Joy of Life (庆余年)

You have to eat well down there, okay?

Did you miss me?

You have to take good care of yourself.

Mother, I'm back.

Why are you back in the middle of the day?

Can't I return in the day?

What... What does that mean?

Fan Xian?

What?

Is it time for me to die?

I don't even know what kind of image I have in your mind.

Father! Father, I'm back!

You...

You still got arrested in the end, huh?

In the end? What does that mean?

I knew this day would arrive eventually

after you said you wanted to assassinate Lord Fan.

Thank you, Lord Fan.

Thank you for sparing my son.

Father, the assassination is all in the past now.

Now, I'm serving him.

I see.

My son

is foolish and ignorant.

Lord Fan, you actually forgave his past mistakes

and gave him a chance.

You're truly magnanimous.

Why don't you two chat over here?

Okay.

Father, I'm a useful person.

I've been lurking within the capital of Northern Qi all this while.

Why did you go to Northern Qi?

I was managing the secret scouts

and overseeing the collection of confidential information.

Really? - That's right, Father.

My infiltration until now

has been flawless.

Northern Qi,

is it facing its demise?

It's not that bad.

Father, seems like you don't trust me.

It's been many years, yet you still don't understand my capabilities.

Father!

What's wrong?

This isn't a dream, huh?

I think I'm mentally exhausted.

How did I fall asleep and dream during the day?

But that's fine.

I can see you in my dream again.

I'm happy about it.

Mother,

you aren't dreaming.

I've returned for real.

They better don't wake me up right now.

Mother, this isn't a dream.

Mother,

why did you hit me?

It doesn't hurt when you're in a dream.

Does it hurt?

It does.

My son, you're truly back!

This is great! - Wait.

It's useless for you to hit me when it's your dream, right?

Let me pinch you. - Don't!

Mother, that hurts. - One more time!

Stop crying. - I'm glad that you're back.

I'll make something nice for you.

No need for that. You mustn't tell anyone else.

I came back in secret this time around.

I see.

Princess Yun Rui and Prince Cheng Ze are allies.

This is truly unexpected.

Father,

Prince Cheng Ze is in a dispute with Fan Xian.

He'll set him up during the Spring Imperial Examination.

Help him out.

He promised that he would release you once the event is over.

Mr. Guo, what are you doing?

Lord Fan, I want to thank you for saving my son.

He's not saving me. He's saving you.

It doesn't matter whether I get out or not.

As long as my son can survive,

I'm willing

to sacrifice my life.

I'm a man of my word.

I'll definitely rescue you.

Lord Fan, you said

that Guo Zheng gave you a manual.

May I have a look?

Father, how is it?

Many of the details here listed are correct.

So, can Fan Xian accomplish the deed

just by following it?

However, it doesn't contain rules

outside of the Spring Imperial Examination.

If so, they must be trying to harm you.

Who does Guo Zheng serve?

Judging from what I saw in the past,

it didn't seem like he was serving anyone.

His intention is well-hidden.

Father, let's forget about him, then.

Hurry and tell Lord Fan about the other rules.

He needs to rescue you after this.

There's no rush for the rules.

I have a question.

Lord Fan, how many of your proteges are attending the exam this time?

I don't have any proteges.

Not a single one?

I'm too young to be a mentor.

It's a good thing for you not to be involved with the candidates.

It saves you from a lot of trouble.

Lord Fan, are you remembering something?

I did meet some of the candidates a few days ago.

Did you only meet them?

We had a chat

and drank together.

If so, that means they're your proteges.

But they don't know who I am.

That's not important.

To other people,

those candidates are already your proteges.

Father, forget about his proteges.

Even Master Zhuang Mo Han gave him all of his books.

He has inherited the literary heritage.

It's normal for him to have proteges.

Don't interrupt us.

Lord Fan,

what do you think the exam candidates hate the most during the exam?

Cheating and showing favoritism.

Your proteges represent that.

But Fan Xian doesn't intend to practice favoritism.

Why should we worry about it?

Even if he doesn't want to do certain deeds,

other people will do them on his behalf.

Why are they helping him out?

How did you manage to infiltrate Northern Qi?

Father, what has the exam got to do with Northern Qi now?

Aunt Liu? Si Zhe?

Xian.

Do you guys need anything?

What are you doing? - Don't stop me.

What's going on? - I don't know either.

Stop messing around. Are you still competing with him? - Let me go.

What nonsense are you talking about?

That was a long time ago. Now, we're a family.

I need him to do me a favor.

Even so, you shouldn't harm him because of it.

What do you mean? - What were you doing just now?

Si Zhe is right. You're my elder.

If people saw that you knelt in front of me,

I'll be in huge trouble.

There are only the three of us here. No one else saw that.

I'll do it quickly! - Don't!

I talk too fast, Mother. I can't help it.

Aunt Liu, we're a family.

There's no need to beg me. We can talk inside.

Let's talk inside.

Come, Mother.

Here, Aunt Liu.

Have some water.

Thank you, Xian.

How do I put it?

You see,

I'm getting older and older.

Aunt Liu, you're forever young.

You're such an eloquent child.

If only Si Zhe was as eloquent as you.

He was a mischievous child since young.

Sometimes, he does irk me.

But when I don't see him,

I miss him.

I don't know if it's because I owed him in my past life.

Aunt Liu, what are you trying to get at?

Can you not send him to Northern Qi again?

Aunt Liu, don't worry. I don't intend for Si Zhe

to leave the capital again now that he's back.

Really? - You haven't asked me about it.

I want to go to Northern Qi.

But Fan Xian said you didn't need to go there again.

This doesn't concern him. I want to go there myself.

But why?

I've learned a lot from my trip to Northern Qi.

Although it was dangerous and harsh...

You shouldn't go there, then.

Mother, let me finish my words.

I found a reason to live.

In the past, I always stayed in the capital.

Yes. It's safe, and I don't need to fret.

But I only indulge myself in pleasures all day long.

What's the point of living?

When I went to Northern Qi, at least I felt useful as a person.

Although I only did the Qing Kingdom a small favor,

I think that's enough.

I don't wish to return to the past

and become the bored and insignificant Fan Si Zhe again.

If so, are you still heading to Northern Qi? For what?

I'll go to you.

Xian,

I heard that you're going to do business with Northern Qi

after taking over the Imperial Treasury. - That's true.