[Karen]
In the last episode, Fan Xian has officially returned to the capital. There was a run in with the 1st prince at the city gates but that was largely to test Fan Xian’s mettle. The princes were all invited to a lunch with the Emperor where it ended poorly after Fan Xian publicly requestd an investigation on the 2nd prince’s corruption. The Emperor ignored him, threw his plaque or badge that signaled he was the imperial inspectorate into the water and stormed off.
The Crown prince tried to console Fan Xian when they walked out but brought another upsetting piece of news. Fan Xian had asked the Crown Prince to investigate the Shi family village because there were ties to the 2nd prince. However, the crown prince informs Fan Xian that the entire village was burned to the ground. No survivors. This infuriates Fan XIan even more as it means more people lost their lives needlessly.
Was it really the 2nd prince though? No. The Crown Prince went to meet his mother, the Empress. We did not see her in season 1 and episode 6 was the first time we saw her. She keeps her rooms blazing with candles and cannot stand when a smidge of light disappears. Immediately we see that she is ruthless to her son. At the end of episode 6 and into episode 7, she has all of his paintings of a faceless woman thrown onto the floor. We actually talked about this in season 1.
[Cathy]
She calmly asks the Crown Prince about the Shi Family Village. What’s important here is that we learn it was the Crown Prince, not the 2nd prince, who burned the village to the ground. The Empress knew this and calmly asks the Crown Prince why he did it. The response is simple. The Crown Prince must have Fan Xian on his side. By murdering the village and framing the 2nd prince, Fan Xian will surely ally himself with the Crown Prince.
In this exchange, we see that the Crown Prince is, in his own words, a crazy person. Someone who is heartless and cruel. His mother though? Perhaps just as heartless. She did not bat an eye when hearing her son do what he did. She is also scarily connected to know that the Crown Prince murdered that village.
Turning back to Fan Xian. He left the palace and heads to the plaque at the Overwatch Council that his mother left. He is angry at the unjust of the Emperor siding with the 2nd prince. Chen Ping Ping comes out to…console him. He reminds Fan Xian that the Emperor never explicitly said that his position of the inspectorate was revoked, just that the plaque was gone. Chen Ping Ping went ahead and fished it out and had it ready in hand for Fan Xian. He reminds Fan Xian to think about who actually is Fan Xian’s enemy. Fan Xian reflects that it is the 2nd prince and those like him. In this life, he wants to do what he can to be a good person. Prevent those from dying needlessly and others from not being able to get justice.
[Karen]
Touched or at least further affirmed by this monologue, Chen Ping Ping wheels forward and shares that he will give FAn Xian command of the 1st bureau. The 1st bureau was originally led by Zhu Ge who died in season 1. That position is open and it is a very important position as the bureau is in charge of overseeing all officials in the Capital. A great first step in amassing his own group of men.
This level of help confuses Fan Xian. After all, Fan Xian was upset at all the scheming and planning CHen Ping Ping did in his life to ensure he got to where he was in the Qi capital. Now, why is CHen Ping Ping so nice and caring? Chen Ping Ping is rather blunt that it’s because Fan Xian is Ye Qing Mei’s son and he will do everything in his power to help her son go on the path he wants. I really appreciate that. THis whole drama or this universe of Joy of Life is primarily a result of the good things Fan Xian’s mother did. Who cares about Fan Xian hahahaha.
Fan Xian’s father, Fan Jian, arrives at this point and we are treated to the adorable shenanigans of the Fan family. Fan Jian immediately stakes his claim that Fan Xian is HIS son, not Chen Ping Ping’s. Clearly he’s jealous that Fan Xian went to see CHen Ping Ping and the Emperor first rather than his family. When they head home, Ruo RUo delights us with her antics. She wasn’t in her room but appears shortly afterwards. When asked, she tells Fan Xian that she was off wandering the world but only for 15 minutes or so. She left to escape her betrothal but then came back because she forgot to ask Fan Xian for his plan. Whatever he says, she’ll do. She is known to be a brother worshipper and yup we see that on full display.
[Cathy]
The other funny man is of course, Fan Si Zhe. He is summoned to his father’s office and upon entering the room, he immediately falls to his knees and kneels. He states that he’s familiar with the vibe. Clearly, he’s in trouble. ANd yea, he is! Because his parents now know all about he fact that he is the owner of the brothel, Bao Yue Lou. Fan Xian takes the time to explain the ins and outs of what happened so that his parents fully understand that Fan Si Zhe was tricked. Sadly, the only way to protect FanSi Zhe at this point is for him to leave the capital. Where to? The Northern Qi kingdom and all on his own. It’s a tough decision as Fan Si Zhe has never gone anywhere by himself but he agrees to go. It’s his chance to grow up.
Fan Si Zhe does not recognize the gravity of the situation but if word gets out that he, the son of a Count, was operating a brothel that was trafficking young women, the Imperial Censors would surely hear of this and seek out punishment. This would greatly please Fan Xian and Fan Jian’s political enemies. By imposing an exile on Fan Si Zhe, the Fan family would most likely escape these attacks because it does seem like they are losing a son.
It’s a quick turn of events. Fan Si Zhe packs up a few items and is immediately sent off to leave the city. His parents obviously are worried about him but it’s for his safety. In an instant, the tone turns somber as Fan Si Zhe and Fan XIan head into a carriage towards the city gates. However, one moment, Fan Si Zhe is sad and on the verge of tears for leaving home, the next moment, he is over the moon when Fan Xian gives him a chunk of money with his primary directive in the Northern Qi kingdom is to make money. Now all Fan SI Zhe can see is $$$$$. Fan XIan gives Fan Si ZHe a 2nd order which is to find Guo Bao Kun in Bei Qi and with that, he gets off the carriage and sends his brother off on this journey, flanked by a number of trained men from the 4th bureau.
[Karen]
Fan Xian makes 1 more pit stop before the night is over. HE heads over to his fiance, Wan’Er’s residence to see her. Yet, only Ye Ling’Er, her close friend is there. She tells Fan Xian a message from Wan’Er that she knows he loves her and she loves him but she doesn’t want to see him at this critical juncture. She knows he has many things to focus on so to put those plans first.
Sigh – they really didn’t know what to do with Wan’Er in this season. 7 episodes for us to see the female lead and only for 2 minutes. Ling’Er….I also don’t want to say any more. I don’t mind Jin Chen but this is not the role for her.
The last scene of this episode is with Yan Bing Yun. He heads over to see his father who is in prison for Yan Bing Yun’s involvement in Fan XIan’s fake death. They get into an argument about why Yan Bing Yun helped Fan Xian but quickly reconcile. Yan Bing Yun’s father Yan Ruo Hai is heartened to see that his son is willing to help Fan XIan, the likely successor to the OVerwatch Council.
–
[Cathy]
This episode wraps up the storyline of Bao Yue Lou and we see Fan Si Zhe exiled to the Northern Qi kingdom.
I want to discuss a new female character that was introduced at the end of the last episode and continues through the first scene of this episode. This is the Empress or 皇后. Interestingly, we never saw her in the last season, which we didn’t need to. The Empress is played by 俞飞鸿 starred in many period dramas over the past 3 decades. If we look at the Empress, she doesn’t look or quite behave as other empresses that we’ve seen. First, she’s wearing all black in this scene, which is a very somber color. The Emperor does wear black but it’s also paired with a lot of white so it’s not as somber. The Empress, if we go by historical Chinese standards, should be wearing some version of gold or at least a brighter color. She’s also drinking, which might seem improper for the Empress. Her backstory gets somewhat discussed in this season but let’s discuss some of it now so that we understand her motivations.
The Empress is the niece of the Empress Dowager and comes from an aristocratic family. Her whole family was murdered years ago for setting in motion essentially the events of the book. The Emperor spared her life though and since then has propped up her son as The Crown Prince. The Emperor refused to have an Empress with a very powerful family backing her and the Crown Prince. So he left them with nothing but the power he gives them. Because of this, the Empress is extremely bitter but latches onto the one thing she does have, which is her son, the crown prince. Mother and son are extremely intelligent and ruthless but is that enough to win the throne? We’ll find out. There’s some more to her backstory but i’ll divulge more as we continue with the drama.
[Karen]
As for the Crown Prince, this is the first time in the drama that someone comments on the portraits that he has hanging all over his palace. The Empress knows who he has painted and this is a big clue as to the reveal of who this woman is. The Crown Prince is reluctant to burn these paintings but does so at the moment…it’s all very scandalous.
Next let’s talk about an idiom that is discussed between Fan Xian and Chen Ping Ping. Fan Xian is angered that Chen Ping Ping has essentially been the mastermind behind his whole life. Whatever path Fan Xian wants to choose, Chen Ping Ping will make sure he is able to. Fan Xian scoffs at this but Chen Ping Ping responds with 欲取先予.
This is a shortened idiom of 欲先取之 必先予之 which means, if you want to take something, you must first give something. This definitely has more the meaning you first pay a price to lure the other party into lowering their guard, then seize the opportunity to take your prize. This phrase first appeared in Lao Zi’s Dao De Jing which was written during the Warring States period over 2500 years ago. I don’t believe Lao Zi appears in the universe of Joy of Life so this is definitely an anachronism for Chen Ping Ping to be the one who discusses this phrase.
Lastly, let’s discuss the phrase 浪迹天涯. Ruo Ruo says this to Fan Xian as she tells him that after hearing about her engagement to Li Hong Cheng, she thought about fleeing the capital and 浪迹天涯.
浪迹天涯 as a phrase means to wander across to the ends of the earth. It’s often used to describe wandering swordsmen who head off on their own adventures or else other young couples who have tired of their court life and want to travel here and there. Honestly, it’s not as great as it sounds because it definitely is just more rough and tumble
This idiom first appeared in the Song Dynasty by poet and author 王楙mào who wrote it – 《野客丛书·李白事说者不一》or The Various Writings of a Rustic Guest, the accounts of Li Bai ：“为同列者所谤，诏令归山，遂浪迹天下. He was slandered by his colleagues. An imperial decree exiled him to the mountains where he wandered the world.
This is one of the poems about the famous Tang Dynasty author Li Bai rather than written by him. Obviously he continues to be an inspiration even thousands of years later
–
[Cathy]
Let’s now conclude with book differences. Fan Xian and Chen Ping Ping do not have this frank conversation at this point in the book because Fan Xian is definitely more aware of Chen Ping Ping’s motives. The two needed to have a serious discussion over Chen Ping Ping’s supposed hand in Fan Xian’s life in the drama to wrap up the storylines from season 1. As for Fan Si Zhe, the drama REALLY mellows out Fan Si Zhe’s cruelty and his involvement in Bao Yue Lou which we talked about. Fan Xian completely pummels him in the book. Mistress Liu begs her husband to spare her son but Fan Xian is unmoved by her pleas. The next day, Fan Si Zhe is shipped off to the Northern Qi Kingdom completely injured and embarrassed. His father does NOT come see him, which is different in the drama. The book emphasizes how ruthless Fan Jian was and could be otherwise, he would not have had the wealth and status he has right now. The drama shows a more human side to him by having him say goodbye to his son. In the book, Fan Jian shows his affection to his son by ordering his other son Fan Xian to murder Yuan Meng. Yuan Meng is the mama of Bao Yue Lou and mistress to Li Hong Cheng. Sheesh, that sure is one way to show love! Fan Si Zhe is now on his journey north. Again, at this point in the book, he is only 14.