Joy of Life Episode 21 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Chen Pingping addressed Emperor Qing, the Crown Prince, and other officials, asserting that he had uncovered the true culprit behind Lin Gong’s death: Si Gujian of Dongyi. He explained that Lin Gong had conspired with Si Lili to assassinate Fan Xian on Niulan Street, but during the attempt, two of Si Gujian's disciples were killed by Fan Xian in self-defense.
Chen Pingping elaborated that Si Gujian, being a master obsessed with swordsmanship, would commend Fan Xian’s prowess but would hold Lin Gong and Beiqi responsible as the true instigators. He further claimed that Beiqi's secret agents had manipulated Lin Gong to sow discord between Nanqing and Dongyi, and then implicated Si Gujian to destabilize the capital. Chen Pingping vehemently urged Emperor Qing to declare war on Beiqi immediately.
Emperor Qing initially expressed caution, but Lin Ruofu, understanding the underlying political maneuver, tearfully knelt and begged the Emperor to avenge his son's death by launching a punitive expedition against Beiqi. Acceding to Lin Ruofu's plea, Emperor Qing announced his decision to order Dongyi to hand over the killer and declared war on Beiqi, stating that Beiqi had pushed them too far and that Nanqing would unite its strength to punish the wicked.
Following this, Emperor Qing consoled Lin Ruofu, urging him to prioritize his health and manage the six ministries during the impending war. Lin Ruofu, accepting the new reality, requested that Lin Gong’s body be released by the Investigator’s Office so it could be buried properly, a request Chen Pingping agreed to fulfill. Chen Pingping then suggested invalidating the marriage contract between Lin Wan’er and Fan Xian, citing the enmity caused by Lin Gong’s actions.
However, Lin Ruofu firmly stated that his son's mistakes were unrelated to Fan Xian and praised Fan Xian's efforts in investigating Beiqi's secret agents, insisting the engagement should stand. Emperor Qing concurred, but postponed the wedding until after the war, respecting the period of mourning. For slandering his brother, the Crown Prince was grounded in the Eastern Palace for three days and instructed to study more classics.
As Fan Xian and Lin Ruofu left the palace, Lin Ruofu confessed that he did not believe Si Gujian was the true killer. He had confirmed with Fan Xian that the Second Prince and Xie Bi'an were not involved, dismissing the official narrative as merely a pretext for Emperor Qing to declare war on Beiqi.
Lin Ruofu lamented that despite his high position, he was powerless against national interests, and the truth of his son’s death would remain buried beneath the political currents. He even hinted at the possibility of a Great Master within the palace walls, loyal only to the Emperor, being the actual killer.
Witnessing Lin Ruofu's despair, Fan Xian felt a complex mix of emotions, acknowledging his hatred for Lin Gong for killing Teng Zijing but also recognizing the universal pain of losing a loved one. Lin Ruofu then warned Fan Xian to stay away from Chen Pingping, describing him as a ruthless and unfathomable figure.
He promised to arrange Fan Xian's transfer to the Ministry of Personnel after his marriage to Lin Wan’er, advocating for a safer career path away from the Investigator’s Office. He advised Fan Xian against investigating Lin Gong's death, warning that the secrets were too profound for him to bear. Before parting, Lin Ruofu urged Fan Xian to spend more time with Lin Wan’er, who was deeply grieved and in delicate health, and to keep her away from the funeral proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Princess Royal, Li Yunrui, met Lin Ruofu outside the palace. She expressed feigned sympathy for Lin Gong's death, but Lin Ruofu, seeing through her facade, coldly rebuffed her, stating that she only cared about his power, not his well-being. Angered but composed, Li Yunrui reiterated her desire to prevent Lin Wan’er from marrying Fan Xian, whom she called a "bumpkin." Lin Ruofu directly accused her of being unwilling to relinquish control of the Neiku.
He asserted that he owed Wan’er greatly, having seen her infrequently since her birth, and would now honor her wishes to marry Fan Xian, whom she genuinely loved. He also noted Fan Xian's kindness to Dabao, assuring that the Lin family's future would be in good hands.
Lin Ruofu then bluntly told Li Yunrui to let go of Neiku, as it was never truly hers, and declared that they had nothing more to say to each other, instructing that they should not meet again. After this confrontation, Li Yunrui coldly ordered her guards to kill unseen individuals and dispose of their bodies in the lake, revealing her true ruthless nature. Later, Fan Xian encountered Lin Wan’er near the imperial residence.
She directly confronted him, asking if he had killed her brother. Holding a dagger Lin Gong had given her, her eyes welled with tears and her hands trembled. Only after Fan Xian firmly denied it, looking her in the eye, did she visibly relax, collapsing into his arms in tears. She confessed that if he were the killer, she would take her own life rather than face such a cruel reality, which intensified Fan Xian’s guilt.
He comforted her, explaining that Si Gujian was the killer and that Emperor Qing would soon launch a war against Beiqi to avenge Lin Gong’s death. Lin Wan’er, however, found no joy in this news, lamenting that war would only lead to more innocent lives being sacrificed. Fan Xian promised to take her out of the city for a change of scenery in a few days. On the street, Chen Pingping intercepted Fan Jian’s carriage.
Chen Pingping criticized Fan Jian for arranging Fan Xian's marriage, seeing it as a move to reclaim the Neiku. He urged Fan Jian to cancel the engagement, arguing that it would put Fan Xian in a dangerous political position. Fan Jian retorted that the marriage was Fan Xian’s own wish and that Neiku no longer belonged to the Ye family.
He accused Chen Pingping of wanting Fan Xian to take over the Investigator’s Office, despite the inherent dangers, while he preferred Fan Xian to live safely as a wealthy commoner, far from power struggles. Chen Pingping countered that wealth without power was fleeting and pledged to protect Fan Xian. Unable to convince each other, they agreed to pursue their own agendas and let Fan Xian ultimately decide his own path.
Still burdened by his lie to Lin Wan’er, Fan Xian visited Teng Zijing's grave. Fan Ruoruo, who had followed him, found him there. She understood his guilt but gently advised him that telling Lin Wan’er the truth would only bring her more pain, especially given her fragile health, and sometimes a white lie served to protect those they cared about. Fan Xian, though still conflicted, found some relief in her words.
As they walked back, Fan Xian confided in Fan Ruoruo about the intricate and confusing political landscape, observing the various factions—the Second Prince, the Crown Prince, Lin Ruofu, and even Chen Pingping—all in opposition. He expressed his unease about the Crown Prince's seemingly reckless behavior in court, questioning how such an apparently incompetent individual could maintain his position if not for a deeper, hidden agenda, especially since his actions that day seemed to only harm him.
Fan Ruoruo reassured him that the capital had long perceived the Crown Prince as lacking talent, leading many to support the Second Prince. Fan Xian, however, found this explanation unconvincing and hoped his suspicions were unfounded. Back at the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince remained in solitary confinement, refusing even to step into his blooming garden, stating he needed to "ground his heart." His attendants worried about his impulsiveness and inability to compete with the Second Prince.
Meanwhile, Chen Pingping visited Si Lili in the dungeon. He directly asked if she had told Fan Xian about Lin Gong's role in the Niulan Street assassination, cautioning her against hesitation. He then informed her of Emperor Qing's decision to declare war on Beiqi, using the official narrative that Beiqi's secret agents manipulated Lin Gong and implicated Si Gujian.
Chen Pingping reminded her that as a Beiqi spy, she was technically set for execution, but he was the only one who could ensure her safety, provided she maintained the official story: she had not told Fan Xian the truth, and Fan Xian had no reason to kill Lin Gong. He stressed that her life depended on providing this consistent answer to anyone who asked.
Later, Chen Pingping’s subordinate, Yan Ruohai, suggested that if Chen Pingping wanted to protect Fan Xian, he should simply eliminate Si Lili. Chen Pingping responded that Fan Xian had promised to spare her life. Ruohai then probed Chen Pingping's relationship with Fan Xian, whom Chen Pingping referred to as an "old friend," despite Fan Xian growing up in Danzhou.
Chen Pingping then discussed the succession of the Investigator’s Office leadership, noting that Ruohai and Zhu Ge were the most capable candidates. When asked about Fan Xian potentially taking over the Investigator's Office, Ruohai deferred to Chen Pingping's judgment but pointed out that Chen Pingping’s gaze during their conversation had held murderous intent. Late that night, Wuzhu appeared at Fan Xian’s residence. Fan Xian recounted the day's events, expressing confusion over Chen Pingping's extreme protectiveness.
Wuzhu explained it was due to Fan Xian’s mother, Ye Qingmei. He revealed that after Ye Qingmei was killed, it was Chen Pingping's Black Knights who avenged her by drenching the capital in blood. Fan Xian was stunned by this revelation, realizing the deep connection between Chen Pingping and his mother.
As Fan Xian pressed for more details, Wuzhu became agitated, speaking in enigmatic phrases about Ye Qingmei being a "guider, a betrayer, like Nuwa who repaired the heaven, the cause of every phenomenon on earth, and the end of finality." When asked to explain, Wuzhu said the words simply appeared in his mind from a deep memory, yet he couldn't grasp their meaning. After a brief moment of intense concentration, Wuzhu suddenly declared that he remembered the location of the Taiping Residence: 2. 5 kilometers east of the capital city.
