Joy of Life Episode 30 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Guo Baokun was filled with regret and resentment, realizing that his own blunder at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest led to his father's imprisonment. As Guo Youzhi was taken away, he publicly disowned his son, declaring their father-son bond severed forever to protect Guo Baokun. Guo Baokun watched his father's resolute back, weeping uncontrollably. Emperor Qing questioned Princess Royal about Guo Youzhi's imprisonment.
She reluctantly offered to relinquish control of the Neiku, but the Emperor scoffed, reminding her it was never truly hers to begin with. Chen Pingping intervened, stressing the grave nature of treason. Princess Royal remained defiant, claiming her meeting with Zhuang Mohan was purely for academic discussions and dismissed the treason accusation as absurd, demanding proof.
Chen Pingping highlighted the suspicious timing: Yan Bingyun's arrest in Beiqi occurred shortly after Princess Royal's meeting with Zhuang Mohan, a secret known to very few. Princess Royal quickly countered by suggesting Fan Xian, revealing that he had encountered Yan Bingyun on his journey to the capital city, thus implying he also shared suspicion. Emperor Qing, listening to their verbal spar, turned to Chen Pingping, who promised a thorough investigation but asserted Fan Xian's innocence.
The Emperor then entrusted Chen Pingping with finding the truth. Wang Qinian informed Fan Xian about Princess Royal’s accusation, which now placed him under suspicion. Just then, a commotion outside revealed Guo Baokun, who burst in and knelt before Fan Xian, pleading for his father's release. Fan Xian, though sympathetic, explained that Guo Youzhi's entanglement with the imperial harem was a severe crime, and moreover, it was Princess Royal's calculated move to sacrifice him to save herself.
Fan Xian stated he could not help. Losing all reason, Guo Baokun, as Fan Xian walked away, screamed that he would personally kill Fan Xian one day. Fan Xian later met with Chen Pingping, expressing his frustration that Princess Royal had used him as a shield. He admitted that even though he had personally heard Princess Royal's secret discussions with Zhuang Mohan, without further concrete evidence, it would be difficult to remove her from the capital.
Chen Pingping, however, smiled and announced that Princess Royal had, in fact, lost. He explained that even with irrefutable proof of her treason and betrayal of Yan Bingyun, she, as a member of the royal family, though not by blood, would likely only face a reprimand. Fan Xian lamented that his efforts might have been in vain, but Chen Pingping reaffirmed his promise to drive her out of the capital.
He revealed that he had deliberately provoked Princess Royal in front of Emperor Qing, leading her to mention Fan Xian's secret encounter with Yan Bingyun. This information, a top secret known only to a few high-ranking officials in the Investigator's Office, exposed the existence of a mole within the agency. Princess Royal's interference with the Investigator's Office, which is directly under Emperor Qing's command, was seen as a direct challenge to imperial authority—Emperor Qing's ultimate "reverse scale."
Chen Pingping declared his intention to root out and eliminate this influential traitor. Meanwhile, Shadow paid a visit to Yan Ruohai, who subsequently met Zhu Ge. Yan Ruohai confided that Shadow suspected him of the recent assassination attempt on Chen Pingping, but he had feigned ignorance. Zhu Ge asked if he was responsible, and Yan Ruohai implicitly confirmed it, explaining his disapproval of Chen Pingping's intention to hand over control of the Investigator's Office to Fan Xian.
He then requested a few trustworthy men from Zhu Ge, as he could no longer rely on his own subordinates. Yan Ruohai intended to travel outside the city to meet an individual from the Beiqi mission who could provide evidence linking Zhuang Mohan to Princess Royal's betrayal of Yan Bingyun, thereby avenging his son. After a moment of hesitation, Zhu Ge agreed to lend him three men.
The following day, Yan Ruohai arrived at a bamboo forest on the outskirts of the capital with Zhu Ge's three men. After a bound captive was delivered, Yan Ruohai instructed his new men to find an ox cart. To his shock, one of the men suddenly drew his sword and killed the witness. Simultaneously, numerous black-clad figures emerged from the surrounding bamboo, and Zhu Ge stepped out from behind them.
Zhu Ge lamented that their long camaraderie had come to this. Yan Ruohai warned him that this might be a trap set by Chen Pingping. Zhu Ge scoffed, explaining that he had deployed all his spies and confirmed that no masters from the Investigator's Office had left the capital. He had even spoken to Shadow moments before leaving, ensuring it was truly him.
Yan Ruohai countered that the variable might lie outside the capital, but Zhu Ge confidently claimed that even the movements of the Black Knights were under his control. Stunned by this revelation, Yan Ruohai realized Zhu Ge's true purpose: he was protecting the Princess Royal. As Zhu Ge ordered his men to attack, Yan Ruohai shouted into the woods. To Zhu Ge's astonishment, Fan Xian emerged, pushing Chen Pingping in his wheelchair.
Undeterred, Zhu Ge boasted that his men could handle them. In response, Chen Pingping gave a silent command, and a volley of arrows from hidden Black Knights instantly killed all of Zhu Ge’s men. Stunned, Zhu Ge demanded to know where they came from. Chen Pingping explained that this squad had been secretly stationed near the capital for months, under the guise of a mission, ever since they helped Fan Xian pursue Si Lili.
Yan Ruohai then revealed the full extent of the deception: Chen Pingping had suspected a mole since the Danzhou assassination attempt, and their public falling-out was an elaborate act to lure Zhu Ge into revealing himself. Defeated, Zhu Ge finally explained his motivations to Chen Pingping. He confessed his fear of the Investigator's Office's immense, unchecked power.
He believed such a powerful "beast" must be leashed by the imperial family, and that the Princess Royal—a woman and non-blood relative completely at the Emperor's mercy—was the ideal figurehead to ensure long-term stability for Nanqing. Fan Xian scoffed at this twisted logic, but Zhu Ge, though admitting he was unaware of her betraying Yan Bingyun, insisted that the principle of royal control was paramount.
As Chen Pingping ordered him taken into custody, Zhu Ge drew a dagger to commit suicide and protect the Princess Royal. The eunuch Hong Sixiang suddenly appeared and disarmed him. In despair, Zhu Ge pleaded with Chen Pingping, who, showing a final bit of camaraderie, persuaded Hong Sixiang to allow Zhu Ge a dignified death rather than the humiliation of interrogation. Moved, Hong Sixiang returned the dagger.
Before taking his life, Zhu Ge offered a final warning: Fan Xian, for all his talent, was unsuited to lead the Investigator's Office because he lacked innate reverence for the imperial family. Declaring his selfless dedication to Nanqing, Zhu Ge then killed himself. After the incident, Hong Sixiang returned to the palace to report to Emperor Qing. Chen Pingping motioned for the Black Knights to disperse and had Fan Xian push him to Zhu Ge's body.
He slowly reached out towards the lifeless Zhu Ge, whose eyes remained open, but his hand trembled and then retreated. Fan Xian, who had not intended for Zhu Ge to die, felt a profound sadness. Chen Pingping told him that choosing a path in life and pursuing it steadfastly to the end was a fortunate thing. Meanwhile, Princess Royal eagerly awaited news of Zhu Ge's success.
Instead, Yan Xiaoyi arrived to inform her that Hong Sixiang had secretly left the palace. A flash of realization crossed her face; she knew she had fallen into Chen Pingping's trap. Upon his return, Hong Sixiang recounted every detail to Emperor Qing. The Emperor inquired about his opinion on Zhu Ge's assessment of Fan Xian, but Hong Sixiang politely declined to comment. Emperor Qing scoffed, remarking that everyone professed loyalty to Nanqing but rarely considered what he truly desired.
He then ordered Princess Royal to be summoned, only for Hong Sixiang to report she was already kneeling outside. Princess Royal remained kneeling for hours. Yan Xiaoyi impulsively wished to intervene but was warned by a maidservant that it would only worsen the situation. Instead, he dispatched a messenger to inform Crown Prince Li Chenqian, who immediately rushed to the palace. Back home, Fan Jian called Fan Xian to his study, pressing him about his intentions towards Lin Wan'er. Fan Xian, without hesitation, declared that even if she were a maidservant, he would marry no one but her.
