Joy of Life Episode 36 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Haitang Duoduo asked Fan Xian to help kill Xiao En. Fan Xian flatly refused and instead proposed to join forces with her to help the Empress Dowager seize power from the young emperor of Northern Qi. Haitang Duoduo denied being part of the Empress Dowager's faction. Unexpectedly, Fan Xian had a thorough understanding of Northern Qi's affairs.
He analyzed the complex relationship between the three factions in Northern Qi: the young emperor and the Empress Dowager formed one faction each, and Shangshan Hu also formed his own faction. Fan Xian knew that rescuing Yan Bingyun would be difficult, so he wanted to join forces with Haitang Duoduo.
Haitang Duoduo did not give a direct answer; instead, she reminded him to be careful of Shen Zhong, the Commander of the Jinyiwei who was coming to greet the envoy team. Before leaving, Haitang Duoduo also issued a stern warning, stating that she would not give up on killing Xiao En. Fan Xian returned to the envoy team. Wang Qinian maliciously congratulated him, insisting that Fan Xian had improper thoughts about Haitang Duoduo. Gao Da also joined in the teasing.
Fan Xian was speechless and chased after Wang Qinian in frustration, but Wang Qinian quickly escaped his pursuit. Fan Xian returned to the carriage. Si Lili couldn't wait to know his feelings for Haitang Duoduo. Fan Xian repeatedly explained and asked her why she had shielded him from the arrow. Si Lili lied, claiming it was just an unconscious reaction. Fan Xian gave Si Lili the antidote for Hongxiuzhao, saying that from now on they owed each other nothing.
Fan Xian led the Qing Kingdom envoy team and quickly arrived at the Qi Kingdom border. Fan Xian specifically changed into an official uniform. He came again to ask Xiao En about the secret he was hiding. Xiao En remained silent. Fan Xian was not discouraged and stated that he would ask about this matter again. Immediately after, Fan Xian and Si Lili reluctantly bid farewell. He then went to the city gate.
Wang Qinian shouted loudly towards the city tower, but there was no response. Four old嬷嬷 were ordered by the young emperor to pick up Si Lili. They angrily walked to a carriage and woke up the unconscious Shen Zhong. Shen Zhong, still drowsy, crawled out of the carriage. He quickly put on a smiling face and exchanged a few words with Fan Xian. Fan Xian sent Wang Qinian and Gao Da to handle the handover procedures.
The four old matrons came to pick up Si Lili and found her seriously injured. The old matrons unleashed all her anger on Fan Xian. Fan Xian repeatedly explained, but she was relentless and spoke harshly to Fan Xian. Shen Zhong quickly intervened to mediate and sent the old matrons away with just a few words. Shen Zhong saw Xiao En being brought down.
He first feigned concern and asked about Xiao En's well-being, then suddenly struck Xiao En down when he was not expecting it. He grabbed his collar and dragged him to the front of a cast-iron prisoner cart. Xiao En was completely unable to resist. Beneath him was a long trail of blood. Fan Xian was stunned by the scene before him and also shivered at Shen Zhong's ruthlessness.
After settling Si Lili, the old matrons condemned Shen Zhong for bowing and scraping to the envoy from the enemy country while being tyrannical towards his own people. She threatened to report him to the Empress Dowager. Shen Zhong spoke kindly to the old matrons, then forcefully dragged her into the woods and killed her to silence her.
Shen Zhong wiped the blood from his hands and claimed the old matrons had committed suicide out of shame, urging Fan Xian to quickly go to Shangjing to meet the young emperor. Shen Zhong called Fan Xian aside and listed out all the objectives of his trip, one by one. Fan Xian couldn't help but gasp, secretly vowing to compete with Shen Zhong. At night, Fan Xian, Gao Da, and Wang Qinian were chatting outside the tent.
Suddenly, a masked figure in black broke into the Qi Kingdom camp. She wanted to assassinate Xiao En, but ended up being surrounded by Qi Kingdom soldiers. The figure in black had to temporarily give up. Gao Da was eager to go help, but Fan Xian quickly stopped him. The three of them sat quietly by the campfire, watching the excitement. In fact, Fan Xian had long recognized the masked figure in black as Haitang Duoduo.
She retreated step by step to the Qing Kingdom campsite. Fan Xian explained that there was no one in the main tent, and Haitang Duoduo quickly hid inside. Shen Zhong followed with his troops. Fan Xian pretended to trap the enemy by claiming the assassin was inside the main tent, and deliberately lifted the curtain for him to go in and check. Shen Zhong did not dare to act rashly and sat beside Fan Xian, eating sweet potatoes with him.
He claimed to be part of the Empress Dowager's faction. He said that Shangshan Hu had been transferred back to Shangjing by the emperor, which was actually a disguised demotion stripping him of his military power, and now he only had a hundred personal soldiers left. Northern Qi wanted to exchange for Xiao En because they wanted to know the secret he held. Chen Pingping had also kept Xiao En until today for this reason.
Shen Zhong repeatedly claimed that the number of people in Qi Kingdom who wanted Xiao En dead was no less than in Qing Kingdom. Before leaving, he warned Fan Xian to be sensible. Fan Xian negotiated with Haitang Duoduo, who was hiding in the main tent. He proposed they join forces to cause trouble in the world. Haitang Duoduo did not give a direct answer. Fan Xian borrowed some silver from Wang Qinian.
Wang Qinian made all sorts of excuses to evade him. Fan Xian promised to double the amount upon returning to the capital, only then did Wang Qinian reluctantly take out the silver. Fan Xian gave the silver to Guo Baokun and told him to stay at the Tiaowang Inn in the south of the city. Guo Baokun secretly left the envoy team overnight. Shen Zhong received news early in the morning that Guo Baokun had secretly slipped away.
He waited expectantly to see Fan Xian's next move. Shen Zhong quickly led the way to the outskirts of Shangjing. Shangshan Hu was on horseback, holding a spear, guarding the city gate. Shen Zhong opened the covering of the prisoner cart and casually admitted to having severed Xiao En's tendons. Shangshan Hu was furious, gritting his teeth. Shen Zhong repeatedly emphasized that the Empress Dowager had ordered Xiao En to be placed under the jurisdiction of the Jinyiwei.
Shangshan Hu was about to rush forward to rescue him, but Xiao En shook his head, signaling him. Shangshan Hu had no choice but to swallow his anger and leave. Fan Xian immediately saw that Shen Zhong was deliberately trying to provoke Shangshan Hu. If Shangshan Hu dared to attack the Jinyiwei, he would be committing the crime of rebellion.
Shen Zhong used the excuse that Si Lili had no official status and arranged for her to stay outside the palace. Xiao En was escorted into Shangjing through the west gate. Fan Xian led the Qing Kingdom envoy team into the city. The people of Shangjing lined both sides of the road and threw rotten eggs and vegetable leaves at them. Fan Xian accepted it all calmly and even told Wang Qinian to add extra dishes tonight.
Shen Zhong stood by, gloating, and even advised Fan Xian to hide in the carriage to avoid losing face for Qing Kingdom. However, Fan Xian remained composed and told Gao Da to get the bundle from the back.
