Joy of Life Episode 18 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Lin Wan’er pressed her second brother, Lin Gong, about his animosity towards Fan Xian, expressing her willingness to marry him. She described Fan Xian as sincere and pure-eyed, despite his occasional lightheartedness. Lin Gong, however, dismissed Fan Xian’s character as irrelevant, asserting that his presence in the capital was ill-advised as many powerful figures were observing him.
Lin Wan’er acknowledged Lin Gong’s consistent kindness, contrasting it with their father’s more distant approach, though she understood it was for the family’s greater good. Still, she questioned the purpose of their family's glory if they could not protect its own members. Lin Gong explained that his opposition to the marriage was to protect her from being entangled in Fan Xian’s troubles.
He left her a short dagger, insisting that they could never be together and telling her not to see Fan Xian again. Fan Xian informed Fan Ruoruo that Lin Gong was the mastermind behind the Niulan Street assassination attempt, a fact he had confirmed with Ye Ling’er. Fan Ruoruo was perplexed, questioning if it was due to Lin Gong's allegiance to the Crown Prince or a struggle for control over the Neiku’s financial power.
Fan Xian recounted how he had deliberately caused a scene at the royal residence to provoke Lin Gong, noting that Lin Gong’s subordinates were all formidable martial artists, easily capable of capturing Cheng Jushu. He expressed frustration that no one had simply asked him about the Neiku, resorting to murder instead. He lamented the powerful's callous disregard for common lives, repeatedly hearing the phrase, “He’s dead, but he’s just a guard.”
Fan Xian declared his intention to avenge Teng Zijing that very night, explaining his revenge was not just for Teng Zijing, but to challenge the prevailing belief that ordinary people are insignificant. Fan Ruoruo reminded him of the painful dilemma: Lin Gong was Lin Wan’er’s brother, and killing him would irrevocably sever any possibility of a future with her. Empathizing with his desire for justice, she emphasized that he alone must make this difficult choice.
Deeply troubled, Fan Xian asked for solitude. Later, Lin Wan’er confided in Ye Ling’er, expressing an intuition that there was a deeper conflict between Lin Gong and Fan Xian. Ye Ling’er, knowing the truth but unable to disclose it, asked Lin Wan’er how she would choose if an irreconcilable conflict arose between her family and the man she loved.
Lin Wan’er reflected on Lin Gong’s kindness as her primary source of familial warmth and acknowledged her deep emotional commitment to Fan Xian. She concluded that if such a choice were forced upon her, she would ultimately stand on the side of justice. That night, Fan Xian, dressed for his mission, prepared to assassinate Lin Gong but was intercepted by a suddenly reappeared Wuzhu. Wuzhu coolly commanded him to retreat, perceiving that Fan Xian’s agitated state guaranteed failure.
Enraged, Fan Xian demanded to know if Wuzhu also believed Teng Zijing’s death was inconsequential and, in his fury, attacked him. Wuzhu effortlessly subdued Fan Xian, knocking him unconscious. Fan Xian awoke in his own bed at the Fan Manor, instinctively searching for Wuzhu. Fan Ruoruo informed him that Wuzhu had not been seen and, crucially, that Lin Gong had hastily left the capital early that morning. Fan Xian sought out Ye Ling’er for information on Lin Gong’s whereabouts.
She confirmed his departure with a retinue of guards after a meeting with the Crown Prince. Ling’er, unwilling to jeopardize her family by testifying against Lin Gong, suggested Fan Xian pursue him to uncover the truth, implying the Emperor would render judgment if Lin Gong were found guilty of treason. Fan Xian immediately rode off to find Wang Qinian to employ his tracking skills.
However, Wang Qinian found the trail difficult to follow, as the flagstone roads near the Prime Minister’s mansion left no discernible tracks. As they proceeded towards the Prime Minister’s mansion, they encountered the Second Prince, who was leisurely reading "Red Mansions." The Second Prince candidly admitted he was waiting for Fan Xian and revealed that Lin Gong and the Crown Prince had a tense discussion in the Eastern Palace study that morning before Lin Gong’s swift departure.
Acknowledging the pervasive espionage within the royal family, he offered the assistance of his personal guard, Xie Bi'an, a renowned swordsman whose skill was poetically described as "a sword that breaks the passage of time." Fan Xian declined, expressing appreciation for the Second Prince’s honesty but asserting his preference for handling the situation independently. He also subtly criticized the Second Prince for having common street vendors displaced for his comfort, highlighting their differing philosophies on the value of ordinary people.
Unfazed, the Second Prince wished him luck. Recognizing the urgency, Fan Xian and Wang Qinian decided to leave the city to track Lin Gong. Meanwhile, Lin Gong and his entourage arrived at a secluded courtyard to rest before continuing south. Wuzhu suddenly appeared, declaring he would kill Lin Gong for attempting to harm Fan Xian. Lin Gong, initially disdainful, ordered his guards to attack. Wuzhu swiftly dispatched them all before killing Lin Gong himself.
At the Investigator's Office, Zhuge received an anonymous letter detailing Lin Gong's death location. He led his men to the courtyard, where they confirmed Lin Gong’s demise. The body was returned to the Investigator’s Office, where the sword wound indicated a highly skilled assailant. Zhuge speculated that only Xie Bi'an, the Second Prince's formidable guard, possessed such sword mastery in the capital.
Given Lin Gong’s affiliation with the Crown Prince, Zhuge recognized the political sensitivity and decided to submit a secret memorial to the Emperor for a ruling. Later that night, Fan Sizhe visited Fan Xian to discuss plans for opening a bookstore to sell "Red Mansions." As they talked, Wuzhu abruptly appeared, found Fan Sizhe there, and rendered him unconscious. Wuzhu informed Fan Xian that he had killed Lin Gong, reiterating his standing order to eliminate anyone who threatened him.
To Wuzhu’s surprise, Fan Xian reacted with anger, demanding to know why Wuzhu intervened and where he had been during the Niulan Street assassination. Wuzhu, uncharacteristically hesitant, apologized for his absence from the capital and vowed it would not happen again. He revealed he had traveled to Jiangnan to find the key to his late mistress’s box.
By revisiting old places, he recalled that the key was either in the imperial palace or at the Taiping Residence, his mistress’s former abode, though he couldn't remember its precise location. Wuzhu instructed Fan Xian to find the Taiping Residence and to keep his return a secret from Fan Jian before vanishing. The next morning, Fan Sizhe awoke confused in Fan Xian's room.
Fan Xian playfully convinced him that the mansion was haunted, much to the exasperated amusement of his mother. After breakfast, Fan Jian summoned Fan Xian to his study. He informed him of Lin Gong’s death, speculating about the skilled swordsman responsible, and subtly inquired if Wuzhu had returned. Fan Xian feigned ignorance. He then asked about the Taiping Residence, expressing a desire to visit his mother's former home.
Fan Jian, surprised, firmly refused, emphasizing the paramount importance of secrecy regarding Fan Xian’s mother until the Neiku inheritance was secured. Fan Sizhe later approached Fan Xian again about the bookstore, suggesting the name "Danbo Bookstore." Just then, messengers arrived, summoning Fan Xian to both the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace and Prime Minister Lin Ruofu’s mansion. Realizing both summons were related to Lin Gong’s death, Fan Xian was caught in a difficult position. Before he could choose, imperial guards arrived with a verbal decree from the Emperor, commanding an immediate audience and thus absolving him of the choice.
