In the Chamber of Bliss (2009)

In the early Republican era of China, President YUEN SAI-HOI summons CHOI NGOK, Military Governor of Yunnan to an urgent meeting in Beijing, in an attempt to make him pledge his loyalty to the Republican government. NGOK is not willing to be in league with the ambitious HOI, but to play it safe, he opts to go and set off on his own. NGOK’s wife PAK SZ-TING foresees that there is danger ahead of NGOK but dares not stop him. She used to forbid NGOK to take part in an uprising in the past, which turned out to be the biggest regret of his life. To prevent anything similar from happening again, TING, although overwhelmed with worries, decides to go along with NGOK. MOK YIK-TIN, HOI’s right-hand man and the Chief of Staff, sends the Beiyang Trio – FUNG KWOK-CHEUNG, WONG SZE-CHUN and TUEN KEI-SHUI – to Beijing in order to exert some control over NGOK. YIM-HUNG, a prostitute from Wan Kat Troupe, has offended Police Chief YUE HIN-LUNG.… ...

MEI and SIN are still worried about the dispute between HUNG and LUNG and even pin the blame for the trouble on NGOK and the Beiyang Trio. NGOK and TING who stay next door have overheard their conversation. To prevent SIN from being disturbed by LUNG, NGOK treats TIN and the Beiyang Trio to dinner at Wan Kat Troupe, during which he purposely tries to irritate SIN and looks for humiliation in return. NGOK is actually attempting to win the trust and support of the Beiyang Trio and TIN seems to have seen through him. SIN mocks NGOK and his troops for behaving like bandits while NGOK shows her “The Soldiers’ Ten Commandments” as a reply. NGOK suggests establishing a military academy and the idea earns HOI’s support. TIN does not trust NGOK at all and still keeps a lookout for him. MEI’s younger brother HUNG CHUN returns to Beijing to apply for entry to the military academy.… ...

SIN approaches NGOK and seeks every opportunity to recommend CHUN to him. NGOK, however, clearly points out that CHUN will have to pass the interview to get into the military academy. The Beiyang Trio passes NGOK a list of names of the Beiyang candidates and pressures him to accept them all as the military trainees. SIN secretly adds CHUN’s name to the list. Knowing that NGOK is on bad terms with the Beiyang Trio, TIN means to send the Trio’s munitions to the military academy, in a bid to exacerbate the tensions between them. NGOK pretends to accept all the Beiyang candidates but kicks CHUN out of the academy at the same time. SIN lodges a complaint to the news agency about the unfair military recruitment practices, hoping that this will provoke certain public concern over the issue and eventually make the military academy start the recruitment process all over again.… ...

NGOK finally accepts KWOK and CHUN as the military trainees. It is not KWOK’s wish to become a soldier but NGOK appreciates his patriotic fervor and believes that he will make a contribution to the country someday. KWOK is too arrogant and aloof to blend in with other military trainees. He and his team get punished for lack of cooperation. His classmates put the blame on him and beats him up to vent their anger. After becoming aware of this incident, NGOK gives the lads a lecture explaining the significance of team spirit. KWOK goes for a walk around the market, where he is mistaken for an abductor and gets beaten up by MOK MING-YEE. YEE is TIN’s biological daughter but was abducted to Beijing at a very young age. Luckily she was saved and brought up by “4 Queers”, WONG TIN-BA, TUEN SAM-CHOI, LO TUNG and TAI DEI-LOY as their foster daughter. TIN has been looking for his long-lost daughter all these years.… ...

SIN and MEI talk about what their lives will be like when they grow old alone. Later SIN has an odd dream about NGOK, which scares her out of her wits. TIN has held the funds to be allocated to the military academy, to which HOI has no objection at all. Knowing that there is nobody else he can rely on, NGOK decides to organize a fundraising event for the academy, which turns out to be a great success and has raised massive public concern about the issue. HOI is then left with no choice but to release the funds to the academy. NGOK’s mentor LEUNG KAI-CHIU comes to Beijing to pay NGOK a visit, during which he mentions Japan’s secret plan to invade China. NGOK arranges for CHIU to give a talk to the military trainees, hoping that this will give KWOK some inspiration and point him in the right direction. LUNG is not happy with KWOK’s poor physique. He gives KWOK a severe telling-off and even threatens him with a gun.… ...

SIN is so eager to help her brother settle his debts that she decides to take LUNG’s money. She tricks KWOK into writing a letter of apology to NGOK but NGOK finds the letter a little strange and suspicious when he gets it. NGOK and KWOK have a chess competition. NGOK pretends to have been defeated by KWOK, through which he hopes to make the lad understand that a little failure in the present moment can be replaced by a great success in the future. Believing that SIN has interceded with NGOK for KWOK making it possible for his son to stay in the military academy, LUNG decides to pass the money to SIN as promised. NGOK finds out that it is all a scam by SIN and urges her to get back the money from her brother in Shandong as soon as she can. In the meantime, NGOK is also setting off for Shandong for work. KWOK tells YEE that the 4 Queers have been arrested by TIN’s assistant Adjutant KONG MING-FUNG.… ...

SIN becomes devastated after being abandoned by her family. NGOK gives her a few words of encouragement and promises to stand by her no matter what. SIN is glad to have been accepted as a friend of his. TIN hosts a party to celebrate his reunion with YEE. During the party, LUNG reveals to FUNG how he has bribed NGOK to look out for KWOK in the military academy. TIN takes it as a great chance to defame NGOK and means to spread the rumor around the military academy. The military trainees go on strike to express their anger and dissatisfaction over the matter. Knowing what LUNG has done for him in secret, KWOK decides to quit school but is asked by NGOK to stay. Germany agrees to return Qingdao to China and Japan starts casting its eye on the city soon after that. HOI, nonetheless, has hardly paid any attention to this.… ...

Knowing that HOI is not listening to him, NGOK immediately gets in touch with his assistant Adjutant CHAN BIU and urges CHIU and KWOK to notify all the news agencies and foreign consulates in Beijing. He hopes this will create sufficient public pressure for HOI to face the problem and declare war on Japan. HOI insists that NGOK’s actions are totally pointless while TIN is worried that what NGOK says may be true. NGOK communicates with CHEUNG directly, almost resulting in a military coup which is soon squashed by HOI. The Japanese troops start to attack Qingdao at midnight and HOI is finally awakened to the truth. The Japanese spy has dropped a bomb on the train. SIN who tries to save a little kid from the blast gets injured along with NGOK. Qingdao is eventually taken by Japan due to HOI’s selfishness.… ...

YEE moves back with TIN and is bored to tears with the life there. She finds it very hard to learn English but KWOK’s tips and advice have made the learning process much easier and funnier. YEE realizes that she has already fallen in love with KWOK. SIN expresses her love for NGOK during her retirement party but NGOK slips off midway through without a word, leaving SIN extremely shocked and embarrassed on the spot. SIN still hopes that NGOK will have a change of heart someday. The Japanese government puts forward the 21 Demands and forces HOI to sign them, which infuriates HOI and every member of the cabinet. NGOK suggests declaring war on Japan but the idea is rejected by HOI and the Beiyang Trio right away. TIN gets a bit irked when he spots YEE hanging around with KWOK and the 4 Queers.… ...

NGOK keeps HOI captive and attempts a coup against his government. But HOI is cunning enough to have lured TING and BONG to Beijing as hostages, and have detained CHIU and NGOK’s students in confinement, thus contributing to the failure of NGOK’s military coup. HOI pressures NGOK to support the 21 Demands by threatening to kill all of his students. TING feels so guilty for causing NGOK into such a dilemma. Left with no way out, NGOK would rather drink himself into a stupor. Knowing that NGOK has arranged a family reunion for her and her brother, SIN becomes enraged and gives NGOK a terrible telling-off on the street. SIN’s brother blames her for failing to read NGOK’s mind. NGOK finally decides to show his support for the 21 Demands in exchange for the safety of his students. Following the widespread criticism flung at NGOK, CHIU and the military students have all deserted him while KWOK is the only one who stays.… ...

NGOK becomes so cold and indifferent towards TING after returning home. NGOK finds SIN’s letter, from which he learns that she is going to leave Beijing in order to save him from any further trouble. Immediately NGOK hurries to the train station to look for her. CHEUNG TSOK-LAM has an audience with HOI, during which he suggests reinstating the monarchy and declaring HOI to be the Emperor. LAM has a meeting with the Beiyang Trio at Wan Kat Troupe attempting to convince them of all the advantages of having a monarchy. NGOK who passes by cannot help but pour scorn on LAM and the two of them get into a terrible fight straight away. HOI reveals to TIN his intention to declare himself to be the Emperor, to which TIN shows support despite his deep reservations. Everyone is talking about the revival of the monarchy while NGOK seems to have no interest at all in the topic and keeps indulging himself with wine and women.… ...

LUNG needs FUNG’s help in getting his son into the Beiyang Army but the idea is rejected by KWOK. TIN sends FUNG to Hong Kong for a meeting with the munitions dealer. KWOK leaves Beijing and meets up with CHUN in Hong Kong, where they run into YEE and the 4 Queers. YEE offers to put the lads up at her place. KWOK and CHUN try to reach the munitions dealer but are not as nimble as FUNG. NGOK throws a birthday party for SIN. Later TING comes along and questions NGOK about his relationship with SIN. Out of the blue, NGOK admits in public that he is having an affair with the courtesan. HOI seeks to restore the monarchy but faces a lot of opposition. Even the Beiyang Trio do not show their support to the plan. TIN wants to try NGOK out, and he points out to SIN that NGOK is not really in love with her and that his sole aim is to save his family.… ...

YEE manages to get the password but fails to decode it. KWOK suspects that the decoding method may have something to do with FUNG’s background and would like NGOK to do some investigation. TIN tries to find out how SIN is getting on with NGOK but gets blamed by her for being too nosy. NGOK spots TIN and SIN together and fears that his plot will be unveiled. NGOK finds out about FUNG’s background from the Trio, based on which he comes up with the decoding method and manages to unlock the riddle. YEE and the 4 Queers come to pester FUNG on purpose, offering the chance for KWOK to go and get the munitions. KWOK returns home suddenly to have dinner with TING and BONG, during which he asks TING for a divorce. TIN suspects that NGOK has something to do with the theft of the munitions and thus decides to conduct a thorough search of his place.… ...

KWOK and YEE deliver the munitions back to Beijing but get stuck at the checkpoint. BA means to stir up trouble so that KWOK and his mates can get through the checkpoint in the chaos. Sadly BA is killed in the end. BONG gets injured while looking for NGOK. TING blames NGOK for tearing the family apart and causing BONG’s injury. CHIU arrives at Beijing. On the surface he seems to have come to mediate between NGOK and TING, but in reality he is trying to arrange for TING to get out of Beijing. TING begs HOI to spare her family so that they can have a peaceful reunion. Later she goes to Wan Kat Troupe asking NGOK to leave with her but is driven out of the brothel by SIN. In the confusion, TING has accidentally injured NGOK. NGOK and SIN refer the matter to the court and make a false allegation against TING. NGOK has finally divorced TING, following which TING and BONG head back to Yunnan.… ...

FUNG has managed to track down NGOK and his comrades’ hideout, so KWOK and CHUN have to go back home to escape arrest. LUNG’s health is deteriorating and once again he urges KWOK to join the army. CHUN is furious to find that MEI is going out with TIN. KWOK and CHUN join the Beiyang army in order to escape from TIN’s surveillance. By making use of SHUI, KWOK manages to bring FUNG’s munitions smuggling business to light. He exerts considerable pressure on HOI and TIN is later suspended from work as a result. MEI and TIN are marrying and the news reaches SIN soon afterwards. SIN alters her own bridal gown to fit MEI and sends it to her as a gift. CHUN and MEI have fallen out but following SIN’s mediation, the siblings are finally reconciled. HOI asks SHUI to escort LAI YUEN-HUNG from Hubai to Beijing but NGOK warns him to be careful not to be exploited.… ...

YEE tells KWOK about TIN’s assassination plan. KWOK has a discussion with NGOK and they foresee that TIN will probably take action in Beijing. KWOK plants a bomb inside the train station, giving HUNG a warning upon his arrival in Beijing. TIN is then unable to approach HUNG by any means. TIN tries to kill HUNG through the hands of NGOK, and he even forbids NGOK to get out of the President’s House by threatening to harm SIN and all those from Wan Kat Troupe. NGOK asks TIN to send a poem to SIN, to which a secret message is attached revealing details of the assassination plan. SIN informs CHUN of the plot details and begs opera actor MUI to help save NGOK. NGOK has completed the task, but since HUNG has been warned in advance of the danger, he has finally managed to survive the assassination attempt. KWOK has a meeting with the military trainees but they get discovered midway through the process.… ...

Thinking that NGOK is leaving without a word, SIN gets so upset. Luckily MUI is by her side to comfort her. MEI is pregnant with TIN’s baby but dare not tell him about this taking into account their complicated relationship. TIN does not want to involve MEI in any future trouble and asks to break up with her. MEI decides to get an abortion but is stopped by SIN. KWOK and CHUN take action separately in a bid to track down the secret informant. CHUN gets killed by TIN accidentally while shadowing the suspect. SIN is glad to find out that NGOK is not leaving without a word and that he is not really heartless towards her. NGOK goes to the President’s House asking HOI to release CHUN. HOI agrees to free CHUN on condition that NGOK votes to support the revival of the Chinese monarchy. NGOK has no choice but to give in. HOI asks TIN to send CHUN’s body back to Wan Kat Troupe.… ...

People from Wan Kat Troupe offer to help NGOK and SIN with their escape. The pair are so hotly pursued by TIN that they have to return to Wan Kat Troupe. MEI forbids TIN to search the brothel saying that she is ready to lay down her life for her friends. Knowing that MEI is carrying his baby, TIN finally gives up and leaves Wan Kat Troupe. NGOK and SIN decide to escape separately. KWOK and SIN are under siege by TIN and his men. YEE comes back to rescue them but is shot dead by TIN accidentally. TIN can hardly contain his fury and goes to beat LUNG up at his mansion. LUNG is later found dead, which shocks KWOK to the core and provokes him into a fight with TIN. KWOK has defeated TIN but offers to spare his life because of YEE. SIN wanders around to look for NGOK. She finds him at a duty station and manages to save his life. They get out of the duty station but SIN’s legs have been seriously injured.… ...

NGOK finally manages to return to Yunnan, where he enjoys a joyous reunion with TING. SIN is detained in Beijing as a hostage to manipulate NGOK. HOI who is desperate to be the Emperor has become absurdly unreasonable towards TIN, which frustrates the man to no end. HOI forces NGOK to give in by threatening to kill SIN. NGOK refuses to submit, about which he feels a bit uneasy at heart. TING happens to discover the keepsake that SIN gave to NGOK. Warlords from different military zones are opposed to the revival of the monarchy. HOI orders TIN to kill SIN so as to show his power, but for TIN this seems to be a most difficult task to accomplish. TIN visits CHUN’s grave, where he overhears MEI’s private words. Following that, TIN decides to free SIN and asks her to take care of MEI for him. NGOK and HOI are about to go to war.… ...