Joy of Life Season 2 Episode 4 Recap
> Joy of Life Season 2 Recap
Fan Sizhe proudly told Fan Xian that he was the major owner of Baoyue Brothel—every brick, every blade of grass was his. Even their parents didn’t know about it. He began bragging about his business skills, oblivious to Fan Xian’s furious expression. Fan Xian, gritting his teeth in rage, couldn’t believe this wicked and murderous place was Fan Sizhe’s business. He beat Fan Sizhe black and blue, demanding he pay for Old Jin and the others with his life.
But Fan Sizhe was completely unaware of the brothel’s atrocities. Suddenly, Fan Xian collapsed due to a recurrence of an old injury. Fan Sizhe, in pain and wailing, ran out to call for the brothel’s thugs to beat Fan Xian but then worried he might get into trouble. So he returned alone. Fan Xian, coughing up blood, asked about Teng Zijing’s wife and child. Fan Sizhe had no idea.
He had handed over full management of the brothel to Yuan Meng and only came by to check accounts. He never intended Baoyue Brothel to be a typical brothel; he had selected cultured, well-educated girls skilled in arts and music. He didn’t expect Yuan Meng to run it so corruptly. Fan Xian believed him and suspected someone was manipulating things behind the scenes. Yuan Meng soon arrived, and Fan Xian quickly hid.
Fan Sizhe made up excuses about his bruises and asked Yuan Meng to bring in Sang Wen to sing and lift his mood. Yuan Meng repeatedly instructed Sang Wen to serve Fan Sizhe well. She then tried to eavesdrop outside but was chased away by Fan Sizhe. Through Sang Wen, Fan Sizhe learned about the various crimes at Baoyue Brothel—forcing good women into prostitution, treating lives as worthless.
Terrified, he confessed to Fan Xian that Baoyue Brothel was co-owned by him and the Third Prince, Li Chengping, who was the son of Noble Consort Yi, Liu Ruyu’s younger sister. Li Chengping came to inspect the brothel and gave Yuan Meng a list of reforms. Yuan Meng obediently followed his instructions and asked him to go upstairs to meet Fan Sizhe. Li Chengping, only interested in profits, didn’t even look at the account books.
Instead, he lectured Yuan Meng on his business philosophy. After his inspection, he asked Yuan Meng to take him to see Fan Sizhe. Fan Sizhe dismissed Yuan Meng, and Fan Xian took the opportunity to knock Li Chengping unconscious from behind. Li Chengze surrounded Baoyue Brothel with his men and swaggered in with Wang Qinian and Fan Wujiu. Yuan Meng and her thugs were too frightened to speak.
Fan Xian was already waiting and told Fan Sizhe to let Li Chengze come upstairs. Face-to-face, Fan Xian exposed Li Chengze’s repeated assassination attempts. Li Chengze admitted it but retaliated by accusing Fan Xian of faking his death to deceive the emperor and Baoyue Brothel of trafficking women. He also tried to sow discord between Fan Xian and Wang Qinian. Wang Qinian begged Li Chengze to release his wife and daughter.
Li Chengze finally admitted they had already escaped and were not in his custody. Li Chengze proposed a truce, agreeing to release Teng Zijing’s wife and child—otherwise, Fan Xian would be executed. Crown Prince Li Chengqian arrived just in time with officers from the capital government. At his command, all of Li Chengze’s men were detained. Li Chengze reported Fan Xian’s crimes and accused Fan Sizhe of wanton killing.
But Li Chengqian only had eyes for Li Chengping and ignored Fan Xian, pretending not to understand. When Li Chengze saw Wang Qinian rejoin Fan Xian, he realized too late that he’d been tricked. Fan Xian had carefully planned everything. Wang Qinian pretended to defect to Li Chengze to gain his trust and lure him to Baoyue Brothel. Once Fan Xian arrived, Wang Qinian immediately informed Li Chengqian.
Li Chengze wanted to solidify the charges against Fan Xian and urged Li Chengqian not to get involved. But Li Chengqian, harboring deep resentment over Li Chengze and Li Yunrui’s secret collusion, exposed Li Chengze’s alliance with Yuan Meng and the Crown Prince of Jing, Li Hongcheng. He accused them of using Yuan Meng to ruin Fan Sizhe through Baoyue Brothel. Li Chengqian then forced Li Chengze to release Teng Zijing’s wife and child.
Seeing that the situation had turned against him, Li Chengze had no choice but to order Fan Wujiu to let them go, but he left with a harsh threat. Fan Xian still found something amiss. Li Chengze wouldn’t surrender so easily, and he had always been cautious—leaving Yuan Meng as a weak point seemed out of character. With no solid evidence, Fan Xian decided to wait and see. Meanwhile, he instructed Fan Sizhe to return the indenture contract to Old Jin’s daughter.
