Joy of Life Episode 7 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Fan Xian asked his father, Fan Jian, to release Teng Zijing. Fan Jian, recalling Teng Zijing's record in the Ministry of Penalty and his deliberate return to the capital with Fan Xian, expressed concern that the man might have ulterior motives. However, Fan Xian insisted on Teng Zijing's release, asserting, "He's my friend." Fan Jian sighed, acknowledging that having a friend in the capital was a luxury, but ultimately agreed to release him, urging Fan Xian to be cautious.
After Fan Jian left, Liu Ruyu surprisingly approached Fan Xian, thanking him. She declared that she now owed him one and promised to cease hostilities if he no longer caused trouble. Fan Xian questioned if she was genuinely seeking peace. Upon his release, Teng Zijing immediately inquired about the file. Fan Xian informed him that Wang Qinian would deliver it the following day. Feeling deeply indebted, Teng Zijing offered to "kill someone" for Fan Xian as repayment.
Amused, Fan Xian declined, suggesting Teng Zijing keep the offer on account for future use. Fan Xian then asked Teng Zijing about Xu Yunzhang, the person responsible for forging the false assassination order in Danzhou. Teng Zijing admitted he wasn't very familiar with Xu Yunzhang, but suggested a particular secret shop specializing in selling intelligence might have information.
As a "dead person" who couldn't show his face publicly, Teng Zijing measured Fan Xian for a custom-made nocturnal costume, suggesting Fan Xian visit the shop himself. Meanwhile, Fan Jian honored his promise to Fan Sizhe from the previous night, joining Liu Ruyu and Fan Ruoruo for a game of Pai Gow with Fan Sizhe. Fan Sizhe gleefully won all the money from the three, much to Liu Ruyu's worry. However, to everyone's surprise, Fan Jian didn't scold his son.
Fan Sizhe, insistent on settling accounts precisely, explained, "Accounts need to be crystal clear among family members. Why would we play if not for money? !" Ruoruo, on the other hand, found the lively, boisterous atmosphere made them feel truly like a family. As night fell and Fan Sizhe had won every last coin, Fan Jian finally called an end to the game.
Later, Liu Ruyu told Ruoruo that she now believed it was unwise to make an enemy of Fan Xian, a sentiment with which Ruoruo readily agreed. Ruoruo later found Fan Xian in his room, crafting a "humidifier" to combat the capital's dry climate, describing it as a way to live "more exquisitely." She happily recounted the Pai Gow game, noting how Fan Jian hadn't reprimanded Fan Sizhe, making them feel like a real family. "
Your presence seems to change everything," she observed. Fan Xian, however, confessed a sense of burden after seeing his mother's ideals of "reshaping the world" on the stele at the Investigator's Office. He admitted he sometimes just wanted to "live a good life and die in peace" but also felt a pull toward his mother's grand aspirations, torn between a simple life and a world-changing one.
Ruoruo, ever loyal, assured him that she trusted him completely, no matter what path he chose. Later that night, Teng Zijing arrived with the nocturnal costume. Seeing Ruoruo's excitement, Fan Xian relented and agreed to take her along for a "night adventure." When they arrived near the secret shop, however, Teng Zijing stopped Ruoruo, explaining that only Fan Xian, dressed in the specific attire, could enter the shop that "sells nothing but intelligence."
He warned Fan Xian not to have high hopes, reminding him how difficult it was even for the Investigator's Office to retrieve files. Ruoruo, hearing talk of files, tried to pry for details, but Teng Zijing quickly cut her off. Fan Xian, observing the shop's overt facade, suspected it was run by a swindler but decided to investigate. Dressed in the nocturnal costume, Fan Xian entered the intelligence shop, which appeared to be a bustling gambling den.
He requested information about Xu Yunzhang's connections. The shopkeeper silently dispatched a carrier pigeon. Unbeknownst to them, the pigeon flew directly to Eunuch Hou in the palace, who reported Fan Xian's inquiry to Emperor Qing. Emperor Qing, nonchalant, simply instructed Hou to "give it to him then." Fan Xian received the information, which revealed Xu Yunzhang's close ties with the Eastern Palace. Teng Zijing immediately questioned if the Crown Prince was behind the assassination attempt.
Fan Xian, however, found the ease of obtaining such sensitive information suspicious. He recalled Wang Qinian mentioning that the Director of the Investigator's Office personally handled Xu Yunzhang's case, implying the details should be highly confidential. He pondered why a powerful entity like the Investigator's Office would allow such an intelligence hub to operate openly, speculating it was either secretly run by them or by someone beyond their jurisdiction. When they returned to the shop, it was completely deserted.
Fan Xian felt an unsettling sensation, as if a "large hand from behind" was orchestrating events since his arrival in the capital, pushing him into the "teeth of the storm." In the palace, Emperor Qing, having been informed of Fan Xian's suspicions and the abandoned shop (which he revealed was a "shelter" for outlaws provided by Chen Pingping), dismissed it as a minor loss.
He mused that the drastic difference in status between Fan Xian and the Crown Prince would serve as a "test" of "harsh suffering" to determine if he was capable of managing the Neiku. The next day, the poetry gathering hosted by Prince Jing's son, Li Hongcheng, commenced. Li Hongcheng personally awaited Fan Ruoruo and Fan Xian at the entrance.
Fan Xian, arriving late after changing into the clothes he wore when he first met "Lady Drumstick," hoped she might recognize him. He presented Li Hongcheng with an array of gifts, including glazed fruit, cane sugar, and persimmons, playing on the similar-sounding Chinese words for "Prince's son" and "persimmon." Ruoruo teased him about his simple Danzhou attire, but Fan Xian explained his romantic motive before she joined the other ladies. Inside, Guo Baokun and He Zongwei immediately confronted Fan Xian.
Guo Baokun rudely challenged him, labeling him a "country bumpkin" and demanding he kneel if he wouldn't compete. He Zongwei also criticized Fan Xian's behavior. Ignoring their provocations, Fan Xian asked Li Hongcheng if he knew any "Lady Drumstick," a girl who "likes to hold a drumstick." Li Hongcheng vaguely responded that drumsticks would be served at lunch and urged everyone to be seated. Guo Baokun then formally challenged Fan Xian to a "ten steps, one poem" contest.
Fan Xian rejected the condition, confidently stating he could win with just one poem, regardless of how many they composed. He then declared a wager: if they could produce a better poem, he would "stop composing poems for his whole life." Guo Baokun and He Zongwei, confident in their superiority, readily agreed. Fan Xian then picked up a brush and composed Du Fu's renowned masterpiece, "On the Height." The profound beauty and sorrow of the poem stunned everyone.
One scholar hailed it as the greatest seven-character regulated verse of all time. Guo Baokun and He Zongwei were left speechless. He Zongwei attempted to salvage their dignity by criticizing Fan Xian's poor handwriting, but Ruoruo quickly pointed out that the contest was about poetry, not calligraphy. Fan Xian, seeing no further challengers, excused himself to the backyard to find a latrine, leaving Ruoruo to remind his opponents of their oath.
In the backyard, Fan Xian was unexpectedly ambushed by Xie Bi'an, the Second Prince's bodyguard. Their brief skirmish was interrupted by the Second Prince, Li Chengze, who emerged from a pavilion. The Second Prince, acknowledging Fan Xian as the Crown Prince's enemy, declared his intent to "kill" Fan Xian and present his body as a "gift" to reconcile with his brother. With Xie Bi'an's sword at his throat, Fan Xian remained calm, casually eating grapes.
He shrewdly argued that killing him would not resolve the deep-seated rivalry between the princes and that such an unwise, public assassination was uncharacteristic of the Second Prince. Impressed by Fan Xian's composure and wit, the Second Prince ordered Xie Bi'an to sheathe his sword. He then admitted he had been eager to meet Fan Xian after reading his extraordinary poem.
Fan Xian, wary of the political implications, expressed his reluctance, fearing the Crown Prince would assume he had aligned with the Second Prince. The Second Prince asked if he was worried. Fan Xian deflected by asking if he knew of any "Lady Drumstick" and offered to tell him the story of his "love at first sight." Meanwhile, Eunuch Hou reported Fan Xian's unparalleled poem and his secret meeting with the Second Prince to Emperor Qing.
Hou noted the poem's "gloomy" tone and his inability to overhear their conversation. Emperor Qing, informed that the Crown Prince was with the Princess Royal at Guangxin Palace, instructed Hou to send the poem and news of Fan Xian's encounter to the Crown Prince. Upon receiving the message, the Crown Prince recognized Fan Xian's literary talent and worldly acumen as "rare." His scheme to publicly humiliate Fan Xian at the poetry gathering had failed, and his face darkened with frustration.
