Joy of Life Episode 8 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
The Second Prince Li Chengze confronted Fan Xian, remarking that the Crown Prince would soon learn of their meeting. Unfazed, Fan Xian asked Li Chengze if he knew a girl who loved drumsticks and if he believed in love at first sight. Fan Xian then recounted his story of encountering the Lady Drumstick, declaring his desire to marry her.
He firmly stated that, due to his commitment to breaking off his existing marriage contract, he would not take control of Neiku. When Li Chengze questioned how he planned to defy the Emperor's decree, Fan Xian confidently told him to "wait and see," asserting his good fortune would help him find his beloved again. Li Chengze, intrigued, expressed his eagerness to witness the "ruckus" Fan Xian was about to create in the capital.
Wandering through the Fan mansion's backyard, Fan Xian stumbled upon the Lady Drumstick again, emerging from the kitchen with a drumstick in hand. They locked eyes in a moment of silent recognition. Hearing approaching kitchen staff, Fan Xian instinctively pulled her into a small storage room to hide. Mistaking her for a maid from the mansion, Fan Xian introduced himself as a bullied but righteous servant boy to Guo Baokun.
Lin Wan’er, playing along, did not deny it and feigned curiosity, asking Fan Xian to show her who this celebrated Fan Xian was. Taking her hand, he led her to a discreet spot in the front hall and pointed to Teng Zijing, identifying him as Fan Xian. Lin Wan’er observed the man she believed to be Fan Xian, noting he seemed somewhat stern.
She quickly excused herself, deciding to go to the Fan mansion directly after the poetry gathering to break off her engagement, as she did not want her beloved to know about her predetermined marriage. Fan Xian, left alone, lamented forgetting to ask for her name again. Wang Qinian, avoiding the front door for ease, stealthily scaled a wall into the Fan mansion, delivering a file to Fan Xian. The file contained information about Teng Zijing.
When Teng Zijing asked if the file contained news of his family, Fan Xian tried to delay him, but Teng Zijing snatched the document. Reading that his wife and son had been "ruthlessly killed" by Guo Baokun, Teng Zijing was consumed by rage, ignoring Fan Xian's pleas for caution and declaring his intent to seek revenge alone. He publicly broke ties with Fan Xian, urging him to stay out of his business to avoid implicating him.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan’er arrived at the Fan mansion, intending to discuss her marriage contract, but saw Teng Zijing leaving in a fury. She tried to speak with him, but he rudely ignored her. Her maid observed Teng Zijing's behavior, attributing it to Fan Xian's supposed arrogance and advising Lin Wan’er against the marriage. Knowing that Teng Zijing was determined to act that night, Fan Xian asked Fan Ruoruo to find Guo Baokun's whereabouts.
Ruoruo, having previously investigated Guo Baokun after his conflict with Fan Xian, revealed that Guo Baokun was a well-known playboy who frequented brothels along the Liujing River. Fan Xian then instructed Ruoruo to send an invitation to Shizi Li Hongcheng for a night of drinking and conversation by the Liujing River. Li Hongcheng reported this development to the Second Prince Li Chengze, noting Fan Xian's sudden interest in brothels despite his earlier declaration of love.
Li Chengze found it "interesting" and told Li Hongcheng to go. In parallel, Lin Wan’er, still unable to break off her engagement, pleaded with her close friend Ye Ling’er to check on "Guo Baokun's servant boy." Ye Ling’er, confused as to why Wan’er knew Guo Baokun's servant, hesitantly agreed after hearing about the servant's alleged injuries during the poetry gathering.
Fan Ruoruo, disguised as a man, led Fan Xian to Joy Tsin House, the most famous brothel in the capital city. She informed him about the strict rules of the Guo family, which required Guo Baokun to return home before midnight. Fan Xian, however, prevented Ruoruo from entering, explaining her presence would be a distraction. Inside, Shizi Li Hongcheng greeted Fan Xian, revealing he had already delivered Fan Xian's poem to Si Lili, the new, elusive courtesan.
Li Hongcheng then gave Fan Xian a tour, highlighting the unique appeal of Joy Tsin House where guests could find kindred spirits for any passion, not just fleeting pleasures. Suddenly, shouts erupted that Si Lili's pleasure boat was moving, a rare event as she seldom appeared publicly and had never hosted a guest before. The crowd rushed to the waterfront as fireworks lit the night sky.
Li Hongcheng teased a visibly nervous Fan Xian, remarking that Si Lili's boat was moving "for him." Si Lili, elegant and beautiful, emerged, captivating the onlookers. She approached Fan Xian, expressing her admiration for his poetry and finding him "not bad" in person, then invited him for a boat trip. Li Hongcheng jovially suggested Fan Xian would spend the night on the boat. Once aboard, after Fan Xian toasted her, Si Lili drank and promptly fainted.
Fan Xian had drugged her. He placed her on the bed, disheveled her attire to create the appearance of intimacy, and then discreetly left, observed by Li Hongcheng. Si Lili, upon waking, realized Fan Xian had drugged her but had not touched her, puzzling her about his true intentions. As Teng Zijing prepared to ambush Guo Baokun's sedan, Fan Xian intervened, urging caution.
He argued that Guo Baokun's usual method of dealing with opponents involved legal punishment, not ruthless murder, making the claim in the Investigator's Office file suspicious. Fan Xian then incapacitated Guo Baokun's sedan carriers, dragged Guo Baokun out, and, after placing a sack over his head, beat him while revealing his identity. Fan Xian relentlessly questioned him about killing Teng Zijing's family, even quoting his own poem from the poetry gathering to emphasize the severity of the beating.
Despite the assault, Guo Baokun vehemently denied any involvement in the murders, maintaining he had no idea about Teng Zijing's family. Teng Zijing, who had been watching, became suspicious due to Guo Baokun's persistent denials. Fan Xian, sharing this doubt, pointed out that the Investigator's Office file had previously declared Teng Zijing himself dead, suggesting its information could be fabricated. They decided to seek out Wang Qinian for answers.
As they approached Wang Qinian’s supposed residence, Fan Xian detected someone following them. It was Wang Qinian, who, surprised to see Teng Zijing alive, confessed that Teng Zijing's wife and son were, in fact, safe and living in a house outside the city. He admitted to fabricating the file, fearing that after Fan Xian had "killed" Teng Zijing, others might target his family.
Wang Qinian explained that he admired Teng Zijing’s character from his time in the Investigator's Office and felt compelled to protect them, moving them to the house himself to ensure their safety. He then led the two men to the secluded courtyard. Teng Zijing hesitated at the door, overcome with emotion. When he finally knocked, his wife, who believed him dead, answered, bursting into tears of relief. Inside, he saw his son, who had grown significantly.
In that moment, Teng Zijing felt truly alive, reunited with his family. Fan Xian and Wang Qinian stood by, as Wang Qinian explained his motivations. Fan Xian then asked what Wang Qinian would have done if he had truly intended to harm the family.
