Joy of Life Episode 15 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Wang Qinian arrived at the Brigadier General's mansion to meet Fan Xian. Learning that the entire household had been wiped out, he somewhat regretted not telling them about the matter sooner, thinking perhaps this disaster could have been avoided. Fan Xian, however, felt that the other party's purpose in doing this was to threaten him and make him stop.
Wang Qinian sighed, saying the murderer must hold a high and powerful position to wipe out the Brigadier General's household so quickly. He had already found out that the token was for a Northern Qi spy line, and Cheng Jushu was likely a Northern Qi spy. Fan Xian said sarcastically that he was truly honored to have unknown big figures team up with Northern Qi to kill him.
Even so, he would investigate thoroughly and not let Teng Zijing die in vain. Setting aside these superficial details, and returning directly to the assassination itself, Fan Xian suspected that Si Lili from the Drunken Immortal Inn had leaked his whereabouts. Thinking back now, this girl did not seem like an ordinary courtesan at all. The two came to the Drunken Immortal Inn but found the main gate closed.
Upon inquiring, they learned that Si Lili's pleasure boat had been burned down this afternoon, the authorities were currently investigating, and Si Lili was said to have left the capital. Fan Xian felt somewhat disheartened after learning that Si Lili's whereabouts were unknown.
Wang Qinian told Fan Xian not to worry, saying that in the Investigator's Office, there were two great tracking experts: one named Zong Zhui, who always followed the Director and was currently not in the capital, and the other was him. Fan Xian didn't understand why Wang Qinian, with this skill, was just a small clerk. Wang Qinian, however, thought being a clerk was the safest.
Now that he had been dismissed from the Investigator's Office, he still had to support his family, so he hoped to help under Fan Xian. Wang Qinian felt he could track down Si Lili, but leaving the capital on this journey would likely encounter many dangers, even risking his life. He hoped Fan Xian would consider carefully. Fan Xian naturally felt it was his duty and could not refuse.
Having made the decision, Wang Qinian suggested he go home to get his things first. When he arrived at his doorstep, he didn't go in but cautiously checked if his wife was asleep. Fan Xian found his furtive appearance amusing, never expecting Wang Qinian to be so afraid of his wife. As expected, not long after Wang Qinian went in, the sounds of a woman scolding and a man begging for mercy came from inside.
After a while, Wang Qinian sheepishly came out with a box on his back, and a fresh handprint on his face. Seeing Wang Qinian's resigned expression, and noting that there was still time, Fan Xian decided to go and say goodbye to Lin Wan'er first. The night was deep. Fan Xian, as usual, climbed through the window and slipped into Lin Wan'er's room, only to see that Lin Wan'er was not asleep but sitting at her table lost in thought.
Lin Wan'er had heard about the day's events and was somewhat worried. She felt relieved only after learning that he was seeking revenge for Teng Zijing. Fan Xian told her that Si Lili was involved in the assassination and had now escaped. He was going to pursue and bring her back, and he told her not to worry about him. When leaving, Fan Xian wanted to give Lin Wan'er a hug.
Lin Wan'er did not move, but when he turned to leave, Lin Wan'er couldn't help but rush up and embrace Fan Xian, telling him that she would worry about him every day and that if he didn't want her to be troubled, he should come back soon. At dawn, Wang Qinian and Fan Xian planned to leave the city.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Ge brought his subordinates and waited at the city gate to stop them, declaring that he would arrest Wang Qinian. Fortunately, at this moment, Fan Jian arrived in time to plead for Fan Xian, and only then did Zhu Ge flick his sleeves and leave. Learning that Fan Xian was leaving the city to pursue Si Lili, Fan Jian was worried but didn't say much, only telling him to be careful.
Emperor Qing heard about this matter and summoned Fan Jian to the palace, blaming him for exceeding his authority. Fan Jian, however, wasn't worried at all. He had followed Emperor Qing for many years and, being in charge of the Ministry of Revenue's finances, naturally had Emperor Qing's deep trust. Fan Jian knew that Emperor Qing wanted to entrust the Imperial Treasury to Fan Xian but was worried if he had the capability.
Emperor Qing not stopping Fan Xian from seeking revenge, and even helping him, was to see if he could maintain a clear head while in a fit of rage, and if he possessed keen analytical and problem-solving abilities. Emperor Qing smiled without speaking. Fan Jian bet that Fan Xian would definitely catch Si Lili. Fan Xian and Wang Qinian inquired and learned that Si Lili had been heading north, but the exact route was unknown. Wang Qinian was prepared.
He took out a slingshot, chose the right moment, and shot down a carrier pigeon from the Investigator's Office, which contained information about Si Lili. Fan Xian worried that doing this would arouse the Investigator's Office's suspicion. Wang Qinian told him not to worry, saying he used to raise pigeons and had investigated, so he knew that a certain loss of carrier pigeons on the road was normal.
Subsequently, Wang Qinian took out his homemade map and analyzed that Si Lili would definitely pass through a town on her way back to Northern Qi. On the other side, Zhu Ge made the same arrangement. He ordered secret agents from various routes to lie in ambush in the small town, ready to apprehend Si Lili as soon as she showed up.
Wang Qinian optimistically believed that as long as they intercepted the people escorting Si Lili back to the city, then Fan Xian could take out his Commander's Token and interrogate Si Lili alone, and no one would dare to stop him. After listening to Wang Qinian, Fan Xian consistently felt something was off.
He carefully pondered Si Lili's actions and finally concluded that her setting fire to the pleasure boat and having similarly dressed people scatter to attract attention was not ultimately aimed at escaping by creating chaos, but rather at drawing the tiger away from the mountain. She had not fled north at all. Thinking of this, Fan Xian asked Wang Qinian if there were other ways to get to Northern Qi if not heading north.
After pondering, Wang Qinian suggested that there was indeed such a route, heading east to a coastal city and then returning to Northern Qi by water. Si Lili was indeed taking this route. After waiting for the arranged people and horses to leave the capital, she used the excuse of leaving the city to see a doctor and got past the guards.
After that, she rode east at full speed until she passed an inn, where she finally stopped to catch her breath and prepare to rest. Unexpectedly, shortly after she checked in, Fan Xian and Wang Qinian also tracked her to this inn. Fan Xian wanted to continue on, but Wang Qinian, relying on his experience, stopped him. When trying to catch someone, resting is often more important than rushing the journey.
Si Lili heard Fan Xian's voice from inside her room and quickly hid behind the door. Wang Qinian, however, didn't notice and simply asked the waiter to open a superior room for them to rest. Si Lili originally wanted to seize the opportunity to leave, but then hesitated. When she saw the waiter bringing food to the two, she suddenly waved and called out to the waiter. Wang Qinian and Fan Xian rested in their room.
After receiving the food, Wang Qinian was still talking non-stop about how Si Lili, traveling alone, surely couldn't go fast. Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, Fan Xian instantly saw that the food was poisoned. Fan Xian went out and called the waiter who delivered the food. The waiter lied, claiming the food came from the kitchen and no one had touched it.
Fan Xian then pulled him into the room, pointed at Wang Qinian on the floor, bleeding from his seven orifices, and threatened to report him to the authorities. In a panic, the waiter finally confessed that the girl from the room across the hall had touched the food just now.
