Joy of Life (庆余年)
The smash hit from 2019. Fan Xian ft Zhang Ruo Yun is a modern man born as Fan Xian in the Qing kingdom but with modern knowledge. He hopes to just have a quiet life in Dan Zhou but his father and many others around him have other plans.
He heads to the capital where he reunites with his sister Ruo Ruo, meets his brother Fan Si Zhe, falls in love with Lin Wan’Er and becomes embroiled in many aspects of the Qing Kingdom court.
Season 1 aired in 2019 and Season 2 aired in 2024
Podcast Episodes
Chasing Dramas
Episode Transcripts
Read our episode-by-episode recaps, translations, historical context, cultural notes and anlaysis of Empresses in the Palace
Key Characters
Fan Xian 范闲
Born with 21st century knowledge, he grew up in Dan Zhou. Skilled in martial arts and poison, he seeks answers about his past in the Qing capital
Lin Wan'Er 林婉儿
Daughter of the Princess Royal and niece to the Emperor, her hand in marriage is means access to the Royal Treasury
Qing Emperor 庆帝
The all powerful Emperor of the Qing kingdom. He holds a ruthless grip on his kingdom
Chen Ping Ping 陈萍萍
The cunning Head of the Overwatch Council/Investigation Bureau. He is a mentor to Fan Xian