Original subtitles

(Joy of Life Season 2)

(Episode 3)

What do you mean?

Lord Fan,

do you wish to investigate the Moon Embracing Pavilion?

- Who did you hear that from? - I didn't tell her that.

Lord Fan, I don't think that you came back from the dead

and came to find me in such a place

because you fell for me.

I'm just an ordinary girl.

Everything around me is ordinary

except for Moon Embracing Pavilion.

What's not ordinary about Moon Embracing Pavilion, then?

Although Moon Embracing Pavilion just opened not long ago,

they've managed to recruit the best courtesans in the capital.

All of them are famous courtesans.

Each of the brothels had backers.

Even so, none of them dared to refuse their recruitment.

That's not ordinary.

Miss Sang, may I ask you for a favor?

Lord Fan, I wish to ask you for a favor as well.

That's negotiable.

If so, Lord Fan, you should keep the banknotes first.

Only then will I be able to bring up my request.

What kind of favor do you need?

Lord Fan, you should ask me first.

I won't bring up my request

if I can't help you out myself.

Miss Sang, you do have a great sense of self-awareness.

With an identity like mine,

I'll be beyond redemption

if I don't have any self-awareness.

Who's the owner of Moon Embracing Pavilion?

I don't know. I've never seen the owner

ever since I joined Moon Embracing Pavilion.

Let me ask you another question, then.

Have you seen a pair of mother and son in Moon Embracing Pavilion?

The child is around six to seven years old.

I have not.

Lord Fan, I assume the people you're looking for

didn't join Moon Embracing Pavilion of their own accords.

No. They were abducted to this place.

We've never seen anyone

whom they've abducted here.

If there's a pair of mother and son here,

I assume they would be locked up in the same place as the rest.

Where is it, then?

No one ever told us that before.

We don't even know

who's their latest victim.

A few days ago, one of the girls was harshly beaten.

She ran to the front yard and bumped into me.

If the pair of mother and son were abducted to this place,

I think she might've seen them before.

What's her name?

I don't know.

I think her surname is Jin. That's all I know.

Her father sells vegetables for a living.

Miss Sang Wen,

time to go.

Got it.

I'll be there after changing my outfit.

Wait.

You haven't told me about your request.

Was my info useful?

Very.

I wish to leave Moon Embracing Pavilion.

It's dangerous for you to follow me now.

However, it's not that I can't bring you with me.

But not now.

I can never escape from this identity

as long as my indenture is still here.

If so, I'll buy out your indenture.

Lord Fan, I dare not ask you to waste your money.

I have enough to buy out my indenture.

I just wish for a chance at redemption.

You can't buy it out even though you have the money?

I was forced to sign the indenture through violent means.

They're forcing ladies to become courtesans now?

The owner of Moon Embracing Pavilion is quite influential, huh?

Don't tell people that you've seen me.

Wait for me to rescue you.

I'm in no rush.

Lord Fan, we can talk about it once you've been revived.

Your Highness,

the name list of all individuals

who attended the memorial service

is here.

Fan Xian never showed himself.

Were there any movements in Wang Qi Nian's residence?

Not really.

I've also planted our men

at all corners.

We only saw his wife and daughter.

He was nowhere to be seen.

Could it be

that Fan Xian hasn't reached the capital yet?

- Should we wait a little longer? - We have no time.

Lord Fan's death is known to all now.

If he returns to the convoy now, it'll be difficult to catch him.

But he's not showing himself.

Wu Jiu,

do you know

what's the most touching moment in the world?

To pass the imperial examination.

It's reuniting with one's family.

Do you know what's the prerequisite?

You have to have a family first.

You have to be separated first

before you can be reunited.

Wu Jiu, invite Wang Qi Nian's wife and daughter here.

I wish to witness their touching reunion.

Yes, Your Highness.

I'm waiting for that touching moment.

Lord Fan, I've already inquired about it.

This is the street.

Later, Moon Embracing Pavilion's purchasing caravan

will pass by this road.

Remember,

there are two vegetable baskets on the last cart.

They aren't packed with vegetables.

You can hide in it.

- Are you sure about that? - Yes.

They're here.

Lord Fan,

do you have any spare changes?

Look at all the silver taels!

It's mine!

There are silver taels over there!

Go away! Don't steal my money!

This is mine!

To the west of the old fort,

as the story goes,

at Chibi, Zhou Yu of the Three Kingdoms

summoned stones to pierce the sky,

waves to crash against the shore,

and snow drifts.

Excellent!

Get inside.

Hurry up.

Mind my goods.

Go inside. Over there.

Go inside. Be careful.

Liu,

inspect all these carts thoroughly later.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

Captain, take care.

(Old Man Jin, Vegetable Seller)

I met you before.

I don't know who you are.

You were on the stage before this, no?

Everyone, please give me another chance!

Please give me another chance!

Please give me another chance!

Please give me another chance!

Do you wish to go inside that badly?

It's more important than my life.

You're not young.

You should mind your health.

It doesn't matter.

I'm fine with anything that happens to me

as long as I can see my daughter.

Your daughter is in Moon Embracing Pavilion?

But why?

Because of 500 taels.

Did you sell your daughter away?

I would never do that no matter how much of a scum I am.

My daughter did it to pay for the vegetable money.

She sold herself away.

Vegetable money? How on earth could someone spend 500 taels on vegetables?

It's the debt I incurred from selling vegetables.

Eunuch Dai, who's in charge of purchasing vegetables, buys from me.

Wait.

Are you a vegetable seller?

- Is your surname Jin? - How did you know?

- Leave it over here. - Hurry.

Mind the goods.

I'll get a chicken.

As you were saying, you delivered vegetables to the palace, right?

That's great. You'll have business no matter the season.

However, Eunuch Dai charges us extra as a sign of respect.

We have to pay him on every festive occasion.

On his last birthday,

I had no money.

Eunuch Dai held a grudge against me.

After that, he kept complaining that my vegetables weren't fresh.

If so, wouldn't it be fine if you just stopped selling them to him?

If only that was the case.

If they're not fresh, he'll penalize you.

He'll say that you're disrespecting the imperial family.

He penalized me every day. I had to owe him money.

In the end, my debt became 500 taels.

That's why my daughter did such a silly thing.

If so, can't you just stop delivering vegetables to the palace?

If you stop, that means you're deceiving His Majesty.

You'll still be executed for that.

So, no one dares to file a complaint against Eunuch Dai?

I'm just a vegetable seller.

How can I file a complaint against him?

By using the law.

Eunuch Dai is the law.

When my daughter sold herself away,

I didn't even get the banknotes.

Moon Embracing Pavilion gave Eunuch Dai the money immediately.

They said it canceled out my debt.

Seems like Eunuch Dai is quite close to Moon Embracing Pavilion.

Who knows? All of them are influential figures.

Since then,

I always wanted to go inside and visit my child.

I wanted to tell her

that I'm saving up money

and that I'll definitely get her out of there.

Open the back door. Let the caravan pass through.

Check the backyard and see if you guys missed out on anything.

- I'll help you out. - Hurry!

Lord Fan.

This is all of my private stash.

Please take them.

- I can't just... - Please take them.

But...

You don't need to kneel.

You see, I'm using you too.

I'm not helping you out.

I can't go inside even if I have the money.

You need an invitation before you can go inside.

Hurry! Don't fall behind!

Hurry up!

Hurry up!

I'll deal with that for you.

It's said that suddenly Jibei is recaptured;

Weeds and trees in spring grow unkempt in town.

Flowers in this dark time bring me tears and pains.

Birds chirp sad partings...

Hey, that's the wrong poem.

We're going home accompanied by the green spring.

For three months, war breaks out time and again;

- Letters from home... - Why are you cheating?

That's nonsense!

Just get off the stage!

Lord Fan.

Your name lives eternally!

Why is this old man here again?

What is he up to this time?

He shows great momentum.

- He looks like he's doing something. - Yeah.

That was quick.

It does resemble his handwriting!

It does!

It resembles his handwriting!

Excellent!

Excellent!

Excellent!

He won all votes.

He shall receive an invitation.

Next.

Get on stage and show us how you mourn for him.

"Say Farewell to My Friend Dong."

A thousand miles...

A thousand miles...

Next. Get on stage and show us how you mourn for him.

(Moon Embracing Pavilion)

(Moon Embracing Pavilion)

Please head inside.

Lord Fan,

he's truly fortunate to encounter you.

Eunuch Dai, the person in charge of replenishing the palace's vegetables,

have you heard of him before?

I've only heard of Eunuch Dai of the Vegetable Inspection Office.

I have to go and see him later.

I have to find out what the law looks like.

Lord Fan, if you wish to climb up the ranks,

you have to learn to be as humble as the dust in the light.

You have to learn how to keep one eye closed.

How could such a person

be known as the light?

No matter if that's true or not, he does work in the palace after all.

Are affairs like Mr. Jin's actually common?

They're common folks, you know?

They're already used to it long ago.

Mom, I'm not sleepy. I don't want to take a nap.

You can have dinner again when you wake up.

Do we have meat tonight?

You can't just take meat all the time.

I did take rice too.

Yeah. Go to sleep.

Mother,

why did Father and Uncle Fan leave from the well?

Don't tell anyone about your father and Uncle Fan, okay?

I know that. Mother, don't worry.

When I was playing with San Ya and the rest,

I told them Father was dead.

You didn't need to go that far.

Is Father back?

He doesn't need to knock on the door when he comes back.

Hide under the bed.

- My Lord. - Guys, please return.

Please come back earlier tomorrow.

Please go back. We have another session tomorrow.

Guys, please go back.

That's all for today. We have another session tomorrow.

- Please go home. - Please go back.

Guys, please go home.

Please go back. Come back earlier tomorrow.

Guys,

that's all for today.

We'll continue the mourning tomorrow.

Go now.

Clean up that area.

Okay.

He's out.

How did it go?

Regarding your request,

I already asked my daughter about it.

She said she already saw all the newcomers who were locked up.

None of them had a son.

Don't worry.

The person you're looking for,

she's not in the Moon Embracing Pavilion.

If so, that means we ran out of leads.

Benefactor,

you may give it a try tomorrow.

What do you mean?

My daughter said

that they're lecturing the newcomers.

They said that the master would be coming tomorrow morning.

The owner of Moon Embracing Pavilion, huh?

He's a mysterious figure.

No one knows who he is.

Benefactor, you have money.

If you meet the master,

you can inquire about it from him.

What about your daughter? Why didn't she leave with you?

They said

500 taels

was only enough for four hours.

They told me to spend time

with my daughter with that amount...

How much were they asking for?

10,000 taels.

I can never gather 10,000 taels in this lifetime!

And, your 500 taels,

I failed to take them back too.

Not only did I fail to save my daughter,

but I also wasted your 500 taels.

I'm so useless!

Don't do this!

- I'm sorry! - Don't do this!

You've already done me a huge favor.

You don't need to return the 500 taels to me.

Regarding the 10,000 taels, I'll do something about it too.

Don't worry.

I'll go and sell my vegetables

so that I can repay your debt.

If only I can survive!

My Lord!

Don't go there!

- Get out of the way! - My Lord, come!

Collect his corpse and report it to the authorities. It's an accident.

We'll pay however much we have to.

If you rush outside,

you'll only alert them to your presence, My Lord!

- Clean the floor. - Stop looking!

This concerns an innocent life.

How could a brothel do such a thing...

The owner of the brothel is the culprit here.

All of you, leave. Stop looking.

Go back.

He went in alive.

But he died when he came outside.

Do you think there's any other possibility?

But we weren't inside

just now.

I'll definitely come here tomorrow.

I want to see

who the master of Moon Embracing Pavilion is.

(Moon Embracing Pavilion)

What's with the heavy blow?

The old man started it first.

We had no choice.

We had to defend ourselves.

Where's his daughter?

We're keeping an eye on her.

We don't want her to take her life.

Have you washed the blood away?

Yes, ma'am.

The road is as good as new.

- We cleaned the interior and exterior thoroughly - Your waist.

As per your instructions.

We treat people sincerely and touch them with our intentions.

Does he have any other family members?

No. He only has one daughter. She's here with us.

Deliver some money to her.

Tell our men to look after her and console her.

Console her more.

Now that her father is gone, I'm sure she's disheartened.

But it also makes things easier for her, don't you think?

Keep your butt straight.

Is your hand a chicken foot?

Tell that girl

we'll hold a funeral for her father.

Tell her to work hard

and become a top courtesan in the future.

At least the old man will be happy

when he sees his daughter sweeping her tomb in the future.

Madam Yuan, you're too kind.

Again.

Where are your waists?

Raise your chest.

Beautiful.

My Lord,

according to what Mr. Jin said,

Eunuch Dai of the Vegetable Inspection Office

is a jackal from the same lair as them.

But don't worry.

We can investigate him

once you've been revived.

What's the matter?

Dear?

I searched the entire place. There's no one here.

Could it be that she's visiting her relatives?

No way.

My wife knew that your return to the capital was a secret.

Ba Ba!

It's just like what happened to the Teng family.

They're gone.

It must be Moon Embracing Pavilion!

My Lord!

It's pointless for you to go there now!

Their lives

are much more important than mine!

- Calm down. Listen to me first. - What did you say?

Didn't I tell you that we had to leave

as soon as possible?

If not, my wife and my daughter would be in danger.

Great.

Second Prince already captured them.

How could I calm down at such a moment?

This morning, we saw them killing an old man

right in front of our eyes!

The world is bright and peaceful.

All is well.

Qi Nian, I'll go now.

My Lord, take care.

Keep an eye on the affairs outside.

Yes, My Lord.

Don't worry. I can definitely rescue them.

My Lord, I trust you.

Fan Wu Jiu.

Your Highness.

You're actually reading every day?

You never resorted to this before.

The spring examination is nearing.

I have to prepare myself.

What? Do you plan to participate in it?

All intellectuals

want to pass the imperial examination.

Intellectuals, huh?

Why are you carrying a sword with you, then?

I had no choice but to practice martial arts.

Actually, I was an intellectual

since young.

That's great.

That's excellent.

At least you can devise strategies for me.

Come, intellectual. Tell me something.

Why did Wang Qi Nian's wife and daughter

vanish all of a sudden?

Your Highness,

I was perplexed by it too.

Yesterday, I saw them entering

the Wang Residence myself.

But guess what happened

when I rushed inside?

They vanished.

Didn't they leave behind any traces?

I searched the entire place.

But I found no traces of them.

I feel scared now that I'm thinking about it.

It was as if I was dealing with spirits.

Could it be that Wang Qi Nian returned to the capital with Fan Xian

and moved them elsewhere?

After hearing that from you,

everything does make sense.

You fool.

Your Highness, Wang Qi Nian seeks an audience.

Who?

- Did you say Wang Qi Nian? - Yes, Your Highness.

- Is he alone? - That's right.

Interesting.

- Let him in. - Yes, Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I'm Wang Qi Nian.

Where did you get this pear from?

I bought it.

Do you want some fruits?

Fan Xian

faked his death in the convoy.

Now, he's in the capital.

Really?

Great.

He actually managed to dupe me.

After returning to the capital,

he's been trying to locate

the whereabouts of Teng Zi Jin's wife and son.

Now,

he has already set his sights on Moon Embracing Pavilion.

What kind of place is Moon Embracing Pavilion?

It's a brothel.

What has Moon Embracing Pavilion got to do with them?

That's not important.

Fan Xian found out

that the master of Moon Embracing Pavilion

was heading there today.

That's why he infiltrated the building.

Your Highness, if you head there right now,

you can expose his fake death to the world

and corner him.

Aren't you Fan Xian's trusted aide?

Lord Fan

did treat me

like a great friend.

I'm hugely indebted to him.

Why are you betraying him, then?

Your Highness, I only hope

that you can release my wife and daughter

after the deed is done.

So, you're doing it for your family.

In my heart,

my wife and daughter are above all else.

Can I trust you?

Okay.

I promise you this.

You can take any of my men

as long as

we can trap Lord Fan today.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Wu Jiu, we shall head to Moon Embracing Pavilion together.

Yes, Your Highness.

Follow me.

Where are my shoes?

Where are my shoes?

Your Highness.

You do live up to your name as Fan Xian's trusted aide.

You forsook darkness for light.

Fan Xian won't let you off.

I have no choice.

Get up.

Get up!

You have a choice now.

Fan Xian's crime of deceiving His Majesty

will be confirmed as long as we capture him today.

By then, you can join me.

I'll pay you as much as him.

Thank you, Your Highness.

If that's the case,

why don't we flip the table entirely?

Follow me to Moon Embracing Pavilion.

Your Highness, I'll follow your will.

Not bad at all.

Master doesn't come here often.

This is a rare chance for you all.

Show him everything you learned.

If he does take a liking to you,

it'll be a chance for you to ascend to the top.

However, I'll say this first.

If anyone commits a mistake

or gets into trouble,

I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

Ladies,

do your best.

Miss Sang,

you better sing well later.

You mustn't sing gloomy songs.

Miss Meng, please don't worry.

I dare not do so.

You must smile more often.

That's the smile I want. It's great.

Ladies, you all must think about

how to serve him wholeheartedly.

The brothel depends on you all now.

Mr. Wang,

be my chauffeur.

Your Highness!

Your Highness,

please spare Lord Fan!

Why are you pleading for him now?

I would never betray Lord Fan

if it weren't for the fact that I had to save my family.

Don't worry. I'm not doing all of these so that I can kill him.

Harmony benefits both sides after all.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Your Highness, to be honest,

I'm pretty good at riding carriages.

(Moon Embracing Pavilion)

We've cleared both the front and back end of the street.

Please don't worry.

Here he comes.

Master, greetings.

Don't make any mistakes later.

I'm sure you guys saw how the newcomers

were whipped.

Yes.

It'll be terrible if the master

hears their wails.

That won't happen.

They're locked away in the backyard.

Someone is keeping an eye on them. They don't dare to make a sound.

How would you know?

I was chased away by the guards when I passed by the backyard.

I saw them back then.

I think they were all sold to the brothel.

Why would a brother need this many newcomers?

It's either they were duped into joining it

or they were abducted here.

If not, why would they cry every day?

Say, who exactly is this master?

He's so cruel.

Stop spouting nonsense.

Our survival is more important.

Ladies, the master is here.

Over here, please.

- Master. - Master, you're here.

- Please. - Why should I sit here?

- Try some grapes. - I...

- Try mine. - Try mine after this.

- Enough. - Try this.

Give it a try.

- Give it a try. - That's enough!

What are you guys doing?

How can I have lunch if I eat all of these?

I'll check the accounts first.

Master, the ledger is ready.

Why don't you check it after our banquet?

Where's the banquet?

Is it this?

It's not ready yet, right?

I'll check the accounts first.

Where are they?

Right now?

(Fan Si Zhe, Fan Jian's Second Son)

Why are you still standing there?

Why aren't you guys leaving?

You're blocking my light.

- You don't want any of them? - Can they check the accounts?

Or do they have numbers on their faces?

You don't want any songs?

What about a dance?

Am I here to check the accounts? Or am I here to see them?

Make them leave. Okay?

What's with all these expenditures?

What are you doing?

Why are you still here?

I have to keep you company.

Keep me company? But why?

I'm here to chat with you.

- About what? - It's up to you.

Don't try to pull this trick on me.

I know what you're up to.

I'm checking the accounts here.

And, you're here to distract me.

I'm sure something's wrong with the accounts.

You're accusing me here.

If not, you should leave, then.

Go and rush the kitchen. I'm starving.

I'm worried that you might be lonely.

Look at all the ledgers that are waiting for me. Why would I be lonely?

I'm the happiest man in the world now.

Isn't it boring checking the accounts alone?

What did you say?

You made me angry.

Is there anything more interesting than checking the accounts?

Get out. I don't want you here.

How did I make him angry?

You thought you did a good job?

Go.

Find me if you need anything.

I'll be fine.

Go now.

How dare she badmouth the ledgers?

She's so annoying.

Fan Si Zhe.

Fan Xian?

I knew you were still alive!

Everyone said that you were dead.

Why does it feel like it's been a few years since I saw you?

Lower your volume.

Didn't you go to Northern Qi as a diplomat?

Why are you back before the convoy?

Did you get in trouble?

Are you the master of Moon Embracing Pavilion?