Season 1 – Ep 19
In the last episode, Fan Xian’s uncle, Wu Zhu went and assassinated Lin Gong after Fan Xian found out from Si Li Li that Lin Gong was the one who ordered HIS assassination. News of Lin Gong’s death traveled fast and many people now want an audience with Fan Xian. First it’s the Chancellor, Wan’Er and Lin Gong’s father and then it’s the Crown Prince. Fan Xian didn’t know who to see first but a summons from the Emperor made it easy. Obviously he has to see the Emperor first.
Fan Xian arrives and Eunuch Hou or Hou Gong Gong is there to greet him. Hou Gong Gong is as slippery as they come, feigning ignorance on their prior meetings. Smartly, Fan Xian gives Hou Gong Gong some money under the guise of buying tea which is quite useful because Hou Gong Gong very mildly gives the hint that the Emperor seems rather calm in his countenance. This helps Fan Xian learn whether or not the Emperor is angry and how he, Fan Xian should prepare for the conversation. Say what you will about having modern day knowledge and surviving in the past, this level of understanding untold rules is really important that should not be overlooked!
They head up the steps and Fan Xian is rather nonchalant but a flying figure in the sky shocks him. Hou Gong Gong on the other hand is now the one unphased when he shares that the person is an assassin. He just waves it off as “another” assassin and not someone to worry about. This surprises Fan Xian but shortly after, we see the assassin’s body be dragged off as Gong Dian, deputy commander of the imperial guard quickly dispatches this threat. Fan Xian recognizes Gong Dian as the man who blocked his path at the Qing temple when he first arrived at the capital. This more or less confirms to Fan Xian that the man at the Qing Temple was none other than the Emperor.
Hou Gong Gong brings Fan Xian to the Emperor’s study and we see again that there are many weapons and armor placed throughout the room. The Emperor, interestingly enough, sees Fan Xian arrive and quickly hides from view. After all, SPOILER, this is the first time he is seeing his son so it’s understandable to have a level of excitement and hesitation. Fan Xian just strolls in and is again, rather nonchalant. He even calls out to the Emperor in the seemingly empty room, asking if he needs to kneel. The Emperor then pops up from behind Fan Xian and allows him to not kneel. If we see this from the vantage of the Emperor seeing his grown son for the first time, we understand why the Emperor is quite lenient with him. I doubt any other person would be allowed to NOT kneel in front of the Emperor. Fan Xian has no idea why the Emperor gave him this pass but we see it from that point of view.
The conversation soon turned towards business as the Emperor and Hou Gong Gong explain that the assassin that was just dispatched was actually a spy from the Northern Qi. The goal was to use this assassination attempt as the spark to declare war but the signs were too strong. Fortunately, Fan Xian’s retaliation against Cheng Ju SHu and his capture and interrogation of Si Li Li as Qi spies are much more useful reasons to declare war. All good things for the Emperor and the Qing kingdom. For that, the Emperor awards Fan Xian the title of 太常寺协律郎. Or an assistant minister in the Ministry of Rites. Only an official of the 8th rank so rather low.
Once the pleasantries are aside, the Emperor changes topic on a dime. How did Lin Gong die? Fan Xian is quick witted enough to firmly respond that he doesn’t know and has to once again pretend that he didn’t know Lin Gong was the one who orchestrated his assassination. The Emperor reveals to Fan Xian that the Crown Prince knows of Lin Gong’s death already and sure enough, it is announced that the Crown Prince is waiting outside to see the Emperor, and presumably, Fan Xian. He is turned away and Fan Xian and the Emperor continue to discuss this. But the true reason for the Emperor’s summons is slowly revealed in the conversation. Fan Xian capturing Si Li Li is a secret of the Overwatch Council. The Crown Prince shouldn’t know that Fan Xian interacted with her. The only explanation is that there is a spy in the Overwatch council telling secrets to the Crown Prince which the Emperor cannot have. Once Fan Xian realizes this, he also recognizes the Emperor likely wants him to investigate the leak. The emperor doesn’t elaborate further, just dismisses him, but not before stating that Fan Xian’s actions today on the surface are honest and forthcoming, but in reality, is a facade. He doesn’t wait for an answer before dismissing Fan Xian.
With this visit done, he heads to his next stop – the Chancellor’s home to meet Lin Ruo Fu himself. Inside the Lin Manor, Fan Xian meets an adorable young man, Lin Da Bao. He is the eldest son of Lin Ruo Fu but evidently has an intellectual disability. Fan Xian doesn’t mind this and engages in delightful conversation with Da Bao. This conversation is overseen by Lin Ruo Fu which elevates Fan Xian in his eyes.
While Fan Xian is hanging out with Da Bao, multiple things are happening at the same time. For one, Lin Ruo Fu sent one of his advisors, Yuan Hong Dao, directly to the Overwatch Council to question Si Li Li. This guy was rather brutal and actually tortures Si Li Li with needles to confirm whether or not she told Fan Xian that Lin Gong was the culprit. She is saved by Yan Ruo Hai from further torture but what she was already subjected to seemed quite painful. She does not reveal to this Yuan hong dao that she told Fan Xian the truth which keeps Fan Xian safe for now. Meanwhile, Ruo Ruo is requested by Fan Xian to meet the Crown Prince. She is to tell him about Fan Xian’s whereabouts in order to see the Crown Prince’s reaction. The Crown Prince, though, does not give off the vibe that he’s in league with ordering Fan Xian’s assassination and is actually in direct communication with Lin Ruo Fu on the interrogation results of Si Li Li. Suffice to say, the Crown Prince is also a dangerous player in this area.
Back at the Lin Manor, the time has finally come for Lin Ruo Fu to summon Fan Xian. He is now testing Fan Xian in person as to whether or not he had anything to do with Lin Gong’s death. Fan Xian had to lie AGAIN and pretend he is surprised that Lin Gong ordered his assassination. He puts on a good show that stems Lin Ruo Fu’s suspicion, at least for now, that Fan Xian knew. Now onto more important matters. While Lin Ruo Fu was opposed to Fan Xian and Wan’Er’s marriage in the past, he now supports it and is going to help Fan Xian as best he can in court. His one condition? To protect Wan’Er, Da Bao and the Lin Family. Fan Xian takes a deep breath, looks down, and responds, no, this is not a deal.
This surprises Lin Ruo Fu but as Fan Xian explains, he is taking care of Wan’Er because he loves her. It is his duty. Same thing with protecting Da Bao and the rest of the Lin Family. After he marries her, they are his family too. It is his duty to protect the Lin family. All of this is because Wan’Er wants to marry him, not because of some deal.
SIDE NOTE – At the Golden Eagle Awards, Fan Xian’s actor Zhang Ruo Yun was nominated for best actor and Li Qin was nominated for best actress. During the awards ceremony, as a gift, Zhang Ruo Yun gifted a large stuffed chicken leg to his Wan’Er that she took pictures of. It was a fun and cute gift. These 2 were having a great time chatting and Li Qin was sandwiched between Ruo Yun and Li Xian. Later on, they were all sitting together, with Zhao Li Ying as well. Zhao Li Ying and Li Qin of course acted together in Princess Agents.
Anyways – the episode ends with Lin Ruo Fu mightily touched by Fan Xian’s words.
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In this episode, we have several fun pop culture references so let’s dive right in. First starting off with some history.
Right at the very beginning of the episode, Fan Xian’s father, Fan Jian, interrogates Fan Xian on whether or not he ordered the assassination of Lin Gong. Fan Jian is somewhat puzzled as to why Lin Gong would be working on behalf of the Crown Prince and states that the Crown Prince and Chancellor Lin, Lin Gong’s father, have always been 泾渭分明.
泾渭分明 jīng wèi fēn míng is an idiom derived from a song called 谷风 that originated from the Book of Songs over 2000 years ago. This idiom refers to two 2 rivers, the Jing and Wei rivers.
The Wei River in turn is the largest tributary of the Yellow River. The Wei River originates from Gan Su province way up in the north and snakes through Shaan Xi province into the Yellow River. 泾 or the Jing River is a tributary of the Wei River and originates in Ning Xia. The two converge in modern day Xi An.
When the wei river confluences into the Jing river, visually, the two bodies of water don’t mix. From an idiom perspective, this just means that the borders are set and they don’t cross. For a person or team, it means I operate my own team and turf while you operate your own.
Funnily enough In the book of song – the line the refers to these two rivers is as such 泾以渭浊，湜湜（shí水清澈貌）其沚（zhǐ水中小块陆地).
This translates to – The Jing River becomes murky where it confluences with the Wei River but the water underneath the surface is still clear. So it doesn’t even have our idiom in the poem.
In another interesting tidbit, historically, it wasn’t clear which one was the clear river and which one was the murky river. During the Han dynasty, it was believed that the Wei River was clear while the Jing River was murky. Tang Dynasty Confucious philosopher 孔颖达 wrote in his commentary for this specific poem also stated it as such. However during the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qian Long sent along officials to observe the rivers and finally concluded that it was the Jing River that was clear and the Wei River that was murky. But now, when you look at photos, the Jing River is murky and Wei River is more clear. Well, that has to do more with destruction of habitat and pollution.
Bringing all of this back to the drama – The Crown Prince and Chancellor Lin are 泾渭分明, meaning, they don’t cross paths and operate with their own factions.
Next – when Fan Xian arrives at the Palace, he meets 宫典, one of the Emperor’s guards. We were introduced to him back in episode 2. This is the first time Fan Xian learns of Gong Dian’s name though and quickly makes a joke that everyone will be calling Gong Dian – 老公. The eunuch with him doesn’t understand the joke so let me explain it!
宫 for Gong Dian is used as a last name. It also means Palace. Gong as a last name is very rare in China so we don’t see that last name often. In Chinese, when you’re talking to a good male buddy who’s at least middle aged or want to refer to an male elder colloquially, then you call that guy as 老 or Old + Last Name. So for this 宫典 it would be – 老宫. Fan Xian says – oh so his friends would call him Lao Gong, that’s taking advantage of him!
Why? Because well – 老公 in Chinese means husband. The gong is a different character but the tone is the same so you can easily mix up lao gong for referring to buddy Gong with Lao Gong or husband. The advantage taken is actually referring to the fact that everyone would just be calling Gong Dian, husband.
Next – the Emperor appoints Fan Xian as 太常寺协律郎. On youtube the translation is an assistant minister to the ministry of rites but that’s not quite right. It’s basically a musical director position. The post was first created during the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century BCE and the post continued in various forms all the way through to the Qing Dynasty, the last Chinese Dynasty. It historically was a post of the 8th rank out of 9, which is pretty low.
According to the book of Joy of Life, this post was mainly reserved for husbands to a princess. This is another subtle nod from the Emperor acknowledging the marriage between Fan Xian and Lin Wan Er. In the book, apparently husbands of princess would have a 6th rank position and their main job was basically to memorize poems, but gradually these husbands didn’t want to do that either, hence why now it’s just this 8th rank music director. It’s not a tough job, just know some tunes and that’s it!
Moving on, let’s talk about the phrase 大尾巴狼. In english that translates to a big tailed wolf. Fan Xian tells Wang Qi Nian that he is a big tailed wolf rather than a cunning fox. The fox is reserved for Chancellor Lin. The purpose of calling someone a big tailed wolf is that he or she wants to get noticed, show off his or her tail. It’s a newish term, at least from the past 2 decades. It’s a derogatory statement that also means that the person with the tail doesn’t actually know what he or she is doing or else he or she might seem like a righteous person but is instead rather devious. In Chinese culture, a wolf is also quite smart. Not as devious as a fox but very intelligent. Fan Xian calls himself a Da Yi Ba Lang more to show that he has a big tail and wants the attention. He might not have the wit and cunning of Chancellor Lin or the Emperor but he wants to draw the gaze of everyone right now.