Joy of Life Episode 25 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Wang Qinian, looking at a cloud and imagining it as a pile of silver, mused about his wife and daughter's happiness if he could bring such wealth home. Fan Xian, noting Wang Qinian's usual style, inquired if he had heard of Zhuang Mohan. Wang Qinian confirmed Zhuang Mohan's arrival in the capital that day, mentioning that scholars across the city had flocked to pay their respects.
He described Zhuang Mohan as a literary giant, a living saint, and a teacher to all scholars. Surprised by how much Wang Qinian knew, Fan Xian asked if he was also a scholar. Wang Qinian humbly replied that he didn't count as one, then turned the compliment back on Fan Xian, telling him he was being too modest, as the author of universally praised poems was the true scholar.
As they were about to return to the Fan mansion, Shadow suddenly appeared, warning Fan Xian that Chen Pingping's life was in danger and an attack was imminent within the hour. Fan Xian initially dismissed the threat, confident in the security of the Investigator's Office. However, Shadow revealed that Chen Pingping was left undefended. He explained that Zhuang Mohan's arrival in the capital was a crucial precursor to the unfolding events.
Everyone in the Investigator's Office believed that assassinating Zhuang Mohan was the key to reigniting the war. Chen Pingping had sent Zhu Ge and the First Division to protect Zhuang Mohan, leaving the Investigator's Office vulnerable. Fei Jie of the Third Division was out of the capital, and other key combat forces had been strategically reassigned by Yan Ruohai.
Even the officials on duty that day were part of the conspiracy, revealing that the true target was never Zhuang Mohan, but Chen Pingping himself. Fan Xian and Wang Qinian rushed to the Investigator's Office, finding Chen Pingping calmly playing chess as rebels began to surround him. As shouts of "Kill Chen Pingping!" echoed, Fan Xian quickly pushed Chen Pingping's wheelchair towards the dungeon.
Yan Ruohai's voice boomed, rallying the rebels by declaring Chen Pingping the sole obstacle to restarting the war and destroying Beiqi. He stressed that this was their only chance to seize control of the Investigator's Office and inspire the Emperor to conquer Beiqi. Inside the dungeon, Chen Pingping instructed Wang Qinian to open a hidden door leading to the deepest part, a place where the most vicious villains were imprisoned. Despite the extreme danger, it was their only viable retreat.
In the deepest dungeon, Wang Qinian realized they had reached a dead end, a path known to many for prisoner upkeep. He lamented that he couldn't die without his wife's explicit permission, fearing her anger more than death. Concerned for Si Lili's safety, Fan Xian demanded the cell key from Chen Pingping.
Despite Wang Qinian's protests, Fan Xian unlocked Si Lili's shackles and brought her inside the hidden passage, reaffirming his promise to protect her, even if it meant she died after him. Chen Pingping then revealed that one of the notorious "vicious villains" was still alive. Curious, Fan Xian peered through a ventilation shaft, spotting a terrifying figure named Xiao En, heavily bound by chains. Chen Pingping grimly revealed that his own legs were crippled because of this man.
As the rebels breached the secret door, Shadow, who had remained silent until then, suddenly proposed a desperate plan to Fan Xian: kill Chen Pingping and offer his head to the rebels to secure their own survival. Fan Xian, after a cold glance, rejected the notion and urged Wang Qinian to prepare for a fight to the death. Shadow then swiftly snatched a dagger from Fan Xian's hand and charged out alone to confront the attackers.
The sounds of combat quickly receded, leaving Fan Xian and Wang Qinian bewildered by Shadow's formidable skill against so many martial arts masters. Chen Pingping, with a subtle smile, explained that Shadow's offer was a test of Fan Xian's loyalty. He confirmed that the attackers and the rebellion were real, but he had never been concerned, confident that "Shadow alone can resist one thousand cavalrymen." Wang Qinian admitted he had never witnessed Shadow in action before.
Chen Pingping then turned to Si Lili, asking why she hadn't seized the perfect opportunity to hold him hostage when Fan Xian and Wang Qinian were preoccupied. Si Lili confessed her fear, stating that in Beiqi, Chen Pingping's name invoked terror akin to gods and demons. Chen Pingping smiled faintly and instructed Fan Xian to push his wheelchair out. Just then, Xiao En's voice echoed from his cell, urging Chen Pingping to stay alive and await his eventual escape.
Chen Pingping, without a glance back, remained confident that Xiao En would never break free as long as he lived. Returning to the upper dungeon, Si Lili voluntarily re-entered her cell and allowed her shackles to be reapplied, asserting that she felt safer inside. Observing the scattered bodies of the rebels, Chen Pingping explained to Fan Xian that it was a strategic trap to expose the traitors within the Investigator's Office.
Fan Xian calmly responded that those who seek to kill others should expect to be killed themselves. Emerging from the dungeon, they found Shadow locked in a tense standoff with Zhu Ge and the First Division members. Zhu Ge reported witnessing Shadow killing colleagues upon his return, to which Chen Pingping casually admitted it was his directive, leaving Zhu Ge visibly surprised but without further questions. Zhu Ge then reported Zhuang Mohan's disappearance.
He explained that since arriving in the capital, Zhuang Mohan had remained secluded, prompting Zhu Ge to send a subordinate disguised as a servant, only to find him gone. Chen Pingping ordered Zhu Ge to compile a list of all visitors for scrutiny but rejected a full-scale investigation of the capital. Instead, he instructed Zhu Ge to summon all available division directors to hear an announcement. Wang Qinian, seeing the immediate crisis resolved, departed to reassure his family.
Fan Xian also attempted to leave, but Chen Pingping halted him, insisting he meet the directors. Once everyone had gathered, Chen Pingping introduced them to Fan Xian: Zhu Ge, Director of the First Division; Yan Ruohai, Director of the Fourth Division (whom Fan Xian already knew); Shadow, Director of the Sixth Division; and Xuan Jiu, Director of the Eighth Division, who oversaw book printing, under whom Fan Xian's bookstore would fall.
The Directors of the Second, Fifth (Black Knights), and Seventh Divisions were absent. Finally, Chen Pingping introduced Senior Fellow Apprentice Leng, Fei Jie's senior disciple, acting director of the Third Division in Fei Jie's absence. Lying on a stretcher, Senior Fellow Apprentice Leng, who was ailing from a failed antidote to a new poison he had tested, warmly greeted Fan Xian as a fellow disciple.
Chen Pingping then declared that Fan Xian had saved his life during the day's assassination plot and announced his intention for Fan Xian to succeed him as Head of the Investigator's Office. Zhu Ge immediately voiced his objection, arguing that Fan Xian lacked the necessary qualifications. Chen Pingping, smiling, clarified that he was not seeking their approval but merely informing them, challenging anyone who disagreed to try and kill him. Senior Fellow Apprentice Leng quickly pledged the Third Division's support.
Chen Pingping reiterated that his decision was final, daring anyone to oppose him. After the meeting, Yan Ruohai attempted to instigate Zhu Ge, suggesting he challenge Chen Pingping's decision. Zhu Ge retorted that his opposition was not for personal power, as he believed himself unqualified for the position; rather, all his actions were for the good of Nanqing.
Yan Ruohai claimed the same, but Zhu Ge then pointed out that several of the recently killed assassins had been in close contact with Yan Ruohai. Yan Ruohai vehemently denied any involvement, again insisting his decisions were solely for Nanqing. Fan Xian questioned Chen Pingping's reasons for entrusting him with the Investigator's Office.
Chen Pingping explained that the office was originally founded by Fan Xian's mother, Ye Qingmei, and he had merely been its custodian, intending to eventually return it to her son. Fan Xian, surprised by Chen Pingping's sentimentality, remarked that times had changed. Chen Pingping, however, calmly stated that while time had passed, his original intention remained unwavering.
He then advised Fan Xian to diligently carry out his duties at the Court of State Ceremonials and to seek his assistance with any difficulties or opposition, promising to resolve them personally. That night, as Fan Xian studied a map of the imperial harem drawn by Ruoruo, he felt uneasy, recalling how close he came to revealing the Princess Royal's name to Chen Pingping. Wu Zhu, upon hearing this, remarked that he was more skilled at killing.
However, Fan Xian, mindful that the Princess Royal was Wan'er's mother, decided against her immediate assassination. He believed that stripping her of power and banishing her from the capital would inflict a suffering far greater than death, a task he would handle himself, as Wu Zhu would not. He also decided to postpone the plan to retrieve the key from the palace, opting to wait for a more opportune moment.
Fan Xian then inquired about Shadow, to which Wu Zhu confirmed he was a martial arts master above the Ninth Dan, a rare feat in Nanqing. Fan Xian asked if Wu Zhu had ever seen Shadow's face, to which Wu Zhu replied no. He then shared his unsettling encounter with the terrifying, chained figure in the deepest part of the Investigator's Office dungeon.
The following day, Fan Xian, now in official attire, joined Xin Qiwu to begin negotiations with the Beiqi mission at the Court of State Ceremonials. Fan Xian confessed his nervousness, lacking experience in such diplomatic matters. Xin Qiwu reassured him, emphasizing the importance of polite and courteous language to project the image of a powerful nation, while he would handle the substantial aspects of the negotiation.
However, during the talks, Xin Qiwu's demeanor drastically shifted; he became overtly aggressive and crude, much to Fan Xian's astonishment. At lunch, Fan Xian cautiously questioned Xin Qiwu's confrontational approach. Xin Qiwu passionately defended his methods, arguing that their firm stance was a tribute to the soldiers who had risked their lives for victory. Unable to argue further, Fan Xian silently drank his tea.
The afternoon session saw Xin Qiwu steadfastly refusing to return any occupied territory and demanding reparations for the Qing army's campaign expenses. The Beiqi delegation vehemently rejected these terms, leading to a tense deadlock. Suddenly, a discreet note was delivered to the head of the Beiqi delegation. After reading it and receiving a whispered message, his demeanor brightened significantly. He declared their conditions unyielding and handed the note to Xin Qiwu, suggesting he verify the information and reconsider their demands.
Xin Qiwu read the note and exclaimed that it was terrible news. Meanwhile, Emperor Qing received a secret report from Beiqi, revealing that Yan Bingyun, a Nanqing spy, had been captured by Shen Zhong, the head of Beiqi's Imperial Guards. Beiqi's demands were extensive: the return of occupied territory, war prisoners, compensation for their fallen soldiers, and critically, the exchange of Xiao En and Si Lili for Yan Bingyun.
Chen Pingping explained the gravity of the situation, noting that Xiao En was once as formidable as himself in Beiqi, captured by Chen Pingping's black knights at the cost of his legs. He also highlighted Yan Bingyun's crucial role in Nanqing's victory through intelligence gathering and his identity as Yan Ruohai's son. Chen Pingping clarified that Beiqi's primary objective was Xiao En and Si Lili. Yan Ruohai vehemently opposed trading territory for his son.
Chen Pingping stated that only Emperor Qing could make such a weighty decision. The Emperor ultimately agreed to the exchange, but with a firm stipulation: no occupied territory would be relinquished. All other conditions were negotiable, provided Yan Bingyun returned alive. Yan Ruohai was deeply moved and grateful for the Emperor's decree. Subsequent negotiations grew heated, with both delegations on the verge of physical altercation, while a bored Fan Xian struggled to stay awake.
After half a day, an agreement was reached, much to Emperor Qing's satisfaction. He ordered a celebratory night banquet at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest for his officials, extending invitations to the Beiqi and Dongyi missions. Zhu Ge, however, found Zhuang Mohan's continued seclusion peculiar, wondering if the renowned scholar had traveled all this way merely for a celebratory dinner.
Chen Pingping, ever enigmatic, suggested that if Zhuang Mohan harbored any intentions, they would surely manifest at the banquet, and since his motives were unknown, they could only wait and observe. Yan Ruohai then delivered another troubling report from Beiqi: Yan Bingyun's identity had been compromised due to a betrayal in the capital. Zhu Ge was aghast, realizing that only the Emperor and the Investigator's Office knew of Yan Bingyun's secret mission, suspecting a traitor within their own ranks.
Zhu Ge demanded an immediate and thorough investigation, but Chen Pingping firmly dismissed the matter, ordering it closed and never to be mentioned again. As the meeting concluded, Yan Ruohai, with an ominous tone, remarked to Zhu Ge that after many years, some "old things" in the Investigator's Office were due for replacement.
