The series follows through the love story and their ups and downs of young master Gu Jiu Si and Liu Yu Ru. Bai Jing Ting and Song Yi portray the couple respectively.
Playboy meets Pretty Merchant
Originally Gu Jiu Si is the beloved son of Gu Lang Hua and wife, pampered but wilful. Loyal to friends but pure in love. When he meets Liu Yu Ru, the two are like cats and dogs, oil and water, can’t seem to get along with each other. On the other hand, Liu Yu Ru is smitten with Ye Shi An, a scholar and hoping to marry him.
In order to escape the marriage arrangement for Gu Jiu Si with the princess from Liang Kingdom, the Gu family arranges for Gu Jiu Si to marry Liu Yu Ru, whom they mistook as the love of his life. In order to help his imprisoned father, Liu Yu Ru agrees to marry Gu Jiu Si. Although officially married, Gu Jiu Si is determined to give a divorce to Liu Yu Ru at a later stage.
As they get to know each other better, they begin to understand themselves and each other better. Liu Yu Ru realises that Gu Jiu Si has many strengths, despite his playfulness. Originally thinking Liu Yu Ru as a scheming lady, he is surprised with her persistence and commitment. Both falling in love as time passes by.
When Commissioner Wang Shan Quan attacks the old families of Yangzhou out of spite and to grab their wealth, Gu family and Ye family are annihilated. Escaping Yangzhou, Gu Jiu Si and Liu Yu Ru have to start anew in Youzhou. Luo Zi Shang, a young scholar, schemes and assists Commissioner Wang Shan Quan in their quest against the old families.
Starting Over in Youzhou
With help from General Zhou and Commissioner Fan in Youzhou, the couple built great relationship with the younger generations including Zhou Ye and Fan Yu.
Ye Shi An is forced to work with Commissioner Wang Shan Quan to protect his sister Ye Yun. Ultimately, the two are reunited with Liu Yu Ru and follows her to Youzhou. They also meet Shen Ming, a bandit turned soldier.
The good days of fooling around as youth is shortened as they face another bouts of schemes and the impending war.
The Twisted World of Being Emperor and Governing the World
Ultimately, Commissioner Fan Xuan is enthroned as the emperor, while his son Fan Yu becomes the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, Fan Yu begins to turn wayward especially upon getting close to Grand Tutor Luo Zi Shang.
Although good friends, the newly enthroned Fan Xuan falls off with his good friend General Zhou Gao Lang, leaving him alone to ensure the court is cleaned up while the border is strengthened against enemies.
The few youngsters are sent out to gain experience in their respective areas. Ye Shi An in the capital city to manage the finances of the country, Shen Ming in the army at the border to protect the boundary, assisted by Ye Yun working as an army medical practitioner, Zhou Ye at the border working alongside his father and brothers, Gu Jiu Si working on building the dam along the Yellow River to stop the flooding, Liu Yu Ru working as merchant to build up the coffer for the future and support both the army and construction of the dam.
When the Emperor Fan Xuan is at his death bed, he decides to leave the throne to his good friend Zhou Gao Lang. Unfortunately, his son insists on taking over and ordered for the Zhou family to be killed and to cut provisions to the Zhou army at the border.
The youngsters banded together to throw over Fan Yu, they finally established a new kingdom under Zhao Gao Lang and pursues their own interest. Finally an ideal kingdom with youngsters leading.
Muses & Thoughts
The series actually starts off interesting, and I am smitten with the playfulness displayed by Gu Jiu Si and how the ever-proper Liu Yu Ru brings him to his senses. I love their initial stages of getting to know each other. But by the time they reach Youzhou, the romance part kind of falls apart. Yes, they still love each other very much and stays committed to one another. But there isn’t any major breakthrough in their relationship. Perhaps when Liu Yu Ru’s fake death, it evokes significant emotion from Gu Jiu Si but his responses are quite muted.
I like the fact that Liu Yu Ru is portrayed as an independent woman, able to be a merchant and respected as an individual. It is great for her dabble in business to generate lots of revenue for these to be channelled towards army provisions and society’s requirements. Realistically, I thought it is slightly exaggerated in terms of her business acumen and the ability to generate so much revenue within such a short span of time. I am also slightly disappointed with the character development for Liu Yu Ru, and Song Yi’s portrayal thereof.
Side romance for the other couples is also not as interesting. The pairing also seems off. It is quite sad that Zhou Ye loses the love of his life Wan Qin. Pairing off Shen Ming and Ye Yun makes sense. While Ye Shi An is left with no suitor even with such a long-winded series.
The side story for Luo Zi Shang is quite ridiculous, especially the ending. I really hated the character and the ending. The ending really doesn’t suit his personality. A person with such scheming character and cruelty – his guilt-consciousness doesn’t make sense. I can still understand his soft spot for Liu Yu Ru as their relationship pre-dates their youth, but his revenge-seeking schemes seem to be a little too cruel. Perhaps like father, like son.
The series also make a lot of inferences on how merchants can contribute towards the country and society. It actually sounds like a propaganda to me. 😀 I believe the taxes should be equitable to ensure adequate coffer is built for the country. But the corruption and personal agenda especially in the pursuit of power is a big challenge. Even with the most idealistic targets being pursued, the road is long and winding. In the past, the pursuit of power kills so many. In the current state, the pursuit of money and wealth seems to divert morality and values.
Conclusion (6/10)
Originally attracted to Bai Jing Ting and Song Yi as the leads for the series, I am disappointed with the series. At 40-episodes, the series lack a good strong storyline to carry it through. To rely on a love story or a strong woman is really inadequate. Although great at the beginning, the sizzles stopped half way through for the two leads. And their character development is not worthy of mention in the subsequent second half.
Unless you are really a great fan of the two, the series may test your patience. The first half of the series are great, but the second half is a disappointment. The series seem to be high cost with costume and significant attention paid to props.
Watch this with a lot of slacks.
Cheng's Musings 