Joy of Life Episode 21 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
The Crown Prince did not believe that Four Gu Jian was the murderer of Lin Gong, but Chen Pingping swore solemnly that Lin Gong's assassination attempt on Fan Xian in Ox Cart Alley failed, and also implicated two of Four Gu Jian's disciples and grand-disciples. Fan Xian was acting in self-defense, so Four Gu Jian would not blame Fan Xian, but would hold the mastermind accountable.
Coupled with the instigation from Bei Qi, their goal was to disrupt the situation in the capital, such despicable means were truly hateful. Therefore, he suggested that Emperor Qing choose a day to send troops to punish Bei Qi. After listening to Chen Pingping, Emperor Qing felt he should not be so impulsive and should think twice, after all, raising an army is not a simple matter. Lin Ruofu had long understood the purpose of these two's coordinated performance.
With tears streaming down his face, he knelt down and begged Emperor Qing to send troops against Qi to avenge his son Lin Gong. Only then did Emperor Qing go along with the flow and agree. Having achieved his goal, Emperor Qing comforted Prime Minister Lin, urging him to take care of his health and manage the Six Ministries well, as a major war was imminent.
Seeing that the matter was settled, Prime Minister Lin pleaded with Emperor Qing to allow the Investigator's Office to send Lin Gong's body back to his mansion so that he could be buried in peace. Chen Pingping promised to send Lin Gong back later. Using the assassination attempt by Lin Gong as a reason, he suggested that since a rift had occurred between the two families, it would be better to dissolve the marriage between Lin Wan'er and Fan Xian.
Prime Minister Lin believed that the two matters were unrelated, and Emperor Qing also felt that the marriage did not need to be changed, but the wedding ceremony would have to wait until after the war. After the matter concluded, Emperor Qing punished the Crown Prince by confining him to the Eastern Palace for three days for slandering his elder brother. After the matter concluded, Fan Xian and Prime Minister Lin left the palace together.
Prime Minister Lin learned that Fan Xian had indeed met with the Second Prince and Xie Bian, confirming that Lin Gong's death had nothing to do with the Second Prince. Of course, he also did not believe it was the work of Four Gu Jian; this was just a reason for Qing to attack Bei Qi. But now that the matter was settled, although he held a high position, he was insignificant in the face of national interests.
He even began to suspect that Lin Gong's death was an act orchestrated within the palace. Fan Xian looked at the dejected and helpless Prime Minister Lin, feeling incredibly complex emotions. He hated Lin Gong for killing Teng Zijing, but what could killing Lin Gong change? The deceased were gone, and the ones truly suffering were their loved ones, just like Teng's wife and son, and just like Dabao and Prime Minister Lin.
Prime Minister Lin quickly emerged from his sadness. He reminded Fan Xian not to trust Chen Pingping and also planned to transfer him out of the Investigator's Office after he married Lin Wan'er. As he left, Prime Minister Lin told Fan Xian to spend more time with Lin Wan'er when he had the chance.
When leaving the palace, the Eldest Princess sent someone to find Lin Ruofu and comfort him, telling him not to be too sad over Lin Gong's death. Lin Ruofu did not give the Eldest Princess any pleasant expression; he was very clear that she had no feelings for him whatsoever, valuing only the power in his hands. The Eldest Princess was always accustomed to appearing weak. Although she was angry at Lin Ruofu's attitude, she merely endured it.
She once again proposed that she did not wish to marry Lin Wan'er to Fan Xian. Lin Ruofu knew that she was reluctant to let go of the Imperial Treasury's power, but he no longer intended to obstruct the marriage, because he knew that Wan'er truly loved Fan Xian. Wan'er had grown up in the palace since childhood and was frail; he only wished for her to follow her heart and live a peaceful life.
On the way back to his mansion, Fan Xian unexpectedly encountered Lin Wan'er. The two found a secluded corner. Lin Wan'er came straight to the point and asked Fan Xian if Lin Gong had been killed by him. She held the dagger Lin Gong had given her during his lifetime, her eyes filled with tears, and her hands trembling uncontrollably. Only after Fan Xian denied it did she finally breathe a sigh of relief and weep in Fan Xian's embrace.
Fan Xian asked her if she had come to avenge Lin Gong, but Lin Wan'er said that if it truly was Fan Xian who killed her second brother, she would only commit suicide, because she could not face such a cruel reality. This made Fan Xian feel even more guilty.
After finally comforting Lin Wan'er, Fan Xian sent her back to the royal separate residence to rest on her bed and told her that the assassin who killed Lin Gong was Four Gu Jian, and that soon Emperor Qing would send troops to attack Bei Qi, avenging Lin Gong nationwide. Lin Wan'er, however, could not feel happy upon hearing this; she knew that once the flames of war ignited, more innocent lives would be sacrificed.
Meanwhile, Chen Pingping and Fan Jian encountered each other on the street. Chen Pingping stopped Fan Jian and told him that he must call off the marriage with Lin Wan'er. Fan Jian said that this was what Fan Xian wanted, and it would be safer to live as a wealthy man in the future than to be involved in court politics. However, Chen Pingping insisted on handing the Investigator's Office to Fan Xian.
Neither could persuade the other, so they parted unhappily. After parting ways with Wan'er, Fan Xian felt deeply guilty for having deceived her. He went alone to Teng Zijing's tombstone and stood in a daze. Ruoruo followed him. She understood Fan Xian's feelings at that moment but knew even better that telling the truth to Wan'er would do her great harm and no good. Sometimes, a kind deception was for her own benefit.
After listening to Fan Ruoruo, Fan Xian felt a little better. Chen Pingping found Si Lili in the dungeon and told her that the one who assassinated Lin Gong was Four Gu Jian, and that it was orchestrated by Bei Qi. Si Lili did not understand his meaning, but Chen Pingping's reputation in Qi was no less than that of a devil, and she feared him greatly.
Chen Pingping also said that originally, with the two countries going to war, she was supposed to be used as a sacrifice flag, but since Fan Xian had promised to protect her, as long as she kept the secret in the future, he would also spare her life. Late at night, Wu Zhu came to find Fan Xian. Fan Xian told Wu Zhu about the day's events. He didn't understand why Chen Pingping regarded him so highly.
Wu Zhu told him it was because of his mother. When Ye Qingmei was murdered back then, it was also Chen Pingping who shed blood throughout the capital to avenge her.
