The Deer and the Cauldron(2020)

The Deer and the Cauldron is a Chinese historical series following Wei Xiaobao, a street-smart commoner who stumbles into the imperial palace without martial training. Using cunning and wit, he navigates court intrigue and gang warfare, posing as a eunuch to help Emperor Kangxi eliminate the rival Obai. Wei encounters the martial master Chen Jinnan and becomes his disciple, deepening his role in Kangxi's political struggles. What begins as a hustler's dream of befriending the emperor for wealth transforms into something grander—Wei evolves into a principled figure who can distinguish loyalty from treachery. Along the way, he encounters numerous women and builds a romantic life marked by passion and domestic complexity. The series blends historical drama with adventure, tracing one man's unlikely ascent from gangster to trusted confidant.