arrived to send off FAn Xian, though she is off screen. By defending Si Li Li, they defend Fan Xian. 

Everyone enters the fray but Shen Zhong has one target in particular – Yan Bing Yun. He is injured and defintely the weakest link. While Fan Xian and Hai Tang Duo Duo are preoccupied, Shen Zhong has Yan Bing Yun severely injured. The situation looks dire for him as Shen Zhong strikes what looks like a fatal blow. But. Someone stands in Yan Bing Yun’s way. Shen Zhong’s own sister. She crumples to the ground, severely injured from the attack.

The shock for Shen Zhong and Yan Bing Yun at what transpired gives enough of a pause for Hai Tang Duo Duo and fan Xian to attack Shen Zhong. Before long, he is subdued and the Qi kingdom imperial guard also subdue the rest of his men. Shen Zhong is taken into custody. 

[Karen]

Seeing that he lost, he calls for Fan Xian to step forward. Shen Zhong then divulges to Fan Xian that the smuggled money from the Royal Treasury is a large sum of money. Those funds have all been transferred to the biggest family in the Qing kingdom, the Ming family. The leaders of this family? None other than the Princess Royal Li Run Rui and the 2nd Prince. 

This information shocks Fan Xian. Wasn’t Li Yun Rui in league with the Crown Prince? Apparently not. With this one piece of information, we are brought straight back to the twists and turns of the Qing kingdom. 

Fan Xian is confused as to why Shen Zhong would tell him this information. He says that he’s using it as a trading bargain. The information for her sister’s life. He didn’t use full force against his sister so she will likely survive the injury. He knew that he was going to lose the moment the imperial soldiers showed up. He stabbed his own sister so that she can leave with Fan Xian and it will not be suspicious. Through all of the cold heartedness and scheming that Shen Zhong did, he does truly care for his sister. His last act is to try to ensure her safety. Awww. That’s how you write a well rounded character. But also. HELLO. Yan Bing Yun! What are you doing??? She needs to see a doctor!!!

[Cathy]

He not only has a loving heart for his sister, he is also still loyal to his country. He declines Fan Xian’s offer to escape with them back to the Qing kingdom as he will not abandon his kingdom. He knows full well he will likely die when he is taken back home. And that was exactly his fate. Back in the streets of the capital, Shang Shan Hu was waiting for him. In broad daylight, Shang Shan Hu executes Shen Zhong to avenge his fallen brethren and his adoptive father. This once formidable foe has fallen. 

With that, the road back home is now clear. Except, not really. Fan XIan now knows that his true enemy, the person who has been trying to harm him all this time is none other than the 2nd prince. He has to now fight back. 

[Karen]

We close out season 1 with one of the biggest cliffhangers that plagued Chinese viewers for 5 full years. As the group is heading back to the Qing kingdom, the 2nd prince’s trusted swordsman Xie Bi An appears. He gives letters from the 2nd prince to both Fan Xian and Yan Bing Yun. In his letter, the 2nd prince is rather open about all the things he did to Fan Xian in the capital. He requests that Fan Xian offer his loyalty to him in exchange for a life of wealth and peace. With the 2nd prince, Fan Xian will be the most powerful minister in the land. 

Seems rather enticing right? Except, as Fan Xian explains to Yan Bing Yun, he cannot let what’s happened in the past go. Those people who died because of the 2nd prince. Fan Xian cannot forgive that. He wants to fight these injustices so that he can truly feel peace. 

[Cathy]

The 2nd prince is not making it easy though. In his letter he writes that he brought gifts for Fan XIan. The gifts? Straight to FAn Xian’s weak spots. They are 1) hawthorn candy that is favored by Teng Zi Jing’s son, 2) Dan Bo Bookstore’s seal, which signals his younger brother Fan Si Zhe and 3) a glove that he gave to his beloved teacher Fei Jie. These are 3 individuals that are very dear to Fan Xian.  These gifts are meant as a threat. The 2nd prince essentially has these people kidnapped. If Fan Xian doesn’t do what he wants, they will likely pay the price. Fan Xian is furious at the 2nd prince’s tactic.

Xie Bi An gives Fan Xian the evening to consider the 2nd prince’s proposal. Fan Xian is of course exceptionally unwilling to stand down to this request. The next morning, Xie Bi An appears with a horde of men. They surround Fan Xian, Gao Da and Yan Bing Yun. Xie Bi An threatens to take Fan Xian in by force as he is not ready to come in quietly. But, before Fan Xian can attack, none other than Yan Bing Yun turns his sword inwards and stabs Fan Xian clean through the stomach from behind. He says that is his decision on how to move forward. Killing Fan Xian in Yan Bing Yun’s eyes is the best path to ensuring the Qing Kingdom’s stability. Fan Xian is shocked by this but immediately falls to the ground. We are left wondering for a full 5 years what happens as Fan Xian is bleeding out on the floor. 

[Karen]

With that, season 1 ends. I feel like I actually shouted WTF when that happened because it’s like HOW CAN YOU JUST END THE DRAMA LIKE THAT. There’s so much more story left! 

What a classic season 1 to this drama. People would say and I would like to agree that the last part of the drama where Fan Xian heads to the Qi kingdom is perhaps not as engaging as the first part of the show but still, we got a new fan favorite like Hai Tang and a great foil in SHen ZHong. I’m said that he wll not be returning cuz obviously he’s dead. I think perhaps the reason why the last 10 episodes or so were weaker were because there’s not as many different threads as the plot in the Qing kingdom and Fan Xian does seem more overpowered here than he was back home. Sure Shen Zhong was decent but I think you needed more. 

–

[Cathy]

As we conclude this season, there is only 1 pop culture reference in today’s episode.

That is “别介” or 别界

So if one pronounces 别界 – it has a few meanings. When the phrase first appeared in the Book of Han, a history of the Han Dynasty written during the 2nd century CE, the phrase was used as a division between realms. 

In modern Chinese, it now has several meanings. This includes the kingdom in the taxonomic hierarchy. This phrase is also used to represent a constituency, or circle, or section of members in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference representing a particular interest group. This includes minorities or people unaffiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. In Hong Kong, Bei Jie is also used to describe a sector of the economy. 

[Karen]

That’s all well and good BUT Wang Qi Nian then states the phrase as 别介. Hear the difference between 别界 and 别介. 别介 is a slang phrase that originates from the Beijing dialect and is used when people express “oh no need” when trying to say no.

For example – I give Karen a gift. Karen then responds with 别介 or no need! It’s definitely used much more in casual conversation. I didn’t realize it until now but I did a quick search and the actor for Wang Qi Nian, Tian Yu, is also from Beijing so now it makes sense when Fan Xian and Wang Qi Nian converse I’ve always felt like there was a STRONG Beijing flavor. That being said, Tian Yu, the actor for Wang Qi Nian, is able to successfully tone down his accent compared to Zhang Ruo Yun as Fan Xian. I mean, I didn’t know until now that Tian Yu was from Beijing.

–

[Cathy]

Let us conclude with book differences!

There’s a LOT of book differences in this last episode of this chapter because the screenwriters had to introduce the cliffhanger with the 2nd Prince. 

Let’s start with the minor similarities. In the book, Zhuang Mo Han does gift Fan Xian his whole library of works as part of his will. The books are presented to Fan Xian in front of the whole Qi Kingdom and Qing Kingdom delegation though so that everyone knows Fan Xian is the recipient. This is a public announcement from Zhuang Mo Han that Fan Xian is a scholar to be venerated. Hai Tang Duo Duo is not involved with these books at all.

As Fan Xian leaves, he does indeed meet Si Li Li. They have some parting words where Fan Xian gives Si Li Li the option to come find him should anything happen to her. As part of the negotiations between the Qi and Qing Kingdoms, both came to an agreement to pause fighting and have their kingdoms be strengthened by a marriage alliance. The Qi Kingdom agrees to send a Princess to marry the First Prince of the Qing Kingdom. On his return home, Fan Xian has to protect this Princess and have her safely brought to the Qing Kingdom. We don’t’ see this Princess in Season 1 of the drama but she does show up in Season 2.

In the book, Shen Zhong does not make a desperate attempt to assassinate Fan Xian. His daughter, Miss Shen most definitely does not make an appearance here. Shen Zhong gets killed by Shang Shan Hu in the opening chapter of volume 5 in a public assassination. As I’ve said before, Fan Xian barely interacts with Shen Zhong in the whole book.

And lastly, the sudden appearance of Xie Bi An and the reveal that the 2nd Prince was the one behind the scenes the entire season including his alliance with the Princess Royal does not occur at this point in the book. This whole end scene along with Yan Bing Yun’s sudden betrayal was added by the screenwriters to introduce a cliffhanger and a really good one at that. I mean people had to wait 5 years for season 2 and there were so many people wondering how Fan Xian would survive!

All in all, I’ve said it throughout our discussion of Season 1, I strongly prefer the drama and the story the screenwriters created over the source material. Probably one of the few times I will say this but we got a fantastic season 1! Sure there are some minor quibbles but the success of this drama really laid the groundwork for all of the big male lead dramas we see now and catapulted Zhang Ruo Yun to the A-List. 

We waited 5 years for season 2 and we’ll take a break for a few weeks before starting our discussion of it in June.