Joy of Life Episode 45 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Haitang Duoduo approaches Fan Xian, informing him that Si Lili has already entered the imperial palace. Fan Xian is upset, reminding Haitang that as an envoy of Nanqing, he should not be involved with the little emperor's imperial consort. Haitang explains that Si Lili has feelings for Fan Xian, and she merely wanted to help her friend have a pleasant memory before her new life.
She points out the complicated nature of their relationships: the little emperor is Fan Xian's junior nephew, while Si Lili is her close sister. Haitang assures Fan Xian it was merely a conversation, not a request for marriage, and questions his apprehension. Fan Xian asks about Si Lili's well-being, to which Haitang replies that Si Lili is now undergoing etiquette training and preparing to meet the little emperor, implying that Fan Xian might never see her again.
Although Fan Xian states he has no desire to see her, Haitang emphasizes the significance of such a brief interaction for Si Lili, who has endured a life of hardship, explaining that it would be a cherished memory. She urges Fan Xian to direct any resentment towards her, not Si Lili. The Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet commences, with all civil and military officials presenting their felicitations.
Wang Qinian, having been discreetly informed by He Daoren about an impending challenge from Langtao, relays this to Fan Xian. Consequently, Fan Xian deliberately focuses on eating, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. As expected, Langtao steps forward, formally requesting to spar with Fan Xian as a form of entertainment for the celebration. Fan Xian, wishing to avoid conflict, readily offers to concede. The little emperor supports Fan Xian, stating that no such contest is necessary.
However, Langtao remains insistent, aggressively questioning if Fan Xian's reluctance signifies the weakness and cowardice of Nanqing's martial artists, citing Fan Xian’s previous boasts of invincibility. Cornered by Langtao's provocations, Fan Xian reluctantly agrees to a duel. Just then, Haitang Duoduo intercedes, asking the Empress Dowager for permission to fight Fan Xian in Langtao's place, playfully recalling Fan Xian's previous declaration of love for her. The Empress Dowager grants her request, and Langtao is forced to withdraw.
Fan Xian and Haitang Duoduo each select a sword and dramatically take their positions, but their "duel" is merely a show. They exchange a few feigned blows before two red cloths are flung from the rooftop. Each seizing a cloth, they gracefully perform a synchronized dance, captivating the Empress Dowager with their seamless coordination.
Wang Qinian, observing the scene, remarks to Gao Da that the "intimate relationship" between Fan Xian and Haitang Duoduo ensures a non-serious fight, attributing Haitang's supposed infatuation to Fan Xian's charm. Meanwhile, a displeased Beiqi official loudly condemns their performance as a deception of the Empress Dowager. In response, Fan Xian deftly slices the official's table in half with his sword, drenching the man in food and soup and eliciting widespread laughter.
Haitang, acknowledging Fan Xian’s skill, apologizes for her own supposed inability to control her strength, which inadvertently splashed the minister. Fan Xian then takes the opportunity to declare the match a tie. The Empress Dowager expresses her delight, deeming a draw perfect for such a celebratory occasion.
As the Empress Dowager expresses her pleasure, Wang Qinian secretly instructs Gao Da to portray Fan Xian's battle to Lin Wan’er as a bloody and relentless struggle, a strategic move to manage Fan Xian's domestic affairs. Gao Da, impressed by Wang Qinian’s cunning, admits to feeling more intelligent under his influence. The Empress Dowager then publicly announces a trade partnership between Beiqi and Nanqing, entrusting the Embroidered Uniform Guards with the negotiations.
Shen Zhong immediately voices strong opposition, but the Empress Dowager, having made up her mind, disregards his concerns. Seizing the opportunity, Shangshan Hu steps forward to impeach Shen Zhong, accusing him of treasonous collusion with Nanqing's Investigator's Office and the leakage of vital military intelligence. He specifically highlights the alleged illicit affair between Shen Zhong's sister and Yan Bingyun, further implicating her in assisting Fan Xian’s rescue of Yan Bingyun.
Shen Zhong vehemently denies having ever disclosed military secrets to his family. When consulted, the little emperor delegates full authority to his mother. The Empress Dowager, acknowledging Shen Zhong's past loyalty, nevertheless faults him for his sister's perceived indiscretions and publicly orders his python-patterned robe to be stripped, though he nominally retains his title. Despite this humiliation, Shen Zhong defiantly continues to obstruct the trade deal, even questioning the Empress Dowager's motives. Enraged, she commands his removal from the hall.
As he is forcibly escorted away, Shen Zhong passionately protests his innocence, repeatedly proclaiming his unwavering devotion to Beiqi. Before Fan Xian departs, the little emperor reminds him to diligently update the chapters of his Red Mansions novel. Wang Qinian observes that while Shen Zhong's authority has been undermined, he technically still retains his position. Fan Xian, however, dismisses this, asserting that Shen Zhong’s complete downfall and loss of power are inevitable.
Fan Xian admits his lingering concern about the unknown identity of the smuggler. Soon after, Shangshan Hu arrives to confront Fan Xian, demanding the return of his adoptive father Xiao En's remains. Fan Xian explains that Xiao En, having spent decades imprisoned underground, wished to remain in the sunlight rather than be buried. He provides Shangshan Hu with the location.
Shangshan Hu, who initially intended to kill Fan Xian before his departure, decides to spare his life this time out of respect for Fan Xian having retrieved Xiao En's body. However, he vows to personally seek out and kill Fan Xian in Nanqing once his mourning period concludes, to which Fan Xian boldly responds, "I'll wait for you."
Fan Xian then dispatches Gao Da to arrange a meeting with Haitang Duoduo, instructing him to bring her to the mission, despite Gao Da’s cautious reminder about Lin Wan’er. Meanwhile, the little emperor discusses the intricate political maneuvers that led to Shen Zhong's downfall. He reveals that he had already secured the loyalty of key officials to oppose Shen Zhong, while those aligned with Shen Zhong were either neutralized or reassigned.
He confesses to Langtao that he was fully aware of He Daoren’s clandestine meeting with Fan Xian and understood that Guo Baokun was merely a decoy, with He Daoren being the true mastermind of the Nanqing intelligence network in Shangjing. During his meeting with He Daoren, Fan Xian formally entrusts him with the leadership of the Shangjing intelligence network, promising that future smuggling operations would generate enough wealth to openly purchase intelligence, thereby reducing the perilous nature of espionage.
He emphasizes the importance of He Daoren remaining undetected. Langtao questions the little emperor's decision to allow a Nanqing spy like He Daoren to remain active. The little emperor clarifies his strategic intent, explaining that sometimes enemies can be leveraged for one's own advantage, using Shen Zhong’s current predicament as an example. He plans to utilize He Daoren to feed controlled information to Nanqing, thereby executing a counter-intelligence scheme.
He further asserts that the Empress Dowager will no longer restore Shangshan Hu to military command, effectively rendering him powerless. Langtao expresses concern that Fan Xian poses a significant future threat to Beiqi. However, the little emperor confidently states that Beiqi is not Fan Xian’s primary adversary; rather, his greatest challenges will emerge from the ambitious princes within Nanqing. Haitang Duoduo meets with Fan Xian, who requests her assistance in arranging a clandestine meeting with Zhuang Mohan before his departure.
Fan Xian assures her that his purpose is merely to deliver a message, posing no threat to Beiqi, and Haitang reluctantly agrees, albeit teasingly acknowledging his persuasive charm. Under the cloak of night, Fan Xian discreetly enters Zhuang Mohan’s residence, having had his companion divert the literary master's servant.
Zhuang Mohan, who has been gravely ill since his return from Nanqing and whose servant had tried to prevent him from meeting Fan Xian due to fears of exacerbating his condition, nevertheless eagerly seeks clarification on the obscure literary allusions within Fan Xian’s poetry, such as references to "Wushan Mountain" and a "Prince Chen surnamed Cao."
Fan Xian explains that these verses are "imprints left by another era," vestiges of a magnificent civilization that predates recorded history by millennia, now lost to time. Relieved to understand, Zhuang Mohan expresses deep remorse and sincerely apologizes for his past false accusation against Fan Xian at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, a confession Fan Xian graciously accepts, understanding that Zhuang Mohan's actions were driven by a desperate attempt to save his full brother, Xiao En.
Fan Xian then delivers Xiao En’s dying message: the news of his passing. Zhuang Mohan is heartbroken by the death of his brother, reflecting on Xiao En's tragic life marked by extensive bloodshed. He earnestly implores Fan Xian not to follow a path of violence like Xiao En, and to safeguard his "excellent poems" from falling into obscurity. Fan Xian solemnly agrees to honor these wishes.
Sensing his own life drawing to a close, Zhuang Mohan resumes annotating Fan Xian’s poetry collection. With tears in his eyes, Fan Xian bids farewell, recognizing that this will likely be their final encounter. The day arrives for the Nanqing mission to depart Shangjing. At the military guardhouse, Shen Zhong's ambitious subordinates eagerly attempt to force him out, vying for his position.
Unknown to them, Shen Zhong has already amassed a contingent of assassins, revealing his audacious plan to ambush and eliminate the Nanqing mission. He explicitly states that this operation lacks imperial sanction and warns his followers that failure means certain death. Despite his subordinates' attempts to call in the Embroidered Uniform Guards to intervene, the guards are hesitant to act against Shen Zhong. The assembled assassins, undeterred, follow Shen Zhong without hesitation.
As Fan Xian leads the Nanqing mission out of Shangjing, Guo Baokun watches their departure with a heavy heart, contemplating his solitary future in Beiqi. A short distance away, Haitang Duoduo awaits Fan Xian in a forest, accompanied by a cart laden with books. When Fan Xian approaches to bid her farewell, she delivers the somber news: Zhuang Mohan passed away last night. It is revealed that before his death, Zhuang Mohan entrusted his life's literary achievements, contained in the cart of books, to Fan Xian.
