Original subtitles

(Joy of Life Season 2)

(Episode 9)

Didn't he want to promote clean governance

and prohibit bribery?

But he still accepted it in the end.

Can you say that here?

Shut up.

They are cleaning the streets!

- They are cleaning the streets! - Let's go.

Hurry!

Your Highness.

Fan Xian is accepting a bribe in public.

Indeed.

Isn't he willingly let you hold power over him?

If Your Highness uses this opportunity to make a complaint,

he might be chased away.

Ignore it.

Are you not going to complain?

He took money from the Vegetable Inspection Office.

Why did he call me as well?

Your Highness, are you saying

that he did it purposely?

Has he surrendered

and wants to swear loyalty to you?

That's true for other people.

But since this is Fan Xian,

I really don't know

what he is trying to do.

Not knowing

is where the fun is.

(Gear)

Your Majesty, a few censors from the Censorate

made a joint complaint about Lord Fan, Fan Xian.

- On what crimes? - They are complaining Lord Fan of fraud,

taking bribes,

and being arrogant.

Give this to the Ministry of Construction.

Wait.

Give this booklet to Fan Xian.

Do you need Lord Fan's reply?

No.

Show it to him.

Yes, Your Majesty.

A complaint?

(Fan Residence)

(Chief Inspector of the Overwatch Council, Fan Xian,)

(accepted 3,000 taels of silver in public)

(and disregarded the law.)

(He carried out a daring act of)

(accepting money in public.)

(He disregarded the Qing Kingdom's law and was detrimental to the kingdom.)

(We are against him)

(and swear to get rid of him for the sake of the kingdom!)

"Domineering

and arrogant."

I'm really a jerk.

I've read it. You've worked hard, Eunuch Hou.

Not at all. It's what I should do.

I'll be going back first.

Come here. Send Eunuch Hou off.

Lord Fan,

forgive me for asking one more thing.

How do you plan to deal with this?

- Did His Majesty ask you to ask me that? - No.

I'm just curious.

Normally, how should I deal with it?

The officials and censors have made complaints.

This is serious.

No matter what, you need to

write a booklet to defend yourself, Lord Fan.

Later, you'll need to wait for His Majesty's judgment.

What if I don't reply to it?

That's not right.

The Censorate has made a complaint.

If you don't reply,

it's as if you are slapping the censors' mouths.

Not giving a reply is to slap their mouths?

I don't think that's enough.

Lord Fan,

I misspoke.

You mustn't act recklessly.

Did you hear?

Fan Xian did not submit his defense booklet

against our complaint.

How absurd!

He is so arrogant

and disregards the law of the Qing Kingdom.

He ignores the complaint.

He is so daring.

Indeed.

Also...

Who are you?

I am Wang Qi Nian.

I'm here on the order of Fan Xian, the Overwatch Council's Chief Inspector,

to send deliver a scroll

to the Censorate.

- What scroll? - For whom?

Those who complain about Lord Fan

can take a look.

Wait.

Read it after I leave.

Who is he?

- Fan Xian sent him here? - Let's read it.

- Fan Xian? - Quick. Open it.

What did he write?

What is this?

Open it.

This...

This is...

The censors of the Censorate made a complaint about Fan Xian?

Exactly.

They are complaining about the 3,000 taels of silver

paid by the Vegetable Inspection Office's Eunuch Dai.

Who led them to do it?

I think they did it themselves.

Fan Xian accepted the money.

It's reasonable for the censors to receive news.

3,000 taels of silver.

It's not something serious.

If Fan Xian submits a self-defense booklet,

the Censorate will let him off.

Fan Xian didn't defend himself.

He sent Wang Qi Nian to the Censorate

to send a scroll to the censors who complain about him.

What did he write?

"All bark and no bite."

Isn't he scolding us?

- How dare he say that? - He's too daring.

He is obviously disregarding us.

Ridiculous!

How presumptuous.

He's arrogant.

- He's too presumptuous! - How arrogant!

- Complain about him! - Yes, complain about him!

- We must complain about him! - Yes! Of course!

Complain! We must make a complaint!

He's calling them dogs.

That's totally trying to offend them.

He's too young and acts recklessly.

He has completely offended the Censorate now.

I don't think this will be over soon.

Your Highness,

why don't we make a complaint as well?

Why are we meddling in this?

It's a good chance to add insult to injury.

We still don't know if it's an injury yet.

We won't join in

and only watch the play unfold.

Are all the censors complaining?

Yes. There were only a few initially

but the Censorate shared the same hatred.

All of them are complaining about Fan Xian and you.

What does it have to do with me?

After all, you were the one who gave the 3,000 taels of silver.

3,000 taels of silver means nothing in the capital.

It's a small matter.

You even called them dogs.

I didn't do that.

From the Censorate's point of view,

Fan Xian and you are on the same side.

I only met him once.

How am I on his side?

They say

there was only one known meeting

but there might be many meetings

that were unreported.

The Censorate said

they already suspected you of colluding with Fan Xian.

They even assumed that he had become your godfather.

Nonsense!

How old am I?

How did he become a godfather?

Eunuch Dai, age is not an issue now.

I...

I'm telling you...

Fan Xian is crazy!

The stubborn people at the Censorate are not afraid of death

but they are afraid of being humiliated.

However, he went and called them dogs.

He called them dogs.

Eunuch Hong,

what should I do now?

Eunuch Dai,

now that it has come to this,

it is none of your business.

How is it none of my business?

They are complaining about me!

What even is this?

You left so early.

You left earlier than me.

I was waiting for you.

Eat. You shouldn't starve in the morning.

The Vegetable Inspection Office issue is blowing up.

What do you want?

The clues of Prince Cheng Ze and Northern Qi's smuggling are gone.

But it's all right.

Someone reminded me

that I'm not facing an issue

but the people instead.

Don't worry. There's no one else here.

What does this have to do with the Vegetable Inspection Office?

Prince Cheng Ze smuggled to get more silver.

Unspent silver is nothing but useless metal.

Where do you think he can spend

the silver he made?

Raising an army in secret.

What else?

Bribing the officials and raising his own lineage.

You used the Vegetable Inspection Office

to investigate corruption.

I can investigate myself if it's within the capital

but Prince Cheng Ze

doesn't only have officials in the capital.

Your Fourth Bureau is better than mine

when it comes to investigating outside the capital.

Sure.

I'll investigate outside the capital.

- You've agreed to help me so easily? - I'm not doing it to help you.

I know.

You do it for the Qing Kingdom.

Do you have any useful men?

Lend them to me.

Do you need more men when you manage the Fourth Bureau?

The leader of the Fourth Bureau is my father, not me.

What's the difference?

I don't want the Overwatch Council to be inherited by a son.

How can I not distinguish public and private matters

when serving loyalty to the kingdom?

Lord Fan. Young Master Yan.

Qi Nian.

Gao Da.

Help Young Master Yan do something recently.

Yes.

I'll obey Young Master Yan's orders.

Gao Da, I remember you belong to the Tiger Guards.

Yes. But from today onward,

our group

will work under Lord Fan.

The Tiger Guards are a part of the imperial army.

They only obey His Majesty.

Yes. He sent me Gao Da when I needed someone.

Sometimes, I'm not sure

what His Majesty is thinking about.

- The emperor's intent is hard to guess. - Indeed.

Are you leaving just like that?

Why aren't you leaving?

You haven't paid.

Do I need to pay for this?

Before you came here,

Lord Fan said

he would reserve the whole place.

I don't know what that means

but I think the filling,

the dough, the firewood, and the water

are all calculated as costs.

Gao Da,

ask the soldiers

to wrap the remaining meat buns.

- Sure. - As for the filling, I'll take it home

and make some meatballs for Ba Ba.

The filling smells nice.

This meat is delicious.

Master,

I heard there have been

more booklets complaining about Fan Xian

from the Censorate recently.

Is it?

You're still not anxious at a time like this?

The censors at the Censorate are scolding your mother.

Not only that.

They are even scolding about ancestors.

Aren't the censors all scholars?

Scholars are human too.

They are rude when they are backed into a corner.

That's a little sarcastic.

What should we do now?

Why not send them some gifts?

There's no use.

The censors of the Censorate care about reputation.

Forget about the "All Bark and No Bite" scroll.

After countless complaints,

the act of Fan Xian not writing a booklet to defend himself

and only enjoying himself

without any regard for the Censorate.

How can the Censorate endure

such a great humiliation?

Are all scholars so petty?

You aren't one of them.

Seriously. Why did you offend them for no reason?

Why don't I enter the palace

and ask Her Majesty

to see if you can have an opportunity to apologize to the Censorate?

No.

You are not Aunt Liu.

Aunt Liu doesn't care about this.

Cut it out.

I'm shocked by how well you treat me.

Si Zhe is...

Si Zhe is fine.

What's the situation?

I had a look. There are no movements to the Northern Qi troops.

I think they only have these men left.

Prepare to attack.

Apart from Fan Si Zhe,

no one must be kept alive.

Remember. We are the imperial army of Northern Qi.

This is not related to the Qing Kingdom.

Weren't you being rational

when you advised Si Zhe to leave the capital?

Why did you become willful all of a sudden?

There are so many booklets of complaint.

You should write a self-defense booklet at least.

You can't them do as they wish.

Enough.

Fan Xian is not Si Zhe.

He knows what to do.

How can you complain about Si Zhe?

Aunt is right.

There should be a reply

to the Censorate's complaint.

How will you do it?

You'll know later.

- There's a lot of meat today. - Yes. It's delicious.

Not bad.

Eat more.

Eat more.

It's so delicious.

Not bad.

- Delicious. - Yes.

Lord Fan.

Lord Fan.

No one gave us the meat.

The First Bureau of the Overwatch Council

bought it with its own money.

It's justifiable.

Do you want some?

No need.

Eat well.

You can only do your job well when you're full.

What?

Yes. What's so great about you?

There's no need to kneel. Stand firm.

Yes.

I haven't been here for days. Is the First Bureau doing well?

Thanks to you, Chief Inspector.

Everything is normal

and in order.

How do they describe me in private?

Naturally...

Naturally, they respect you a lot.

Is it true?

- Yes. - Let me take a guess.

"On his first day at the First Bureau,

he talked big

but he accepted 3,000 taels of silver from Eunuch Dai on that day.

He says one thing and does another. He's shameless when it comes to money."

Is that what they say?

Not at all.

Are you only eating this?

Sorry that you have to see this.

Isn't the First Bureau having meat stew today?

I'm just simply eating

because I have a lot of work to do.

I heard the meat stew was paid

from the official accounts.

Of course. After your admonition,

none of us dare to take any more gifts.

Where did you get the money for the meat then?

Didn't you say it's from the official accounts?

I've seen the accounts.

There's a difference in the last few days.

There are 50 taels more.

So using some silver to buy meat

is a way of thanking the others.

Of course, you know that.

I know.

Where did the extra 50 taels come from?

There are a lot of miscellaneous tasks.

Having 50 taels extra won't hurt.

Back at the Vegetable Inspection Office that day,

how much did Wang Qi Nian

gave you?

Lord Fan,

it was 50 taels of silver.

You recorded the money in the official accounts?

I owed the bureau money

so I returned it.

You owed money?

Is there proof?

I've read your file recently.

Deng Zi Yue,

you've never taken any Yunmeng Fish

sent here by the Vegetable Inspection Office.

Lord Fan, I don't like to eat fish.

You don't like to eat fish and meat, right?

You said you used your own money

when the First Bureau is having meat today.

However, you are eating this yourself.

What?

Do you think this is dirty money?

- I dare not. - Why not?

You've been doing it many times.

The Vegetable Inspection Office

not only sent fish but also various delicacies every day over the years.

Everyone from the bureau got them.

You were the only one who didn't want it.

Besides,

you didn't accept any of the lavish gifts

from various departments in the capital

including agate mahjong tiles and white jade dice.

Deng Zi Yue, you are a man of integrity.

You are amazing!

But I don't get it.

Since you are a man of integrity,

why didn't you report it?

I know my crime!

Don't be in a rush to kneel.

Am I accusing you?

I'm asking you why didn't you report it!

Lord Fan,

relationships are important in politics.

There's no need to offend people. Right?

Is that so?

This is how you behave now.

This wasn't how Deng Zi Yue behaved in the past.

Back then, Deng Zi Yue was generous.

You scolded anyone from the bureau

who lied and gained profit

including your direct superior.

I'm ashamed.

I was foolish back then.

When did you stop scolding

and start kneeling?

Lord Fan, I...

I didn't know how the world works

and acted arrogantly.

I know better now.

What do you know?

I know...

I know I shouldn't work alone as an official.

I must blend in with the others.

Blend in with the others?

Then, you should take the fish!

If you blend in with the others,

why can't you afford to wear a shirt?

Deng Zi Yue.

You were born in Dingzhou to a poor family.

You used to raise horses with the frontier troops.

The deputy general of the frontier troops faked the accounts

and embezzled silver with the excuse of buying fodder.

It was you

who fought your way out after being surrounded

and sent evidence of the crime to the Overwatch Council.

The president permitted you to join the council because you were upright.

Am I wrong?

I didn't expect you to investigate that.

You came from a poor background and swore to uphold your dignity

even if you had no money when you were young.

Back in Dingzhou,

you rushed into the Overwatch Council covered in blood

and asked to uphold the law of the kingdom.

Do you still remember that?

Lord Fan,

I still remember.

Right now,

do you think you were foolish back then?

The world is unjust.

I attracted fury with my blood.

I was foolish so be it, Lord Fan.

You were foolish so be it?

Deng Zi Yue,

what made you turn into this?

You bow down

and you kneel.

I wonder if you would cry back then

if you knew what Deng Zi Yue has become now.

Lord Fan,

being an official is all about relationships. Right?

I know.

You had an opportunity to be promoted to deputy supervisor

but your righteous words kept getting you demoted.

In the end, you were demoted

into a lowly accountant.

You've conceded

after so many years.

Yes. I've conceded.

Then, you should've conceded completely,

Deng Zi Yue!

Didn't you say you were blending in?

You are already doing this

so why is there a need to report 50 taels of silver?

Why can't you accept the gifts sent to the bureau?

In that case,

why are you still upholding the law?

Are you trying to save a little dignity for yourself

or do you want others to praise your integrity?

I'm asking you!

Lord Fan.

Lord Fan.

Look at me.

I no longer have any integrity.

I, Deng Zi Yue,

am only protecting myself.

Protecting myself is good enough.

We are the same.

To be honest,

I also want to protect myself.

If I'm unhappy with something, I can't endure it.

I must take revenge on those who go against me.

With my temper, how did I achieve

my current position?

It's because

your huge ambition is unparalleled.

It's not related.

That means

your literary talent is astonishing.

That's far-fetched.

Lord Fan,

I don't know.

Because I have someone to protect me.

With my temper,

I can't live more than three days in the capital

without someone to protect me.

Right?

To become a good person,

you first need someone to support you.

Deng Zi Yue,

do you have one?

- I don't. - You do now.

From now on,

I will be your support.

Try to find your past self.

Try to raise your bottom line.

Don't be afraid of causing trouble.

I will protect you.

- Lord Fan. - I know you can't fully trust me now.

There's no rush.

We don't believe in what others say

but what others do.

Come. Get to work.

Lord Fan, what work?

Help me write a self-defense booklet.

Send it with the First Bureau's name.

Lord Fan,

I shouldn't write it.

I'm bad at handwriting.

Yes.

There's no need to make more ink. Just write.

Lord Fan, this much ink is only enough for a few words.

It's enough.

(Self-defense Booklet of Fan Xian)

- Fan Xian's self-defense booklet is sent to the palace? - Yes.

I think he can't stand it anymore.

It's already too late.

The censors are all agitated.

No matter how wonderful he wrote,

they might not be able to forgive him.

It's not wonderful.

There are only eight words.

What are they?

Self-Defense Booklet of Fan Xian?

"Treacherous officials are running rampant.

What crimes do I have?"

"Treacherous officials are running rampant.

What crimes do I have?"

Since the establishment of the Qing Kingdom,

there has never been a self-defense booklet like this.

Not just the Qing Kingdom.

This should be the first one in history.

I thought "All Bark and No Bite" was the ultimate humiliation.

I was wrong.

This booklet

is the pinnacle.

However, isn't it more evil

to call them dogs?

Your Highness.

Calling them dogs

might make them angry

but they are just words of scolding.

The censors care about reputation.

Calling them treacherous officials

is destroying the foundation of the Censorate.

(Censorate of Qing Kingdom)

This is too much!

The handwriting is good.

Did he write it?

I think the First Bureau of the Overwatch Council wrote it.

I was wondering.

Poetic Genius,

how embarrassing.

The Censorate.

Fan Xian.

Both of them won't give in.

Let them confront each other in the hall then.

At the audience tomorrow,

Fan Xian and the censors will confront each other.

The edict has been issued.

Interesting.

I must watch it tomorrow myself.

Speaking of which,

Fan Xian has never stepped foot in the hall since he entered the capital.

Tomorrow will be his first.

A duel during his first time at the hall.

His future is bright.

Perhaps the censors will beat him.

That's hard to say.

We'll just watch and enjoy the duel.

Naturally.

- Bi An. - Yes.

Prepare the scroll for the Moon Embracing Pavilion.

I'll bring it to the hall tomorrow.

Your Highness, are you trying to help the Censorate defeat Fan Xian?

It's not wrong to be prepared.

He has been sweeping for a long time.

He is calming himself.

It's Fan Xian's first morning audience tomorrow.

If he causes a big fuss,

you must take care of him.

I manage the Ministry of Revenue.

I shouldn't meddle in his dispute against the Censorate.

Why do you care?

You are both from the Fan family.

There are so many people in the Censorate but Fan Xian is alone.

How can he fight them?

You don't understand.

I shouldn't speak tomorrow.

Otherwise, it'll be disadvantageous to him.

Whether Si Zhe can come back depends on Fan Xian.

Nothing must happen to him.

Don't worry.

If his life is in danger,

I'll risk my life to protect him.

You are really nice to Fan Xian.

I'm also treating Si Zhe the same.

You should treat your own life better as well.

Are you going to keep standing on top

if I don't see you?

Why didn't you ask your subordinate to do this?

I have limbs. I don't want to trouble other people.

President Chen wants me to tell you

that the result of Yan Bing Yun's investigation

is already in his hands.

Lord Fan, you may go to the audience with peace of mind.

Thank Bing Yun for me.

Lord Fan,

has Wu Zhu returned to the capital?

Is this a question from President Chen too?

I'm the one who wants to know.

I don't know.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, why are you standing here?

I'm waiting for you.

You're here to laugh at me.

Why are you doing this?

I don't understand.

Do you know why no one is opposing the censors?

You gain nothing if you win against these literary officials,

but if you lose, it'll be eternal doom for you.

Why do you need to lower yourself to their level?

Perhaps we might make up and become friends later.

If that happens, you can use my head as a ball.

Your Highness, there's no need for that.

Just be careful later.

Take a step back if you can't do it.

I'll plead for you.

There's no need. However,

I do want to request for your help.

Tell me about it.

I'm sure you know

that this is my first audience.

I know nothing about the customs and rules.

I need someone to teach me.

Lord Xin, I was looking for you.

Is that so?

Lord Xin.

I must talk to you about this.

Xin Qi Wu!

Come here.

Your Highness.

Lord Fan.

What was wrong with me?

Why didn't I see both of you?

Accompany Fan Xian to the audience.

If he doesn't know about the customs, teach him.

Of course.

Of course.

Then,

take good care of yourself.

Lord Xin!

- Lord Fan. - Why didn't you ask me out for a drink?

I'm busy with official matters.

Lord Xin, you've worked hard.

If it's too exhausting,

you can claim to be sick and take a few days off.

You are right.

However, it's too late.

His Highness left.

Why do they keep staring at us?

They are the censors from the Censorate.

I see.

Why do they keep staring at you?

Do you have a grudge against them?

There are two more of them.

Lord Fan,

let me tell you honestly.

Right now, anyone who stands with you

will have a grudge against them

which is irreconcilable.

Don't worry, Lord Xin.

You just need to watch

what happens in the hall later.

Don't speak for me.

Control yourself.

I'll do my best.

Well,

Lord Fan.

Allow me to say something.

The anger inside

the censors of the Censorate...

Must be blown up.

What?

Nothing. Continue.

They will never forgive you.

So, you must

take them on with caution.

What a coincidence.

What?

I never plan to forgive them as well.

Lord Xin, tell me.

How many people came here today

just to watch the show unfold?

I'm afraid all of them are.

What if the ones who came to watch the show

become a part of the show themselves?

Let's go.

Lord Fan.

What are you going to do?

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning!

Lord Fan.

His Majesty is not here yet. Do you see this?

Do you see this place?

This is where the literary officials stand.

Later, you will stand over there.

Stand over there.

As for me,

I'll stand over there.

I'll head over there first.

His Majesty is not here yet.

- Let's talk. - What's there to talk about?

What did you eat this morning?

The meat patty in the West Market is not bad.

I don't think this is the largest hall.

His Majesty needs to judge this.

Indeed.

His Majesty said the Main Hall is too huge.

It can't be filled and speeches cannot be heard clearly

so he moved the morning audience here.

I see.

Then, I'll head over there first.

What's this?

A seat granted by His Majesty.

Even the crown prince is standing. Who is he?

The chief councilor, Qin Ye.