Joy of Life Episode 14 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Fan Xian stood before Cheng Jushu in the bustling street, publicly listing Cheng Jushu's crimes. He declared that while some advised him to kill Cheng Jushu in secret and others wished to trade for his life, he refused such deals. Since higher authorities wouldn't allow Cheng Jushu to be killed for the "greater good," Fan Xian announced he would do it himself, right there in front of everyone.
Cheng Jushu, laughing at this, easily pushed away the two Investigator's Office escorts and lunged at Fan Xian. Wielding Teng Zijing’s dagger, Fan Xian fought fiercely, recalling Teng Zijing’s words that one must have someone worth dying for to truly live. Meanwhile, Zhu Ge, Director of the First Division, had anticipated Fan Xian's defiance and stationed his top men in a small forest outside the city, expecting an ambush there.
He was surprised by Fan Xian's public confrontation and rushed to stop him. During the intense fight, Cheng Jushu, already severely wounded, coughed up blood. Unexpectedly, Teng Zijing's young son appeared, unafraid, and greeted Cheng Jushu naturally. Cheng Jushu, seeing the boy, even smiled faintly, wiped blood from his hands, and gently stroked the child's head before suddenly charging at Fan Xian.
Fearing for the child's safety, Fan Xian immediately met the attack, plunging the dagger into Cheng Jushu's body while urging the boy to turn his head away. As Cheng Jushu lay dying, Fan Xian questioned why he hadn't taken the child hostage. Cheng Jushu weakly explained that since birth, his ugly appearance had only evoked fear, disgust, demands for murder, or avoidance from others; only that child had offered him fruit.
The boy, oblivious, chimed in that the "big guy" ate pears like a child. Just then, Zhu Ge arrived and immediately ordered Fan Xian's arrest. Fan Xian offered no resistance but sternly told the child not to look back and to go straight home. News of the public killing reached the palace. Eunuch Hou expressed concern to Emperor Qing that the event, witnessed by so many, could not be suppressed.
Emperor Qing, however, smiled, praising Fan Xian's strategic move and declaring the killing "ingenious." He ordered Eunuch Hou to draft an imperial decree for Fan Xian's release. Back at the Investigator's Office, Zhu Ge prepared to personally escort Fan Xian to the dungeon when a group from the Third Division, Fei Jie’s former apprentices and thus Fan Xian’s "senior fellow apprentices," intervened. They pleaded with Zhu Ge, arguing that no matter Fan Xian's offense, it didn't warrant imprisonment.
Zhu Ge, irritated by these "poisonous" individuals, threatened to charge anyone who obstructed him with treason. The Third Division members merely laughed, provoking Zhu Ge to draw his sword and hold it to Fan Xian's throat. Seeing the escalating tension, Fan Xian calmly assured his well-meaning seniors that he could handle this minor issue. Zhu Ge declared that with Fei Jie absent from the capital, the Third Division was without a true leader and powerless.
He reiterated that Fan Xian had disrupted his war strategy against Beiqi and that no one could save him now. However, Wang Qinian suddenly appeared, boldly stopping Zhu Ge’s procession. Zhu Ge was about to explode in anger, but Wang Qinian presented Cheng Jushu's dossier. He argued that Fan Xian deserved credit, not punishment, because Cheng Jushu had no allies among Beiqi generals. The proposed exchange was likely a ruse to provide false intelligence, which Fan Xian’s actions had averted.
Wang Qinian humbly requested leniency. Zhu Ge coldly revealed he had already investigated Cheng Jushu's background and was prepared to use a "scheme within a scheme" to turn Beiqi's fake intelligence against them. Fan Xian, by killing Cheng Jushu, had ruined this intricate plan. Zhu Ge angrily stated that with the Investigator's Office Head absent, no one could save Fan Xian. Yet, just as he spoke, another voice called out.
Turning, Zhu Ge saw Yan Ruohai, Director of the Fourth Division. Zhu Ge questioned why Yan Ruohai would help Fan Xian, given that Yan Bingyun, his son, had been demoted and sent to Beiqi due to Fan Xian. Yan Ruohai, emotionless, stated he was merely delivering a message and produced Emperor Qing's secret decree. Forced to comply, Zhu Ge released Fan Xian and returned his Tisi token.
As Fan Xian departed, Yan Ruohai explained to Zhu Ge that the Emperor was not protecting Fan Xian himself, but rather harnessing public sentiment. Fan Xian's public killing of a Beiqi martial arts master had become a popular tale, and with war imminent, the Emperor sought to bolster the people's unwavering spirit and fighting will.
Separately, Si Lili set fire to her pleasure boat and, along with a dozen similarly dressed individuals, rode out of the capital, dispersing in different directions. After leaving the Investigator's Office, Fan Xian gave Wang Qinian money, tasking him with continuing the investigation into the mastermind behind the assassination attempt. He then used a carriage to transport Teng Zijing's body home.
Teng Zijing's son, seeing Fan Xian, was joyful and asked why Fan Xian fought the "big guy in the box." Fan Xian did not answer directly but inquired where the boy had seen Cheng Jushu. The child pointed to a courtyard by a stable on Dashu Street. The boy led Fan Xian to his mother. Teng Zijing's wife had sat by an oil lamp all night, her heart heavy with a premonition.
After sending her son away, Fan Xian, struggling to find the words, informed her that Teng Zijing had died protecting him during an assassination attempt on Niulan Street, and he knelt to beg her forgiveness. Overcome with grief, Teng Zijing's wife coughed up blood. She recounted how Teng Zijing had told her he stayed not out of gratitude, but because he considered Fan Xian a close friend, viewing him as a younger brother.
He saw it as his own choice, a path he embraced even if it meant facing "mountains of swords and seas of fire." She acknowledged her husband's decision but declared that as a wife, she could not forgive. She asked Fan Xian to visit less often, fearing for her son's safety if he remained connected to Fan Xian. Feeling deeply ashamed, Fan Xian left with tears in his eyes.
Returning, Fan Xian entrusted Wang Qinian with discreetly hiring people in the capital to protect Teng Zijing's wife and son. Wang Qinian informed Fan Xian that he had secretly reviewed a confidential document from the First Division, revealing the two female assassins were disciples or followers of Si Gujian, a Great Master from Dongyi Town, and that their crossbows were military-grade weapons.
Wang Qinian believed that one of the Four Great Masters would not resort to such stealthy assassination methods, suggesting a different, powerful culprit behind the scenes. To pursue these leads, Fan Xian and Wang Qinian visited the courtyard on Dashu Street where Cheng Jushu had been held. They discovered a forgotten token with a symbol Wang Qinian recognized from a secret report held by Zhu Ge. Wang Qinian, familiar with illicit information gathering, volunteered to retrieve the report.
That night, he infiltrated the First Division, found the document bearing the familiar symbol, but was confronted by Zhu Ge and his men upon leaving. Fortunately, Wang Qinian's exceptional lightness skill allowed him to evade capture. Simultaneously, Fan Xian investigated the home of the general from whom the military crossbows were stolen. To his shock, he found the entire household, from the general down to his servants, had all committed suicide by hanging. Fan Xian realized this was a calculated warning and threat, deliberately orchestrated to leave him with clues but always one step behind.
