Joy of Life Episode 10 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Eunuch Hou summoned Mei Zhili to the palace for an audience, and the people handling the case all left, so this matter naturally came to nothing. After the case ended, just as Crown Prince Li Chengqian was about to leave, Fan Xian suddenly stepped forward and publicly asked Li Chengqian if he knew about the assassination attempt on him in Danzhou. Hearing this, Li Chengqian snorted coldly and did not answer.
The Second Prince didn't expect that he would dare to directly question the Crown Prince. Fan Xian watched the two princes leave one after the other. Seeing the matter was concluded, he helped Si Lili up and wanted to escort her back to her residence, but Si Lili refused, merely saying, "See you later at Drunken Immortal Pavilion."
Regardless of how frustrated Guo Baokun was, what was fortunate was that from today onwards, Teng Zijing could finally appear openly in front of everyone. Ye Ling'er, entrusted by Lin Wan'er, went to investigate the news about Guo Baokun's attendant, but unexpectedly learned that Guo Baokun was beaten by Fan Xian, and that he didn't have any attendant with him. More importantly, Fan Xian actually stayed at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion again for one night.
She was truly angry and resentful towards Fan Xian. Fan Xian entrusted Fan Sizhe to return to the residence and report the news. When going to Teng Zijing's house, on the way, he saw a child swinging on a swing, happily eating a sugar-coated hawthorn skewer. He came last night and wasn't very familiar with the route, so he went up to ask the child for directions, and unexpectedly discovered that the tanghulu the child was eating was actually poisoned.
It wasn't until he snatched it and took a bite that he realized it was only a mild laxative. The child didn't expect the tanghulu to be snatched and was crying and making a fuss. Fan Xian couldn't explain it to him, so he had no choice but to compensate him.
After finding Teng Zijing's residence, Fan Xian advised him to cherish the present, spend more time with his wife and child, and leave the troublesome place that is the capital. Teng Zijing was somewhat moved, but for some reason didn't immediately agree. He introduced Fan Xian to his wife and child. Unexpectedly, as soon as the child saw Fan Xian, he complained resentfully that this strange uncle snatched his tanghulu.
Fan Xian saw the astonished looks on Teng Zijing and his wife's faces and could only give an awkward smile. Mei Zhili went to the palace with Eunuch Hou to see Emperor Qing. At first, he was still worried and fearful in his heart, but unexpectedly, Emperor Qing was very gentle, sent someone to bestow him honey water, and brought up some past matters.
When the two first met, Emperor Qing was still a potential emperor, and Mei Zhili was also just a nominal official. It was Emperor Qing who insisted on promoting and entrusting him with important responsibilities, and it could be considered a good story of emperor and minister. Mei Zhili was just about to relax, but Emperor Qing's face suddenly changed. Someone submitted a report, stating that judging Fan Xian was Mei Zhili's responsibility.
Emperor Qing also understood that it was difficult for him in front of the Crown Prince, but what he truly couldn't tolerate was that he privately sent supervising officials to help the Crown Prince's faction capture Teng Zijing. As an emperor, what is most intolerable is a subordinate serving two masters. Unfaithful once, unused for a lifetime.
Mei Zhili saw that the matter had been exposed and immediately knelt down trembling and asked Emperor Qing to punish him according to national law. Emperor Qing said, however, if he punished this old minister according to national law, wouldn't people say he was heartless and unrighteous? Mei Zhili had no retreat and could only say that upon returning to his residence, he would accidentally fall into a well, and pleaded with His Majesty to spare his wife and children.
Seeing Mei Zhili about to despair, Emperor Qing smiled instead. He comforted Mei Zhili, saying that seeing as he was an old minister, he would let him retire and return to his hometown and live a peaceful life. Mei Zhili, having escaped death, felt the emperor's grace and couldn't help but shed tears of gratitude. The unfathomable and mysterious nature of an emperor's thoughts was perfectly displayed at this moment.
What Mei Zhili didn't know was that shortly after he left, Emperor Qing had Eunuch Hou instruct the Investigator's Office to monitor him and sent people to ambush and kill him on his way back home. Fan Jian didn't understand why Fan Xian would publicly question the Crown Prince, and why he would cause such a stir throughout the city. Fan Xian didn't lie either, directly stating that his purpose was to break off the engagement.
On the other side, Teng Zijing, thinking about Fan Xian's care for him over these past few days, seeing that he was about to leave tomorrow, his heart had no joy whatsoever. Teng Zijing's wife understood him, so she proactively suggested that Teng Zijing go meet Fan Xian. No matter what decision he made, she and their son would support him.
Ye Ling'er told Lin Wan'er that Guo Baokun had never had an attendant with him, and also spoke about Fan Xian beating Guo Baokun and the matter of staying overnight at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, vowing to definitely help her cancel this marriage.
The Eldest Princess learned that Lin Wan'er had previously gone to find Fan Xian to break off the engagement, so she sent someone to reassure Lin Wan'er, saying she would definitely help her break off the marriage, and also said she would definitely let her marry someone she liked. Lin Wan'er was joyful in her heart and carelessly revealed the matter of the attendant. After the Eldest Princess knew, she immediately sent people to investigate this matter.
Teng Zijing came to see Fan Xian in the middle of the night, deliberately brought up the matter of Fan Xian snatching his son's tanghulu during the day, stating that since Fan Xian was so foolish, he was worried, and decided to stay and be his guard, and also made some random requests.
Fan Xian knew in his heart that the incident during the day must have severely offended the Crown Prince, and he didn't expect Teng Zijing would disregard his wife and child for him, so his heart couldn't help but feel a bit warm.
After the Empress Dowager learned about Fan Xian's matter, she sent someone to convey a message to Emperor Qing, asking him to reconsider the marriage between Lin Wan'er and Fan Xian, after all, it was a royal marriage alliance.
Eunuch Hou saw that although the Second Prince went to court today, it was probably deliberate, it was precisely to make the Crown Prince think that Fan Xian had defected to him, so that in the chaos, the Crown Prince would make mistakes, allowing him to reap the benefits. Emperor Qing sighed that neither of his two sons was easily dealt with; he might as well let them continue their schemes. He wanted to see the outcome.
Early in the morning, the Eldest Princess sent someone to tell Li Chengqian that yesterday, Mei Zhili retired and returned to his hometown but was ambushed and killed on the way, and even guessed this was Emperor Qing's arrangement. She also said that now Fan Xian had joined the Second Prince's faction, and in time, he would surely become a major threat to the Crown Prince.
Although Li Chengqian felt heartache, he saw that Fan Xian probably hadn't truly defected to the Second Prince. More importantly, his imperial father transferred Fan Xian here, probably using him as bait. If he were to strike at him again, it must be a fatal blow, and he couldn't rely on official power. This matter still needed to be discussed in the long term.
Early in the morning, Fan Jian found Fan Xian to tell him that the marriage would not change. Fan Xian didn't understand how, with his reputation like this, His Majesty would still want to marry his niece to him. In a fit of anger, he called Fan Ruoruo and Fan Sizhe, and directly rushed towards Prince Jing's mansion, intending to get married as soon as he found the person, so as to completely extinguish Emperor Qing's idea.
Prince Jing's heir didn't expect Fan Xian to visit mainly to see his female relatives, and all of his female relatives at that. While feeling both amused and annoyed, he nonetheless indulged him. However, Fan Xian looked through all the maids in Prince Jing's mansion, but still didn't find his chicken leg girl.
