The ongoing Wuxia C-drama Joy of Life Season 2, starring Zhang Ruoyun, released episode 16 on May 23, 2024. The episode primarily focuses on the attack on Fan Xian by the sons of dukes and nobles. Fan Xian’s carriage is stopped by the sons of the distinguished nobles of the capital. Qi Nian urges Fan Xian not to make a scene in public. He promises to teach them a lesson in private later. But Fan Xian is not ready to listen to him. These noble aristocrats demand that Fan Xian hand the moon-embracing pavilion over to them. Complications arise when one of them threatens to kill Fan Xian and attacks him. Fan Xian bravely takes them down one by one.
Meanwhile, Cheng Ze and Bi An conspire to teach Fan Xian a lesson. Cheng Ze commands Bi An to bring Miss Ye to him, as he is under house arrest and can not leave. Furthermore, he asks Bi An to use his dispute with Fan Xian as an excuse to bring her over. Bi An is unsure of this plan’s credibility, as Miss Ye is friends with the princess, who is close to Fan Xian.
The Overwatch Council comes to Fan Xian’s rescue and arrests the perpetrators. Fan Xian also makes them compensate him for damaging his carriage. Qi Nian suspects that this whole thing has been planned by Cheng Ze, who wants to create tension between Fan Xian and the crown prince.
As Miss Ye visits Cheng Ze, he is able to convince her that he has never had any ill intent toward Fan Xian. It was the emperor who forced him to go against the crown prince and become his grindstone. Miss Ye refuses to believe him, but using his cunning tactics, Cheng Ze is able to get through to her. Cheng Ze asks for Miss Ye’s help to deliver a message, recommending Fan Xian to the kingdom.
Joy of Life Season 2 ep 16: Li Qin counsels Zhang Ruoyun
Chen Ping Ping visits the emperor to inform him about the recent attack on Fan Xian. Meanwhile, the emperor receives a joint memorial from Cheng Ze and the Ye family. In the memorial, they praised Fan Xian’s literary talent. They recommend that he become the judge of the upcoming spring imperial examination. While Chen Ping Ping thinks that it is a wise judgment, the emperor is unsure whether Fan Xian is old enough to become an examiner. But Chen Ping Ping is able to convince him otherwise.
When Fan Xian hears the news, instead of being content, he does not look very amused. He thinks that it was a hurried judgment on the emperor’s part. He visits Wan Er’s palace to confide in her. Wan Er shares her thoughts on the aristocrats who attacked Fan Xian. She feels that Fan Xian must teach them a lesson. With the emperor as his defender, these nobles won’t be able to hurt him.
Furthermore, she promises to apologize to them on Fan Xian’s behalf as the princess. Wan Er also thinks that Cheng Ze didn’t take any drastic steps against Fan Xian, as he wants him to lower his guards. She asks him to be careful, as he might use the spring exam as a strategy to set up Fan Xian.
The examination is the last opportunity for Cheng Ze to defeat Fan Xian, as scholars from all over the country will arrive at the capital. Right after the examination, Fan Xian will marry Wan Er and take over the imperial treasury.
Later in the episode, Qi Nian delivers a secret report to Fan Xian from the first bureau. They have successfully traced a survivor from the massacred Shija town named Shi Chan Li. Meanwhile, this person arrives at the capital as an examinee.
Joy of Life Season 2 is available for streaming throughout the week on Tencent Video, We TV, Disney Plus, and Viki.
