Season 1 – Ep 25
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[Cathy]
In the last episode, Fan Xian had a rather unique tour of the Emperor’s harem and met an eclectic group of women. This was crucial because he wanted to get a map of the palace since he needs to steal a key that the Empress Dowager likely has. This key belongs to his mother and will be instrumental in opening a mysterious case left by Fan Xian’s mother.
But now, Fan Xian has been called to partake in diplomatic matters. The drama doesn’t really show this, and we only hear this via dialogue, that the Northern Qi has lost several cities in war with the Southern Qing. The Northern Qi kingdom sent a diplomatic envoy to discuss terms for the war. Included in this envoy is a renowned scholar, Zhuang Mo Han from the Qi kingdom. He, as Wang Qi Nian explains at the beginning of episode 25, is THE scholar that the entire world looks up to.
[Karen]
However, before Fan Xian can do anything, Shadow appears to warn Fan Xian that someone is looking to assassinate Chen Ping Ping. The assassination will happen in less than an hour. At first, Fan Xian didn’t think there was much to worry about because Chen Ping Ping is in the Overwatch Council and there should be plenty of men to protect him. But, as we cut to Yan Ruo Hai, head of the 4th bureau, most of the men have been sent to protect Zhuang Mo Han and other men have been reassigned elsewhere. Currently the men guarding the Overwatch Council are all under his command. Their target? Chen Ping Ping. Looks like Yan Ruo Hai is not too pleased with Chen Ping Ping’s leadership and wants to change it. As he says, Chen Ping Ping is the one person who is preventing there from being furthe conquest. Without him, the Emperor will likely be convinced of taking further military action. That is Yan Ruo Hai’s motivation for killing Chen Ping Ping.
Fan Xian takes no time to head straight to the Overwatch Council to help save Chen Ping PIng. He, Wang Qi Nian and Shadow, or Ying Zi help wheel Chen Ping Ping away to the Dungeon to hide from the legion of men in the Overwatch Council who have now turned on him.
Chen Ping Ping directs the group into the dungeons and into a relatively secret part of the dungeon. It houses the kingdom’s worst criminals. However, it is a dead end which causes Fan Xian and Wang Qi NIan some anxiety but Chen Ping PIng says it is easier to defend this way. Wang Qi Nian says such a funny line at this moment. He cries out that he cannot die because he didn’t get permission from his wife! If he just went off and died, his wife will be angry! Death doesn’t matter. Not getting permission from his wife is of the utmost importance. Hahahaha
[Cathy]
Fan Xian takes this opportunity to also bring Si Li Li, who is still in the Dungeon, to join them in their dead end part of the dungeon. If he didn’t do so, the men who want to kill Chen Ping Ping will likely also kill her as well. He did say he would protect her life so he must at least take her out of immediate harms way.
The dungeon doors are broken through and the throngs of men start pouring into the dungeon and also into the secret passageway where they are hiding. Fan Xian does not hesitate whatsoever in pulling out a dagger to help protect Chen Ping Ping from the oncoming men. Wang Qi Nian also steps forward with his dagger. At this point, Shadow comes forth and gives Fan Xian an opportunity to live. Give up Chen Ping PIng in exchange for their lives. Shadow says that is the only way for them to live. Fan Xian gives a look to Chen Ping Ping at this moment and then turns back to the hallway. He tells Wang QI Nian that it’s time to give it their all, effectively denying Shadow’s request.
The moment Fan Xian denies Ying Zi’s request though, Ying ZI grabs FAn Xian’s dagger from his hand and marches down the hallway. Fan Xian is extremely confused as Ying Zi heads off and they slowly hear the sounds of fighting move farther away. Ying Zi was able to dispatch most if not all of those men. Perplexed, Fan Xian and Wang QI Nian are confused as to just how strong Ying Zi is. Turns out, as Chen Ping Ping explains, this was all a test by Ying Zi. Ying Zi himself can take on 1000 men. Even though the men outside are strong, they are no match for Ying ZI.
[Karen]
At this point, the group is ready to leave given the impending threat is over. However, an ominous voice travels through the walls that calls out for Chen Ping Ping. It is from Xiao En, the most powerful criminal in the Overwatch Council from the Northern Qi kingdom. Xiao En was responsible for the loss of Chen Ping Ping’s use of legs. Fan Xian caught a glimpse of this imprisoned man, shackled by many chains.
Fan XIan wheels Chen Ping Ping out and Si Li Li is escorted back into her prison cell. They see bodies scattered everywhere on the floor. Not a single survivor along the path out of the dungeon. Meanwhile, Wang QI Nian is over there scouring the dead bodies of their valuables. Haha he is like a video game player looting dead bodies for goods. The entire purpose of this little stint was to eliminate the Council of those who are not loyal to Chen Ping Ping. Chen Ping Ping decided to use himself as the bait and it seems to have worked quite well.
Outside, Zhu Ge has arrived and reports that Zhuang Mo Han has disappeared. It’s unclear where he went but he has escaped from his diplomatic residence. Chen Ping Ping isn’t too perturbed and instead requests all the Bureau heads gather. He has words to say.
In front of the various bureau heads such as Zhu Ge and Yan Ruo Hai, Chen Ping Ping makes the surprising announcement with Fan Xian present that Fan Xian will be the one to take his place once he retires. Fan Xian will be the new head of the Overwatch Council. Suffice to say people are shocked, none less so than Fan Xian himself who does not know why Chen Ping Ping would give this responsibility to him. He simply says that the Overwatch Council was Fan Xian’s mother’s and he is simply giving it back to him. Chen Ping Ping is oddly kind and considerate of Fan Xian. Fan Xian is a little taken aback by the amount of kind attention a demon such as Chen Ping Ping is giving him but he heads home. There is a quite a lot for Fan Xian to think about given the various characters and motivations that are surfacing.
[Cathy]
As of now though, the most important matters at hand ARE the diplomatic discussions between the Northern Qi and Southern Qing kingdom.
Fan Xian is so taken aback by how incongruent Xin Qi Wu’s actions are to his words. Fan Xian is called to be part of these diplomatic peace talks and Xin Qi Wu instructs Fan Xian to be cordial and professional. But when the diplomatic discussions actually take place, Xin Qi Wu is exceedingly aggressive and disrespectful, shocking Fan XIan. Haha
However, the tables soon turn as the Northern Qi envoy gets word from their side that they have captured none other than Yan Bing Yun. They are keeping him hostage and as he is an incredibly valuable asset to the Southern Qing kingdom, their terms of negotiation instantly changes. They want both Xiao En and Si Li Li in exchange for Yan Bing Yun as well as a bunch of other components.
[Karen]
Various parties within the Qing kingdom are all discussing the changed dynamic. Yan Ruo Hai doesn’t think that Chen Ping Ping should agree to exchange his son for Xiao En and Si Li Li. He will just go get his son instead. The Emperor says that he will not give up any land he’s conquered but they must bring Yan Bing Yun back alive. He is willing to exchange Xiao En and Si Li Li for Yan Bing Yun as he is an incredibly important asset.
At the end of the episode, we see that after furious negotiation where Fan Xian is not super involved, the terms of a new peace deal is agreed upon. The Emperor is quite pleased with the outcome and announces he will host a banquet with members of the Qi kingdom and Dong Yi to celebrate.
As for Yan Ruo Hai, there were no consequences to his involvement with ordering the assassintion of Chen Ping Ping but continues, in front of Zhu Ge, to say that the regime should change in the Overwatch council.
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[Cathy]
鸿胪寺 – the youtube translation has it as Hong Lu Temple, but it really is the Court of Diplomatic affairs.
鸿胪寺 – this was a government institution that primarily existed between the Han through Northern Song Dynasties. In history, the Qin Dynasty first had one government institution that was in charge of receiving foreign dignitaries. During the Han dynasty, Emperor Han Wu Di renamed it to 大鸿胪和大行令, making it one of the 9 courts. During the Sui Dynasty, this institution was formally established as 鸿胪寺. It was abolished during the Southern Song and Yuan Dynasties but was re-established during the Ming through Qing Dynasties. It wasn’t fully abolished until the end of the Qing Dynasty. That means that this institution existed in some form for over 2,000 years.
鸿胪寺 was responsible for managing foreign relations. Think of it as a form of the state department or the foreign ministry. Their duties included hosting and receiving envoys, overseeing ceremonial protocol, and handling diplomatic communications. During the Tang dynasty, it also managed ethnic affairs and oversaw funeral and mourning ceremonies.
It was one of the 9 Courts or 九寺 that were established during those Dynasties. They were responsible for various aspects of governance and ceremonial affairs. Some others we’ve talked about include 太常寺 or the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, which is where Fan Xian currently holds a post as a 协律郎 or music director.
The reason for the name 鸿胪 as per the Eastern Han Scholar 劭解 is because Hong means sound. Lu means to broadcast. Putting that together – Hong Lu means to broadcast and convey vocally. So – this came to mean discussions with the outside. This 鸿胪寺 rolled up to the Ministry of Rites or 礼部. Their roles included organizing banquets, managing guest accommodations for foreign dignitaries and representing the empire during official interactions between the Chinese imperial court and neighboring states. As we see in the drama, the members of Hong Lu Si are negotiators that are there to extract the most benefit during the negotiations with the Northern Qi Kingdom.
There’s quite a lot documented in Chinese records about 鸿胪寺.
In the Book of Han – which is a history of the Han dynasty written in the 2nd century AD, it even documents the different posts (such as translators) and even how much the minister and vice ministers earned. The minister earned 2 thousand dan of grain! That’s like 12 thousand pounds! That’s the same for the Book of Ming, which is a history of the Ming Dynasty compiled during the Qing Dynasty.
[Karen]
As to our funny man negotiator, who is an absolute delight. His name is Xin Qi Wu which is a play on Xing QI Wu or Friday. I think in Season 2, they introduce some of his family members which continue the play of days of the week. The author perhaps just wanted to have some fun with this name cause I don’t really know why he’s called Friday.
As for our last piece of culture, it’s when Xing Qi Wu says these two phrases when he has a break and drinks some tea with Fan Xian. He says these two lines to describe the tea
其香悠远兮扶摇登宵 其味空静兮潜藏于窍
I was doing some digging and interestingly enough – these lines DON’T come from history. The youtube translation is as such the hint of aroma smells like heaven and the delicate taste gently penetrates into the soul. These lines were written specifically for the drama. They sound like proper poems and pair nicely in poem structure. For example – Xiang or Aroma matches neatly with Wei or Taste. Anyways – thought it was a fun point.
[Cathy]
Moving on to our last section which includes book differences
The whole mini coup and assassination attempt doesn’t happen at this time in the book. This was more of a way for the drama to introduce Fan Xian to the other leads of the Overwatch council AND to plant the seeds of suspicion in our mind that a traitor exists amongst the ranks of the Overwatch Council. Everything is pointing to Yan Ruo Hai but none of this happens in the book.
Xing Wi Qu is a much more serious politician in the book than in the drama. Fan Xian is pretty impressed with his skills as a negotiator and representative for the Qing Kingdom. In the book, he’s surprised that the Crown Prince was able to persuade a man like Xing Qi Wu into his camp. The drama does an excellent job in portraying how ridiculous the whole negotiation becomes. The book does state that it was a 鸡飞狗跳 experience which translates to Flying Chickens Jumping Dogs – which means chaos but haha I didn’t expect the drama to have the two parties start through things at each other.