Joy of Life Episode 9 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Wang Qinian escorted Fan Xian and Teng Zijing to a house outside the capital city where Teng Zijing was safely reunited with his wife and son. Wang Qinian explained that he had moved them there out of concern for their safety after Fan Xian's supposed killing of Teng Zijing, and had falsified the official report about Teng Zijing's death. Fan Xian, impressed by Wang Qinian's warm heart and "lightness skill," playfully sparred with him.
Wang Qinian then produced the title deed for the house, humorously trying to get Fan Xian to reimburse him a rounded-up price for the 123 taels he spent. Wang Qinian then turned serious, warning Fan Xian that Guo Baokun, a supporter of the Crown Prince and son of a powerful minister, would seek revenge. Teng Zijing immediately offered to take the blame, but Fan Xian stopped him.
Fan Xian explained that he had deliberately identified himself to escalate the conflict, hoping to force the cancellation of his engagement so he could find and marry his "Lady Drumstick." When Teng Zijing questioned why Fan Xian would help him, Fan Xian invoked the principle inscribed on a stone tablet at the Investigator's Office, stating he believes people should be treated as equals, regardless of their status.
He then promised to arrange a false identity for Teng Zijing before returning to his own affairs. Fan Xian returned to Joy Tsin House and noticed a subtle disturbance to a mark he had left on the door, indicating someone had been awake. Inside, he found Si Lili still feigning unconsciousness. He revealed his trick of placing a knotted hair on her shoulder, which had since disappeared, only to then admit he was lying about the hair.
He instead felt her racing pulse, confirming her awareness and nervousness. Si Lili then abandoned her pretense. Fan Xian, impressed by her quick recovery from his strong sedative, deduced she must have developed a "drug resistance" from prolonged use of similar substances, hinting at a complex background. They quickly established a mutual understanding: Si Lili would not question Fan Xian's late-night excursion, and he would not delve into her identity, securing his alibi.
Si Lili humorously stated she would only remember their "night of passion." Meanwhile, Li Hongcheng, who had observed Fan Xian's hasty departure from the brothel earlier, surmised he had gone to cause trouble, realizing Fan Xian had punched Guo Baokun. The next morning, Guo Baokun, severely injured, filed a complaint against Fan Xian. Officers from the Kyoto Prefecture were dispatched to the Fan mansion to arrest him.
Aunt Liu Ruyu initially denied Fan Xian's presence and firmly refused the officers entry into the inner residence. Just as she dismissed them, Fan Xian emerged, prompting the officers to attempt an arrest. Fan Sizhe dramatically intervened, wielding a large broom and declaring himself "General Fan," driving the officers back.
Aunt Liu Ruyu then stated that Fan Xian would only appear in court to confront Guo Baokun if Guo Baokun himself, not merely his butler, was present to press charges, emphasizing this as the Fan family's rule before forcing the officers to leave. At the Guo mansion, Guo Youzhi, the Minister of Rites, was furious to see his son, Guo Baokun, so badly injured.
Despite his severe condition, Guo Baokun, barely able to speak, adamantly insisted on going to court to confront Fan Xian, expressing his intense hatred and desire for Fan Xian's downfall. Guo Youzhi initially considered hiring a renowned lawyer, but He Zongwei, present at the mansion, volunteered his services. He Zongwei, an experienced and undefeated former lawyer, pledged to ensure Fan Xian was convicted and received the severest possible punishment, wishing Fan Xian "dead."
Aunt Liu Ruyu, now genuinely concerned for Fan Xian's well-being, confronted him about the severity of Guo Baokun's injuries and the political implications due to Guo Baokun's ties to the Crown Prince. She observed that Fan Xian didn't seem impulsive, to which he retorted that if he were truly impulsive, Guo Baokun would be dead. She then urged him to return to Danzhou to escape the escalating trouble, even preparing money for his departure.
Fan Xian asked her why she was helping him, and she stated that despite her different surname, she belonged to the Fan family, leading Fan Xian to trust she was not involved in the Danzhou assassination attempt. He then revealed his true intention: he wanted to deliberately magnify the incident, much to her exasperation. Meanwhile, the Princess Royal spoke with the Crown Prince, reminding him that Guo Baokun had been a loyal supporter.
She urged him to attend the trial at the Kyoto Prefecture, explaining that his presence would demonstrate his backing for the Guo family. She strategically suggested that if Fan Xian were found guilty, Emperor Qing might cancel Lin Wan’er’s marriage, allowing the Princess Royal to retain control of the Neiku treasury, which would then serve as a significant asset for the Crown Prince. She warned that not showing up would discourage his subordinates.
Convinced by her reasoning, the Crown Prince agreed to intervene. Fan Xian arrived at the Kyoto Prefecture for his trial. He Zongwei, acting as Guo Baokun's attorney, immediately accused Fan Xian, who calmly denied any wrongdoing. Fan Xian playfully questioned the object brought into the court, which was the heavily bandaged Guo Baokun, implying it wasn't even a human. He challenged the lack of direct witnesses, pointing out that Guo Baokun's head was covered and his servants were drugged.
He Zongwei claimed Guo Baokun recognized Fan Xian's voice and accused Fan Xian of planning to use an alibi. He Zongwei then presented crucial evidence: the assailant had recited lines from a poem that Fan Xian wrote just the day before at Prince Jing's poetry gathering, which Guo Baokun confirmed. Fan Xian argued that it was illogical for him to recite his own poem while committing an assault, suggesting it was a deliberate framing.
When asked for his alibi, Fan Xian claimed he was at Joy Tsin House having "drinks and pleasure" with Li Hongcheng and Si Lili. Magistrate Mei Zhili, noting the testimony and witnesses, ordered them summoned. Meanwhile, Fan Sizhe rushed to Fan Ruoruo, who was calmly having tea with several ladies.
He was agitated about Fan Xian's trial, but Fan Ruoruo revealed her plan: she had strategically informed the wives and daughters of various officials, including Magistrate Mei Zhili's daughter, that Fan Xian was the author of the popular novel "Red Mansions." She predicted their obsession with the book would lead them to pressure their husbands or fathers, potentially with extreme measures, to influence the trial's outcome.
Concerned about the swiftness of the trial, Fan Ruoruo then instructed Fan Sizhe to go to the Kyoto Prefecture and, if the verdict was unfavorable, to storm in and rescue Fan Xian. Recognizing his lack of combat skills, she humorously gave him a pair of large scissors, telling him it suited his "temperament," and he enthusiastically vowed to "cut them to death" if necessary.
During the trial, Li Hongcheng testified that he and Fan Xian were indeed at Joy Tsin House, and Fan Xian went to Si Lili's room around midnight. Si Lili, under oath, confirmed Fan Xian's presence in her room, using euphemisms to imply their intimacy and stating he never left. With corroborating witnesses, Magistrate Mei Zhili was ready to acquit Fan Xian, concluding there were "other circumstances." However, the Crown Prince unexpectedly arrived.
He graciously accepted Li Hongcheng's testimony as a royal family member but immediately dismissed Si Lili's, citing her "humble origin" as a courtesan from Joy Tsin House. The Crown Prince declared that the assault on Guo Baokun, an imperial compiler, was a direct insult to the royal family's dignity and demanded a "strict investigation," effectively pressuring Mei Zhili to continue the trial.
Mei Zhili, yielding to the Crown Prince's authority, then ordered Si Lili to be tortured for her "confusing" testimony. At the Fan mansion, Fan Jian’s wife expressed worry about Fan Xian’s situation and urged her husband to go to the Kyoto Prefecture. Fan Jian, however, explained that as Assistant Minister of Revenue, his direct involvement would be improper.
He revealed he was aware of the Crown Prince's presence and hinted that another powerful figure was also involved, acknowledging that Fan Xian had become embroiled in a dangerous political struggle due to his connection to the Neiku treasury. He stated that Fan Xian's fate would depend on his own abilities, but assured his wife he had measures to ensure Fan Xian's survival if the outcome turned dire.
He refused to elaborate on the secrets behind Fan Xian's appointment to Neiku, stating "the less you know, the better." Back at the trial, as the officers prepared to torture Si Lili, Fan Xian attempted to confess to spare her. However, Si Lili subtly stopped him, explaining that if he confessed, it would invalidate her testimony and brand her as a liar, indicating she was willing to endure the torture for her own reasons. Just then, the Second Prince arrived.
He greeted the Crown Prince with a mix of deference and thinly veiled jabs, then questioned Magistrate Mei Zhili about the sudden use of torture after the case had seemingly concluded. Mei Zhili took full responsibility to shield the Crown Prince. Si Lili endured the torture without retracting her testimony. The Second Prince subtly criticized the excessive use of torture on a mere witness. Still, the Crown Prince, undeterred, escalated the trial by having Teng Zijing brought into the court.
He dramatically revealed that Guo Baokun’s assailant had inquired about Teng Zijing’s family and then exposed Teng Zijing as alive, directly contradicting Fan Xian’s official report of having killed him in Danzhou. The Crown Prince argued that Fan Xian had "deceived His Majesty" by fabricating Teng Zijing’s death and enlisting a former Investigator’s Office agent as his personal guard.
Teng Zijing tried to take the blame, claiming he had coerced Fan Xian, but the Crown Prince dismissed it, highlighting Fan Xian’s opportunities to seek help from the Second Prince during the poetry gathering if he were truly unwilling. The Crown Prince concluded that regardless of the assault charge, Fan Xian was guilty of deceiving the Emperor, which would effectively nullify his marriage contract. He then ordered Teng Zijing to be tortured to uncover any broader conspiracy.
However, before the torture could commence, Eunuch Hou arrived with an imperial edict from Emperor Qing. The edict explicitly stated that Teng Zijing’s faked death was a sanctioned arrangement by the Investigator’s Office, known to the Emperor, thereby absolving Fan Xian of the charge of "deceiving His Majesty." The Emperor further commanded all "members of the royal family" to withdraw from the trial, explicitly removing the princes’ intervention from the judicial process. Both princes and Magistrate Mei Zhili immediately bowed to the imperial decree.
