An Elite's Choice

Wai Yuk Kuen and Suk Yin love each other but after a misunderstanding, the latter is married to Yuk Hun. Later on, Yuk Kuen has an affair with Suk Yin and subsequently the two have a son, Wai Man Ho. Ashamed of herself, Suk Yin kills herself. Thereafter, Kuen and Hun are hostile to each other. Man Ho thus has a hard time pleasing two fathers. Man Ho and his wet nurse's son, Ko Kau, are bosom friends and the two often study and have fun together. However, Ko Kau feels inferior because of his humble background and longs to stand out from others. The Wai family suffers a fall in fortune and Wai Ying Cheong has to pawn belongings. In fact, Yuk Hun has been making profits but Choi Fung saves all the money for herself. Man Ho falls for the famous prostitute, Lim Lo, who is also fond of him.… ...

Hun and Kun are relieved when Ying Cheong finally cures Princess Cheong Ching. Ying Cheong grows fond of Cheong Ching and nurses her with tender care. Knowing that Cheong Ching falls ill because her lover leaves her, Ying Cheong comforts her. Becoming more cheerful, Cheong Ching feels much grateful for Ying Cheong. Chi Tsung promotes Ying Cheong at Cheong Ching's request. The Wai family thus gains much status and is flattered by all. Ying Cheong proposes to Chi Tsung to seek a husband for Cheong Ching in order for her to recover entirely. Chi Tsung agrees to it and assigns Ying Cheong to do the job. Failing to select an eligible husband for Cheong Ching, Ying Cheong later discovers that Yuk Kuen is the ideal person. However, Yuk Kuen rejects to meet the Princess. Using some tricks, Ying Cheong finally manages to conYince Yuk Kuen.

Ying Cheong makes arrangements so Yuk Kuen rescues Princess Cheong Ching and wins her affection. By some mistake, Ying Cheong's plan fails. Not knowing each other's identity, Yuk Kuen and Cheong Ching meet, much impressed by the other. Later when the two finds out the truth, they agree readily to the marriage. Chi Tsung grants Cheong Ching a house but the latter decides to live with the Wai family so as to fulfill her duty as a wife. Cheong Ching avoids making love with Yuk Kuen. Understanding her emotionally problem, Yuk Kuen is patient of it. Finding that Cheong Chi.ng respects his family members and treats them on equal terms, Yuk Kuen admires his wife more and more. Chow Pong Yin seeks patronage from the Wai family but Ying Cheong is displeased since the former does not mind his words. Learning from Pong that people are, suffering, Cheong Ching decides to ask Chi Tsung to improve the situation.

Knowing that he is not welcomed by the Wai family, Pong Yin decides to report duty as soon as possible so as to move in the hostel. Pong Yin is assigned to teach Man Ho. Though Man Ho is mischievous, Pong Yin finds that he knows much about literature and thus thinks highly of him. Knowing that the best student would be chosen to receive Chi Tsung, Man Ho feels confident that he is the one. To damp his arrogance, Pong Yin picks Chun Si instead. Frustrated, Man Ho burns Pong Yin’s collection of calligraphy. To teach Man‧ Ho a lesson, Yuk Kuen beats him up and reveals his relationship with him. Cheong Ching understands Yuk Kuen and does not blame him. Cheong Ching refuses to make love with Yuk Kuen who then talks to Madam Lee to give vent to his grievance. Pin Pin thus suggests Yuk Kuen to taunt Cheong Ching.

Yuk Kuen taunts Cheong Ching who cannot bear it and dies instantly, all too late for Yuk Kuen to regret. To give vent to his fury and sorrow, Chi Tsung vows to kill Yuk Kuen. He thus frames him of assassinating him and sentences him to death. Ying Cheong seeks help but no one is willing to lend him a hand. Fortunately, Prince Tuen sympathizes with the Wai family and manages to change Chi Tsung's mind. Yuk Kuen is demoted and as a result, the Wai Family suffers a fall in status. Cheong Ching's death is a great blow to Ying Cheong who blames himself of matching the pair. At the learning institution, Man Ho feels frustrated when teased by Fook Chuen. Lim Lo comforts him often. Pong Yin joins a meeting of the poets but is lo6ked down by others because of his humble status. In a fury, Pong leaves the scene.… ...

Pong Yin goes pick up Madam Lau and Lai Ki who would then lodge at his hostel. Pong Yin feels ashamed when Lai Ki realizes his humble background. All the rich young men start courting See See who refuses to see them. See See perchance meets Pong Yin and is much impressed by his talent. However, Pong Yin is unmoved by her‧ beauty. Man Ho and Lim Lo visits the temple. There the fortune-teller tells the latter that she could only be a second wife. Man Ho then comforts Lim lo who feels sad about it. Much discouraged by the fortune-teller who tells her that she would have a hard life, See See decides to kill herself. Pong Yin comes in time to her rescue. Learning about See See's background, Pong Yin sympathizes with her and even grows to love her. To meet expenses at the turn of a year, Ying Cheong pawns his clothing and dismisses some servants. At the fair, Man Ho perchance wins Chor Ming Chu who then becomes his maid.

Ming Chu is stubborn and Man Ho often makes fun of her on purpose. The two become an odd pair. With the help of Man Ho, See See meets Pong Yin again. See See admires Pong Yin and is very fond of him. However, Pong Yin is ashamed of his humble background and finds it hard to reveal his love for her. Madam Lee arranges a competition for See See Encouraged by Man Ho, Pong Yin is joins it and eventually wins See See's love. Understanding Pong Yin's situation, Madam Lee asks for less money but Pong Yin cannot meet it even after he pawns his properties. Man Ho offers to help Pong Yin sell his calligraphy. Fook Chuen happens to come by and challenges him to play shuttlecock. Man Ho takes the chance to beat him money. Fook Chuen agrees to it. Man Ho practices hard for the bet. Pong Yin is discontented, thinking that Man Ho neglects his study. Fook Chuen sends men to injure Man Ho who then loses the bet.… ...

Fearing that Man Ho would involve him, Ko Kau bribes Chai Chow who then promises that he would pass the examination. Learning that someone is altering the result of the examination, Pong Yin uses trick and forces Chai Chow to openly declare that he would not cheat. In the end, Man Ho comes the third. Pong Yin also reveals that Ko Kau bribed Chai Chow and dismisses him. Ko Kau thus hates Man Ho and Pong Yin, thinking that Ho tricked him. Using some trick, See See manages to increase the price of Pong Yin's calligraphy. Pong Yin thus manages to gather enough money to ask for See See's hand. Prince Tuen opens a shuttlecock-court and invites the students to a competition, Chun Si falls ill. Man Ho then asks Ko Kau to be his partner. The two co-operate well and easily beat Prince Tuen who is impressed by their skill. The selected day comes and Pong Yin finally gets married with See See.

Lim La's father, Ping, persuades her to be a prostitute. Lim Lo rejects but in order to gather money for her father, she reluctantly serves an Indian client. Pitying herself, Lim Lo comes across Lu Ying Heung who is close t6 insanity. Learning from Madam Lee about Heung's sad experience, Lim Lo feels more sorrowful. Ko Kau perchance comes across Prince Tuen who invites him to join his shuttlecock team in the competition. Ko Kau agrees to it in delight and stops. Prince Tuen from inviting Man Ho. Ko Kau's team easily ~ins and so Prince Tuen is further impressed by his skill. Jealous of Man Ho who gets the chance to meet Chi Tsung, Fook Chuen frames him of stealing his jade pendant. Fortunately, Pong Yin defends. Man Ho who is thus not dismissed. However, Pong Yin is then forced to quit his job. The Chow family moves to the Wai's house but i5 looked down by Choi Fung.

Ko Kau tries hard to please Prince Tuen and subsequently Wins his trust. To his delight, Prince Tuen then asks Ko Kau to serve him and Ying Cheong dares not oppose. Not knowing that Ko Kau is a tricky man, Man Ho misses him. Pong Yin tells See See with regret about the past love affair between Chor Sheung Wan and him. See See comforts him. Yuk Kuen dies of illness. Encouraged by Yuk Hun, Man Ho been his sorrow and studies hard. Man Ho subsequently gets an official rank and thus wins glory for his family. He then moves to the hostel in order to concentrate on his study. Learning about Man Ho’s true background, Ming Chu better understands him and gradually changes her impression on him. Man Ho and Lim Lo have been in love for years but he shows no sign .of marrying her. A merchant intends to take Lim Lo as his second wife. Lim lo thus decides to ask Man Ho if he loves her.… ...

Lim Ho is disappointed with Man Ho. Ko Kau takes the chance to please her and finally wins her love. The two then live together. Not wanting to give Man Ho the blow, Madam Lee hides the fact from him. Man Ho studies too hard and falls ill. However, he insists to carry on, much to worry Ming Chu. After taking the examination, Man Ho faints. Ming Chu looks after him carefully. On recovery, Man Ho goes immediately to see Lim Loi and is perplexed that she leaves him without telling him. Man Ho finally discovers that Lim Lo is staying with Ko Kau. In a fury, Man Ho beats Ko Kau up. Man Ho and Lim Lo both feel very distressed while Ko Kau takes the pleasure.

Siu Hung secretly eats Choi Fung's roast goose. Thinking that Lai Ki did it, Choi Fung rebukes him and Pong Yin beats him up as punishment. When later he discovers the truth, Pong Yin feels much sorry for what he has done. Not wanting to live in another's house, Pong Yin decides to seek a new lodge and is tricked to buy a dilapidated house. Pong Yin feels grateful that Man Ho helps him repair it. Man Ho gets an official rank and delights the Wai family. At this time, Man Ho and Ming Chu fall in love. Living in the same house with her, Man Ho fears that he cannot control himself and thus seeks help from Pong Yin to drive Ming Chu away by trick. Ming Chu moves to live in Pong Yin's house and is much perplexed about Man Ho's capricious attitude towards her. Chu Fook Chuen gets an official rank by bribery. To take revenge on Man Ho, he creates trouble for him, much to frustrate Man Ho. Prince Tuen grants Ko Ka an official rank.… ...

Finding hat Ko Kau makes use of him to please Prince Tuen, Man Ho bears the frustration and vows to establish himself. To bribe for an official rank, Man Ho asks Yuk Hun for money but he refuses. Later when Yuk Hun is bullied by some officials, he realizes their influence and thus gives Man Ho the money. Man Ho secures a rank and invites his relatives and friends to a feast. He dives Pong Yin a new cloth so he can wear it to his feast. Pong Yin is furious about it and refuses to turn up Man Ho understands him and explains to him in person that he would not do wrong things. Lim Ho finds that Ko Kau shows no sign of marrying her and so she asks him about it. Ko Kau makes excuse, much to puzzle Lim Lo. Man Ho perchance meets Prince Tuen and tries hard to please him, leaving a good impression on him. Prince Tuen subsequently thinks highly of Man Ho when later on he saves the life of Prince Tuen's wet nurse.

Ming Chu lives hsupply since Fong Yin and his family treat her well. She feels delighted when she learns from Pong Yin that Man Ho is fond of her. Prince Tuen is disappointed that no one celebrates his birthday. Knowing that Man Ho was born on the same day, Prince Tuen goes with him to his family who prepares a dinner to celebrate. Finding that Man Ho gets along well with his family, he envies him. Knowing how Prince Tuen feels, Man Ho comforts him and the two spend the night chatting, their friendship much enhanced. Ko Kau is unhappy that Man Ho is winning Prince Tuen’s trust. Chi Tsung rebukes Prince Tuen of fooling around all day. To improve his knowledge thus decide to establish a literary society and assigns Man Ho to find a verse for the society. Man Ho takes the chance to help Pong Yin by giving him more money for the job.… ...

Pong Yin eventually gets an official rank but he quits soon after he finds that it is no challenging job. See See feels sad and frustrated that she sacrificed for no reason. Prince Tuen decides to invite See See to perform at his literary society on the opening day. Man Ho persuades See See who agrees to it for his sake. In the end, See See has a favorable impression of Prince Tuen who is charmed by her beauty. Pong Yin perchance learns that See See has sacrificed for him. Much moved by her, though painfully aroused, Pong Yin vows to establish himself to repay See See. Ming Chu worships at a temple and spends the night there. Missing her much, Man Ho cannot help himself but goes secretly to meet her. The two is forced to share the same bed for a sweet night. A monk tells Prince Tuen that he would be the emperor of the state.… ...

Wanting to give Ming Chu a surprise, Pong Yin does not tell her about the arrangement and causes a misunderstanding between them. When Ming Chu finds 0L1t the truth later on, she feels grateful for him. Pong Yin is assigned by Official Wu to be Man Ho's assistant. Pong Yin does not mind his status and works hard for achievements. Prince Tuen misses See See and goes in person to see her. However, See See rejects to meet him. Prince Tuen gets drunk and breaks into her room, making approaches to her. Lip Cheung Si and Leung Si Shing threaten the monk for the secret about Prince Tuen. To conceal the secret, the monk kills himself. Ko Kau witnesses the- whole thing and lies to Prince Tuen that he killed the monk to conceal the secret, winning his trust. Ko Kau and Man Ho exchange information, planning to tackle Lip Cheung Si and Leung Si Chun Si's carpenter is sent to the minister's house to make repairs.… ...

Chun Si decides to give the monk's will to the Queen Mother. Knowing this, Man Ho reports to Prince Tuen. Persuaded by Ko Kau, Prince Tuen kills Chun Si. Man Ho deeply regrets that he has involved his bosom friend. Prince Tuen bribes the royal doctor, Chan, to cheat the Queen Mother. As a result, she makes Prince Tuen the new emperor, much to his delight. Ming Chu knows that Man Ho is involved in Chun Si’s death and rebukes him. Discouraged, Man Ho gives himself up. Prince Tuen becomes the new emperor, Hui Tsung, and promotes Man Ho to a higher rank. Teased by Ko Kau, Man Ho vows to establish himself. Madam Lee's friend, Siu Yuk, asks Man Ho to help her in a case in which she is innocent. Not wanting to displease his colleagues, Man Ho charges Siu Yuk guilty. Frustrated, Siu Yuk kills herself. Learning about it, Ming Chu reprimands Man Ho.

See See tells Pong Yin about Ming Chu's true identity. Feeling regret but in order to prove that he had not abandoned her daughter, Pong Yin decides to go to Soochow to find Wan Mui to speak for him. Reading the monk's will, Hui Tsung realizes that he would end the Sung dynasty. Feeling sad about it, Hui Tsung asks Man Ho to summon See See to keep him company. Unable to reject the emperor See See yields. ‧ Ming Chu overhears Man Ho and See See talking about Pong Yin and her. Thinking that she is cheated, Ming Chu leaves the Chow’s house in fury and moves to lives in the temple. See See hints to Pong Yin to get married with her. However, Pong Yin is preoccupied with compromising with Ming Chu and does not take See See seriously. Hui Tsung goes in person to meet See See. The two spend the night together. Discovering it, Pong Yin is overcome by grief.

Pong Yin writes a poem about the intimacy between Hui Tsung and See See, and it becomes popular quickly. Finding that Pong Yin knows the affair between her and Hui Tsung, See See explains to him but fails to convince him. Fearing that Hui Tsung would kill Pong Yin because of the poem, See See asks Man Ho to m.ake up for it arid stop the poem from being further passed. Pong Yin and See See find that they cannot leave each other. Pong Yin listens to See See and decides to free her from Madam Lee. Madam Lee helps them and asks for no money. Pong Yin and See See thus get married immediately. At the wedding ceremony, Pong Yin is suddenly summoned by Hui Tsung and thinks that the latter learns about the marriage. He thus makes his escape with See See but is caught by Ko Kau. See See pretends to promise Hui Tsung that she would stay behind to serve him.… ...

Hui Tsung promotes Man Ho and grants him the Princes house. However, Man Ho is unmoved since he gradually finds that the court is a evil place. Hui Tsung realizes that Ko Kau is a tricky person while Man Ho is a man of character. He thus entrusts the latter more and more much to discontent Ko Kau. Ko Kau decides to ask the Princess's hand but worries that Lim Lo would be in his way. He thus purposely beats her up and summons Man Ho to see her, hoping that the two would re-unite and thus he has the excuse to abandon her. Man Ho realizes Ko Kau’s trick and does n6t fall into his trap. Disappointed by Ko Kau, Lim Lo feels much discouraged and decides to become a nun. Finding that Hui Tsung sends Ko Kau to kill Pong Yin and his family, Man Ho hurries to their rescue. When he arrives at the scene, Ko Kau is about to kill Pong Yin.… ...