The Emperor's Second Uncle

This film (drama)Also known as皇上二大爷，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2006Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin，Current Douban rating7.4(For reference only)。

Based on the traditional Chinese comic dialogue "Master Shuo." The Master Shuo, also known as Lord Shuo, is a legendary and unique character deeply rooted in the oral tradition of old Beijing. He shuns court politics, advocates for the people, and serves as a "just ruler" amidst the trivial matters of the streets. He unintentionally and intentionally resolves the many tangles and troubles faced by the common folk, embodying a sincere understanding of their real hardships and effectively solving issues. As a result, he is beloved and cherished by the people, becoming an "alternative lord" who has lived in their hearts for hundreds of years. According to legend, Master Shuo is the second brother of the Ming Emperor Muzong and the second uncle of Emperor Shenzong, with his real name being Yongshuo. He is popularly called “Master Shuo,” “Second Uncle,” or “Our Second Uncle.” He is the beloved son of Ming Emperor Shizong Zhu Houcong, skilled in both martial and civil affairs, and possesses exceptional talents. However, witnessing the fierce competition for favor and position among the princes, he chose to avoid the bloodshed and rivalry by feigning illness and retreating to his fief in Daxing County, located south of the capital, to raise horses and train pigeons. After "falling ill" and returning home, he did not idle away his time or enjoy a quiet life; instead, he donned simple clothes and a straw hat, running through the alleys and visiting the marketplace, addressing the "unjust affairs" of common people. He preferred riding a broken-eared old donkey over a majestic steed, wielding a golden scratching tool gifted by Emperor Muzong, which was meant to deter tyrants and corrupt officials, navigating through the alleys and marketplaces. He upheld the philosophy that "there are no trivial matters among the people," prioritizing the people over the ruler and considering the state second, embodying a "people-centered" mindset. He believed in the principle that "water can carry a boat and can also overturn it," and whenever he encountered injustice, he stepped in to help, claiming that matters the Emperor could not handle were certainly to be addressed by him, thus becoming a well-known figure in Daxing and beyond, known by all as a common people's lord. The story unfolds in the 12th year of Emperor Wanli's reign when a divine blessing bestows the young Emperor, aged twenty-one, with a second son. However, his favored concubine takes advantage of the situation, and the impulsive Emperor, young and headstrong, desires to depose the firstborn and make the second son the heir apparent. This proposal ignites sharp conflicts between factions within the court, each with their own motives, leading to endless quarrels among interest groups, spiraling the situation out of control. To resolve this thorny issue and calm the tensions, both sides think of the long-respected Master Shuo. It is said that within the golden scratching tool gifted by the late Emperor was a secret decree that would address the issue of heir selection, which both sides sought to know and utilize. In this context, both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager issued orders for Master Shuo to enter the palace and resolve the heir selection conflict. However, Master Shuo believes that since the young Emperor has many significant national affairs to attend to, he should not become embroiled in the heir selection dispute, which could detract from more important matters. He advises the young Emperor in a unique way, encouraging him to be concerned about the hardships of the common people and to undertake practical matters that would improve their well-being. He deliberately delays his return, allowing the Emperor time to reflect and contemplate, traveling from Daxing to the palace shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. He ends up taking an entire hundred days, and finally, just as the second son reaches his "hundred days," he reveals the secret decree contained within the scratching tool, ultimately aligning with Master Shuo's intentions, diffusing the crisis and helping the young Emperor mature. Simultaneously, during this hundred days, Master Shuo had to navigate repeated requests for his attention amidst deception and genuine demands, maneuvering through the dangers posed by the Prince Ping, while also addressing urgent local issues that could not be overlooked, rectifying the wrongdoings of local bullies like Niu Huaigen, and dealing with cases of private salt selling and local oppression. He intervened in matters such as the cancellation of an engagement, providing shelter for the Zhou family, and defending the rights of an old man named Zheng. He dismantled harmful practices at a filial piety home, helped a pancake shop owner reclaim a year’s worth of unpaid debts, and resolved the issues of a gambling-addicted owner of a silk store that even the scratching tool could not solve. To Master Shuo, these seemingly trivial matters are as significant as state secrets, directly affecting the livelihoods and well-being of the common people. For him, they may be minor concerns, but for the people, they are mattering life and death, and none can be neglected. Master Shuo felt tired, struggled, and faced dangers, yet he found joy amidst the hustle and bustle, embodying the lively spirit of "Our Second Uncle!" While resolving the hardships of the common people, Master Shuo also took in the royal brother Da Kui, who was forced to wander amongst the masses due to the heir selection dispute, protecting the Ryukyu princess Chuan Mei, unveiling the conspiracy between Prince Ping and the Japanese invaders, and exposing the criminal acts of theft against the national treasury. The entire narrative portrays a Second Uncle who labors to create a peaceful and harmonious society, concerned for the daily needs of the common people. A Second Uncle that the people will forever look forward to.