Joy of Life Episode 5 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Fan Xian presented Teng Zijing with an arrest warrant, questioning why the Investigator's Office would employ a man on their wanted list and why Teng Zijing sought his help. Teng Zijing, kneeling, pleaded with Fan Xian to retrieve a non-confidential file from the Investigator's Office, offering his life in return. Fan Xian declined, insisting on understanding the file's contents and Teng Zijing's past.
Teng Zijing recounted how he had once intervened to protect a common couple being beaten by Guo Baokun's men, only to be falsely accused of assassinating a court official. This led to his entire family being implicated and sentenced to extermination. The Investigator's Office saved him on the condition that he join their ranks, subsequently transferring all his case files, leaving only the arrest warrant.
Teng Zijing confessed that he initially sought revenge on the couple who testified against him but ultimately could not bring himself to harm them. He realized that in this world, justice was secondary to power. Now, he simply wished to find his missing family, believing the Investigator's Office held records of their whereabouts. Recognizing the lingering kindness in Teng Zijing's heart, Fan Xian agreed to help him find his family, but refused his offer of servitude.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan’er, still frail from her ongoing illness, received a visit from her friend Ye Ling’er. Ye Ling’er had brought a chef from the countryside known for making vegetarian dishes taste like meat, hoping to alleviate Lin Wan’er's restricted diet. While touched by the gesture, Lin Wan’er expressed her profound unhappiness about the arranged marriage decreed by Emperor Qing. She steadfastly declared her desire to marry only for love, not under imperial command or for political gain.
With Ye Ling’er's staunch support, Lin Wan’er resolved to go to the Fan mansion immediately to confront Fan Xian and dissolve the engagement, unaware that he was the very man she had encountered and fallen for at the divine temple. Elsewhere, Fan Sizhe, Fan Ruoruo, and Fan Xian were en route to the Yishi House. Fan Sizhe had orchestrated an ambush by thugs to challenge Fan Xian, but Teng Zijing, acting as Fan Xian’s protector, effortlessly subdued them.
A flustered Fan Sizhe quickly disavowed any knowledge of the ruffians. Outside the restaurant, Fan Xian noticed a woman selling "forbidden books." He was astonished to discover copies of "Red Mansions", a novel he had transcribed from memory, being sold at a steep price. Feigning a large purchase, he followed the woman into a back alley, where he identified the book distributor as Wang Qinian, who swiftly made his escape.
Back inside the Yishi House, Fan Xian informed Ruoruo about Wang Qinian’s illicit book trade. Fan Sizhe, upon realizing that Fan Xian was the author of the widely popular "Red Mansions", was overcome with excitement. He immediately proposed a business partnership, detailing precise profit calculations and showcasing his sharp entrepreneurial instincts. Impressed by Fan Sizhe's genuine passion for commerce rather than mere indulgence, Fan Xian began to reassess his younger brother.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted when Guo Baokun, the son of Guo Youzhi, the Minister of Rites, stormed into the street. He aggressively dispersed the book vendors and publicly condemned "Red Mansions" as a vulgar book, advocating for its ban. Enraged by this direct threat to his prospective fortune, Fan Sizhe impulsively rushed downstairs to confront Guo Baokun, arguing that the book's widespread popularity affirmed its value.
He Zongwei, a notable scholar in the capital, then joined Guo Baokun, publicly endorsing his stance and subtly signaling his allegiance to the Crown Prince, whom Guo Baokun served. As Guo Baokun's henchmen prepared to attack Fan Sizhe, Fan Xian intervened. He swiftly knocked down the henchmen with his Overbearing Vitality Qi and then verbally outmaneuvered both Guo Baokun and He Zongwei, criticizing their superficial judgment of a book they had not read.
At this opportune moment, Li Hongcheng, Prince Jing's son, emerged. He lauded Fan Xian's eloquence and extended an invitation to Fan Xian, Guo Baokun, and He Zongwei to a poetry gathering at his residence the following day, proposing a literary contest to determine the true scholar. Fan Xian accepted, discerning political motives behind the invitation. Unbeknownst to those involved, Emperor Qing, accompanied by Eunuch Hou, observed the entire spectacle.
The Emperor mused that Fan Xian was acting as a lure in the capital city's deep political waters, drawing out various influential factions. He decided to continue monitoring the situation. On the carriage ride back to the Fan mansion, Fan Xian questioned Fan Sizhe about his earlier outburst in defense of "Red Mansions". Fan Sizhe honestly stated that Guo Baokun was attempting to cut off their financial prospects, which he considered an unforgivable offense.
Recognizing his younger brother’s fundamental good nature despite his boastful exterior, and his innate financial acumen, Fan Xian agreed to the book publishing venture. As they neared the Fan mansion, Fan Xian prepared for a clandestine visit to the Investigator's Office. He instructed Ruoruo and Fan Sizhe to maintain the pretense that he was still in the carriage to cover his secret departure. However, just as he was about to slip away, their carriage was intercepted by Ye Ling’er, who had Lin Wan’er in her own carriage and was looking for Fan Xian.
