The Duke of Mount Deer (2000 TV series)

2000 multi-national TV series or program

The Duke of Mount Deer

Official poster

Traditional Chinese| 小寶與康熙
Simplified Chinese| 小宝与康熙
Literal meaning| Xiaobao and Kangxi
Hanyu Pinyin| Xiǎobǎo yǔ Kāngxī
Jyutping| Siu2-bou2 jyu4 Hong1-hei1
Genre| Wuxia, comedy, historical fiction
Based on| The Deer and the Cauldron
by Louis Cha
Starring| Dicky Cheung
Patrick Tam
Opening theme| Yibeizi Yi Chang Meng (一輩子一場夢) performed by Dicky Cheung
Ending theme| Ni Ai Wo Xiang Shei (你愛我像誰) performed by Dicky Cheung
Country of origin| Taiwan
Hong Kong
Original languages| Mandarin
Cantonese
No. of episodes| 40 (DVD)
48 (VCD)
Production
Producers| GTV
TVB
Running time| 45 minutes per episode (DVD)
35 minutes per episode (VCD)
Original release
Network| GTV
TVB
Release| 25 July 2000 (2000-07-25)

The Duke of Mount Deer 2000 is a Hong Kong-Taiwanese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Deer and the Cauldron. It was first broadcast in 2000 in Taiwan and followed by subsequent broadcasts in other Asian countries.

## Plot

[edit]

The story is set in the early Qing Dynasty. The protagonist is an uneducated street urchin called Wei Xiaobao, who was born and raised by his mother in a brothel in Yangzhou. Through a series of misadventures, Wei manages to make his way from Yangzhou to Beijing, the seat of the Qing government, where he accidentally bumbles into a fateful encounter with the young Kangxi Emperor. By hook or by crook, but also through a genuine concern and fierce loyalty towards Kangxi, Wei finds himself in the greatest of confidences and a complicated friendship with one of the most eminent monarchs in Chinese history.

The plot follows Wei on a rags-to-riches journey as he becomes embroiled in political and court intrigues, helping Kangxi overcome his enemies, and accomplishing amazing achievements. Along the way, Wei meets and successfully woos seven beautiful women, climbs his way up the social ladder from brothel boy to great lord and nobleman, acquiring titles such as 'Imperial Emissary and Plenipotentiary', 'Ambassador', 'General' and 'Admiral' — courtesy of Kangxi — as well as finding himself in positions completely at odds with the above: 'Green Wood Lodge Master' of the Heaven and Earth Society, and 'White Dragon Marshal' of the Mystic Dragon Cult.

In the end, however, Wei cannot reconcile his two separate lives — as an anti-Qing rebel and Kangxi's devoted courtier. He chose to offer up his own life — in return for Kangxi's munificence towards him and also as an honourable way out of the Heaven and Earth Society. Pained and aggrieved beyond words, Kangxi orders the execution of his one and only true friend. Afterwards, plagued by loss and guilt, Kangxi took a long walk along the Great Wall, asking Heaven for guidance — only to be happily surprised by the appearance of Wei, who did not die. After saving his mate's life once again, Wei bids Kangxi farewell, reaffirming their friendship which will, from that point onwards, remain only in their minds and memories.

## Cast

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* Dicky Cheung as Wei Xiaobao
* Patrick Tam as Kangxi Emperor
* Ruby Lin as Princess Jianning
* Annie Wu as Shuang'er
* Athena Chu as A'ke
* Teresa Mak as Fang Yi
* Monica Chan as Long'er
* Shu Qi as Xiao Jinyu
* Jess Zhang as Mu Jianping
* Wong Yat-fei as Duolong
* Bryan Leung as Hu Dedi
* Ekin Cheng as Chan Jinnan
* Ng Man-tat as Hai Dafu
* Chen Kuan-tai as Hong Antong
* Zheng Guo Lin as Zheng Keshuang
* Elvis Tsui as Oboi

## VCD release

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In 2002, Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (International) released The Duke of Mount Deer in a 24-disc VCD set with a total of 48 episodes, each about 35 minutes long. Viewers can choose to have the dialogue in Cantonese or Mandarin, along with subtitles in Traditional Chinese. The VCD set is no longer available now.

## External links

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* (in Chinese) The Duke of Mount Deer official page on TVB website

* v
* t
* e

The Deer and the Cauldron by Jin Yong

Characters|

* List of characters

Film adaptations|

* Tale of a Eunuch (1983)
* Royal Tramp (1992)
* Royal Tramp II (1992)
* Hero – Beyond the Boundary of Time (1993)

Television adaptations|

* The Duke of Mount Deer (TVB) (1984)
* The Duke of Mount Deer (CTV) (1984)
* The Duke of Mount Deer (1998)
* The Duke of Mount Deer (2000)
* Royal Tramp (2008)
* The Deer and the Cauldron (2014)
* The Deer and the Cauldron (2020)

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