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There is a Chinese sayings which I hear in TV and film before: 山高皇帝远 Sort of means the mountains are high and the emperor is far away implying no government there. Did a bit of search and it seems to come from some old literature 闲中今古录. Don't know what kind of book that is though.

I used to say that to my ex-girlfriend when she was trying to boss me around :-)

"Happiness is the mountains are high and the Emperor(ess) is far away"

You must have heard something before then.