Season 1 – Ep 32
[Karen]
In the last episode, the Princess Royal was kicked out of the capital city. Fan Xian is riding high with his win. All that’s left for him now is to get married to Wan’Er and then take over the royal treasury. His father in law, the Chancellor, had summoned him over for a quick chat and warns him that the Emperor is likely going to request an audience. This is important because there’s still voices at court who think Fan Xian was the one to betray Yan Bing Yun. The Chancellor’s big warning to Fan XIan? To not agree to a single thing the Emperor asks for. As long as it’s not an order, Fan Xian can refuse. That’ll keep him safe.
Lo and behold, Fan Xian has been summoned into the palace by the Emperor. Not only Fan XIan, but the Crown Prince and the 2nd prince as well. It’s an informal lunch but one of the most stressful lunches of Fan Xian’s life. The Emperor arrives with the three young men and they are told to go ahead and eat.
This is a thrilling meal and although rather short, is full of sweat inducing moments. From the first moments after the emperor instructs the men to eat, he pits the crown prince against the 2nd prince. He admonishes both men for how they eat. The 2nd prince wolfs down food whilet he crown prince is overly rigid. He then immediately turns to Fan Xian and point blank asks him which prince he likes better. The table suddenly freezes. Smartly, Fan Xian pushes it back on the Emperor by saying that he’s screwing with him since any answer he gives will put him in front of the dagger’s edge. The Emperor then turns to the two princes for their thoughts on Fan Xian and they give exceptionally complimentary praise. But notice, the Emperor says, regardless of which one of you two ascends the throne, Fan Xian will be an important member of court. Uhhh dude, that kind of language gives the 2nd prince hope that there’s a chance he could be emperor while also creating worry for the crown prince that he could lose his title.
[Cathy]
The Emperor then turns the conversation over to the diplomatic matters at hand. Court thinks Fan Xian spilled secrets on Yan Bing Yun’s whereabouts. He questions the 2 princes whether they know about it. Most likely they are fully aware but they downplay their knowledge. Note – the Emperor next says that you both have quite a few people in your factions, tell them to calm down with the rumors. The 2 princes quickly deflect this because technically, they’re not supposed to have such factions and said they’ll try to calm down the rhetoric. In this exchange, the Emperor shows that he knows full well how connected his sons are and this serves as a warning to them to stop affecting diplomatic policy. Why?
Because, the Emperor wants the next result. He says that in order to quell these rumors, the diplomatic envoy to the Qi Kingdom to exchange Xiao En for Yan Bing Yun is missing a lead. He thinks Fan Xian should be that lead. Fan Xian, remembering what the Chancellor says, immediately wants to decline the reqest since it is not an official order. However, the Emperor uses his marriage as a soft threat. If he doesn’t go, he cannot get married to Wan’er because he’s too connected. He will need to switch his betrothal.
[Karen]
With that threat, Fan Xian instantly agrees to the task. You’ll notice that the 2 princes immediately know that this was not the ideal or safe outcome for Fan Xian. THere are likely many threats along this trip. The Emperor? He’s quite pleased with the outcome of this meal and heads off. This again is an exchange where we see how omniscient the Emperor is. He has eyes and ears everywhere and knows how to force people to act the way he wants.
Fan Xian’s trip is now known across the land. NEws travels quickly to the Princess Royal who instructs Yan Xiao Yi to see to it that Fan Xian has an accident on the border. A dangerous trip for Fan Xian incoming? Yup 100%
Now, with the trip confirmed, the rest of the episode is about Fan Xian preparing to leave. He first speaks with Chen Ping Ping who says he will help protect Fan Xian on his journey. Chen Ping Ping gives Fan Xian someone to watch though, Shen Zhong, the head of the Qi Kingdom secret service. Even Chen Ping Ping thinks Shen Zhong is not someone to be trifled with so you know what kind of threat this person could be.
[Cathy]
Elsewhere, the fun men at the 3rd bureau provide Fan Xian with all sorts of gadgets to protect him on his journey. Different types of weapons, clothing and ingredients for poisons are all provided. It’s quite the stash.
While Fan Xian is preparing, his teacher, Fei Jie, returns to the capital and meets up with Fan Xian. This is a welcome surprise to Fan Xian and the two catch up at a make up store. However, the purpose of this meeting is for Fei Jie to oppose Fan Xian’s trip. He provides both Fan Xian and Wang Qi nian with background of his assassination attempt on Xiao En via his son’s wife and through make up. Yet, the assassination attempt didn’t go as planned. The overwatch council lost half of its people, Xiao En’s son and daughter in law also died. Chen Ping Ping lost the use of his legs. The reason why Fei Jie tells Fan Xian this story is to explain why Fan Xian cannot go to the Qi kingdom with Xiao En. Xiao En is exceptionally dangerous and he hates Chen Ping Ping and Fei Jie. That will likely cause serious issues for Fan XIan. Chen Ping Ping arrives and has a heated argument with Fei Jie. Fei Jie is worried this trip will cost Fan Xian his life and wants him to flee while Chen Ping Ping promises to protect Fan xian. Awww, i’m super touched by this interaction. Fei Jie really sees Fan Xian as a son and truly cares for him.
[Karen]
Fan Xian’s own father, Fan Jian also tries to protect Fan Xian by heading to see the Emperor. He requests for Fan Xian to be removed from this post but as we know, the Empeor cannot have that. He was the one who devised this plan so there’s no way he will let Fan Xian back out. At least we see two fathers step in to help protect Fan Xian. Much better than the Emperor. Geez.
With this trip set, Fan Xian decides to take his Fiancee, Wan’Er out for a beautiful day in a yellow flower field. This is their romantic goodbye before he heads out on his trip. He openly shares that he doesn’t want to go but was forced to because their betrothal was threatened. Wan’Er is quite understanding and was willing to elope with him so that he won’t need to go. In this interaction, Wan’Er and FAn Xian are both thinking about the other. Fan Xian doesn’t want to elope because that is not respectful to Wan’Er while Wan’Er doesn’t mind leaving so they can be together. The 2 have a romantic kiss before Fan Xian heads back. The episode ends with Fan Xian greeting the 2nd prince who had evidently been waiting for him. The 2nd prince advises Fan Xian that he will aim to push for Fan Xian to lead the imperial examinations when he comes back.
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[Cathy]
There’s only one piece of history mentioned in this episode and that’s when Fan Xian encounters the 2nd Prince on his way home. The 2nd Prince recites one line that Fan Xian created.
He recites this – 冠盖满京华，斯人独憔悴⒁。Or the wealthy and powerful continue to wear lavish clothes, you who are pure have become haggard and gaunt.
Here’s the full poem – 梦李白二首 Dreaming of Li Bai Number 2
浮云终日行，游子久不至⑼。
三夜频梦君，情亲见君意⑽。
告归常局促，苦道来不易⑾。
江湖多风波，舟楫恐失坠⑿。
出门搔白首，若负平生志⒀。
冠盖满京华，斯人独憔悴⒁。
孰云网恢恢，将老身反累⒂。
千秋万岁名，寂寞身后事⒃。
The clouds are still floating above in the sky, but the wandering man has not returned
I have dreamed of a reunion three times last night, I value our friendship dearly
When we said goodbye you seemed antsy, sharing the hardships of your travels
You said Jiang Hu is dangerous, and always worried that your boat would sink
When you left you had a head of white hair, as if you failed your youthful ambitions
the wealthy and powerful continue to wear lavish clothes, you who are pure have become haggard and gaunt.
Who can say that the guilty will always be caught, but why must you suffer by association?
Your name will be remembered for thousands of years, but why in life must you suffer?
This poem was written by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu in 759 as he remembers his good friend Li Bai. The two last met in 745, but have long missed each other. In 757, Li Bai was embroiled in the uprising by the Prince of Yong. The Prince attempted a coup but was thwarted. Li Bai was one of his guests, and by association, was thrown into jail after the Prince’s uprising failed. Li Bai was sentenced to exile in 758 but luckily was pardoned while on his journey to exile in 759. During this time, Du Fu was in a remote place and only heard that Li Bai was exiled. He was very worried for his dear friend and wrote two poems expressing his worry and laments the situation his friend has found himself in.
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[Karen]
Wan Er – This is the last time we see Wan’Er in this season. I do want to talk about her for a bit. I absolutely adore Li Qin’s Lin Wan’er and thought her chemistry with Zhang Ruo Yun was quite good. However, online commentary was quite negative around this character of Lin Wan’Er. Now, after doing this in depth analysis on the drama, I get more of why. She’s an important component to Fan Xian’s life but she doesn’t have much independence outside of him story wise.
In the book, she is even less important so the screenwriters really added color and nuance to her character for this drama. I do think Wan’Er is a clear headed and brave young woman but is restricted for what she can do based on the story. Her discussion with her mother shows us she has conviction and season 2 shows us she knows exactly what happens in the palace. Unfortunately, much of her importance stems from the importance Fan Xian places on her. He definitely respects her which is why he opted to go to Bei Qi instead of lose his betrothal to her. I assume the crown prince or the 2nd prince might actually have taken the Emperor’s offer if they were in Fan Xian’s shoes. After all, they would think it’s just a woman.
In the book, Fan Xian has many women in his life and has multiple relationships while Wan’Er is his main wife. In the drama, she is very much his one and only. I am a little annoyed with subtle jabs from other characters in upcoming episodes of how Fan XIan is involved with other women and they won’t tell Wan’Er. Not sure why that commentary was put in.
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[Cathy]
Book differences:
Starting from this episode, the drama begins to diverge significantly from the book. Shortly after the Princess Royal is expelled from the capital, Fan Xian and Lin Wan Er get married. They enjoy wedded bliss for a time, even going on a honeymoon to the mountains to enjoy themselves. In the drama, these two don’t get married until season two. So what the drama does is pull forward the trip to the Northern Qi Kingdom and pushes Fan Xian’s wedding and his involvement in the Imperial Exams to the second season. As a reminder, at this point in the drama, Fan Xian hasn’t even met the second prince yet. So there’s definitely none of the “having a family” meal scenarios as we had in the drama. In the book, Fan Xian is genuine in his feelings towards Wan Er in the book, but he’s definitely not as noble or faithful. Shortly after they get married, one of his maids from Dan Zhou arrives. Nothing happens between them yet, but Fan Xian fully embraces the mentality of bedding other women even while married.