The series revolves around the ups and downs of the life of a painter during the Qing dynasty, Cheng Ban Kiu. Through many endeavours to prove his painting skills, Ban Kiu became a celebrated painter and expert in drawing bamboos (in which is a shared interest with the emperor, who went in search for the best bamboo painting to be buried with him when he passes away). Ban Kiu was also famous for his quote, "Ignorance is Bliss", which in the end can ironically cause him many troubles.