Joy of Life Episode 13 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
The Second Prince, Li Chengzhe, arrived at Zui Xian Ju early to wait for Fan Xian. Si Lili was brewing tea for him nearby, but as he drank, the cup inexplicably cracked. His heart sank, believing this was likely an ominous sign. Fan Xian and Teng Zijing chatted on their way. Teng Zijing told Fan Xian that his son had called out to him last night, so he was in an exceptionally good mood today.
Fan Xian told Teng Zijing that after marrying Lin Wan'er, he planned to return to Danzhou to live a peaceful life and invited Teng Zijing to come back with him so they could be neighbors. Teng Zijing laughed and said that as long as the money and land were sufficient, he didn't care where he went. Their carriage traveled all the way to Niulan Street, the same place where Fan Xian had beaten Guo Baokun last time.
Teng Zijing suddenly remembered that Fan Xian still owed him a cow. Fan Xian grumbled impatiently, saying he would buy it for him when they reached Danzhou. Teng Zijing sighed, saying he was fortunate to have met Fan Xian, which allowed him to let go of the resentment in his heart and find his wife and children again. He didn't know how to thank Fan Xian.
As they were talking, two women in white suddenly shot arrows at them with bows. Teng Zijing dodged skillfully and quickly dealt with one using hidden weapons. Fan Xian also cooperated with him to take care of the remaining one. Just as they relaxed, the carriage reached a corner, and the horse's leg triggered a mechanism, activating crossbows, instantly shooting and killing the horse.
Then, Cheng Jushu pulled Fan Xian through the wall and dragged him into a courtyard, throwing him heavily onto the ground. Teng Zijing recognized Cheng Jushu. He stepped forward to fight him, but Cheng Jushu's actions were erratic yet his strength was immense. Teng Zijing, who specialized in hidden weapons, was no match for him. After several rounds of fighting, the furniture in the room was shattered.
A candle on the table fell to the ground, quickly setting the entire room on fire. Seeing that the situation was bad, Fan Xian and Teng Zijing barely managed to knock down Cheng Jushu by working together. However, Cheng Jushu was an eighth-rank expert; he couldn't be defeated so easily. Teng Zijing was already severely wounded and couldn't stand up. In despair, Fan Xian wanted Teng Zijing to leave first, but Teng Zijing refused.
He rushed forward and used his life to block Cheng Jushu for Fan Xian. Watching Teng Zijing being beaten to death right before his eyes, Fan Xian was filled with rage and hatred. The Overlord's True Qi within him surged. With a forceful strike, he actually embedded Cheng Jushu two inches into the ground and then violently struck his head. Cheng Jushu was finally defeated, but Fan Xian was not much better off. He fainted, unable to catch his breath.
After an unknown amount of time, Fan Xian was groggily woken by Wang Qinian. His first action was to look for Teng Zijing, but Wang Qinian sadly told him that Teng Zijing could no longer be woken up. Learning that Teng Zijing didn't even have time to leave a last word, Fan Xian was filled with sorrow and hatred. He picked up the dagger on the ground, intending to kill Cheng Jushu for revenge.
Wang Qinian, however, stopped him, saying that only if Cheng Jushu was alive could they find the mastermind behind the attack. Fan Xian had no choice but to ask Wang Qinian to send Teng Zijing back to the Fan mansion. He would personally go to the Investigator's Office tomorrow to inquire about the results. After saying that, he limped back. He walked step by step through the streets covered in blood.
Ruoruo, hearing that something had happened to Fan Xian, quickly rushed over. Fan Xian had completely calmed down. He asked Ruoruo to help him inform the Second Prince that he would likely miss the appointment today and told her that he had decided not to return to Danzhou anymore. When the Second Prince learned that Fan Xian had been assassinated, he couldn't help but worry. Although this matter was not his doing, on the surface, he was the most suspicious.
After returning to the mansion, Fan Xian sat alone in his room without saying a word. Fan Sizhe kept peeking outside the room. Seeing that he had reset his own arm and hadn't lost control of his emotions, he thought everything should be fine. However, Liu Ruyu knew that Fan Xian was just suppressing his emotions. She told Fan Sizhe to quickly find Fan Jian to comfort him. Fan Xian ate as if nothing had happened.
Fan Jian came and told him that Cheng Jushu had been taken to the Investigator's Office and that Ruoruo had been waiting outside the Investigator's Office for the result. He then asked him who he thought was behind it. Although Fan Xian said the Second Prince was the most suspicious, he had already determined in his heart that it was the Crown Prince.
Fan Jian could only remind him that this matter was of great importance and cautioned him not to act rashly. Fan Xian did not reply. Lin Wan'er, upon hearing about the events of the day, had been waiting for Fan Xian. When Fan Xian saw her, he finally released his suppressed emotions.
He cursed Teng Zijing for being a fool, saying that he had promised to live only for his family and leave first when encountering danger, so why didn't he follow through? Lin Wan'er listened as he told her the story of him and Teng Zijing. She comforted Fan Xian, saying that Teng Zijing was willing to give his life to save him because he had long considered him family.
In this world, if there is no one you are willing to die for, life is truly meaningless. Although he died, he died without regret. Emperor Qing summoned the Crown Prince and the Second Prince and questioned them about who was behind today's incident. Both denied it. The Crown Prince pushed the responsibility onto Northern Qi, but the Second Prince disagreed, believing that Fan Xian only had grudges with the Crown Prince in the capital.
Emperor Qing did not want to listen to them bickering. After saying a few brief words, he dismissed them. At this moment, Eunuch Hou brought a secret report from the Investigator's Office. Emperor Qing was surprised that the Investigator's Office wanted Cheng Jushu and immediately ordered him to inform Fan Xian of this news. Fan Xian stayed overnight with Lin Wan'er, and Lin Wan'er stayed with him the whole time.
Until early morning, just as Fan Xian was preparing to leave, Fan Ruoruo arrived at the Lin mansion early and told Fan Xian that the Investigator's Office was going to release Cheng Jushu. After hearing this, Fan Xian immediately went to Wang Qinian to inquire. Wang Qinian told him that the Director was not in the capital, and all matters of the Investigator's Office were currently being handled by Zhu Ge, the Head of the First Bureau.
Fan Xian asked him to take him to see Zhu Ge. Along the way, Wang Qinian kept telling Fan Xian that Zhu Ge had followed the Director for many years, held a high position, and had a strict personality, warning him to speak and act cautiously. Fan Xian didn't listen to a word of it. Upon meeting Zhu Ge, he immediately questioned him about the reason for releasing Cheng Jushu.
Zhu Ge initially did not want to deal with him, but seeing him take out his Commander's Token and question him repeatedly, he took out an urgent report from the Ministry of War and told him that the Northern border armies were already in emergency deployment, and a national war was on the verge of breaking out.
The plan for this war against Northern Qi had been long in the making, but the timing of the war had to be controlled by their side. If Cheng Jushu were killed at this time, it would likely provoke Northern Qi's dissatisfaction and give them a pretext. If Northern Qi were to advance because of this, it would likely disrupt the nation's important affairs.
Moreover, Cheng Jushu had old ties with a Northern Qi general and was willing to provide detailed military intelligence from Northern Qi if spared. Fan Xian became increasingly angry as he listened. Could it be that a human life could only be exchanged for a transaction? Zhu Ge blurted out that the person who died was merely a guard. Fan Xian was both anxious and angry.
The inscription on the stone tablet outside the Investigator's Office stated that life is born equal. A guard is also a person, with a wife and children. Zhu Ge had no time to listen to this and directly stated that a decision had been made on this matter and even issued an order that even if Fan Xian used his Commander's Token, Cheng Jushu was absolutely not to be handed over.
Fan Xian was so angry that tears welled up in his eyes. He questioned whether Zhu Ge could live with himself acting in this manner. After saying that, he left the Investigator's Office in indignation. Prince Jing's Heir came to apologize to Fan Xian on behalf of the Second Prince, stating that the assassination absolutely had nothing to do with the Second Prince.
Fan Xian asked him to help him get Cheng Jushu out so he could kill him to avenge Teng Zijing, but Prince Jing's Heir helplessly stated that the Investigator's Office was an independent entity, and by Emperor Qing's decree, no member of the royal family could interfere; even the Crown Prince had no right to question its affairs. He suggested that Fan Xian spend more money to compensate Teng Zijing's wife and children.
Fan Xian retorted by asking him how much money he would pay to save his own family's life. Prince Jing's Heir was momentarily speechless. Knowing that no one in the capital dared to defy the Investigator's Office, Fan Xian took out money and asked Wang Qinian to help him investigate the exact time Cheng Jushu would leave. After returning to the mansion, Fan Xian placed Teng Zijing's coffin in the courtyard and waited for Wang Qinian's news.
Soon, Wang Qinian came to inform him that in half an hour, Cheng Jushu would be sent out from the North Gate and leave the capital by water. He suggested that Fan Xian ambush him in a small woods outside the city. However, Fan Xian went directly to the North Gate. He wanted to take revenge in broad daylight and see if justice still existed in this world.
