Joy of Life Season 2 Episode 8 Recap, Plot

> Joy of Life Season 2
> Joy of Life Season 2 Recap

Fan Xian originally planned to use the Northern Qi smuggling incident to completely bring down Li Chengze and Li Yunrui, but all the leads he had were severed. Just as he was falling into despair, Chen Pingping earnestly persuaded him. Fan Xian reluctantly agreed to temporarily take over the First Division of the Imperial Inspectorate as Inspector. The blood-soaked capital gradually returned to its former peace and prosperity. Yan Bingyun went to the prison to take Yan Ruohai home.

The father and son had a heartfelt conversation. Yan Ruohai relayed Chen Pingping’s orders for Yan Bingyun to help Fan Xian firmly establish his position in the Inspectorate. Yan Ruohai felt he was getting old and wanted to hand over full control of the Fourth Division to Yan Bingyun, urging him to learn from Fan Xian. Yan Ruohai reminded him to separate work from emotions.

Yan Bingyun admitted it was a bit rash to bring Shen Zhong’s sister back from Northern Qi, but he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Early the next morning, Fan Xian formally took office at the First Division with Wang Qinian. Yan Bingyun, on Chen Pingping’s orders, waited at the gate early. The First Division was bustling. Officials from the six ministries sent gifts one after another.

Fan Xian secretly vowed to completely reform the division, dragging Yan Bingyun along to witness the spectacle. Inside, the officials were too busy currying favor to notice them. The three of them went straight into the courtyard and saw several baskets of Yunmeng fish just delivered by the Ministry of Provisions. This fish species was unique to the south and renowned for its delicious taste.

It needed northern snow and ice from the previous year to stay fresh, requiring urgent transport by the Ministry of War. While inspecting the division, Fan Xian learned that the heads of each section had all taken leave. The staff were gathered playing mahjong, and only Clerk Deng Ziyue was working.

From him, Fan Xian uncovered a huge secret: the Ministry of Provisions and the Ministry of War delivered rare Yunmeng fish to the First Division, which resold them to the Ministry of Provisions at doubled prices. The profits were shared, and all six ministries used similar schemes to make illicit gains. Suppressing his anger, Fan Xian immediately dismissed the section heads and appointed Wang Qinian and Deng Ziyue as his trusted aides.

Fan Xian sternly reprimanded the staff and laid down new rules. Terrified, they quickly complied. Citing the fish's lack of freshness, he ordered Deng Ziyue to seal off the Ministry of Provisions. Deng, being of low rank, feared he couldn't command respect. Fan Xian had Yan Bingyun back him up. Though reluctant, Yan Bingyun had no choice but to go. Fan Xian then visited Li Chengze, deliberately bringing an empty fish bucket to provoke him.

On arrival, he mocked Xie Bian and forcibly took Li Chengze to the Ministry of Provisions to watch the show. Deng Ziyue’s men surrounded the place. Eunuch Dai, fully in charge of the ministry and backed by Li Chengze’s mother, the Noble Consort, didn’t take Deng seriously. But when Fan Xian and Li Chengze arrived together, Eunuch Dai realized something was wrong. Palace eunuch Hong Zhu came to pass a message and persuaded Eunuch Dai to check things out.

Dai, impressed by Hong Zhu’s cleverness, wanted to take him along, but Hong Zhu refused and invoked the Noble Consort’s name, forcing Dai to drop the idea. Eunuch Dai nervously came to meet Fan Xian and tried to bribe Wang Qinian to gather intel. Deng Ziyue saw this, and Wang Qinian shared the money with him. Fan Xian compared the account books and confirmed that they were in Dai’s handwriting.

He listed all the corrupt practices Dai had committed using the Ministry of Provisions to help six ministries profiteer. Fearing death if exposed, Eunuch Dai quietly gave Fan Xian an envelope. Fan Xian opened it on the spot and accepted the 3,000 tael banknotes inside, ordering Deng Ziyue to lift the seal on the Ministry of Provisions. Li Chengze saw that Fan Xian was clearly provoking him and stormed off in anger.

Yan Bingyun was baffled—he couldn’t understand why Fan Xian would so openly accept a bribe. Fan Xian even instructed him to gather several officials to submit memorials accusing him to the Censorate. Passing by Baoyue Brothel, Fan Xian thought of the late Old Jin and swore to root out all the dark forces in the capital and seek justice for those who had died in vain.

Episode 7 Recap

Episode 9 Recap

Related Posts