Joy of Life Episode 11 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
After leaving Prince Jing's mansion without finding the Lady Drumstick, Fan Xian realized the root of his unwanted marriage lay with Lin Wan’er. He asked Fan Ruoruo to take him to the imperial residence, intending to meet Wan’er under the guise of treating her illness and then persuade her to break off the engagement.
Fan Xian mentioned that since many guests were at the poetry gathering that day, the maidservant he was looking for might not be from Prince Jing's mansion, making her hard to find. He jokingly considered visiting every family, but Ruoruo quipped he would likely "be kicked out." When Fan Xian asked if Ruoruo knew Lin Wan'er, she confirmed they had met a few times and shared that Wan’er suffered from tuberculosis, residing year-round at the imperial residence.
Declaring Wan'er the key to the marriage, Fan Xian instructed Ruoruo to lead the way. News of Fan Xian's visit quickly reached the Princess Royal. Knowing he was pretending to be a doctor to meet Wan’er and break the engagement, and understanding that Fei Jie's disciples, skilled in poison, were also expert physicians, she permitted the meeting. She had heard Fan Xian was looking for the "Lady Drumstick" and also wished to prevent Wan’er from marrying him.
The Princess Royal believed if Wan'er grew to detest Fan Xian, the Emperor might reconsider the imperial decree. Outside, Teng Zijing, waiting with Fan Sizhe, wondered why Fan Xian would cause such a fuss for a mere maid, suggesting counting money was far more enjoyable. Fan Sizhe countered that in the capital, only Fan Xian would make such a choice. While they waited, Lin Gong’s carriage passed.
Lin Gong, Lin Wan’er’s second brother, was visibly surprised to see Fan Sizhe, but enraged upon seeing Teng Zijing, whom he mistook for Fan Xian. Lin Gong, fiercely protective of his younger sister, had heard numerous rumors about Fan Xian's scandalous behavior in the capital and believed him to be lustful, aggressive, mischievous, and ignorant.
He warned that Wan'er would never marry such an "incorrigible" man and demonstrated what would happen if Fan Xian persisted by kicking one of his guards. Teng Zijing explained to Fan Sizhe that Lin Gong had doted on Wan'er since childhood and, given Fan Xian's reputation, would have "rushed into our mansion long ago" if not for the Lin family's strict discipline. Lin Gong then entered the imperial residence, redirecting his anger towards Ruoruo.
He dismissed Fan Xian, due to his youth, as incapable of treating Wan’er and ordered them to leave. Instead of explaining, Fan Xian pretended to examine Lin Gong's face, counting down from three. At "one," Lin Gong suddenly collapsed, clutching his chest. Fan Xian dramatically announced that Lin Gong suffered from a hidden illness causing "excruciating pain," and without immediate treatment, he "will die."
He named the mysterious ailment "Why Giving Up," explaining it was "tricky" and often led to "abandoning treatment." He quickly offered a pill, which Lin Gong, in desperation, took. To everyone's astonishment, Lin Gong instantly recovered. Convinced of Fan Xian's exceptional medical skills, Lin Gong, now respectful, apologized for his earlier rudeness and asked Fan Xian to see Wan’er.
Inside Wan’er's chamber, she lay behind thick curtains, as it was improper for an unmarried woman to show her face to a male doctor. Fan Xian initially intended to act outrageously, hoping to make her thoroughly despise him and thus annul the marriage. However, when Wan’er spoke, her voice instantly struck him, and he realized she was his beloved Lady Drumstick.
Abandoning his original plan, Fan Xian announced that a crucial "guiding drug" was needed to treat her illness: "a greasy drumstick from under the censer table in the side palace hall of the Qing Temple." Wan’er, recognizing the peculiar request, immediately withdrew her hand. With suspicion turning into dawning recognition, she slowly pulled back the curtain, finally reuniting face-to-face with Fan Xian. Outside, Fan Sizhe, bored, spotted Ye Ling’er approaching on horseback.
Hoping to flirt, Fan Sizhe boldly introduced himself as "the son of Earl Sinan, Fan Xian" and invited her to play Pai Gow. Ye Ling’er, a martial and strong-willed woman, recognized the name "Fan Xian" and, disgusted by what she perceived as his frivolousness, delivered a powerful kick that sent him flying. After examining Wan'er, Fan Xian confirmed her diagnosis of tuberculosis. Lin Gong reiterated Wan’er’s strict diet of no meat or fish.
Fan Xian vehemently countered, asserting that such a chronic wasting disease demanded a diet rich in protein, suggesting even drumsticks could be eaten frequently, and dismissed any nausea with the crude advice that "after vomiting several times, you'll just get used to it." He then emphasized the importance of frequently opening the window for fresh air.
With a subtle glance, he added that she should decide whether to close the window at night, as one "has to prevent others from entering your room at night," a clear hint to Wan'er that he would visit her that evening. As Fan Xian and Ruoruo prepared to leave, Lin Gong thanked Ruoruo for bringing such a talented doctor, acknowledging the Lin family owed her.
However, he firmly stated that Wan’er's marriage to Fan Xian was out of the question, as Wan’er already had someone special in her heart: Guo Baokun. Fan Xian was incredulous and deeply troubled by the news of Wan’er's supposed affection for Guo Baokun.
Fan Sizhe, equally surprised to learn that the Lady Drumstick was actually Lin Wan’er, finally resigned himself to the fact that it was Ye Ling’er who had kicked him, understanding her formidable background as the daughter of the Chief Guard of the capital city and grandniece of a Great Master. Ruoruo advised Fan Xian to address his doubts directly with Wan’er that night.
Upon returning home, Fan Xian learned from Liu Ruyu that his father, Fan Jian, had, after much deliberation, finally agreed to his plea to break off the engagement. Fan Jian had concluded that Fan Xian’s mother would have preferred him to find true love over the wealth and power associated with the Neiku, and had decided to petition the Emperor to cancel the betrothal so Fan Xian could pursue the Lady Drumstick, regardless of her status.
However, now knowing the Lady Drumstick was Lin Wan'er, Fan Xian, to his father's utter fury, declared he no longer wished to cancel the marriage. Fan Jian was furious at Fan Xian's flip-flopping. Fan Xian, promising a definitive answer by tomorrow morning, swiftly left for the imperial residence. Meanwhile, Lin Wan’er, having understood Fan Xian's subtle hint, was anxiously glancing at the window.
Ye Ling’er, mistaking Wan’er's restlessness for anxiety about the impending marriage, offered to stay the night and vowed to challenge Fan Xian at the Fan mansion the next morning to beat him thoroughly and force him to give up the marriage. Lin Gong had also assured Wan’er that he would never let her marry Fan Xian and would help her marry someone she truly loved, even if it meant defying the imperial order.
As Wan’er went to take a bath, Fan Xian silently entered through the window, carrying a drumstick he had specially prepared. He lifted the bed curtains, expecting to see Wan’er, but instead found Ye Ling’er. Startled, Ye Ling’er, mistaking him for a pervert, furiously attacked him.
Fan Xian tried to explain he was there to deliver a night snack, but when the drumstick was kicked to the ground, he lost his temper, and the confrontation intensified, with Ye Ling'er demonstrating her "Dapiguan Palm" technique. Hearing the commotion, Wan’er rushed back to the chamber. Ye Ling’er, observing their reactions, suddenly realized they had a secret rendezvous.
Touched by their "worldly love," she praised Fan Xian's martial arts skills before sheepishly admitting her obsession with martial arts and voluntarily leaving to guard the door, allowing them privacy. Finally alone with Wan’er, Fan Xian poured out his heart, confessing that he had been searching for her since their first meeting. Wan’er, however, remained guarded. She produced a dagger, accusing him of being a seasoned playboy whose sweet words were a practiced skill.
She revealed that she had sent Ling’er to investigate and discovered that Guo Baokun had not employed a servant for a long time, exposing Fan Xian's lie. Wan’er chastised him for breaking into her chamber, but Fan Xian argued that he had hinted he would come and that her failure to expose him to Ling'er revealed her underlying concern. He stressed that he was leaving not because he was dissolute, but because he feared she might hurt herself.
As Fan Xian reluctantly turned to leave, Wan’er called him back, demanding to know his true name. When he finally revealed, "I'm Fan Xian," Wan’er believed he was mocking her, having already seen the "vulgar" man at the poetry gathering whom Fan Xian himself had pointed her to. Fan Xian defended himself, clarifying that the scandalous carriage incident involved Fan Sizhe and that Ruoruo would never bring a stranger to meet her future sister-in-law.
Still skeptical, Wan’er presented him with paper and brush, asking him to rewrite the poem from the gathering. As he wrote, a maid, having heard the earlier commotion, insisted on entering to check on Wan’er, despite Ye Ling’er’s attempts to block her. By the time the maid burst in, Fan Xian had slipped away. Wan’er, holding the fresh poem, recognized the identical, albeit "ugly," handwriting, which matched the copy previously given to her by Li Hongcheng. She now truly believed he was, indeed, Fan Xian, her fiancé.
