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♪

[Joy of Life Season 2]

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

[Episode 3]

What do you mean?

Mr. Fan, do you want to investigate the Baoyue Pleasure House?

Who told you that?

Not me.

You came back from the dead

and waited for me at this place.

I suppose you can't be interested in me.

I'm just an ordinary woman.

Except for the Baoyue Pleasure House, everything around me is ordinary.

What's unusual about the Baoyue Pleasure House, then?

Although Baoyue Pleasure House 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 at all.

Miss Sang, may I ask you for a favor?

Mr. Fan,

I wish to ask you for a favor as well.

That's negotiable.

If so, Mr. 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?

Mr. 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 good sense of self-awareness.

With an identity like mine,

I won't stand a chance if I don't have any self-awareness.

Who's the owner of Baoyue Pleasure House?

I don't know.

I've never seen the owner

ever since I joined Baoyue Pleasure House.

Let me ask you another question, then.

Have you seen a pair of mother and son in Baoyue Pleasure House?

The child is around six to seven years old.

I have not.

Mr. Fan, I assume the people you're looking for

didn't join Baoyue Pleasure House of their own accords.

No. They were abducted to it.

We've never seen anyone

whom they've abducted.

If there's a pair of mother and son in it,

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 their latest victim is.

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

She ran to the front yard and bumped into me.

If the pair of mother and son were abducted to it,

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.

And, her father sells vegetables for a living.

Miss Sang Wen,

time to go.

Okay.

I'll be there after changing my outfit.

Wait.

You haven't told me about your request.

Was my info useful?

It was.

I wish to leave Baoyue Pleasure House.

It's dangerous for you to come with 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 there.

If so, I'll buy out your indenture.

Mr. 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 violence.

They're forcing women to become courtesans now?

The owner of Baoyue Pleasure House is quite influential, huh?

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

Wait for me to rescue you.

There's no rush.

Mr. 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 Qinian'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.

Mr. Fan's death is known to all now.

If he returns to the diplomatic corps,

it'll be difficult to catch him.

But he's not showing himself.

Wujiu,

did you know

what the most touching moment in the world is?

To pass the imperial examination.

It's reuniting with one's family.

Did you know what the prerequisite is?

You have to have a family first...

You have to be separated first before you can be reunited.

Wujiu,

invite Wang Qinian's wife and daughter here.

I wish to witness their touching reunion.

Yes, Your Highness.

I'm waiting for that touching moment.

Mr. Fan, I've already inquired about it.

This is the street.

Later,

Baoyue Pleasure House'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 inside.

Are you sure?

Yes.

They're here.

Mr. 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 rocks to pierce the sky,

[Baoyue Pleasure House] waves to crash against the shore,

and snow to pile up.

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.

[Jin, Vegetable Seller In The Capital]

I met you before.

I don't know who you are.

You were on the stage before this, right?

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 anymore.

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 Baoyue Pleasure House?

But why?

Because of 500 taels.

Did you sell your daughter away?

I would never do that no matter how despicable 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 vegetables from me.

Wait.

Are you a vegetable seller? Is your surname Jin?

How did you know?

- Leave it over here. - Hurry.

Okay.

Careful.

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.

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 owed him money.

My debt ended up becoming 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 the ruler.

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 law himself.

When my daughter sold herself away,

I didn't even get the money.

Baoyue Pleasure House gave Eunuch Dai the money immediately.

They said it canceled out my debt.

Seems like Eunuch Dai is quite close to Baoyue Pleasure House.

Who knows? All of them are influential figures.

Since then,

I always wanted to go inside and visit my daughter.

I wanted to tell her

that I'm saving up money

and that I'll definitely rescue her.

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!

Mr. 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.

I need an invitation before I can go inside.

Hurry! Don't fall behind!

Hurry up!

Quick.

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!

Get off the stage!

Mr. Fan.

Your name lives forever!

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!

Bravo!

Bravo!

Bravo!

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.

[Baoyue Pleasure House]

Please head inside.

Mr. Fan,

he's truly lucky

to have encountered you.

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

have you heard of him before?

I've heard of him, but I've never seen him before.

I have to go and see him later.

I have to find out what law looks like.

Mr. 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 Jin's actually common?

They're common folks, you know?

They're already used to it long ago.

Mother, 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'd take rice too.

Yeah. Go to sleep.

Mother,

why did Father and Mr. Fan leave from the well?

Don't tell anyone about your father

and Mr. Fan, okay?

I know that.

Mother, don't worry.

When I was playing with Sanya and the rest,

I told them Father was dead.

You didn't need to resort to that.

Is Father back?

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

Hide under the bed.

Sir.

Misters, please return.

Please come back earlier tomorrow.

Please go back. We have another session tomorrow.

Misters, please head back.

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

Please go home.

Please go back.

Misters, please go home.

Please head back.

Come back earlier tomorrow.

Everyone,

that's all for today.

We'll continue the mourning tomorrow.

Go now.

Clean up that area.

Okay.

He's out.

[Baoyue Pleasure House]

How did it go?

Well...

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 Baoyue Pleasure House.

If so, that means

we have no leads now.

My 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 owner would be coming tomorrow morning.

The owner of Baoyue Pleasure House, huh?

He's quite mysterious.

No one knows his identity.

My benefactor, you have money.

If you meet the owner,

you can inquire about them 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 proceed with

my daughter's service with that amount.

How much were they asking for?

10,000 taels.

I can never

gather that money my entire life!

[Baoyue Pleasure House]

And, your 500 taels,

I failed to take them back.

Not only did I fail to save my daughter,

but I also wasted your money.

I'm so useless.

Don't do this!

I'm so 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 could survive!

Mr. Fan!

Don't go there!

Move out of the way!

Go away!

Mr. Fan, come on!

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, Mr. Fan!

Clean up the floor.

Stop staring!

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 after he came back out.

Do you think there's any other possibility?

But we weren't inside just now.

[Baoyue Pleasure House] I'll definitely come here tomorrow.

I want to see

who exactly the owner of Baoyue Pleasure House is.

[Baoyue Pleasure House]

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 to prevent her from taking her life.

Have you washed the blood away?

We have.

The road is as good as new.

- We cleaned the interior and exterior - Your waist!

thoroughly as per your instructions.

We strive to be sincere, just like what you taught us.

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.

Talk some sense into her.

Now that her father is gone,

I'm sure she's very upset.

But it also makes things easier for her, no?

Keep your butt straight!

Is your hand a chicken foot?

Tell that girl

that 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 his tomb in the future.

Madam Yuan, you're too kind.

Again.

Where are your waists?

Raise your chests.

Beautiful.

Mr. Fan,

according to what Jin said,

Eunuch Dai of the Crop Inspection Bureau

is the same as them.

But don't worry.

We can investigate him thoroughly

once you've been revived.

What's the matter?

Dear?

I searched the entire place. She's nowhere to be seen.

Could it be that she's visiting her relatives?

No way.

My wife knew

that your return to the Capital was a secret.

Baba!

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

They're gone.

It must be Baoyue Pleasure House!

Mr. Fan!

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 has 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.

Wang, I'll go now.

Mr. Fan, take care.

Keep an eye on the affairs out here.

Yes, Mr. Fan.

Don't worry.

I can definitely rescue them.

Mr. Fan, I trust you.

Fan Wujiu.

Your Highness.

You're actually reading every day?

You never did this before.

The spring exam is nearing.

I have to prepare myself.

What? Do you plan to participate in it?

All intellectuals wish to pass the imperial examination.

Intellectuals, huh?

Why are you carrying a sword with you, then?

It wasn't my choice to practice martial arts.

Actually, I have been an intellectual since young.

Great.

Excellent.

At least you can devise strategies for me.

Come on, intellectual.

Tell me something.

Why did Wang Qinian's wife and daughter

disappear out of the blue?

Your Highness,

I was perplexed by it too.

Yesterday, I saw them entering the Wang's Residence myself.

Guess what happened

when I rushed inside?

They disappeared.

Didn't they leave behind any traces?

I searched the entire residence.

But I found no traces of them.

It's scary when I think of it.

I thought I was dealing with spirits.

Could it be that Wang Qinian returned to the Capital with Fan Xian

and moved them elsewhere?

Considering what you've just said,

everything does make sense now.

You fool.

Your Highness,

Wang Qinian seeks an audience.

Who?

Did you say Wang Qinian?

Yes, Your Highness.

Is he alone?

That's right.

Interesting.

Let him in.

Yes, Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I'm Wang Qinian.

Where did you get this pear from?

I bought it.

What about some fruits?

Fan Xian

faked his death in the diplomatic corps.

Now,

he's in the Capital.

Really?

I'm glad to hear that.

He actually managed to dupe me.

After returning to the Capital,

he's been trying to locate

the whereabouts of Teng Zijing's wife and son.

Now,

he has his sights on Baoyue Pleasure House.

What kind of place is that?

It's a brothel.

What has Baoyue Pleasure House got to do with the mother and son?

That doesn't matter.

Fan Xian found out that the owner of Baoyue Pleasure House

was heading there today.

That's why he snuck inside.

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?

Mr. 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?

All right.

I promise you this.

You can have any of my men

as long as

we can trap Mr. Fan today.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Wujiu,

we shall head to Baoyue Pleasure House 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 spare you.

I don't have a choice.

Get up.

Get up!

You have a choice now.

Fan Xian's crime of deceiving the ruler

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 Baoyue Pleasure House.

Your Highness, your wish is my command.

Not bad at all.

The owner doesn't come 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 great 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 the deed 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 Mr. Fan!

Why are you pleading for him now?

I would never betray Mr. 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.

[Baoyue Pleasure House]

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

Please don't worry.

Here he comes.

Greetings, sir.

Don't make any mistakes later.

I'm sure you all saw how the newcomers were whipped.

We all know that.

It'll be terrible if the owner

hears their wails.

That won't happen.

They're locked away in the backyard.

Someone is keeping an eye on them. They dare not 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 brothel need this many newcomers?

It's either they were duped into joining the brothel

or they were abducted here.

If not, why would they cry every day?

Well, who exactly is this owner?

He's so cruel.

Stop spouting nonsense.

Mind your words if you want to live.

Ladies, the owner is here.

Over here, please.

Mister.

- Mister. - Mister, you're here.

Please.

Why should I sit here?

Try some grapes.

I...

Try mine.

Try mine after this.

- That's enough. - Try this.

Give it a try.

Give it a try.

That's enough!

What is this?

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

I'll check the ledgers first.

Mister, the ledgers are 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 ledgers first.

Where are they?

Right now?

[Fan Sizhe, Fan Jian's Second Son]

Why are you still standing there?

Why aren't you all leaving?

You're obstructing me.

You don't want any of them?

Can they check the ledgers for me? Or do they have numbers on their faces?

You don't want any songs?

What about a dance?

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

Enough. 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.

What should we chat about?

What do you want to chat about?

Don't try to pull this trick on me.

I know what you're up to.

I'm checking the ledgers here.

And, you're here to distract me.

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

You're accusing me here.

If not, you should leave, then.

Urge the kitchen to cook faster.

I'm starving.

I'm worried that you might be lonely.

Look at all the ledgers that are waiting for me.

How could I be lonely?

I'm the happiest man in the world now.

Isn't it boring checking the ledgers alone?

What did you say?

You infuriated me.

Is there anything more interesting than checking the ledgers?

Get out. I don't want you here.

How did I infuriate him?

You thought you did a good job?

Leave.

Well, find me if you need anything.

I'll be fine.

Go now.

How dare she badmouth the ledgers?

She's so annoying.

Fan Sizhe.

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 diplomatic corps?

Did you get in trouble?

Are you the owner of Baoyue Pleasure House?

♪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♪