A dream calling him to the service of his countrymen
leads to many years of hard work
- and all he gets back are these words: Ignorance is Bliss

Cheng Ban Kiu (Wong Hei) is an artist who goes to Yangzhou in search of opportunities where he meets Kam Lung (Mok Ka Yiu) and Wong San (Mak Bau). With Kiu's talent, he would have done very well in Yangzhou. However, things were never in his control. Kiu lives through the reign of three emperors: Kang Xi (Chun Pui), Yung Zheng (Tsang Wai Kuen) and Qian Long (William Tso). Although he finally realizes his wish to serve his country, he realizes that the seedy world of politics is not what he wanted.

Along the twisted road to success, the road to love is also split into three. When first arriving in Yang Zhou, Kiu meets Yat Jer (Gigi Lai Chi) who works in a brothel. He almost marries her, but her mother resents his origins and in the end, he marries Yat Jer's servant girl Tsui See (Nnadia Chan) instead. Tsui See tries her hardest to make Kiu happy and eventually wins over his heart. Kiu eventually passes the exams and becomes an official and happily returns to his village - only to find that his wife dies whilst trying to save him. Before she dies, Tsui See convinces Kiu to marry Ng Mui (Myolie Wu). Kiu has no feelings towards Mui but she does not mind this. Yat Jer plots to ruin Kiu and it is down to Ng Mui to do his running around for him.

After working for most of his life, Kiu is left with little to show for this and before he leaves for his village to retire with Ng Mui, he leaves behind the words "Ignorance is Bliss" to Qian Long - reflecting his experiences.