Original subtitles

♪As flowers bloom and wither♪

♪May we pass by the magnificent scenery♪

♪Contemplate the vastness of Heaven and Earth♪

♪Could it be that both of us are filled with desolation?♪

♪As flowers bloom and wither♪

♪May we lead such a life♪

♪Contemplate the vastness of Heaven and Earth♪

♪Turning back, you and I♪

♪Seize the current moment♪

♪The sky is painted with a gentle pallet of pastel colors♪

♪Let's walk together♪

♪Even if♪

♪The snow in front of us♪

♪Will dye our hair white♪

♪In an instant♪

[The Joy of Life Season 2]

[Adapted from Mao Ni's Joy of Life on Yuewen Group's Qidian platform]

[Episode 4]

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 diplomatic corps?

Did you get in trouble?

Are you the owner of Baoyue Pleasure House?

You can tell?

I should've focused on the ledger.

Stand right there.

Look at me.

Let me ask you this one more time.

Is the Baoyue Pleasure House your property?

No need to grind your teeth.

It's no use, even if you are envious.

Even brothers should keep it strictly business.

Let me put it this way, Xian.

In this place,

every brick and every blade of grass

is mine.

The Baoyue Pleasure House is

the property of the Fan family.

Why did you establish this?

I want to make money. What else can it be?

Look at yourself.

You are the fine one to talk.

Our bookstore was doing well.

But you left it behind for the Northern Qi.

How did you say the word again?

Updates.

You stopped updating.

Readers were demanding updates.

What was I supposed to do?

"Red Mansion" was left unfinished.

Do our family know about this?

They don't.

I'm preparing this

as a surprise for them.

So this is all your idea?

No one forced you?

What's wrong with you?

Making money is a good thing.

Why must anyone force me to do this?

Why don't you tell me about you?

I'm curious about

what you have been busy with in the Northern Qi for so long.

I...

Are you insane?

Why are you beating me?

Is there anyone else upstairs?

Strange.

Isn't just Mr. Fan alone upstairs?

What is the noise about?

Every blade of grass, huh?

Every brick, huh?

They are all yours.

All yours.

All yours.

You are dead!

I...

Not this.

Fan Xian.

My father has never beaten me so hard.

How dare you!

Baoyue Pleasure House is yours?

It's mine. Any problem?

Are you jealous?

What about Jin?

What Jin? I don't know him.

Don't you confuse me.

You have been bothering me for a long time.

Who do you think you are?

Believe it or not, I'm going to get someone

to break your legs!

I haven't called anyone yet.

Fan Sizhe.

You can save yourself the trouble.

Let me tell you this.

I snuck back here,

and I'm in huge trouble.

Go and tell everyone

that Fan Xian is here,

and I'm done for.

It's worse than losing my legs.

Probably, I would lose my life.

Don't play the victim with me.

Do you think I dare not call them?

Fine. I will wait here.

You should avenge yourself.

Go on.

Fine...

You are dead meat.

Wait here. Don't move.

Men, hurry!

Come over!

We are here, Mr. Fan.

Someone beat me up.

Who did that?

Come over.

Is everyone here?

Just a few of you?

Where are my 300 warriors?

Gather them here.

Gather them!

What's wrong? Is it about the ledgers?

What's wrong with you?

Mr. Fan,

whose leg you want to break?

It's F...

Who?

What?

Who is it?

Frigging table leg.

Frigging table?

The table?

What table?

I tripped over the table just now.

Tomorrow,

make it into a tea table.

Tea table?

Move.

Uh...

Where are your men?

You said

if I called someone up here,

you would die.

Is that true?

It's true.

So I saved your life.

I will let you slide this time.

Don't get excited just yet.

I'm still mad at you.

Who are you to beat me?

Hey.

What's wrong with you?

Nothing.

I have had an issue with my qi flow lately.

I was very worked up just now,

and it got messed up again.

Why did you get worked up?

I'm sorry about that.

Gosh, why am I even apologizing?

Did you take the Tengs away?

What?

Who?

Teng Zijing's widow.

Where would I take her? To the Baoyue Pleasure House?

Impossible.

I was also tight with Teng.

Why would I do that?

You don't know?

Wait.

Who told you she is here?

Do you have proof?

Someone saw that.

I will check with them.

Come back.

Do you know about the prostitution here?

What nonsense are you talking about?

Don't be ridiculous.

Baoyue Pleasure House is a place of elegance and artistry.

Isn't this a brothel?

You are so infuriating.

Let me make this clear to you.

Do you think the Baoyue Pleasure House is a brothel?

Think about this. There are quite a few established brothels

in the Capital.

This isn't a good venture for us.

Plus, we are new in this industry.

There is no way

we can steal their business.

So we must find another way.

Even if it's true,

if people were to find out

that the Fan family runs a brothel business,

Father would beat me to a pulp.

What about those ladies?

Yes, they work here.

But it's definitely not

what you think.

Don't get the wrong idea.

They are not in the flesh market.

Those ladies I hired

must be

knowledgeable, well-mannered, talented,

and well-versed in the four arts

and literature.

After all, sexual favors lack decency.

My goal

is to make the Baoyue Pleasure House

the only serene haven

in this bustling Capital,

where those scholarly folks

could find their confidante here.

That is the uniqueness

I want.

Do you know anything about the death of Jin?

You kept talking about this Jin.

Who exactly is he?

Did he die here?

My business just started.

He can't affect my business.

Does my competitor do this to ruin me?

I will confront with them!

Hasn't anyone entered Mr. Fan's room?

No.

And he slipped himself?

What's wrong?

I came to check your wound.

Why didn't you come sooner?

I was waiting for a while,

in case I disturb you.

Well, I'm good.

You may leave.

No need to see me off.

Do you need my help?

Yes.

Please tell.

Hold on.

I was thinking about

the fallacy

you talked about.

It does make some sense.

Sitting here and checking the ledgers alone

is quite boring.

You see,

you got smart after the trip.

I'm getting it.

Well,

there was a tall lady

playing the pipa just now.

Is she still here?

Bring her up here

to play songs

for me.

It's good to have a pretty lady by your side.

Just the pipa player?

Do you need the whole band?

No,

just the pipa.

Wait for me.

No need to see me off.

[Baoyue Pleasure House] Don't forget what I told you.

Smile more.

Don't make any mistakes.

Understood?

Whether or not you succeed

depends on your performance today.

No mistakes.

All right.

Let me check.

Pretty good.

Come in.

What are you doing?

We can manage without you.

I will call you

once it's finished.

Am I busted?

You are. Go down.

No need to see me off.

Xian.

Come and sit.

Is it her?

Sang Wen. Miss Sang.

Miss Sang.

May I ask you something?

What kind of place is the Baoyue Pleasure House?

A brothel, of course.

How could it be a brothel?

You are the owner. Don't you know?

Xian, I really don't know.

Yuan Meng operates this place all on her own.

Don't you come here often?

I only come to check the ledgers.

I wouldn't intervene much.

I'm not interested in the entertainment industry.

Let me ask you this, Miss Sang.

Is it true

that there is prostitution here?

They're locked up in the backyard.

Xian, I will get to the bottom of this.

You?

Of course.

I have been deceived.

I'm also the victim.

You are the owner.

How will you extricate yourself from this?

If I can't...

Well, if you two investigate...

Can you two sit closer?

You are tiring me out.

Fan Sizhe,

well done, huh?

Every brick and every blade of grass is yours.

Your property.

No.

Xian.

I admit

I may have

bragged a little just now.

Tell me now.

Where did you hire Yuan Meng from?

Not me.

Aren't you the owner here?

I'm not the only owner.

Who else?

[Li Chengping, Third Prince] Have we been making money lately?

Of course.

I knew it.

How much?

The first owner is checking the ledgers.

Do you want to go inside?

My cousin is here?

Cousin?

The second owner is your cousin?

Our mothers are relatives.

Which family?

The imperial family.

He is from the imperial family.

Concubine Yi and my mother are cousins.

So Her Highness's son

should be my cousin,

right?

Concubine Yi's son?

Third Prince?

He is my cousin.

Well...

Mr. Fan,

I think I should leave.

Where are you going?

I can't hear this anymore.

The more I know, the shorter my life becomes.

Just sit down.

You have heard

everything.

It's too late.

The color of this drape doesn't seem right,

especially the streamer.

What color do you think fits?

Maybe blue.

Sure.

Oh no.

Pink is better.

We will go with pink.

Purple isn't bad either.

Should we change to purple?

Why not have all three colors

and mix them into black?

It seems black at first glance.

When you take a closer look,

you will see blue, pink, and purple.

Change it to iridescent pitch black.

Change the candlestick too.

It doesn't look good.

Change it.

Change it to a sturdier stand.

All right.

With some dainty, delicate sense.

Change it to a thick yet thin candlestick.

Mr. Li,

Mr. Fan is upstairs checking the ledgers.

Do you want to go upstairs?

No hurry.

Operating the Baoyue Pleasure House

isn't about making money.

Most importantly,

we have to make a fortune.

Did you understand what he just said?

Making a living isn't easy nowadays.

You don't understand?

I will start from the beginning.

Actually, he is doing this for his ego.

Ego?

He doesn't care what business he's in,

as long as it's lucrative.

If he can make money,

it proves that he is discerning, capable, and effective.

And his mother

will be proud of him.

Wait.

He runs a brothel

to make his mother proud?

Is he sick in the head?

No, Xian.

Like I said,

my cousin and I

are the victims of this fraud.

We didn't know the Baoyue Pleasure House was involved in that.

Didn't Concubine Yi ask anything?

My cousin wants

to give his mother a surprise just like I do.

Where did he hire Yuan Meng?

Search me.

Why are you fixated on Yuan Meng?

- You are still not getting it? - This one.

These two colors are very similar.

Change the red one

to

purple.

Change it.

Wait.

That one.

Is it him?

All right.

All right.

This.

This isn't right either.

Change it to purple.

No,

that color seems a bit heavy. That won't do.

There is a lot of improvement to make.

I will gather everything and tell you later.

All right.

Is Sizhe upstairs?

Mr. Fan is thorough.

He is checking the ledgers alone.

Checking the ledgers alone?

A pipa player is with him.

Sizhe doesn't like listening to songs.

Let's go and take a look.

Slow down.

Sizhe, I'm coming in.

Come on in.

Aren't you listening to songs?

Why are you playing instead?

Argh, you remind me of that.

How did you teach the players?

I can play better than her.

Go back and practice more.

What did I tell you just now?

How could you mess this up?

Leave right now.

When I was the top courtesan at the Liujing River,

I played the pipa the best.

Get up!

Go down.

Give me a shout if you want to listen to my playing.

Xian, I play that too.

I can sing for you.

Don't mess around.

Where did you hire her?

Who are you?

Is everyone here?

Yes, Your Highness.

[Baoyue Pleasure House]

Are you sure Fan Xian is inside?

Absolutely.

Come in with me.

Your Highness, I...

Don't hesitate.

People who plan an escape

always end up being trapped.

Yes, Your Highness.

Very clever.

Let's go

and enjoy the show.

Did you kill him?

He just fainted.

So easily?

I'm an expert after all.

Well... How's your qi flow?

It recovers after some rest.

How am I going to explain

when he wakes up?

He saw your face.

Answer me. What's wrong?

What are these people doing here?

Why did the Second Prince come here?

He's here for me.

Did he know you were here?

Heads-up.

The entire building has been besieged.

You have no way out.

Don't ever think about escaping through the window or roof.

Open the door and welcome him.

But you can't show your face.

We can't shut a prince out with a mere door, so open the door.

Your Highness.

Young Master.

How have you been?

Wang, why are you here?

So many people here.

What is this?

He was sleepy, so he took a nap.

And this?

A donkey kicked me.

Fan Xian,

long time no see.

It wasn't long.

It was less than

half a year.

But it feels like

two or three years have passed.

The Capital was no fun

without you.

You know what?

On my way to Northern Qi,

Yan Xiaoyi intended to kill me.

Really?

I have been curious about

how he knew about my trip.

I didn't tell anyone

which route I took.

Then how did he find out?

It's simple, actually.

If he knew the route I didn't take,

he could figure out.

The trip to Northern Qi is long,

and there are checkpoints along the way,

which were operated by your men.

If I didn't travel through the Fengming Pass or take a detour,

which route would I choose?

Isn't that a no-brainer?

So

the one who collaborated with the Eldest Princess to kill me

has been you all along.

Fan Xian,

in fact,

you can easily find out about human trafficking

in the Baoyue Pleasure House.

Both of the owners are here.

So is the Immortal Poet, Fan,

who faked his death and returned to the Capital.

Things can't be clearer than it is now.

Yes,

no one would believe me if I said I had nothing to do

with the Baoyue Pleasure House.

In fact, up to this point,

human trafficking is no longer important.

Fan Xian,

you faked your death and deceived the emperor.

This is a solid capital offense.

But

I still have to thank Mr. Wang Qinian.

Without his help,

I wouldn't have met you.

Wang has always been

very helpful.

Wang.

You betrayer!

Your Highness,

now that Mr. Fan is in your hands,

as we agreed,

please return my wife and daughter.

They are not with me.

But you gave me your word.

I told you very clearly.

I offer you anything I have,

but your family isn't with me.

I sent my men to fetch them,

but it was too late.

The house was empty.

Are you sure they are not with you?

Positive.

Don't panic.

Once this is over,

I will help you search for them.

Where could they go?

[Baoyue Pleasure House]

Mr. Fan.

I thought His Highness had seized them.

I understand.

Honestly, I find this rather strange.

Someone took his family away

but didn't make any demands.

Yeah. Unlike you, huh?

You use human lives as leverage.

This doesn't matter.

Up till now,

I'm kind of moved by my kindness.

Even in a situation like this,

I'm still thinking of offering you an olive branch.

If you agree,

I will release the Tengs

and write off

the scores of the Baoyue Pleasure House.

Are you suggesting

that I beg for your forgiveness?

It's the same.

It's natural for human beings to make mistakes.

Let it go. Don't dwell on it.

Let it go?

How?

What about the justice for the victims of human trafficking and prostitution?

Who should be held accountable?

Who?

You.

You brought this harm to them.

I don't give a fig about them.

All I care about is you.

As long as you become my ally,

you can decide their fates, right?

Two options.

Either we reconcile,

or

I will kill you.

Point taken.

I will not reconcile with you.

Li Chengze, we don't belong to the same kind.

We are destined to be enemies!

What a bummer.

This is the Capital Magistrate. Drop your weapon.

Stay still.

Stay still.

No one is moving.

You are already dead.

How did you manage to summon the Capital Magistrate officers here?

No.

You couldn't summon them even if you hadn't died.

Who could it be?

Greetings, Your Highness.

Back to your work.

Rise.

Chengze, you are here too.

Greetings, Your Highness.

We are brothers. Drop the formalities.

Shall we

talk?

Rise.

Your Highness.

What's wrong with him?

He was tired. He's taking a nap.

Sleeping like that?

He is a growing boy, so he sleeps a lot.

I used to be like this when I was young.

I understand.

Understand, my foot.

What happened to your face?

A donkey kicked him.

You do know everything, Chengze.

What brings you a place this like, Your Highness?

I was free.

I saw the magistrate officers had a case, so I followed them.

What case?

The Baoyue Pleasure House.

Human trafficking is a serious crime.

I must come and take a look.

I didn't expect to run into you here.

Why don't you come again tomorrow?

You better think twice.

Think what?

How?

Fan Xian deceived the emperor,

which is a capital offense.

Do you want to defend him?

Isn't he already dead?

Then who is this guy?

Chengze, don't scare me.

No one is in front of me.

Think about the repercussions.

You will face the same charge for defending a capital offender.

Lately,

I have been tired.

I can't see or listen.

Why would I face charges?

If this gets out of hand,

do you think you can protect him?

I don't know.

Let's try.

The Capital Magistrate is on duty.

Anyone who obstructs will be executed as a traitor.

Haven't you considered

how this will end?

I have never thought about it.

Why don't you think about it?

Pardon me for asking,

how did you know

I would come here today?

Wang Qinian?

Your... Your Highness.

If someone has to be blamed,

it must be Mr. Fan.

I'm kind in nature.

Did Fan Xian go to the Baoyue Pleasure House?

Yes.

Are you going to Chengze's residence later?

Mr. Fan said

as long as you seize the right timing,

you could corner him in the Baoyue Pleasure House.

Fan Xian is using himself as the bait?

Hopefully, you enjoy fishing.

A trap within another trap?

I was outfoxed.

It's all because

of the devious Mr. Fan.

I had no choice.

If I did seize your wife and daughter,

I would've handed them over to you earlier.

Luckily,

they aren't in your hands.

It's safer.

What a trick you used to get my answer.

What a huge web you cast.

You flattered me.

Wang Qinian.

You are a natural at fraud.

You managed to fool me.

Are you a habitual fraud?

Not at all.

I always keep on the straight and narrow.

I was affected

by Mr. Fan.

Chengze.

They have drawn their swords.

Why are you chatting?

Did they draw their swords?

No? Well, let's sit and chat a little.

You said we are brothers.

Plus, you are the Crown Prince.

If I pull out a sword in your presence, isn't that treason?

Just consider that a joke.

Because we are brothers,

you have to heed my advice.

You shouldn't have come to the Baoyue Pleasure House.

People might gossip

if they see you here.

The owner here

is the Fan family.

But the second owner

is this young brother of yours.

He is also your young brother.

Chengze, you are mistaken.

The crown prince isn't considered among the princes.

He is younger than me.

He's our third brother.

So no one will hold me accountable

for what he has done.

Why? Are you going to run me in today?

Don't say that.

You are my brother.

After I step out of this room,

I won't mention a word.

How should I repay you?

Release the Tengs.

I thought Fan Xian wasn't here.

That was my inner voice.

To be honest,

I wouldn't care if things got out of control.

The Baoyue Pleasure House

has nothing to do with me after all.

I won't be bothered even if people gossip.

The Baoyue Pleasure House has nothing to do with you?

My conscience is clear.

Are you sure?

Very sure.

Shall we continue this conversation somewhere else?

Sure.

Is the woman downstairs Yuan Meng?

What are they talking about? I can't hear.

I don't know.

Don't look at them.

She was once a famous courtesan in the Liujing River.

If I'm not mistaken,

Hongcheng took her in.

Hongcheng is Prince Jing.

But I'm not familiar

with him.

Chengze, you are quite familiar with him.

I can safely say he is at your beck and call.

Just get to the point.

The relationship between you guys.

Yuan Meng and Hongcheng.

Hongcheng and you.

It's a trio, no?

To outsiders,

you do have some relations

with the Baoyue Pleasure House.

That's far-fetched.

Unless someone delves into it.

What if they can't find anything?

Rumors can kill.

Just say it.

What do you want from me?

Release the Tengs,

that's what I want.

Do you think

I will compromise so easily?

You are absolutely right.

I will.

In the end,

we are brothers.

We are family.

It doesn't matter who compromises.

Fan Wujiu.

Your Highness.

Send the Tengs home.

Uh...

Now.

Yes.

Move aside! Get out of the way!

Do you have any orders?

Don't worry.

I will definitely release them.

I fear rumors.

Do you have any orders, Chengze?

Since you are here,

I'm better off admitting defeat.

May I

leave now?

Off you go.

You can never tell with people.

I wish you good luck.

Who was he talking to?

I don't know.

The Capital Magistrate is on duty.

Don't make trouble.

Let's leave.

What are you thinking about?

Do you think he really means it?

From what I know about Chengze,

he is a man of his word.

He promised to release the Tengs,

and he will.

He compromised too quickly.

Even though he was at a disadvantage,

he could've left immediately.

But he agreed to release the Tengs so easily.

Probably, it's because

I mentioned the trio.

He also thought

people might suspect

that he is related

to the Baoyue Pleasure House.

Right?

Yuan Meng

is a glaring error.

Perhaps I arrived early,

and he didn't have the time to hide her.

No, what I mean is,

why did he arrange

Yuan Meng to run the Baoyue Pleasure House?

Couldn't he find someone else?

Yuan Meng was a top courtesan.

She has her people skills.

That makes her perfect for this role, right?

He used the Baoyue Pleasure House to frame Fan Sizhe,

sent me a letter,

and captured the Tengs.

He went to great lengths,

but now he just compromised.

He probably

wanted to capture you for deceiving the emperor.

Little did he know

that his plan fell short.

Is it possible

that Yuan Meng is the mistake he purposely shows us?

What is his motive, then?

What is his motive?

Indeed.

What is his motive?

Have you released them?

I had someone to release them.

Don't scare the widow and her son.

Are we really sending the Tengs back like that?

We couldn't arrest Fan Xian, so let them be.

Besides, it's not worth it to risk ourselves for this.

But we didn't gain

anything at all.

Patience.

The show of the Baoyue Pleasure House just started.

He thought he had won.

What about Wang Qinian?

He got me good.

Impressive.

You flatter me.

I'm not.

I'm just an ordinary man.

Your Highness, I don't deserve this compliment.

You are quite humble.

Anyway, not many could

fool Chengze.

Well done.

It's mainly because you are fortunate.

And thanks to Mr. Fan's wise plan.

I'm just

playing my part as an honest man.

That's why I could accomplish it so well.

Wang, that's enough.

All right.

What are you going to do

with the Baoyue Pleasure House?

Can you release the ladies?

If I release them now,

I guess none will stay alive.

Shut down the building for the time being.

You appease them.

Once I've returned the Capital properly,

I will help these ladies.

All right.

Oh, right.

There is a lady with the surname Jin here.

Look after her well.

Return the indenture to her.

You shouldn't let Wan'er down.

The business is doing quite well.

Do you really want to close it down?

I dare not continue it.

Aren't you intrepid?

I wouldn't cross the boundary.

♪The youth raises his head♪

♪As he moves toward his moon♪

♪People tease him for being delusional♪

♪Wondering why he is so unconventional♪

♪Wearing a white robe when crossing a muddy pond♪

♪How could it remain unstained?♪

♪If silver tael has a value♪

♪Who can truly be carefree?♪

♪All of you are right♪

♪He said: "Please"♪

♪"Make way"♪

♪"Let me drink until I drop"♪

♪On the court♪

♪I recite several verses♪

♪Let me wear a white robe♪

♪And cross the alley filled with insanity♪

♪To scoop up the moon's reflection in the muddy pond♪

♪Sirs, please forgive me♪

♪Your words of advice♪

♪I understand, but I don't want to pretend♪

♪People search for the golden land♪

♪While I search for the moon♪

♪Why should we travel together?♪

♪Thank you♪

♪Excuse me♪

♪You are you♪

♪I am me♪

♪Thank you♪

♪Excuse me♪

♪You are you♪

♪I am me♪

♪Wearing a white robe when crossing a muddy pond♪

♪Remarkably worldly-wise yet hopelessly romantic♪

♪Know what you love♪

♪Don't change♪

♪If one has witnessed both light and shadow♪

♪Yet retains their innocence♪

♪They shall be cloaked in moonlight♪

♪As they journey through the night♪