Joy of Life Episode 3 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Upon arriving in Kyoto, Fan Xian's carriage stopped before a divine temple. The driver, feigning a sudden need to relieve himself, left Fan Xian to explore alone. As Fan Xian attempted to enter, a stern-faced guard blocked his path.
They exchanged a brief palm strike, and Fan Xian, not wanting trouble, was about to leave when the guard unexpectedly opened the door, stating that his master permitted Fan Xian to enter the side hall for worship, but not the main hall. Venturing into the temple, Fan Xian worried it might be a trap. He casually asked the guard what the temple worshipped.
The guard, surprised by his ignorance, explained that all such places of worship are divine temples, where envoys once descended to teach mankind characters and etiquette, helping them establish civilization. Fan Xian dismissed it as mythology but, out of curiosity, entered the side hall. He found no ambush, only murals depicting ancient figures from the temple subduing giant beasts and imparting knowledge. A product of modern times, Fan Xian harbored no belief in deities.
He picked up an offering fruit, took a bite, and jokingly challenged any real god to send an envoy to explain his journey into this world, promising to believe in them if an answer was provided, with all expenses covered. Suddenly, the altar shook, startling him and causing him to drop the fruit. Peering under the table, he discovered a beautiful young woman, Lin Wan’er, holding a half-eaten drumstick, looking back at him in surprise.
Their eyes met, and Fan Xian felt his blood rush to his heart, his mind slowing to a halt. He dazedly asked if she was sent by the gods. Lin Wan’er, daughter of Prime Minister Lin Ruofu, found his reaction amusing and, seeing no malice in him, emerged from beneath the table. The reality of her presence overwhelmed Fan Xian, causing him to spit blood. Concerned, Lin Wan’er approached him.
Fan Xian, ever the jester, reassured her, saying he would get used to it. His playful remark made Lin Wan’er laugh. Their pleasant moment was cut short by a maid's urgent calls from the courtyard. Lin Wan’er quickly handed her drumstick to Fan Xian and hurried away, leaving him captivated by her parting smile.
It was only then that he realized he had forgotten to ask her name and rushed out to pursue her, but she had already departed in her carriage. Lin Wan’er, whose health had been delicate since childhood, was strictly confined at home and often snuck away to play during such outings. Despite coughing blood again due to her excitement, she couldn't help but smile, recalling Fan Xian's words.
Her maid, worried about her health, noted that she had been smiling ever since leaving the Qing Temple and hoped the Fan mansion’s young master would be as interesting. Unbeknownst to Lin Wan’er, the Emperor had already arranged her marriage to Fan Xian. Meanwhile, Emperor Qing returned from the temple. Gong Dian, Deputy Director of the Imperial Guard, reported the young man's unexpected appearance, taking responsibility for the security lapse and requesting a thorough investigation into his forces.
Emperor Qing, however, calmly dismissed the need, stating that the worship ritual had proceeded without incident, crediting Gong Dian with its successful execution. Gong Dian then revealed that he had exchanged a palm strike with Fan Xian, noting his impressive internal strength for his age. A squad of guards arrived, reporting that several maidservants from the imperial harem, attempting to block the road ahead to ruin Fan Xian's reputation, had been intercepted and killed. The Emperor acknowledged this without expression.
Later, as his carriage stopped, Emperor Qing asked Gong Dian to fetch him a bowl of wontons from a street stall. He then nonchalantly inquired about the young man who had entered the temple. Gong Dian identified him as Fan Xian, the illegitimate son of the Vice Minister of Revenue from Danzhou, finally realizing that Fan Xian’s presence at the temple had been orchestrated by Emperor Qing himself.
When asked why he would make such an arrangement, Gong Dian cautiously suggested that His Majesty wished to observe Fan Xian personally. The Emperor then pressed Gong Dian to identify who might have sent the imperial harem maidservants to obstruct Fan Xian's path. After some hesitation, Gong Dian implicitly pointed to the Crown Prince and asked for clemency for his presumptuous guess.
The Emperor then abruptly asked if Gong Dian was fond of a painting gifted by the Crown Prince, causing the guard to break into a cold sweat as he understood the warning. Upon reaching the Fan mansion, the coachman instructed Fan Xian to enter through a side door, explaining that his father was still at the Ministry of Revenue and that Madam Liu Ruyu had made these arrangements. Fan Xian, seeing it as a deliberate slight, complied good-naturedly.
Inside, he noticed an unusual hush; the servants explained that Madam Liu Ruyu was having her afternoon nap in the backyard, and no one dared to make a sound, a testament to her authority within the mansion. Suddenly, a boy in silk robes, Fan Sizhe, Madam Liu Ruyu's pampered son, burst out, chasing a bookkeeper with a stick and demanding money.
Spotting Fan Xian, Fan Sizhe, without bothering to ask his identity, arrogantly demanded Fan Xian open his travel chest for inspection. Fan Xian, amused rather than angered, challenged him to try it himself. Meanwhile, Madam Liu Ruyu, informed of Fan Xian's arrival, instructed that he be made to wait in the courtyard until she awoke, a clear power play. Fan Sizhe, despite his bluster, was guileless.
After failing to open the chest, he declared his supreme authority in the mansion, stating everyone must obey him. Fan Xian playfully questioned this, asking what if Fan Sizhe ordered the servants to kill him – if they obeyed, they would harm him, showing disrespect; if they didn't, they would defy his orders. This logical paradox completely bewildered Fan Sizhe. Fan Xian, aware of Madam Liu Ruyu's intentions, patiently sat down in the courtyard.
Later, Gong Dian visited Crown Prince Li Chengqian. Though the Crown Prince greeted him warmly, Gong Dian, with a heavy heart, proceeded to tear up several of his own most cherished paintings in front of him. He then requested that the Crown Prince reclaim the art he had been gifted, explaining that Emperor Qing had subtly warned him about his close ties with the Eastern Palace.
To avoid further imperial displeasure, he had resolved to abandon all personal hobbies and cease private meetings with the Crown Prince, ensuring his unwavering loyalty to the Emperor alone. The Crown Prince, though angered by the abrupt separation, had no choice but to accept. Madam Liu Ruyu awoke and was informed that Fan Xian, instead of showing agitation, had simply pulled up a chair and was also napping in the courtyard.
Incensed, she went out to confront him, criticizing his lack of decorum. Fan Xian, however, responded with equally polite but subtly cutting remarks. Just then, Fan Sizhe, having finally understood Fan Xian's earlier trick, returned, brandishing his stick and intent on revenge. Madam Liu Ruyu deliberately stepped aside, hoping a confrontation would lead to Fan Xian's downfall, either by being beaten or by striking a legitimate son. Fan Xian remained unperturbed, calmly watching Fan Sizhe's antics.
As Fan Sizhe was about to strike, Fan Ruoruo, the eldest daughter of the mansion, arrived and intervened. Fan Sizhe, who had been disciplined by her since childhood, was instantly cowed. He meekly apologized to Fan Xian, much to Madam Liu Ruyu's frustration, as her carefully laid plans were thwarted by Fan Ruoruo's unexpected appearance. She lamented her son's simple-mindedness, focused only on money.
Brother and sister shared a joyful reunion in Fan Ruoruo's room, which was filled with precious gifts and curiosities. Fan Ruoruo explained that these were offerings from young ladies across Kyoto, all "asking for updates" on chapters of "Dream of the Red Chamber" that Fan Xian had included in his letters to her.
Fan Xian, surprised his stories had become so popular, tried to credit a "Mr. Cao" from Danzhou, but Fan Ruoruo, having confirmed with their grandmother that no such person existed, promised to keep his "secret" as the world's greatest literary talent. Fan Xian realized that Uncle Wuzhu must have secretly arrived in Kyoto ahead of him to deliver the note that allowed Ruoruo to know his exact arrival time.
A servant then announced that Fan Jian had returned and requested Fan Xian's presence in his study. Fan Xian carefully placed the drumstick into a wooden box and asked Fan Ruoruo to keep it for him before heading to meet his father. Meanwhile, Madam Liu Ruyu expressed her suspicions about Fan Jian's apparent disinterest in Fan Xian for years, followed by his sudden summons. She revealed that she had sent people to Danzhou to monitor any secret communication between them.
Fan Sizhe, still smarting, proposed tricking Fan Xian into meeting him in the city the next day to beat him up, requesting money to facilitate the plan. His mother, seeing it as a viable tactic against the cunning Fan Xian, reluctantly provided it.
