Chinese Drama

Luoyang (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

✴️✴️✴️¾ over 5✴️

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• Genre: Historical Costume Drama Fiction, Investigation, Conspiracy, Mystery
• Release Date: 1 December 2021
• Origin: China
• Cdrama: 39 Episodes

 

Cast

• Huang Xuan as Gao Bing Zhu
• Wang Yibo as Bai LI Hong Yi/Erlang Baili
• Victoria Song as Wu Se Yue
• Song Yi as Liu Ran
• LIu Duan Duan as Prince Dong Chuan
• Zu Feng as Assassin
• Li Shen as Shin Fei
• Zhang Xi Lin as Liu Xiang
• Shi Yu as Liu Shi
• Wang Yi Miao as Yun Zi (Liu Ran’s maid)
• Han Shuo as Wang Deng Cheng (Unwelcome Well official)
• Zhang Duo as Wu You Jue (Imperial Attendant of Inner Guard)
• Zheng Jia Bin as Pei Jian
• Jiang Long as Bai Lang
• Feng Hui as Gao Sheng
• Zhang Li as Yao Niang (Casino owner)
• Maya Lau as Yang Huan (Empress Secretary/PA)

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Quick Precis

Investigations toward conspiracy to overthrow an Empress.

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Snippets

24 November 2021: Rumoured to premiere on 1 December 2021 on IQiyi.

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Episode 1

It has a very impressive start.  The cast is impressive with Victoria Song being believable as a martial artist.  She has got the moves.

Anyway according to the initial blurb, Luoyang was in the middle of chaos when the Empress was sworn into the throne.

In order to prevent the rise of the masses against the bourgeoisie, the Empress encouraged whistle-blowing against corrupt officials.

In no time, peace covered the land.

But three years on a whistleblower was once again coming forward about information that could turn the country upside down.

The whistleblower was a pair of father and his young daughter who was looking for Erlang Bai Li.

Erlang Baili is a junior minister of works, in other words, he is the palace’s official deputy chief civil and mechanical engineer. (His father was the chief)

Erlang Baili is also a popular influencer as a food critic.  It was in this capacity that he was in the marketplace.  He was reviewing a new sushi dish.  He was telling everyone that not all fish could be eaten or tasted good raw.

As he was pontificating about ginger and fish, a father and daughter interrupted him to talk with him.  But the father and daughter tandem were being chased by an assailant who wanted to kill them by any means.

Chaos ensued as the assassin started his attack.  It seems that there is also another thing going on because, at the market itself, a band of assassins tried to kill the princess who was stall shopping with Wu Se Yue, a member of the Inner Guard.

Wu Se Yue was able to protect her charge but there were so many assassins, in fact, the majority of the men in the market turned into assassins

By the rooftop, Gao Bing Zhu watched the drama unfold below. Now and then he would flick a deadly dart to help the guards up.

Meanwhile, Erlang Baili told the father and daughter to get away to safety as he fought with the assassins.

Slowly the assassins are being rounded off when the palace guards started arriving.  Those assassins who were arrested started to keel over due to self-poisoning.

The main assassin was about to kill himself but Gao Bing Zhu threw a dart at him to stop him from swallowing poison.

The man was taken away by the palace Inner Guard but he was confiscated by the Court of Judicial.  All this bureaucracy.

Wu Se Yue went to see the chief of the Court of Judicial as the assassin was arrested by the Inner Guards so they should interrogate him.

The palace guard disputed this as they said since the princess was the target, the palace guard should question the assassin.

While they were arguing, Gao Bing Zhu sneaked in like a shadow into prison and pretended to the assassin that they were comrades.

The assassin refused to divulge anything so Gao Bing Zhu stabbed him three times but not enough to kill him.

The assassin was taken to the medical team who later declared him dead.

This really intrigued Wu Se Yue because she found it ironic that three stabs did not kill him but being sent to the doctors did.

Meanwhile, Gao Bing Zhu started suspecting Erkang Baili had to do with the assassins because the father and daughter also ended up dead.

Gao Bing Zhu found Erkang Baili in a cafeteria having just reviewed a fruit-topped yogurt.

Erlang Baili was having mutton soup when Gao Bing Zhu sat down and started questioning him.

Bing Zhu found that Erlang Baili was rather shocked to learn that the father and daughter had been slained.

Meanwhile, Wu Se Yue investigated the death of the assassin; Bing Zhu who is one of the morticians readily admitted that he killed the assassin.

There is so much to take in in the first episode but it is really so watchable.

Episode 2

Bing Zhu was arrested by the Inner Guard and once again the Court of Judicial had a say on it.

Their argument between the two faction got really heated that it reached the Empress

The Empress was upset that a pair of whistleblowers have been assassinated, she was thinking that perhaps this was the reason that whistleblowers had come few and far between over the three years.  The Empress dismissed Master Gao of the Judicial court and asked Se Yue if she could solve the crime.

When Se Yue confirmed that she could, the Empress gave her the Seal of Order as the official representative of the Empress.

The first thing Se Yue did was to contact the Joint Corp, the ancient version of CIA (Central Intelligence Investigation).  Se Yue wanted intel on Gao Bing Zhu.

She found out that Gao Bing Zhu was from the Unwelcome Well, it is a place where no one can get out.  But Gao Bing Zhu managed to leave leading a group of seven a few years back.

Meanwhile, Chief Prefect Gao had Gao Bing Zhu tortured to confess.

Gao Bing Zhu was beaten badly so he finally agreed to talk.  He said that he killed the assassin because he wanted revenge for the murder of his cousin-in-law and his niece.

One of the Court of Judicial asked him if he had met with them before they were killed.

Bing Zhu confirmed that he did but before Chen Que could ask further questions, the Empress sent an edict for Bing Zhu to be brought to the Inner Court for interrogation.

Along the way, the prison carriage was attacked.  The attacker was Chen Que.

Chen Que was going to kill Bing Zhu and almost did when he stuck a knife into Bing Zhu’s chest but Bing Zhu was too good and of course, won’t die on the second episode because that just be too silly being the main star. 🤣🤣

Anyway, Bing Zhu got away but he was too poorly, he ended up in the villa of a casino entrepreneur who he was friendly.

She hid him from the searchers.  I must say it was impressive cinematography to see all the lit torches of the searchers.

The casino woman tended to Bing Zhu and when he was well enough, he went back to the Unwelcome Well to ask Master Chu about the murder weapon he found embedded on Chen Que’s back while he was interrogating him.

It was a murder weapon of a serial killer.  The same weapon that killed the whistleblowers.

Bing Zhu showed the cross blade weapon which Master Chu said was made from brass.  And the only place that produce enough brass was Liansha, which is being mined by the Baili family.

Bing Zhu thought that it was about the Baili once again.

Meanwhile, Erlang Baili was being pressured by his father to get married.  He had already picked the girl for his son

The girl was Liu Ran, who is the daughter of the richest family in Luoyang.

Episode 3

Despite being unwilling to get married, Erlang Baili went to meet up Liu Ran in a restaurant to get the gift she prepared for him.  It was an ancient scripture version of Dummy’s Guide to Architecture, Design, and Mechanics.  🤗

He was so into the scripture, he barely gave the gorgeous Liu Ran a look.

But then Liu Ran said that he could read the scripture in their bed chamber tomorrow night after their wedding.

Liu Ran was desperate to get married not only because Erlang Baili is gorgeous but she had reached 18 years of age and that is past the marriageable age.

Erlang told her that he is a confirmed bachelor and had no interest in marriage at all. He so against marriage, he returned the scripture back to her and left.

Meanwhile, Se Yue found Bing Zhe at the unwelcome well.  They chased, they jumped, they hide, they run; lots and lots of running, and then Bing Zhe was gone.

The Joint Corp gave a minute-by-minute itinerary of Bing Zhe to Se Yue.  And they said he will be at the wedding of Erlang Baili.

The Joint Corp knows everything that is happening and sometimes before it actually happens because they have spies from all walks of life;  from vendors, sellers, farmers, prostitutes, and officials.

Erlang Baili made his bride wait for hours.  He refused to change into his wedding clothes.  His father was about to hit him but Baili said that it was his wedding why could he not decide it himself.

His father felt defeated and told Erlang that they would go to the Liu and cancel the wedding.  He then said that he wanted Baili to marry the rich and influential Liu because he wanted Baili to always be safe and contented just traveling the world and eating anything he wanted.  He explained that the Baili came from rags to riches and does not have much influence.  If they do anything wrong they will be punished and stripped of their money and position.  A marriage with the influential Liu will give them a stronger foothold in society.

Finally, Baili understood why he had to be married to Lu Ran.

He went to the Liu to fetch the bride but Uncle Liu was so put out of having to wait for him and his entourage for hours to collect the bride.

He was told that he was disrespectful and the wedding was canceled.

The bride run towards her groom and said no one will cancel her wedding to Baile come hell or high water.

So the taciturn groom ordered to bring the bride to Baili mansion for the wedding.

It was a beautiful wedding.  Very intricate and colorful.  Well done.

During the bride and groom’s time in the chamber. the groom continued to be morose.  So the bride called Se Yue, her best friend to introduce her to Erlang.

The bride was called away by more well-wishers so Erlang managed to talk with Se Yue about the slained whistleblowers and the strange man who was asking him about it.

Immediately they knew that Bing Zhe was in the mansion and probably with Erlang’s father.

The father was dead when they got to him.  And Bing Zhe was with him.  Bing Zhe said that he did not kill him.

He had then managed to get Erlang in an armlock and said that he wanted a horse and took Erlang out as a hostage.

They got into the forest where Bing Zhe allowed Erlang to get off the horse.

Erlang asked him why he killed his father.

Again Bing Zhe said that he did not do it; he then cantered away.

I must say, Wang Yibo’s acting in this part is not the best.  His father had just been murdered and yet he did not show any emotion aside from just looking puzzled!🤣🤣

Episode 4

Erlang commenced a vigil at his dead father’s side.  He noticed the stab wound on his father’s chest but realised the lack of blood on the wall of his father’s library.

He also remembered that Gao Bing Zhe was puzzled at the coagulated mushroom soup from his father’s broken crockery on the floor.

This made Erlang discern that Bing Zhe did not kill his father.

Meanwhile, Bing Zhe had asked Officer Fei to lay off the people of Unwelcome Well for at least 10 days.  He will bring the culprit to officer Fei himself otherwise he can have his head on a plate.

Officer Fei agreed and Bing Zhe started his investigation which led him to a cargo boat.

He was locked in a room but when he managed to get out, all the people in the boat were dead.  Then a black robe man in full mask with a cross-blade knife started attacking him.  It was a prolonged duel but really well choreographed so it was watchable.

Ultimately, Bing Zhe prevailed with the other man falling into the water.  Bing Zhe dove in and later found a black robe man by the bank of the river.  Upon inspection, he found the cross blade knife on the dead man’s waistline.

Bing Zhe thought that he got the serial killer.

The black robe man was from the Joint Corp.

But he was not from the Joint Corp.

Master Chu of Joint Corp realised that there was a spy/traitor in their midst.

Bing Zhe gave a final burial to the seven men who came out from the Unwelcome Well with him.  After performing the burial ritual, he went back to the Unwelcome Well to tell the bereaved that he had carried out revenge against the perpetrator.

He was sad to find out that no one was happy with his news because his revenge could not bring back the dead.

They kicked him, punched him jeered at him, and he was told to leave and never ever show his face again at the Unwelcome Well.

He was upset but he still left them monies to share.

Meanwhile, he went to see Erlang.

Erlang was not upset with him anymore knowing that he did not kill his father.

Episode 5

Erlang told Bing Zhe that his father was poisoned.

Bing Zhe went to find Se Yue.  He told her what he found out and who had killed at least three of the Inner Court guards.

He asked her to help him get into the document of Minister Baili to find out why he was killed.

Officer Pei allowed Bing Zhe to escape when he almost got caught

Apparently, the killing of Minister Baili might have something to do with copper.

Episode 6

Se Yue and Bing Zhe went to the mines to investigate the copper theft.

What they found was utterly shocking.  To keep the mouth shut of the miners, they incarcerated them in a room and then set it alight.

Se Yue wanted to help out but Bing Zhe stopped her saying that they are investigating another matter.

Only when the perpetrators had gone that Bing Zhe released from his arms.

Se Yue went immediately to the burning building, she fainted after she was overcome by smoke inhalation.

Bing Zhe went looking for her and found her almost on death’s door.

He had to give her CPR.  When she came to they were both shocked as he was about to give her the kiss of life again.

Anyway, Officer Song turned up and promptly arrested Bing Zhe for the murder of Minister Baili, among other things.

Se Yue took out her Empress Token and used it to guarantee that Bing Zhe did not kill Minister Baili.  She then fainted and was brought down to the barracks where Bing Zhe kept a vigil until she awoke.

They had an awkward moment where Bing Zhe explained what happened the night before, Se Yue interrupted him saying that she knew about the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as she read it on a book about it.

After that Bing Zhe left.

Meanwhile, at the Baili Mansion, everything was chaotic.  The elders have come to say that as Minister Baili had passed away, his wealth should be redistributed and that they should elect a new family leader

Erlang was not bothered and told the people to take anything they want and elect among themselves

He left to investigate someone who died from the mine. He found out that the man was keeping a mistress after he found the receipt of an expensive Tulip oil from the man’s document that the man’s widow had allowed Erlang to have a rummage at.

He went back home and asked Liu Ran about Tulip Oil.

Together, they went to the apothecary to ask who had bought the expensive Tulip Oil.  They found out the receiver was now working at the brothel.

Liu Ran wanted to go with Erlang to the brothel and Erlang was okey with it.

Shen Fei however stopped Liu Ran as it was not appropriate to go in a brothel.  Liu Ran found out why as she stood outside looking at the women behaving with abandoned hedonism.

Poor Erlang who was not expecting such debauchery was shell-shocked.  He was so cutely traumatised.

Meanwhile, Minister Gao was presenting his evidence that Minister Baili was as bent as a nine bob note (dishonest).

The Empress was not impressed.  She said that Minister Baili was the purest most honest man she knew. And if he was a crook, then who is honest among her subject

Minister Gao suddenly felt uncertain about what he was doing

The Empress wanted Master Chu to explain why there is a lack of intel from the Joint Corp.

Episode 7

Chuhuli Corporation was being blamed for copper thievery.

Meanwhile, despite being warned by her uncle in Inner Guard not to see anymore of Bing Zhe, Su Yue can’t seemed to help herself because she went looking for him at the 7 unmarked grave of the Unwelcome Well.

Bing Zhe related to Su Yue how the 7 young men died.  Bing Zhe took them out of Unwelcome Well for a treat.  A day in town but they saw a nobleman with his family being attacked by hundreds of assassins

Bing Zhe, being an official tried to help out the soldiers to fight the assassins.  As Bing Zhe was wounded the seven boys came to help him.

Then palace reinforcement came.  They escorted the nobleman and his family and did not help Bing Zhe and the boys against the assassins.  They were left to die.

Only Bing Zhe survived and he had felt guilty every single day for the last five years of the death of those young boys.

Su Yue and Bing Zhe both had a good cry. Bing Zhe then ended sobbing on Su Yue’s lap. So cute.

Episode 8

Bing Zhe fell asleep while Su Yue carved memorials for the seven grave mounds which really touched Bing Zhe

Anyway, Bing Zhe, Su Yue, and Erlang cooperated in investigating Lixiang, the CEO of Chuiliu.

To prevent Lixiang from getting suspicious, Erlang and Su Yue with Liu Ran attended a lunch party.

Bing Zhe then went to search for the account book at Lixiang manor.

The gorgeous Song Yi as Liu Ran’s role at the moment is to shout at Erlang nonstop every time she was in Erlang’s vicinity and he ignores her.

Episode 9

At the lunch party, Erlang and Su Yue did everything they could to stop Lixiang from leaving.

Still he left so as a last recourse, Erlang followed Lixiang to his mansion to discuss why the Red dates cookies at the party were not as flaky and delicious as they should be.🤣

Lixiang was like, huh?!!!

Anyway, Bing Zhe finally found the accounts book in a hidden room.  He was just in time to get away after Lixiang got suspicious that the usually morose Erlang would come to explain the flaky cookie.  He realised that it was a delaying tactic.

As he expected, the accounts book is gone so he went to his big boss for advice.

Meanwhile, Bing Zhe went back to Erlang’s place.

Erlang was not really sure the Bing Zhe would return because he does not trust him but Su Yue said she does.

Bing Zhe gave them the accounts book but it was coded and would take time to decipher even for the genius Erlang.

Su Yue said that they need the help of Joint Corp to decode it faster.

As it so happens, Master Chu of Joint Corp was thinking of working with Bing Zhe to flush out the traitor in Joint Corp.

Anyway, Bing Zhe, Erlang and Su Yue met up with Han Dong Qing of Joint Corp at a temple.  They gave him the accounts.

Erlang was wary and asked Han Dong Qing if the accounts would be safe with him.

Han Dong Qing affirmed that it would be safe but just a few minutes later they heard the departing Han Dong Qing outside.

He had been fatally wounded by an assassin and the book taken from him.

Su Yue and Erlang went after the assassin but before he passed, Han Dong Qing gave a token to Bing Zhe and told him to go to Cui Bilou Restaurant and blow the candle.

Anyway, the assassin got away with the book as he was too strong for both Su Yue and Erlang.

Lixiang was then later seen burning the books in front of his masked master.

Bing Zhe went to the restaurant. He blew the candle and then was taken to the back room where he met Master Chu.

Bing Zhe was so clever and observant, he was able to deduce who Master Chu was.

He was Prince Dong Chuan, the Empress’s grandson.

Episode10

Prince Dong Chuan apologised to the Empress for the current mishap at the Joint Corp.

The Empress warned him by telling him what happened to the Crown Prince who was deposed as an emperor.

It was because he tried to transfer power to his wife’s family and the Empress said no one can do that not even the Crown Prine, her biological son

She worked darn hard to bring the empire as it is now and no one was allowed or even try to tamper with her hardwork.

Bing Zhe and Erlang went to the mines and found that there is something not quite right in the mining town.

The river had turned toxic and people had to go miles to fetch drinking water.

They later found that some men were brewing something rather chemical in a warehouse.

The workers went after Bing Zhe and Erlang.  While Bing Zhe was fighting the men, Erlang used the bubbling chemical broth to splash on their assailants, burning them in to screaming seizure.

Bing Zhe and Erlang bare got out alive.

The next day, Erlang went with Su Yue back to the mining town.  The warehouse had been emptied but what they found were jars upon jars of copper coins.  So that was what Lixiang had been doing, counterfeiting money.

Meanwhile, Bing Zhe went to Lixiang to ask him where he could find the Chulilui Divine.

Lixiang told him that he came to the right person to ask because he is Chulilui Divine.

Episode 11

Lixiang readily admitted that he had the coppers and had been using them to counterfeit money.  He also disclosed that he killed many including Minister Baili because they got in his way.

Bing Zhe wanted him to reveal who killed his seven friends from the Unwelcome Well but Lixiang started to have a spasm and then he was spitting blood.

Lixiang was dying.

As it happened, Erlang and Su Yue were just arriving with Liu Ran who the two met at the gate.

Immediately, Erlang jumped to conclusion that Bing Zhe had just killed Lixiang.

Meanwhile, Su Yue followed Bing Zhe outside and admonished him for not waiting for them before going to Lixiang.  Su Yue observed that Bing Zhe had never trusted her.

Liu Rui was so upset and held on to Erlang for some support and comfort after all Lixiang is her beloved uncle who had only shown kindness and indulgence towards her.

Erlang, however, was not very comforting. In fact, he told her without compunction that her uncle and something to do with the death of his father.

Liu Rui was shocked.

Erlang did feel a little guilty afterwards and told Shin Fei, his bodyguard, not to treat Liu Ran as if she was complicit with her uncle’s misdemeanor.  He told Shin Fei that she was innocent.

Shin Fei told Erlang to go comfort the girl who had stayed in her room all day.

Erlang did try to see her.  He even put a foot into her room but then he immediately changed his mind and turned back.

He went to investigate instead after he noticed that that the confiscated counterfeit coins were heavier than the standard.

Su Yue said that they thing the missing copper was being hidden at Four Season.

Without telling anyone, Erlang went alone to Four Season and found that men in a cave high out were making an arsenal of weapons/swords.

Bing Zhe found out that Unwelcome Well is open again.

Episode 12

This episode is rather swashbuckling, with plenty of derring-do.

Unwelcome Well is open again in more ways than one.  It looks like the Four Season is within the caves where Unwelcome Well is located into.

Erlang was rambled by the Four Season workers and was about to catch him but Bing Zhe got him out into the street of Unwelcome Well.  The Four Season could not chase them in the street as they would get attention from the ghetto people of Unwelcome Well who do not know the existence of the little sword factory within the cave.

Erlang wanted to report the factory to authorities immediately bug Bing Zhe stopped him as it would bring untold problems to the ordinary folks of the Unwelcome Well.  They will be blamed for conniving whoever is responsible for the illegal factory.

Instead, Bing Zhe asked Erlang to meet Wang Dengcheng who is the officer of Unwelcome Well.

With Wang Dengcheng they might be able to solve the problem internally.

Instead, Erlang ended up bound while Bing Zhe and Dengcheng went into the caves to stop the workers.

It turned out that Dengcheng was working with them and had Bing Zhe tied up.

The leader of the illegal factory turned up.  He was Master Song, the Minister of War.

He was manufacturing swords made from part copper to make them sharper.  He was plotting to overthrow the Empress because he believed she was a tyrant who punished her.

The minister asked Bing Zhe to join the divine otherwise he dies.

Bing Zhe said that he will join as long as the minister gives him the killer of the seven brothers.

The minister promised him but their collaboration did not happen as SiYue turned up with Erlang and the Inner Guards troop.

They got the minister and subdued the workers.  But the masked serial killer who turned up got away from Bing Zhe.

Meanwhile, the Inner Guard was almost attacked by assassins if Si Yue did not warn her master that there was something about the report of coppers being found at the Liu Mansion.

Episode 13

This episode is excruciating to watch.

Bing Zhe was so near to finding out who the masked serial killer was but in the end he was stopped by the Inner Guards, ergo the serial killer got away yet again.

Bing Zhe was arrested with Minister Song, who was almost killed by Erlang.

Wu You Jue, the Imperial Guard leader, asked Bing Zhe why Su Yue had been protecting him.  She used to listen to Wu You Jue since she was a little girl and now, Bing Zhe had become so important with her that she disobeys Wu You Jue and even put her life just to protect Bing Zhe.

Meanwhile, the Empress had called Master Chu once again for the failure of Joint Corp to realised that the Minister of War was plotting a coup against the Empress.

The Empress warned Master Chu that if he can’t fully investigate Minister Song and his cohorts, there will be a new Master Chu.

Erlang had a talk with Liu Ran.  He told her that since her father is dead and her uncle is also dead, there is no longer a reason to stay married.  He said she could talk about everything that the Baili owns and she’s welcome to it.

Liu Ran said that obviously, Erlang did not know.  She did not come into the marriage for money.  She then said that she will not make it hard for him.  She will leave when he had arranged the divorce.

Meanwhile, Bing Zhe’s mother had been missing as well as DongCheng.

Su Yue found them in the mountains.  Dongcheng managed to convince Su Yue that he would do everything to get Bing Zhe out of jail.  So when he offered her a drink, she took it.  She was drugged.

Episode 14

Bing Zhe was let out of prison so he could rescue Su Yue.

He found Dongcheng with his hostages Su Yue and Bing Zhe’s mother.

Dongcheng said that he would release Su Yue if Bing Zhe would join the divine otherwise Bing Zhe had to choose who will die.

Bing Zhe’s mother or Su Yue?

Bing Zhe kowtowed to his mother three times and looked at Su Yue.  Bing Zhe said prepared to kill himself but his mother begged him not to.  She then put her neck against the knife that Dongcheng held.

Aww, Bing Zhe was heartbroken to see his mother dead.

At that moment, the Inner Guards turned up and arrested Dongcheng and would have to take Bing Zhe as well but Su Yue told them to leave him as he was grieving his mother’s death.

Meanwhile, Liu Ran run away from home because she feels she was redundant in her husband’s life.  Erlang does not need her.

As coincidence would have it, her father arrived in town and wanted to see her.  He then scolded Erlang for being a layabout, who does not look after his wife and yet live off her dowry.

Episode 15

Erlang went to get Liu Ran back.  She thought they were alright now so she became a nuisance and glued herself to Erlang.

When he going to investigate the missing copper so more and had to go away, Liu Ran secretly smuggled herself into the carriage but Erlang found her.

He told her to go back and let her out of the carriage.

Liu Ran, however, was determined to go where her husband goes.

Erlang saw her skulking after the slow-moving carriage.  He just had to smile.

It looks like Liu Ran will get her man after all.

Episode 16

Su Yue was absolutely gutted when she found out that Bing Zhe had joined the ancient CIA.  Yes, Su Yue was so heartbroken she slapped Bing Zhe for becoming an agent for Joint Corp.

Su Yue knew very well that this would be the end of any romantic relationship with Bing Zhe because joining the spying agency is a lifelong commitment.

Bing Zhe was told of this by Master Chu.

Master Chu said further that membership is all-consuming, thus agents are prevented from falling in love, marriage, and having children.

Bing Zhe was full of hatred to the killer of the seven brothers, which also indirectly caused his mother’s day.

Su Yue was so aggrieved.  She told him that he could have gone to see her and discuss it first because she could help him find the killers.

All Bing Zhe could say was that Joint Corp will protect him and find the killer because they have a larger network.,

Episode 17

On the way to the copper mine in Mt Lian, Liu Ran took advantage of Erlang who was in between being excited and repulsed at the same time.

Liu Ran was rather disappointed when they got to Mount Lian in no time at all.

Erlang was looking for Lin Zhong, an accountant.  Though he can’t find him, he found a secret message from a crazy man who begged Erlang to keep it safe.

Looking at Bing Zhe makes Su Yue so mad.  She asked him if he did not thinking of her feelings at all.

He ignored what she asked because a pigeon had landed with a message that Baili Hongyi was in trouble.

Erlang and company were hijacked and robbed

Su Yue and Bing Zhe were too late, the robbers got the message the crazy man begged Erlang to keep safe.

Erlang volunteered himself to use as a bait but Su Yue asked him who would look after Liu Ran if something happens to him.

Episode 18

Someone put Erlang’s house under surveillance.

Liu Ran noticed that there were new servants in their manor and when she asked, apparently they were hired by Erlang.  Still Liu Ran was suspicious.

Erlang was back from ignoring Liu Ran for her own protection and peace of mind.

But it was too late.  She was too nosy.

Anyway, the person who had been watching over Erlang’s house was Si Yue.

Siyue knew that Erlang had become a target for the Four Season Divine because Erlang continues to investigate the death of his father.

Erlang was arranged to meet Mr. Zhang.

Siyue arranged a troop to covertly watch over Erlang but then the guards she was intending to take for the mission were now needed by the King of Jin who had decided to have a little trip.

Meanwhile, Bing Zhe is weeding out the traitors to Joint Corp.

Episode 19

Erlang went to his appointment in a restaurant.

He noticed that Siyue was already there as an ordinary customer with some of the Inner Guards as fellow diners and some as waiters.

Then in walked Liu Ran and wanted Erlang to confess what was going on.

Erlang told her to go, now but Liu Ran would have none of it.  She wanted to know as she was his wife.  She was totally annoying.  Kill her already.

Siyue immediately thought that their mission is a fail especially when the man who was meeting Erlang turned up but Liu Ran would not leave.

So Erlang told her that if not for her, he would have had the killer of his father arrested in Mount Lian, and now she was doing it again, sabotaging everything.  It was all her fault.

At first, Liu Ran did not believe him but he looked resolute.  Still, she stayed looking shocked for being blamed.

So without choice, Erlang walked out to make himself a moving target to the divine assassin.

Erlang run the whole market place and the assassin followed him from the rooftop.

He had Erlang cornered and was about to use his cross-shaped knife but Siyue turned up kicking the serial killer/assassin away from Erlang.

Siyue and the assassin fought for the longest time.  She managed to slash on his sleeve showing a mole.

But he got away when the rest of the Inner Guards showed up at last.

Meanwhile, at Joint Court, Bing Zhe was smoking out the spy.

He used An Batian, the female bodyguard of Master Chu as a scapegoat, naming her as the true spy.  He then had her arrested.

An Batian was so livid.

Then the real culprit turned up at An Batian’s room.  He planted more incriminating documents under her pillows.

But then An Batian with the Joint Corp guards was ready and waiting for him.

Master Chu was impressed with Bing Zhe’s tactic.

Episode 20

This is a cracking good episode.

Anyway, Erlang ended up inside the Inner Court jail where he continued his investigations by having a chat with a young man who was jailed for killing his father.

Erlang found out about the young man’s story that his father’s death was very suspicious.  His organs was rotting before he died.  This scenario was just like what happened to Erlang’s father.

Before Erlang could ask more, General Wu came to get Erlang because Liu Ran was once again making a scene.  She wanted to speak to her husband.

Meanwhile, Siyue went to see Bing Zhu at the Joint Court HQ.  They were very awkward and seemed to be really missing each other.

Siyue wanted to tell him about the mole on the assassin/serial killer’s arm but they were interrupted by An Batian who gave Bing Zhe a note with the name of the casino owned by his good friend and protector Yao Niang.

Bing Zhu told Siyue urgently that he had to go.

An Batian said that Siyue should wait for the return of Bing Zhu.

Bing Zhu met Yao Niang at the casino.

I have to say that Zhang Li is absolutely stunning, really beautiful,  She plays Yao Niang who turned out to be the cross-knife assassin.

Bing Zhe could not believe it because she had had many chances of killing him but instead she had saved him numerous times.

Yao Niang said that she was sold by her father for a small sack of rice when she was just a toddler.  Her master had dozens of other young children who he rigorously trained in martial arts as future assassins.

She cannot remember anymore when she first killed because she had killed so many.

Bing Zhe knew that she was thinking of the seven brothers she killed.  She said she even killed Master Kang the original owner of the casino so she could get her hands on the casino.

She also remembered that it was only Bing Zhe who was a decent human being to her.

She knew that she either kills Bing Zhe or herself.  In the end, she stabbed herself.

Episode 21

Bing Zhe was in total shock after the death of Yao Niang.

He did avenge the Seven Brothers but he did not feel good about it as Yao Niang had become his best friend.

Si Yue did everything to make him feel better.

But he ended up going to the Unwelcome Well.  He met an elder who talked him out of his guilt and grief.

Episode 22

Yao Niang was known as the 16th Night.  Her death created a vacancy.  The girl she used to mentor became the new 16th Night.  Her mission was to kill Siyue, Bing Zhe, and Erlang as they were the last ones to see Yao Niang.

Meanwhile, Liu Feng, Liu Ran’s brother, came back and found his sister in the Baili Manor’s kitchen which he thought was beneath her.

He tried to drag her back home but she told him that she wanted to do the cooking because she actually enjoys it.  It passes the time as well.

Liu Feng had been working as a merchant which was useful to Erlang’s investigations on the Kangs.

Meanwhile, the guy who was suspected of killing his father but found that his father died from rotting innards was being transferred to Henan.

But then the Inner Court found his body in a pond.  A witness said that he jumped into the pond.

Episode 23

Siyue was not convinced that Liyi, the prisoner, would commit suicide. She even began to suspect her brother to have something to do with the mysterious death of Liyi.

Her brother told her that Liyi’s case is rather complicated.

Meanwhile, Erlang drew a photo of one of the Kangs who they were investigating.  He gave it to Siyue who passed it to the Joint Corp.

Siyue was having an evening walk in town watching excited people buying beautifully decorated lanterns for the valentine the next day.  The Empress had given a three-day holiday edict.

Siyue had a look at one of the lanterns but in the end she did not buy one.  From behind she heard a familiar voice buying the lantern she was looking at.

It was Bing Zhu and he gave her the lantern.

Siyue got excited immediately but Bing Zhu had to calm her down and said that they had to continue walking and then talk.  And they talked about the Liyi and Kang photofit.

I am loving their slow-burning romance but for some reason, I fail to warm with Erlang and Liu Ran’s romance.

Probably it has something to do with her incessant calling him Erlang. She is so whiny. Stop it woman and learn to cook properly.  She is far from being stupid but she is totally devoid of common sense.

Episode 24

Liu Feng found his childhood sweetheart, Chunhe, now famously called Peipei as a dancer of the Red Silk House brothel.

Erlang was doing chemistry for investigation on the elixir of life, through his experiment he came out with Xuanwu Pearl which came out later with a conference with Siyue and Bing Zhu as being abundant in the grassland so related with the Kangs.

Unfortunately, Kang Lin died of wasp sting poisoning before they could question him.

Erlang went with Liu Ran to Yuncui Temple to find out more about the elixir of life but what they learned was that fake Taoist monks were selling fake life elixir at the temple.

I find their investigation to be branching out in so many directions, they can’t solve a case and I losing the will to care. 🤣🤣🤣

Though there is a lot of action, the script is not tight enough to warrant undivided attention.

Poor Liu Ran is getting so horny and excited with a mere touch from her absent-minded husband. I don’t find it cute, I am afraid.  She is just too desperate.

Episode 25

Bing Zhu and Siyue went to investigate Yuncui Temple.  They had to pose as husband and wife.

To get the elixir, Siyue told Bing Zhu that he had to pretend to be afflicted with illness.

Siyue hit him hard on the stomach because she thought he doesn’t look ill at all.

Bing Zhu said that she had really been waiting to hit him.  They are just too cute.

While Bai Lang was distracting the monks and guards, Siyue and Bing Zhu sneaked into the back room, where they spotted Taoist Tiantong of the Four Season Divine.

Siyue went to search the alchemy Room while Bing Zhu followed Taoist Tiantong.

Siyue found the manuscript for the elixir a rather familiar symbol on a cup while Bing Zhu overheard the Taoist talking with someone.

But then the temple guards realised there were intruders so they rang the bell which made the hooded man talking with Taoist Tiantong escape.

Later on Siyue, Bing Zhu and Erlang came to the conclusion that the exilir of life was being funded by the Crown Prince who had been known for being interesting in the subject.

Both Siyue and Bing Zhu were told by their respective bosses to leave well things alone as it directly involves a senior royal.

Bing Zhu told Master Chu that he serves the Empress as her eyes and ears, full stop.

Siyue completely ignored her brother, Master Wu of Inner Guard.  She went to the Eastern Palace to speak with the Crown Prince.

He looked really ill but he denied knowing about the yuanwu pearl and having been to the temple yesterday.

Then the palace backyard was on fire

Siyue followed the prince who was very upset when his cooks told him the Yuanwu pearl seemed to be too unpredictable that it caused the fire, destroying everything.

The Prince knew that he was defeated so he confessed everything to Siyue.

He said that he inadvertently became a victim of blackmail when he was introduced to Taoist Tiantong who was supposed to be a master alchemist.

The Crown Prince wanted to produce an elixir for long life to give to the Empress so she stops thinking that he was a worthless human being.

But Taoist Tiantong made him sign some document which he found later was permission for members of the Ke Tribe to be allowed into the Capital.  He was not aware when he signed the document what it was for.  He thought that it was just about terms and conditions, the small prints.

Siyue then told the Crown Prince that Taoist Tiantong was a member of the Four Season Divine.

This information really shocked the Crown Prince.

Meanwhile, Erlang and Liu Ran went to see Lord Liu, Liu Ran’s father, to show him the manuscript for the Elixir of Life.

He categorically told them that it was all wrong.  The formula would never work.

Episode 26

Lord Liu said the formula would yield a poison or lime.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince put the blame on Dai Shu who introduced him to Taoist Tiantong.

Bing Zhu with Bai Lang went to search for Dai Shu, who they found out from Siyue has a gambling addiction.

They did find him in a casino but some people threw in smoke bombs and then locked all the doors and windows from the outside trapping everyone inside.

Bing Zhu got a log to force open the door.  The other desperate gambler helped Bing Zhu until the door opened.

They all tried to get out but Dai Shu managed to escape but Bai Lang chased after him.

Thank goodness, Siyue, and her posse were just passing by.

Siyue worried about Bing Zhu who went back inside the casino to rescue the nephew of the owner of the casino.

Meanwhile, Master Wu was giving intel to the King of Jin, who is a nephew of the Empress and a member of the Four Season Divine.

Erlang is slowly being seduced by Liu Ran, who was helping him with his experiment.  He has the manuscript which is being sought by Taoist Taintong.

Taoist Taintong was desperate to find it otherwise he will lose his fingers.

Episode 27

Aww Bing Zhu was just about to pass out inside the building rescuing the owner’s nephew when Siyue appeared.

She brought them out and was very upset that Bing Zhu was not breathing or waking up.  She was tearful when he finally cough out and hugged him tenderly.  Aww

Liu Ran was causing more trouble for Erlang.  She insisted on doing the shopping for the chemicals/material for the elixir experiment.

But she lacks common sense and got kidnapped immediately by Taoist Tiangtong.

He sent a ransom note to Erlang to meet the kidnapper alone if he wanted to see his wife alive.

Erlang was almost strangled to death, he would not confess.  Only when they strangled Liu Ran tht Erland sang like a canary.  `He gave them back the manuscript and revealed that Master Wu of the Inner Guard knows everything.

Now Erlang is donig the elixir for Taoist Tiantong.  He found some interesting manuscript at Taoist Tianton laboratory but the Taoist was guarding him closely.

Meanwhile, the Empress found out about what the Crown Prince was up to.

The Crown Prince blamed Dai Zhou for introducing him to Taoist Tiantong.

The Empress told the Crown Prince that he never changed. He never takes responsibility for his action and blames others.  Because of this, the Empress grounded him at the Eastern Palace where he was not allowed to meet anyone before the Ceremony of Light.

The King of Jin almost gave himself away to the Empress when he suggested that perhaps she should give the task to keep the country safe to Master Wu as he was doing such a good job of keeping the Empress safe.

The Empress does not trust anyone so she said that Master Wu is not in the best of health and more responsibility might be too much for him.

Meanwhile, Erlang and his stupid wife are still being kept hostage.

Taoist Tiantong said that even if the Inner Guard found the thunder formula, it was not a worry because it is incorrect.

Episode 28

Omg! I can’t believe that I am fast-forwarding Wang Yibo’s scene.  It was because I have had enough of Liu Ran.

Anyway, the King of Jin and Yang Huan, who were in cahoot, tasked Master Wu to supervise the inventory for the rice granary which the Empress previously said was most important.  With enough food, there will be peace.

Meanwhile, The Inner Guard with Siyue and Bing Zhu was ready to save Erlang and Liu Ran.

They save the boring lovebirds but Taoist Tiantong got away.

They followed him and both Siyue and Bing Zhu got trapped in the cave.  Poor Siyue had her leg caught in some fallen debris.

Master Wu had been granted then dukedom of Ying by the Empress for good services rendered.  The King of Jin who is a distant relative told him that the dukedom is nothing.  He should aspire to be the Minister of Works.

Master Wu said that he was quite satisfied with being a duke because his raison d’etre was to serve the Empress.  His conversation with the King of Jin was interrupted by a steward who told him that Siyue was missing.

Master Wu went to Erlang’s house and was livid that it was all because of him that his sister is now missing.

Erlang was confused because he was so wrapped up in his investigation that his older brother might not be dead and is working with Taoist Taintong that he was unaware of anything else.

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35

Hanjia Granary

Episode 36

The man behind the Four Season is Erlang’s brother, Baili Kuanren.

Episode 37

Master Wu had reported to the Empress that Baili Kuanren had been sent to the dungeon and all the grains had been recovered and sent to civilians and vendors to sell.

There is another spy within Joint Court as some information had mysteriously disappeared.  The record on the attack of the King of East River had gone.

Bing Zhe went to have tea with Master Wu.  They discussed Bing Zhe and Siyue’s relationship.  Master Wu reminded Bing Zhe that as he is a member of the Joint Court, he cannot have a relationship with anyone.  As it is, Bing Zhe is just toying with Siyue’s feelings.

Be that as it may, Master Wu tasked Bing Zhe to supervise the distribution of the rice at thr Unwelcome Well.

From being a pariah, the hundreds of people were now grateful to him and think of him as a hero.  He found this overwhelming.

But what made him happy was the presence of Siyue. They reminisced their first meeting at the Unwelcome Well.

Siyue flirtingly asked Bing Zhe if he would grab her if she falls down the sluice once again.

Bing Zhe told her that he will not only grab her but hold her to him tightly and he did hold her to him.  So cute.

Chunhe was killed by 16th Night after she said that she wanted to leave Luoyang.

Erlang was given authority by Master Wu to speak with his brother in jail.

Kuanran told Erlang that the Four Season will only flourish because as soon as he’s gone someone else will take over.  Their mission after all is for the greater good.

As Erlang can’t get any more information from Kuanrane, Master Wu went to see Kuaran himself

It turned out that Master Wu was Lord Phoenix, the real leader of Four Season.

Kuanran paid homage to him.

Master Wu looked like he is dying because of his incessant coughing and chest infection.

Siyue felt guilty about this because to provide for them, his brother had become a food taster for the king when he was still just but a boy.

The poison he must have ingested had corrupted his body.

Episode 38

Baili Kuaren was publicly executed.

Meanwhile, Master Wu was deemed a hero for having apprehended and caught Baili Kuaren, breaking up the Four Season.

As a reward, the Empress made him King of Longshan and granted him a fiefdom of 3000 households.

The Queen also gave his a spiel for being better than her direct descendant and was sorry that he was not the Crown Prince then she could sleep soundly at night.

Liou Feng was so upset to find out that Chuche is dead; she was killed for colluding with the Four Season.

Bing Zhe met up for another tight hug with Siyueat the Unwelcome Well, he can’t help telling her that the arrest and execution of Kuaren and rescue of the grains came too easy. He had a feeling that there was more to it.

Liu Ran and her maid were being bullied at the grain store.  Siyue turned up and told off all the people.

One of the town people did speak up and said that Baili Hongyi was a patriotic and selfless guy who went directly to the Empr4ess to report his own brother.

Siyue found her brother created a secret indoor temple for their parents.

She was overwrought to find that her beloved brother was a nasty, vindictive man who was prepared to kill anyone who got in his way in the name of avenging their dead parents.  She was particularly sad that Bei Qi died because of her.

Siyue was tempted to kill her brother but she couldn’t do it in the end.  He then demanded that she hand over the peony token to him.

Meanwhile, Erlang and Liu Ran were holding a bon voyage party because they are leaving Luoyang for good as the clan was gone and he had avenged his father.

Master Wu recruited more soldiers for the Inner Guard.  The new soldiers were from Four Season.

Episode 39

Alert: Sad Ending; wrong woman gone!🤣🤣🤣

It was the day when the Empress went to the South Market to officially open the granaries.

Beforehand, Master Wu had already instructed to install the Thunder underground in the crowded market to blow everyone one.

While the Empress was giving the opening speech, Master Wu conveniently the venue but he was surprised to meet Bing Zhe under the dyed hanging long cloths.

Bing Zhe queried why the hurry to left the market when the Empress was talking about Master Wu heroic endevour.

Master Wu said that he was an ailing man and does not want to ruin the celebration with his incessant coughing.

Bing Zhe however was not buying becasue he already knew the whole truth.  Between him and Erlang, they were able to mobilise the Unwelcome Well resident to remove and disable the Thunders.

Master Wu realised this because the Empress declared the granaries opened and not explosion was heard.

Bing Zhe said that Master Wu had been very very clever and his plotting got everyone he wanted in to trouble including the King of East Sea and the Crown Prince.

Master Wu said that it was Bing Zhe’s words against him.  Bing Zhe has no evidence at all.

Then the Inner Guards and Palace Guards led by Siyue surrounded them.

Siyue then brought out her Peony token and arrested her brother under the Empress’ order. Siyue begged her brother to surrender, she said she will go with him to court and beg the Empress of mercy.

Master Wu was always protective of her and said that she had nothing to do with his business.  She was totally innocent.

Alas, she still had to pay for Master Wu’s misdemeanor because by the grassy knoll, oops sorry by the rooftop a lone gunman or arrow shooter was in standby.

It was the stupid brother of Liu Ran who came to avenge Chuhe.  He meant to kill Master Wu but Siyue saw the arrow and stood in front of her brother.

She got shot and died in the arms of Bing Zhe while Master Wu was screaming his head off in grief.

Ten days later…

The Empress learned of the role played by the Unwelcome Well residents.  Because of their heroic deeds, she ordered that they can come out from under their rock and live and join the overground people of Luoyang.

All the members of Four Season’s had been arrested.

Because of Siyue’s heroism, Master Wu did not get the death penalty.

Master Chu had been reinstated, without his mask, as leader of Joint Court once again.

Erlang was promoted as Minister of Works but he resigned because he wanted to go traveling and leave Luoyang with Liu Ran.

I think it was a good thing that Erlang and Liu Ran was not shown in the end enjoying life, walking into the sunset.  That would have been traumatic given that adorable Siyue died.

Liu Feng was not punished for killing Siyue.  Instead, he was banished to the frontier to be taught a lesson by his father.

As to Bing Zhe, he was standing by the Bridge of Sigh contentedly looking at the Unwelcome Well people happily mingling with the overground people of Luoyang.  His smile dimmed when he remembered the comely Siyue.

Hey, it is only ten days, time heals all wounds.

The ending was truly shocking, the wrong woman died.  I don’t think there is really any reason why Siyue had to be killed.  If it had been her brother who was killed off, everything would have been done and dusted and Siyue lives happily ever after with Bing Zhe. But then there was a rule for Joint Court that they can’t marry for a lifetime.  But then again, changes happened like Master Chu doesn’t have to wear a mask at work anymore.  And surely being a prince he had to marry as well.  Another thing Siyue is a distant member of the ruling Wu family, so the Empress could give her and Bing Zhe a special dispensation to marry.  Or they could both pretend to die and then disappear and travel the world and do fruit picking as they had always wanted.😜😜😜

 

The End