Joy of Life Episode 26 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
After the negotiations in the Court of State Ceremonials concluded, Fan Jian spoke with Fan Xian, advising him to maintain a steady demeanor at the banquet scheduled for the following night at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Fan Jian explained that Beiqi was renowned for its literary giants, while Nanqing often lagged in cultural prestige.
He then dropped a bombshell: Nanqing's literary circles had placed all their hopes on Fan Xian, causing Fan Xian to nearly choke on his tea. Fan Jian elaborated that Fan Xian's recently penned poem, "A Thousand Miles of Autumn Sorrow," had been hailed as the foremost Seven-character verse of its time, with many whispering that Fan Xian might one day surpass the great literary giant, Zhuang Mohan.
Fan Xian was taken aback, finding it a hasty conclusion for just one poem. Fan Jian admitted it might be exaggerated, but Nanqing was desperate for literary talent. He reassured a nervous Fan Xian that a figure of Zhuang Mohan's stature would not likely trouble a junior.
Unbeknownst to Fan Jian, Zhuang Mohan's true purpose in the capital city was to seize the opportunity at the banquet to utterly destroy Fan Xian's reputation, having been specifically asked by an unknown party to do so. That night, Fan Xian hung a red lantern to summon Wuzhu.
He initiated a conversation about Wuzhu's mysterious ability to "know everything, but not by seeing," describing it as seeing with his heart, and remarking that anyone who provoked Wuzhu was "dicing with death." Fan Xian then revealed his plan: after the banquet, he intended to secretly enter the imperial harem and find a key inside the Empress Dowager's palace.
He admitted he didn't know where the key would be, but Wuzhu calmly informed him about a secret compartment beneath the bed board under the Empress Dowager's pillow, where she kept all her important belongings. Wuzhu then revealed that Fan Xian's mother, Ye Qingmei, had once searched this very compartment, purely out of curiosity for "gossip," with Wuzhu keeping watch for her. This revelation greatly amused Fan Xian, who declared that his mother had solved the biggest problem for him.
To prevent the Empress Dowager from discovering the missing key, Fan Xian decided a fake replica was necessary. He then summoned Wang Qinian. After a brief playful exchange about the pun between the "Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest" and Wang Qinian's name, Fan Xian informed Wang Qinian of his audacious plan: to infiltrate the imperial harem, steal a key from the Empress Dowager's palace, and require the capital city's best locksmith to craft a flawless duplicate overnight for replacement.
Wang Qinian was aghast, calling it a "deadly sin that could implicate his entire family" and questioning why Fan Xian would entrust such a perilous secret to him. Fan Xian explained that Wang Qinian's role was crucial – he needed to be waiting outside the imperial palace after the deed was done.
He further asserted his trust in Wang Qinian as a "wise man" who would understand that assisting Fan Xian was a minor risk, whereas betraying him would undoubtedly incur Chen Pingping's deadly wrath. Wang Qinian, albeit with a sigh, agreed to find the locksmith. Fan Xian then raised Wang Qinian's monthly salary by ten taels of silver, to which Wang Qinian cheekily requested banknotes next time for easier concealment. As the evening approached, various key figures prepared for the banquet.
The Second Prince eagerly inquired about the banquet time, commenting that such events were primarily for "drinking and praises" rather than actual dining. He expressed his intention to personally congratulate Fan Xian on his diplomatic success, asserting that Fan Xian, like himself, was not one to willingly follow others, dismissing the notion that he was already aligned with the Crown Prince.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince meticulously prepared, enduring half an hour of standing to prevent any wrinkles on his robes before departing for the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Zhuang Mohan, too, was ready, with an aide carrying his old paper scroll. Wang Qinian confirmed with Fan Xian that the locksmith was prepared. Wang Qinian then drove Fan Xian to the imperial palace. Fan Xian, opting for casual attire, joked that he wasn't important enough to wear official robes.
At the palace gates, guards conducted a routine inspection, strictly prohibiting any weapons or "edged tools." To Xin Qiwu's wide-eyed surprise, Fan Xian calmly surrendered a dagger, a long steel needle, several hairpins, and various vials containing "poisons made by myself." The Second Prince, observing Fan Xian's array of unusual items, remarked on him being Fei Jie's student and humorously requested a bag of poison.
Fan Xian refused, citing the catastrophic consequences if anything were to befall Emperor Qing or the Crown Prince. The Second Prince then congratulated Fan Xian on his achievements and offered his support in the imperial court. He subtly attempted to recruit Xin Qiwu, who was a known follower of the Crown Prince.
Fan Xian playfully implied the Second Prince was trying to win over Xin Qiwu but then deftly stepped in to reassure the Crown Prince that Xin Qiwu's loyalty was unwavering. Xin Qiwu, still perplexed by the Second Prince's ambiguous recruitment attempts and Fan Xian's intervention, confessed his confusion, to which Fan Xian simply replied, "it's the same." Inside the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Fan Xian spotted the Princess Royal, which filled him with an uneasy premonition.
Suddenly, Guo Baokun confronted Fan Xian, asking if he dared to show his face. Fan Xian feigned ignorance, then openly mocked Guo Baokun for sounding like a "whining woman" as Guo Baokun vowed to witness Fan Xian's complete ruin. Guo Youzhi, Guo Baokun's father and Minister of the Board of Rites, swiftly intervened, apologizing for his son's impropriety. Fan Xian, with feigned magnanimity, assured him he wasn't angered.
Xin Qiwu then steered Fan Xian to their seats, suggesting a reconciliation with Guo Baokun, as both were ostensibly followers of the Crown Prince. Fan Xian merely gestured towards Guo Baokun, whose "black chicken's eye" stare remained fixed on him, causing Xin Qiwu to sigh in resignation. A servant then announced that the Princess Royal wished to speak with Fan Xian. Upon approaching her, Li Yunrui whispered, asking why Fan Xian hadn't attempted to assassinate her as she had anticipated.
Fan Xian, in a deliberately loud voice, assured her he would not disappoint her expectations. Li Yunrui, amused, then made an enticing offer: if Fan Xian pledged allegiance to her, she would permit his marriage to Wan'er and grant him control over Neiku's power of wealth, along with anything else he desired. Fan Xian, however, boldly retorted that his only desire was for her to "roll out of the capital city," which she found charmingly naive.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince and Second Prince observed their interaction, with the Second Prince remarking on their seemingly amiable conversation and proposing a bet on who Fan Xian would ultimately align with, though he confidently believed Fan Xian would not willingly follow the Crown Prince. As Zhuang Mohan entered the hall with an old scroll, Fan Xian bowed respectfully, but Zhuang Mohan walked past him without acknowledgment.
Elsewhere, Chen Pingping, despite being in the Investigator's Office, received updates on the banquet's security. Zhu Ge confirmed that Fan Xian had indeed brought concealed weapons and poisons, which were confiscated, and that Zhuang Mohan had only carried an old scroll. Zhu Ge also reassured Chen Pingping that Hong Sixiang was diligently guarding outside the hall, mitigating any threat from Yun Zhilan, who was allowed to carry his sword inside.
Finally, Emperor Qing made his entrance, and all present rose to kneel. Fan Xian, not wishing to "piss off everyone," reluctantly knelt as well. The Emperor then motioned for all to rise, and the banquet officially commenced. Emperor Qing observed Fan Xian eating heartily, a sight that made him frown slightly. He then summoned Fan Xian and pointed him out to Yun Zhilan, declaring Fan Xian to be the killer of Yun Zhilan's two disciples.
Yun Zhilan, with disdain, stated that only if Fan Xian could kill him would it be truly impressive. A slightly displeased Emperor Qing, however, praised Fan Xian for his excellent handling of the Court of State Ceremonials negotiations and invited him to share a drink. After Fan Xian returned to his seat, the Second Prince unexpectedly rose and proposed that Fan Xian, renowned for his literary brilliance and recent diplomatic prowess, should preside over the upcoming spring imperial examinations.
Emperor Qing, however, expressed reservations, deeming Fan Xian too young and inexperienced for such a weighty responsibility. The Crown Prince, fearing Fan Xian might be swayed to the Second Prince's faction, swiftly seconded the proposal, causing a stir among the officials. Emperor Qing, unwilling to publicly display his displeasure, merely stated that the imperial examinations were still some time away and the matter would be decided later, dismissing the princes.
Seizing this moment, Zhuang Mohan subtly praised Fan Xian's youthful talent but then pivoted, cautioning Emperor Qing on the critical importance of selecting a worthy supervisor for the imperial examinations, emphasizing its "fundamental importance to scholars around the world." The Princess Royal, despite admitting her own "little knowledge" and "ignorance," vehemently interjected, defending Fan Xian and accusing Zhuang Mohan of secretly targeting the young man out of fear that his rising fame would eventually eclipse Zhuang Mohan's own.
Emperor Qing briefly chided her for her impropriety. Unfazed, Zhuang Mohan then began to recite Fan Xian's acclaimed poem, "A Thousand Miles of Autumn Sorrow." As he recited the powerful verses, the audience was captivated, particularly by the profound latter four lines. After a dramatic pause, Zhuang Mohan declared that while the first four lines showcased Fan Xian's clear talent, the truly exceptional latter four lines, the very essence of the poem, were not Fan Xian's original work.
He accused Fan Xian of plagiarizing the poem from his own teacher. Zhuang Mohan claimed he had hesitated to reveal the truth but believed it was his duty, an "act of cherishing his talents," to help Fan Xian "correct his mistake" and "focus on moral cultivation," assuring he meant "no harm." Emperor Qing then turned to Fan Xian, inviting him to speak. Fan Xian, with an air of nonchalance, merely inquired if Zhuang Mohan's teacher was surnamed Du.
Upon receiving a negative answer, Fan Xian appeared visibly relieved. The Princess Royal, pressing for concrete proof, asserted that Nanqing's legal system demanded more than "empty words" for an accusation. In response, Zhuang Mohan dramatically unrolled the old paper scroll he had brought, revealing the infamous poem in what he claimed was his teacher's original handwriting. The Princess Royal and others present confirmed that the lines written on the scroll were indeed exactly the same as Fan Xian's celebrated poem.
