Joy of Life Episode 33 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
While Fan Xian was saying goodbye to Chen Pingping and Fei Jie, Si Lili was escorted out and put into a carriage. Fan Xian's gaze followed her the entire time. Seeing this, Fei Jie lowered his voice and told him that the young Emperor of Northern Qi had specifically requested Si Lili's return to her country in exchange. Fan Xian found it a bit difficult to understand.
It was understandable that Northern Qi wanted Xiao En back, as his martial prowess was astonishing and he would still be useful in Northern Qi. But Si Lili wasn't particularly capable, so the young Emperor shouldn't be thinking of her like this. He even suspected that Si Lili was the young Emperor's lover, but that didn't make sense either; if that were the case, why would she have been sent to Qing Kingdom and disguised as a courtesan?
Just as Fan Xian was completely confused, Xiao En, bound all over with iron chains, was escorted out by a group of people. Xiao En had been imprisoned in the deepest dungeon and hadn't seen sunlight for many years. As soon as he came out, he greedily breathed in the scent of the sun, remaining still for a long time. An escorting guard behind him grew impatient and stepped forward to hit Xiao En with a stick.
Xiao En turned his head back and asked him sinisterly if he had any family, threatening that he would go find them. Yan Ruohai, who was following behind, warned him not to put on airs in front of these hot-blooded youngsters, lest he wouldn't even know how he died. Xiao En retorted impolitely that if he died, his son wouldn't live either.
After speaking, he turned his head and saw Chen Pingping and Fei Jie nearby, stating that while in prison, he constantly prayed that they would stay alive so he could personally seek revenge against them.
Afterwards, he saw Chen Pingping's insensitive legs and couldn't help but mock him a few times, but was countered by Chen Pingping's sarcasm, which angered him so much he wished he could tear Chen Pingping apart, but being bound by chains, he could only fume in frustration. Chen Pingping unhurriedly taunted Xiao En a few times and introduced Fan Xian to him. Xiao En asked about the relationship between Fan Xian, Chen Pingping, and Fei Jie.
Fan Xian told him without hesitation that Fei Jie was his teacher and Chen Pingping was his elder, and both treated him like family. Xiao En nodded upon hearing this, then used Fan Xian to provoke Chen Pingping, saying that he wouldn't be able to see Fan Xian soon and it would be best to take advantage of this last opportunity to look at him a few more times.
Without waiting for Chen Pingping to reply, Fan Xian quickly spoke up, telling Xiao En to also take a good look at this courtyard, implying he might have to return in the future. Hearing this, Chen Pingping couldn't help but smile inwardly. Xiao En was choked up again, but he didn't pay much attention to the young man in front of him.
Fei Jie originally wanted to accompany Fan Xian for a while, but Chen Pingping said he had something to say to Fan Xian and asked him to leave first. Fei Jie had no choice but to walk away. Seeing Fei Jie walk far away, Chen Pingping softly instructed Fan Xian not to make Fei Jie too tired because he was injured. Fan Xian was greatly surprised upon hearing this and quickly asked for the reason.
Chen Pingping told him that after Fei Jie heard about his mission to Northern Qi, he rode eight hundred li quickly towards the capital, encountering six assassination attempts on the way, yet he didn't stop for a moment and rushed back to the capital in one go. After giving Fan Xian some instructions, Chen Pingping finally told Fan Xian to go to Taiping Courtyard, saying someone was waiting for him there.
Fan Xian went as told and, as expected, saw Emperor Qing at the courtyard. Emperor Qing stated that Si Lili had been administered a poison called Red Sleeves, but she would not die because the ultimate target was not her. Upon hearing this, Fan Xian immediately understood that Emperor Qing wanted to poison the young Emperor of Northern Qi. Emperor Qing then instructed Fan Xian to find an opportunity to kill Xiao En after exchanging for Yan Bingyun.
Hearing this, Fan Xian couldn't help but smile bitterly. Killing Xiao En and the Emperor in the capital of Northern Qi? This mission truly overestimated him. He asked in confusion why this wasn't some unspeakable secret that couldn't be discussed in the palace, but had to be brought up here. Emperor Qing said that in the palace, they were ruler and minister, but here. . . He left the rest unsaid, only telling Fan Xian to come back alive.
Fan Xian immediately seized the opportunity, asking in return if it was fine as long as he came back alive, and whether mission failure didn't matter. Emperor Qing was exasperated, both laughing and crying, and angrily chased him out. After leaving Taiping Courtyard, Fan Xian went directly to the city gate and saw Fei Jie waiting there. Fei Jie had always treated Fan Xian like his own son and deeply cherished him.
This mission was full of dangers, so he naturally had endless things to tell Fan Xian, wishing he could give him everything he knew and everything he could do. After a series of instructions, Fei Jie emphasized again to Fan Xian that upon reaching Northern Qi, he should be particularly wary of Shen Zhong, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Ku He, the Grandmaster of Northern Qi, Haitang Duoduo, known as the Saintess, and Shangshan Hu.
Among them, Haitang Duoduo is Ku He's disciple, and Shangshan Hu is Xiao En's adopted son; neither should be underestimated. Fan Xian, however, thought that according to his teacher, Ku He had always disapproved of Xiao En's return, so he shouldn't make things too difficult. As for Shangshan Hu, he was Xiao En's adopted son, and this trip was to escort Xiao En back to his country, so he shouldn't target him either.
At parting, Fei Jie somewhat awkwardly told Fan Xian that he had administered the Red Sleeves poison to Si Lili. This poison could only be transmitted during intimate entanglement and kissing. To prevent him from being unable to resist and contracting the poison on the way, he specifically gave him an antidote and wrote the instructions on it. Fan Xian understood his teacher's meaning after quite some time upon hearing this.
He quickly tried to explain himself, but Fei Jie didn't say more to him and turned back towards the city. As he walked, he shouted loudly to Fan Xian, telling him he must come back alive, otherwise he would make everyone in the capital of Northern Qi be buried with him.
After bidding farewell to his teacher, just as Fan Xian was about to depart, he saw his younger siblings Fan Ruoruo and Fan Sizhe also coming to send him off. Fan Sizhe still couldn't part with his business ideas, urging Fan Xian to write a book as soon as he opened his mouth.
Fan Ruoruo, however, had done something to alleviate Fan Xian's worries: she had already arranged with Lin Wan'er to move into the royal courtyard starting immediately, secretly looking after her future sister-in-law for her brother. Fan Xian was overjoyed upon hearing this and instructed Fan Ruoruo to make sure to drive away anyone who tried to court Lin Wan'er. The atmosphere of the conversation among the three siblings was originally very relaxed, but Fan Jian's appearance immediately broke it.
With a worried expression, he gave Fan Xian some instructions, assigned Gao Da, the leader of his personal guards, and his subordinates to Fan Xian, and told him about the discord between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Fan Xian thought his father meant for him to size up the situation and mediate between them, but instead, Fan Jian told him to immediately escape if the situation looked bad.
Fan Xian couldn't help but complain inwardly, thinking that with the mission given by Emperor Qing, running away was out of the question. Seeing that it was time to part, Fan Jian couldn't help but shed tears, feeling extremely reluctant in his heart. Fan Sizhe handed him a bowl of farewell wine. Fan Xian took it, drank it in one gulp, and turned to leave.
After walking a few steps, he stopped again, turned back, and bowed deeply to his father, younger brother, and younger sister. Only then did he resolutely stride off, running to catch up with the moving carriage and horses. At this time, within Northern Qi, Shangshan Hu had already received news of Fan Xian's departure with the envoy team.
He knew there were opposing forces in the court, so he couldn't let his adopted father fall into the hands of the imperial family. Therefore, he decided to go to the border between the two countries first, intercept Xiao En, and eliminate the leader of the envoy team at the same time. After the envoy team left the capital, when they reached a dense forest, Fan Xian ordered the carriage to stop for a rest.
He then got out of the carriage and walked into the woods. Seeing this, Wang Qinian thought Fan Xian wanted to escape and quickly followed him, insisting on going with him. Fan Xian couldn't shake him off and had to call Gao Da, telling him to guard the convoy and not let anyone leave. Upon hearing this, Wang Qinian immediately pulled a long face.
He tried to slip past Gao Da but was firmly blocked by him and had to give up. Fan Xian reached the dense forest and met Wu Zhu, who was waiting there as arranged beforehand. Wu Zhu told him that he had explored Taiping Courtyard as he requested. The security there was very tight, but he still managed to get in. He didn't find anything specific, but he always felt something strange.
When he flew up into the air, he instinctively felt that the stone in the center of the pond was the key and that only Fan Xian could understand the mechanism the Young Miss left behind. Although Ye Qingmei had suggested in her letter that Fan Xian not investigate that secret, he really couldn't control his curiosity. He always felt like a little cat was scratching in his heart, and he couldn't rest easy without figuring out that secret.
After hearing Wu Zhu's words, Fan Xian sighed and said he could only wait until he returned from Northern Qi to discuss it. Wu Zhu asked him why he didn't bring the weapons from the box. Fan Xian didn't say much, only telling him to keep an eye on it for him.
Wu Zhu, however, said that he had just heard that Ku He might cause trouble for him, so he would also go to Northern Qi to fight Ku He until he could no longer bother Fan Xian. Fan Xian's eyes widened upon hearing this. One must know that Ku He was a Grandmaster. Wu Zhu's tone was as casual as if he were saying he was going to play house with a child.
He swallowed and specifically reminded Wu Zhu of Ku He's status. But Wu Zhu said that he only fought Grandmasters, and for anyone below the Grandmaster level, he wouldn't lift a finger and would leave them for Fan Xian to handle. Upon hearing this, Fan Xian's reverence for his Uncle Wu Zhu reached a new level.
Wu Zhu finally told Fan Xian that he seemed to vaguely remember the Young Miss traveling with Xiao En once, and she had said that her arrival in this world was related to Xiao En. Fan Xian was greatly surprised upon hearing this, guessing that Xiao En might know the secret of that forbidden door. However, the order he received was to kill him, which put him in a very difficult position.
After Wu Zhu left, Fan Xian returned to the convoy. Gao Da reported to Fan Xian with indignation, saying that Wang Qinian had actually stolen fruit from the envoy team's stores. He claimed this person was sneaky, despicable, and petty, and absolutely should not be kept. Fan Xian was very helpless and quickly placated Gao Da, saying he would handle it himself. After getting into the carriage, Fan Xian was troubled, not knowing how to persuade Wang Qinian.
Unexpectedly, this fellow mysteriously poked his head in and handed him a cloth bag, saying he had secretly taken some fruit chilled with ice for him to satisfy his craving. Fan Xian was both amused and exasperated. Just then, Gao Da lifted the carriage window curtain, secretly signaling Fan Xian to send Wang Qinian away. Fan Xian waved his hand impatiently to dismiss him.
The next day, Gao Da reported to Fan Xian again, claiming he had caught Wang Qinian stealing fruit again. He insisted this person could not be kept and offered to drive him away for him. Fan Xian was helpless and could only lie, claiming that Wang Qinian's behavior was all an act, and he was actually a first-rate brave warrior.
He had wanted to find someone to share a carriage with Xiao En and monitor everything, but no one dared to go; only Wang Qinian volunteered to go. Hearing this, Gao Da's opinion of Wang Qinian immediately changed. He found him privately, expressed his admiration for him, and stated that if anything happened to him, he would definitely avenge him. These words left Wang Qinian completely confused, not knowing what was going on.
After Gao Da left, Fan Xian explained the whole situation. Wang Qinian immediately pulled a long face, but since Fan Xian had already said so much, Wang Qinian couldn't refuse to go. Wang Qinian carried a basin of water and had someone open the prison cart where Xiao En was held.
Tremblingly, he climbed in, took out a wooden stick over a foot long with cotton and cloth tied to the end, and said he wanted to wash Xiao En's face. Xiao En grabbed the stick and half-jokingly said he would capture him to threaten Fan Xian.
Wang Qinian was so scared he was almost crying, trembling as he said that from being assigned to serve him, it was clear he was the person with the lowest status, and important figures wouldn't care about his life or death. Xiao En teased Wang Qinian for a while and asked him to give him a massage. Wang Qinian could only step forward carefully to serve him.
When Fan Xian went on the mission, Guo Baokun thought he had found an opportunity for revenge. He heavily bribed the jailer and secretly entered the prison to visit Guo Youzhi, mysteriously telling him that he had found a group of assassins who would target Fan Xian in the wilderness. Guo Youzhi was greatly alarmed upon hearing this and earnestly advised him not to act impulsively.
But Guo Baokun seemed possessed, completely ignoring Guo Youzhi's advice, claiming that he had read many military books in the past few days and discovered he had the potential to become a capable general. Guo Youzhi was so angered by his precious son that he almost fainted. He lowered his voice and shouted at Guo Baokun, wanting to stop his crazy behavior.
But at this moment, the jailer came in to urge him, and Guo Baokun had to leave in a hurry. Guo Youzhi could only secretly pray for heavenly protection. Afterwards, Guo Baokun arrived at the agreed location and used a secret code to find the assassins he had previously arranged. After wandering around, he finally found the leader of that group of assassins—Zhao Da.
Zhao Da claimed that he and his brothers were veterans who had retired from the front lines. In their spare time, they farmed in the village, but they had done plenty of killing and robbing. However, no matter how Guo Baokun looked at him, he felt this fellow wasn't very reliable.
