Joy of Life (庆余年)

Dig the outhouse again? - Yes.

It's Lord Fan's idea again.

My Lord, this is ridiculous.

Just tell them we are short-staffed

and can't do it on time.

He got men from the First Bureau of the Overwatch Council.

He didn't even look for us.

One cannot simply enter the exam hall

unauthorized.

My Lord, the Overwatch Council manages the whole kingdom.

According to the law, they can even take candidates away in front of us.

Why are you still telling me?

He is asking you to get the wood and bricks

out from the warehouse.

Those are Phoebe Zhennan logs and metal bricks.

Why is he using them to build an outhouse?

He said

it was a little overboard.

However...

What?

The Spring Imperial Examination is organized by the Ministry of Rites.

He can provide manpower

but we need to provide the materials.

Doing that won't be violating the law and against the rules.

Darn it.

Rules?

Yes.

We need to do it according to the rules.

Lord Fan.

The repair of the outhouse by Zi Yue is done.

It won't affect the Spring Imperial Examination.

All of you have worked hard.

I'm afraid when I think about it.

They are so sinister.

Adding kerosene in the outhouse.

When night comes,

students will bring candles.

If an accident happens, a fire will occur.

Qi Nian.

You might not know.

A place like that

won't just catch fire.

It might even explode. - Explode?

If this place explodes,

then...

Won't it be written on

an exciting page in the history books?

On a certain year, month, day, and time,

at the Spring Imperial Examination hosted by Lord Fan Xian,

all the candidates died due to...

That's very embarrassing.

There are three more days to go.

No matter what,

I will protect their safety.

The officials don't care about their lives,

but I do.

If the officials don't want to protect them,

I will protect them.

Unfortunately,

you've done so much for them,

but they are unaware.

Good people and good deeds won't be remembered.

Call me the Red Scarf.

Lord Fan, what did you just say?

Red Scarf.

He changed the candles and drinking water.

He even built a new outhouse.

Minister Guo also bribed a few students.

We'll find a way to frame Fan Xian again in three days.

There's no need to do it anymore.

No need? - Without water or fire,

it's not a major incident.

Fan Xian's grace

cannot be suppressed

unless a few dozen people die.

Why don't we cut him down to size?

Why waste effort if I can't cut him dead?

Ask Guo Zheng to give up.

What a waste of this good opportunity.

Something's amiss.

I might even be trapped by Guo Zheng's schemes.

Fan Xian is cunning.

No.

Something so trivial

could only be discovered

by an old man who has many years of experience in the Ministry of Rites.

Otherwise, who would check the candles and drinking water?

Someone from the Ministry of Rites is helping him?

Who would it be?

Someone fainted. - What's going on?

Get him up.

That's...

Submit your papers!

Lord Fan is very meticulous in doing things.

Even the Overwatch Council came to help.

Nothing happened in the last three days.

It's worthy of a celebration.

I have high hopes for Lord Fan.

Minister Guo, you have a good eye for talent.

Having you in the Ministry of Rites

feels like rain during a drought

and springtime for a wilted tree.

Have all the papers been collected?

Everything has gone smoothly.

The sealing of papers comes next.

Nothing will happen.

There's no need to worry, Minister Guo.

Lord Fan.

You worked hard in the last few days.

Why don't you take a break back at your residence?

I can't.

I still need to supervise the sealing of papers.

I can't slack when it comes to a duty assigned by His Majesty.

A capable man has a lot of work to do.

Is this how the papers are sealed?

Yes.

The papers can be judged fairly when the names are covered.

They are copying the papers over there.

We will make a copy of all the papers.

After all, one's handwriting

can also expose the candidate's identity easily.

How thorough.

After the papers are copied, they will be sent to be examined.

The candidates are chosen purely on the basis of their talents.

What should I do

if I want to tamper with the papers.

Lord Fan,

what did you say?

I'm asking you

what I should do

if I want to tamper with the process of sealing exam papers?

Lord Fan, you mustn't joke about this.

I won't do that. I'm just curious.

Nothing of that sort will happen.

We are not talking about the current examination.

It has never happened in the past.

Are you not treating me as one of your own?

It has never happened.

Why did I hear that the papers used to cover up the names

had different lengths?

A difference in the paper's length

is also a marking.

That is the area for copying, right?

You can also stain the paper with ink

in the area where the papers are copied.

By doing that, the person who judges the paper

will know what to do.

There's nothing of that sort.

Lord Fan, where did you hear this?

They are all rumors.

Of course.

I believe all of you here

will never do that.

After all,

no one wants to die.

I was only joking.

Everyone. Do your job well

while I study.

Message from Guo Zheng.

Fan Xian knows the tricks of the Ministry of Rites well.

He wanted to help Your Highness' retainers

but it doesn't seem too convenient right now.

What retainer?

I have no retainer.

Understood.

There are only candidates.

No retainers.

It's not bad

for the Spring Imperial Examination to be clean.

No one should interfere

and let destiny take charge.

I'll ask someone to inform Guo Zheng.

Chan Li, Wan Li. Why do you get up so early?

It's a habit of mine. I wake up when it's time.

Chan Li, the exam is over.

Why are you still reading?

Ji Chang, look.

I couldn't remember this sentence no matter how much I thought about it.

Enough. The exam is finished.

Stop thinking about it.

Where's Cheng Jia Lin?

He's exhausted after the three-day exam.

I couldn't wake him up.

Yes. I feel reborn after the last three days.

Indeed.

Chan Li, you are acting strange.

Ji Chang, what's that smell?

You smell nice.

You have a good nose.

You have food again? - Of course.

You are so kind.

Chicken?

Roasted Chicken.

Where did you get this? - I prepared it last night.

I wanted to celebrate after we finished the exam.

In the end, the three of you slept soundly like pigs.

Thank you for feeding us in the last three days.

The chicken will still return one day.

That's not how you use Lord Fan's poem.

All right. Let's eat.