Doomed to Oblivion

Late in the sixty-year-long reign of the Kangxi Emperor, Zheng Ban Kiu is a young scholar preparing for the Imperial examination. Supporting himself through the sale of his paintings, Zheng comes to the attention, and becomes a confidante, of the Emperor. However, the Emperor died before he could fulfill his promise to grant Zheng a position as an official.

Wong Yut Che is Zheng's first love, and promised to him in marriage. Hearing about the Emperor's passing, Wong's mother realizes that Zheng is just an ordinary artist, she wishes for her daughter to marry a high-ranking official instead and substitutes her adopted daughter, Chui Chun Heung as the bride. Only when he lifts the bridal veil does Zheng learn that he has been cheated, however Wong's mother insists that she has kept the letter of her promise. Although Chui is devoted in her love to him, Zheng loathes Chui for conspiring with her mistress to rob him of his first love. Over time, Zheng softened towards Chui and their relationship improved.

Unexpectedly, Wong re-enters Zheng's life, asking him to forge a copy of a damaged scroll for her. The scroll is the last work by Kangxi, and in recreating it Zheng discovers a secret to the Imperial succession. Cheng keeps the secret revealed by the scroll to himself as knowledge of such secrets is a death sentence. However, Wong's mother became fearful and impatient, she steals the duplicate scroll from Cheng and sets in place the downfall of her family. Blaming Zheng for this, Wong seeks revenge.

Years later, Zheng wrote a poem criticizing the corrupt officials and became a wanted man. In an attempt to save Zheng from the local police, Chui was badly injured. At the time, the Emperor in charge was Qianlong, he was impressed with Zheng and gave him a place as a high-ranking official, but Zheng refused in favour of being a local magistrate and leading a simpler life. However, Chui's injuries were getting worse and she knew her days were numbered. Knowing her husband is prone to despair and that, without her by his side, Zheng will allow himself to waste away, Chui forces Zheng to marry her protege Yiu Ng-mui. On her death bed, Chui recalled seeing Wong again. She feared Wong would seek revenge and asked Yiu to protect Zheng from her.

Two years later, Zheng is a local magistrate. Yiu Ng-mui has taken the place of Chui, and devotes herself to caring for Zheng, earning a reputation as a good and dutiful wife. Zheng however has convinced himself that in losing Chui, he has lost the one true love of his life, and is cold and indifferent to Yiu. At this time, Qianlong Emperor had a task for Zheng, and Zheng was given a rise in ranks. Wong took opportunity of that and framed Zheng of trying to rebel against the Emperor, Zheng was arrested. Yiu tried everything she can to save Zheng, and eventually manages to let Wong learn the truth about her mother's actions. Wong later regrets framing Zheng and admits to her crimes. Having received her punishment, Wong exits Zheng's life again.

Zheng returns home to find that Yiu has left the house. Yiu can no longer bring herself to continue living with the man that she loves, but who does not love her in return. With her promise to Chui fulfilled, Yiu acquiesces to the divorce that Zheng has wanted for many years. However, on finding Yiu gone, Zheng realizes that he has made the same mistake twice, but that with Yiu he has a chance to correct it, and he runs after her.

The following uses Cantonese romanisations

• (in Chinese) Doomed to Oblivion official page on TVB's website