Joy of Life Episode 43 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Fan Xian, reflecting on his mother Ye Qingmei's death, realized that her demise, given her status, could not have been accidental. He concluded that someone had deliberately concealed the truth. He confided in Wang Qinian that he now had a clear purpose: to become the Head of the Department of Audit and the most influential minister in Qing. This, he asserted, was the only way he could legitimately uncover the truth.
To achieve this, he needed allies and intended to win over Yan Bingyun while also extracting information about a smuggler from Shen Zhong. Despite the apparent difficulty of these tasks, Fan Xian was determined to try and swore Wang Qinian to secrecy. Wang Qinian, motivated by his family, pledged to support Fan Xian, offering to be his stepping stone. However, Fan Xian considered Wang Qinian a true partner.
Meanwhile, Shen Zhong confronted his sister, Miss Shen, on her way home, scolding her for secretly meeting Yan Bingyun again. Miss Shen, tearfully, assured her brother that it was their final encounter and that their relationship was over. When Shen Zhong declared his intent to seek revenge on Yan Bingyun, she desperately tried to dissuade him, promising to completely erase Yan Bingyun from her heart and never see him again. Her distress deeply troubled Shen Zhong.
Driven by anger, Shen Zhong, accompanied by his men, stormed into the mission's residence to confront Yan Bingyun. He warned Yan Bingyun to cease all contact with his sister, threatening to kill him personally, even at the cost of his own position. Fan Xian intervened, proposing a deal: if Shen Zhong provided the names and evidence of the individuals in Qing's Neiku who were embezzling vast sums from its Shangjing shops, Fan Xian would eliminate Yan Bingyun for him.
Shen Zhong, however, scoffed, refusing to reveal such critical information, and challenged Fan Xian to uncover it himself. Fan Xian, undeterred, stated he would find other means, a threat Shen Zhong dismissed. Yan Bingyun, present during the exchange, advised Fan Xian against relying on Shen Zhong for the truth, but Fan Xian insisted on testing the situation. Fan Xian then purchased several coffins and funeral items and personally delivered them to Shangshan Hu's residence.
The unusual delivery quickly reached Shen Zhong, who was baffled by Fan Xian's intentions. Shangshan Hu, enraged by the provocative act following the death of his guards, immediately prepared to attack Fan Xian. However, Fan Xian stopped him, revealing that Shangshan Hu's adoptive father, Xiao En, was indeed dead, murdered by He Daoren and Langtao under Shen Zhong's orders. He also exposed Shangshan Hu's secret plan to substitute Xiao En for an escape, which Shen Zhong had thwarted.
Fan Xian fabricated Xiao En's dying wish, claiming the elder statesman desired no revenge against Shen Zhong, only for Shangshan Hu to live peacefully. Blinded by grief and a burning desire for vengeance, Shangshan Hu swore to kill Shen Zhong openly. Fan Xian highlighted Shangshan Hu's vulnerable position, isolated in Shangjing with no remaining personal guards. Offering to assist in avenging Xiao En, Fan Xian persuaded Shangshan Hu to cooperate, and they proceeded to the imperial palace together.
At the palace, Fan Xian lavished praise upon the Empress Dowager, expressing his admiration and yearning to see her again, having lost his own mother at a young age. He then presented Shangshan Hu as a unique birthday gift, explaining that he had convinced the Grand General to pledge allegiance to her. Shangshan Hu, following Fan Xian's instructions, respectfully kowtowed and declared his loyalty, promising unwavering service.
The Empress Dowager remained skeptical, recounting an old tale of a general who feigned loyalty only to betray his new master. Fan Xian subtly addressed the political discord between the Empress Dowager and the young emperor, highlighting the circumstances that led to Shangshan Hu's removal from the border and his current confinement. He framed Shangshan Hu's allegiance as a strategic move to secure the border region.
To prove his sincerity and alleviate the Empress Dowager's doubts, Shangshan Hu produced a comprehensive roster of all his loyal military subordinates, effectively surrendering his entire network within the army. Deeply impressed by this gesture of commitment, the Empress Dowager's skepticism began to wane. Seizing the momentum, Shangshan Hu accused Shen Zhong of masterminding Xiao En's murder, directly contradicting Shen Zhong's earlier report of Xiao En dying in a fire.
He confessed that his own guards had attempted a "secret rescue" of Xiao En, an act for which he was prepared to face punishment. However, he maintained that Shen Zhong, fully aware of this plan, had dispatched He Daoren and Langtao to kill Xiao En. Disturbed by this conflicting account, the Empress Dowager summoned He Daoren and Langtao for interrogation. Upon hearing of Fan Xian and Shangshan Hu's audience with the Empress Dowager, Shen Zhong, uneasy, rushed to the palace.
He encountered He Daoren en route, and they entered together. Shen Zhong, anxious, bypassed formal announcements to enter the hall. Fan Xian subtly mocked his abrupt entry, implying impropriety. A flustered Shen Zhong quickly apologized. When pressed by the Empress Dowager, He Daoren confessed that he and Langtao had indeed killed Xiao En on Shen Zhong's orders. Despite He Daoren's confession, the Empress Dowager did not punish Shen Zhong.
Instead, she expressed understanding, believing Shen Zhong acted out of self-preservation due to his long-standing enmity with Xiao En. She urged both Shangshan Hu and Shen Zhong to reconcile their differences for the greater good of Qi's stability. Fan Xian then presented another "gift": an account book from Qing's imperial Neiku shops in Shangjing. He revealed that Li Yunrui had conspired with Shen Zhong to falsify records and accumulate immense profits through illicit smuggling.
Fan Xian proposed to continue this profitable venture once he assumed control of Neiku's financial power in Qing, offering a 30% share of the profits as a birthday gift to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager, previously unaware of the extent of this smuggling, was enticed by the prospect of such substantial gains. Shen Zhong confessed to the false accounting, confirming that the money had flowed into Qing and that the Embroidered Uniform Guards had not profited from it.
He explained his motive: allowing the smuggling to continue involved high-ranking Qing officials, intentionally planting seeds of internal strife that could destabilize Qing, thus benefiting Qi in the long run. Fan Xian, feigning a love for money, reiterated his desire to continue the smuggling, and the Empress Dowager granted him full discretion to arrange it.
Fan Xian then requested Shen Zhong to disclose the names of the Qing officials involved, citing a need for self-protection and to ensure the longevity of their "business." Shen Zhong adamantly refused, arguing that revealing this crucial information would negate a vital source of future turmoil within Qing, which was strategically important for Qi. The Empress Dowager concurred, stating that Qing's internal affairs were irrelevant to Qi, and further inquiry into the names was unnecessary.
As Fan Xian prepared to leave, Shen Zhong stopped him, openly questioning his true motives. He praised Fan Xian's literary talents and prophesied a glorious future in Qing, destined for high office. He argued that the financial gains from smuggling, however substantial, could not compare to such a promising career. Shen Zhong pointed out that by exposing Qing's financial secrets, Fan Xian was essentially placing his own life at Qi's mercy, making his actions seem foolishly shortsighted or suspiciously disloyal.
The Empress Dowager also expressed her doubts. Thinking quickly, Fan Xian declared his profound love for Haitang Duoduo, claiming all his intricate plans and "gifts" were merely a desperate attempt to gain favor with the Empress Dowager and secure her blessing for a relationship with Haitang Duoduo. Both Shen Zhong and the Empress Dowager were taken aback by this unexpected declaration. Haitang Duoduo accompanied Fan Xian as he left the palace.
Along the way, Fan Xian repeatedly apologized for using her name, explaining that his "confession" and all his actions were calculated maneuvers to undermine Shen Zhong. He handed her a copied roster of Shangshan Hu's military subordinates, asking her to deliver it to the little emperor, which she accepted. Meanwhile, Shen Zhong vehemently warned the Empress Dowager against trusting Fan Xian's cunning words. The Empress Dowager, growing impatient, dismissed him, stating she would consider his counsel.
As Shen Zhong left, Shangshan Hu, in stark contrast, bowed deeply, an act of humility that pleased the Empress Dowager. She immediately promoted Shangshan Hu to a first-rank military official, subtly indicating her increasing distrust of Shen Zhong. Fan Xian later explained to Haitang Duoduo that these events unfolded precisely as he had planned.
Shangshan Hu's military influence, coupled with his newly adopted humble demeanor, would inevitably highlight Shen Zhong's arrogance, sowing seeds of suspicion against Shen Zhong in the Empress Dowager's mind. He assured Haitang Duoduo that while the Empress Dowager might not directly eliminate Shen Zhong, other forces would, thus fulfilling his promise to the little emperor. Haitang Duoduo, in turn, promptly informed the little emperor of all these developments.
