Chinese Drama 2024
Joy of Life 2 (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)
-
Joy of Life 2 poster
Genre: Palace Intrigue, Historical Costume Drama Fiction
- Release Date: 16 May 2024
- Origin: China; Season of Joy of Life
- Cdrama: 36 Episodes
- Link:
Cast
- Zhang Ruoyun as Fan Xian/Zhang Qing
- Li Qin as Lin Wan Er
- Wu Gang as Chen Pin Pin
- Chen Dao Ming as Emperor of Qin
- Song Yi as Fan Rou Rou
- Tian Yu as Wang Qi Nian
- Guo Qilin as Fan Sizhe
- Mao Xiaotong as Eldest Princess
- Wang Churan as Sang Wen
- Wang Xiaochen as
- Yu Feihong as
- Jin Chen as Ye Ling Er
- Li Qiang as Yan Ruo Hai
- Li Xiao Ran as Li Yun Rui
- Zhang Hao Wei as Li Cheng Yu [Crown Prince]
- Fu Xin Bo – [First prince]
- Liu Duan Duan as Li Cheng Ze [Second prince]
- Guo Zi Fan as Li Cheng Ping [Third prince]
- Yu Yang as Lin Ruo Fu
- Gao Shu Guang as Fan Jian
- Tong Meng Shi as Wu Zhu
- Xin Zhi Lei as Hai Tang Duo Duo
- Wang Xiao Chen as Yuan Meng
- Faye Yu as [Empress]
- Sui Jun Bo as Imperial Consort Yi
- Bi Yan Jun as Lai Ming Cheng
- Wang Tian Chen as Li Hong Cheng
- Wu Xing Jian as Yan Bing Yun
- Xuan Yan as He Zong Wei
- Feng Bing as Fan Wu Jiu
- Zhang Wei Yi as Hou Xiao Chang
- Liu Tong as Yang Wan Li
- Gao Lu as Madame Wang
- Ailei Yu as Deng Zi Yue
- Yuan Quan as Professor Ye
- 19 October 2020: a press conference was held to officially announced that season 2 is coming. Hurrah!!!
- I hope the rest of the gang comes back for the next season including Xiao Zhan as Yan Bingyun, who stabbed Fan Xian to end the first series.
- 10 May 2023: Filming started today.
- Xiao Zhan is not returning to reprise his role due to his busy schedule.
- 17 October 2023: Finally, it is a wrap!
- 23 November 2023: Whoa! It is insane. This drama had broken the 8M mark reservation. Exciting stuff.
- 3 March 2024: This drama is the most anticipated one for 2024. It has now 12M reservations.
- 9 May 2024: It was announced that JOL2 is to broadcast beginning 16 May 2024. Excited.
- 16 May 2024: This drama has already breaking records before it has begun broadcasting. It has now garnered 20Million reservations.
Episode 1
It is so good to see the familiar faces and a different face, yeah you, Yan Bing Yun.
Just like us fans of the drama, the 21st Century part of the story, Professor Ye was being bugged by other professors, students and staff including the cleaners about confirmation that Fan Xian really died.
She was beginning to lose her patience as she really did not know what happened. She was ready to blow her top when she was approached by someone once again but this time it was Zhang Qing.
She immediately asked him if Fan Xian did die. Zhang Qing smirked and said the main hero can’t die!
So back to Fan Xian time. Yan Bing Yun stabbed Fan Xian. He then cremated Fan Xian.
The death and cremation of Fan Xian reached the Capital in no time. The Emperor was heartbroken, Chen Ping Ping was shocked and Fan Jian was heartbroken, shocked and livid.
Fan Jian got more emotional when they told him that there is no body as Fan Xian was cremated.
Later on, Chen Ping Ping and Fan Jian theorised that Fan Xian was not dead. It was fake. But a fake death has its problem as the Emperor was deceived which meant death to the deciever.
Chen Ping Ping promised that if Fan Xian really died then others will go with Fan Xian to the netherworld.
Madam Fan who really grew fond of Fan Xian was absolutely gutted. Madam Fan went to find Rourou who was the closest to Fan Xian. She wanted to console the poor girl but instead she found Rourou calm and relax. Rourou said that Fan Xian is not dead because he just can’t be.
Of course, Fan Xian is not dead. It was all a plot but had to look real. Fan Xian was wearing a leather belt infused with blood. The sword used by Yan Bingyuan was out of the ordinary as it bends to follow the curve of the belt.
When Fan Xian asked Yan Bingyuan why he would help her, Bingyuan said the he was doing it for Nanqing and the Emperor. He did not trust Li Cheng Ze (Second Prince) at all.
Anyway, Fan Xian and Wang Qi Niang sneaked into the Capital. They were surprised to see that the Capital was in mourning. Overnight, Fan Xian seemed turned into a deity because people are worshipping him. The vendors also took advantage by selling products as endorsed by the now departed Fan Xian.
Fan Xian and Wang Qi Niang were aghast but can’t really do anything as they must remain incognito.
Anyway, Qi Niang took Fan Xian to a safe house and later to his house where Fan Xian met Madame Wang and cute little Ba.
Episode 2
Chen Pin Pin visited Yan Ruo Hai in prison. He warned Ruo Hai that he will rot in jail if Fan Xian does not overcome his present predicament.
Ruo Hai said that he is not important. He wanted to know if Fan Xian is really dead, what would Chen Pin Pin do.
Chen Pin Pin declared that many will die with Fan Xian.
Anyway, Fan Xian tried to see the Emperor but Eunuch Hou refused him audience with the Emperor as the Emperor left strict instruction that he was not seeing Fan Xian. He also decline to deliver a message for him to the Emperor.
Fan Xian was down in the dumps but he saw Chen Pin Pin. Chen Pin Pin told him that deceiving the Emperor of his fake death means beheading for Fan Xian.
Fan Xian said he had his reasons.
Chen Pin Pin took pity on him and promised that he will try to convince the Emperor to see Fan Xian.
Fan Xian passed a letter to give to the Emperor.
Fan Xian quickly reported to Chen Pin Pin what he found out at the Northern Qi. He also mentioned that Xiao En revealed the secret of the Divine Temple before he died.
Chen Pin Pin advised him not to mention the Divine Temple unless the Emperor ask about it first.
As promised, Chen Pin Pin mentioned Fan Xian to the Emperor, who was having one of his moods. He slightly perked up though when Chen Pin Pin passed the letter to the Emperor.
The Emperor quickly dismissed Chen Pin Pin and had a look at the message. It was not a letter but a drawing.
3
4
Episode 5
Fan Xian ordered Fan Si Zhe to shut down the Moom Embracing Hall. The Crown Prince said that it was a thriving business so it was a shame to close it down. Fan Xian prevailed after explaining the dastarly going on in the brothel.
Meanwhile, Wang Qi Nian was pleasantly surprised after finding Madame Wang and Little Ba back home. She told them that they were rescued by Chen Pin Pin’s men before the guards of the Second Prince got to them.
Fan Xian advised Fan Si Zhe to lie low for awhile, to lock himself in his room. Fanm Si Zhe took the order seriously and stayed in his room which surprised Madam Fan.
Madam suspected that Si Zhe was hiding a girl in his room or even a guy.
6
Episode 7
Yan Bingyuan visited his father, Yan Ruo Hai in prison.
Episode 8
I am really loving Yan Bingyuan, he has got a dry sense of humour.
Anyway, Yan Ruo Hai told his son the Chen Pin Pin is getting old and was molding Fan Xian to take over from him. Ruo Hai added that he was getting old as well and also thinking of retirement.
Bing Yuan pretended to show shock not at Ruo Hai’s retirement but that of Chen Pin Pin leaving the Overwatch Council. The Overwatch Council without Chen Pin Pin is unthinkable.
I love the humour in this drama, there is plenty of it.
Anyway, Ruohai knew that his son thinks that the sun shines out of Chen Pin Pin’s backside, so he used this to make his almost robotic’s son to be more in touch with his feelings. He told him that CPP said that Ruohai should mingle more with Fan Xian.
When Bingyuan was assured that it was a mission for him from CPP, he agreed.
And he became the other half of Fan Xian.
Their first mission was to clean up the First Bureau, which was mired in corruption. When they first got to the Bureau, they found expensive fish delivered at the bureau. Apparently, it was a done thing to get special provisions from the Vegetable inspection Council which was headed by Eunuch Dai.
The Registrar of the First Bureau said that it was easier to accept bribery because if you make an enemy from any of the other 6 Ministries, they would end up suffering.
Fan Xian made such a show of closing down the Vegetable Inspection Council bu Eunuch Dai bribed Fan Xian which Fan Xian gladly accepted.
Everyone was aghast at what just happened. It was so unexpected that even the Second Prince who was invited to the whole show by Fan Xian was disappointed.
Fan Xian told Eunuch Dai that he need not worry anymore, it will be business as usual for the vegetable council.
Yan Bingyuan was upset with Fan Xian but then Fan Xian explained later that he wanted to be reported because he wanted to create such a stink about justice. Bingyuan was happy that it was just a part of a plot, Fan Xian is not corrupt.
9
10
11
Episode 12
Triple dates
Episode 13
Chen Ping Ping mountain hideaway.
Episode 14
Episode 15
Lai MIng Cheng the chief censor was flogged to death for accusing the Emperor of poor governance.
Fan Xian was absolutely gutted and fet responsible for what happened to Lai Ming Cheng.
16
17
18
Episode 19
I love love the scene between Fan Si Zhe and his mother. Madam Fan thought that Si Zhe had died so she was praying at his memorial when he suddenly appeared. Thinking that she was hallucinating, she slapped him. The was inspired. The scene is so comedic and yet really poignant. I love the whole Fan Family.
It is the start of the Spring Imperial Examination.
Episode 20
Episode 21
Prime Minister Lin was implicated with the scandal at Spring Imperial Examination.
I am really blown away with the scripting and acting in this drama. The most enjoyable and involving drama I have seen in the last few years.
22
He Zong Wei was promoted directly by the Emperor as an official at the Censor division without participating and passing the Spring Imperial Examination.
Episode 23
He Zong Wei went to the Censor Division with presents with the other officials. They ignored him at first but he has a gift of the gab. He managed to convince them that he was a protegee of Lai Ming Chen, the former chief who was executed. To make himself more convincing, he told them that he will go to the Fan Residence and confront Fan Xian for instigating the death of Lai MIng Chen.
24
Episode 25
It is the day of the wedding.
26
27
28
Episode 29
The trienniel flower celebration at the hanging garden temple more than ever made Fan Xian realised the elitism in the Empire.
Episode 30
Fan Rou Rou operated on Fan Xian which was akin to modern surgery.
Episode 31
Fan Xian realised that they were all a pawn to the Emperor’s underhand plotting.
General Ye bid goodbye to Ye Linger as the Emperor started hunting the Ye Family. General Ye told Linger that it was okey to marry the Second Prince but she had to make sure she does not give him her heart as she would not have any way out after that.
The Princess Royal who had been staying with the Second Prince advised him against marrying Linger given that her family is now demoted and exiled. The Princess said that marrying Linger was only going to drag the Second Prince down which is of course will be a hindrance of him taking the throne. She also counselled that the Second Prince kill Linger.
The Second Prince who had grown rather fond of Linger ordered Bai Xian to tell Linger that their engagement is over and as a compensation, he promised to bring her family back to the Capital someday.
It was trending on the street that Fan Xian was the son of the legendary Ye Qingmei and that he is also the son of the Emperor.
The Second Prince got to hear the gossip. He said that it now make sense why he was so alike with Fan Xian.
Fan Jian was both worried and raging he went barging at the Overwatch Council to speak with Chen Ping Ping.
Chen Ping Pin admitted that it was his bureau who spread the info but the Emperor gave it a go ahead signal to ackowledge Fan Xian’s good deeds.
The news did not go too well with everyone. The Royal Princess was incandescent with rage. She said that no way in hell that Fan Xian will live for long. She wanted him dead. The son of Ye Qingmei should not exist in this world. The Second Prince was alarm at his aunt and told her to calm down.
Fan Xian was almost poisoned. It turned out the culprit was the Queen, whose family was massacred after it was found out that it was one of them killed Ye Qingmei.
The Crown Prince’s stance was to accept Fan Xian as he will never rally be a part of them as he will always be a Fan, an illigitimate Prince. Additionally, he could use him against the Second Prince.
The Eldest Prince protected Fan Xian and the youngest prince whose mother was a relative of the Fan had always wanted her son to become a disciple of Fan Xian.
The Second Prince ambushed Wan’Er on her way to the palace. He gave her a dagger and incited her to take her revenge for the death of her eldest brother. He told her that it was Fan Xian who killed her eldest brother.
When Wan’er got to Fan Xian, she did unsheath the dagger. Will she kill Fan Xian?!!!
Episode 32
She could not kill Fan Xian. Instead she very roughly peeled a pear for Fan Xian which he noticed. He asked her what was the matter.
It then came out and asked him outright if he killed her brother. She was really heartbroken. She said that her brother was the one who made her feel less lonely when she was very ill. He tried to always cheer her up. Now knowing that Fan Xian was involved in his murder, she can’t forget it. She blamed Fan Xian for not lying to her; pretend that he had nothing to do with the murder.
She then assumed that Wu Zhu was the one who killed her brother. She made Fan Xian choose, her or Wu Zhu because she was going to kill Wu Zhu.
Rou Rou heard the whole thing. As much as she symphatised with Wan’er, she trusts Wu Zhu so much but she trusts and protective of Fan Xian even more.
She said her only mission in life was to protect Fan Xian.
When Fan Xian recovered a bit, Eunuch Hou asked him to go back to viewing the flowers as per order of the Emperor.
Fan Xian could not really believe it, he was still barely mobile so flower watching is the last on his list to do.
But then out of nowhere a lifesize effigy of him was loaded to a carriage. It would act as a sitting duck to smoke out the grandmaster.
Wushu should up as he escorted the carriage which at first he thought Fan Xian was on board on. Then, his almost replica flew down from the top of a tree. Their fighting scene was a visual delight. The CGI was so good. To fit men fighting in black dress is a sight to behold.🤗🤗🤗
Anyway, the Black Cavalry were there ready with their automatic bow and arrows. The got both Wu Zhu but the one who got the fatal shot was the replica, who happens to be the wanted serial killer.
The body of the serial killer was brought back to the Emperor who saw the wound with not an ounce of blood but instead, it looks like it secretes some sort of oil. It was a robot or an incorporeal mortal as the Emperor called it.
The Emperor took Fan Xian to building. Inside was a side view paiting of Yan Qingmei
Episode 33
Finally, the Emperor intimated that Fan Xian is the heir to the throne and admitted that he is Fan Xian’s father.
Later on, Fan Xian confessed to Rou Rou that it troubled him what the Emperor told him. He can feel the emotion from the Emperor and yet their is something hidden in his pronouncement.
He said that if he was really his son he begot from the love of his life, how can he have treated Fan Xian with such coldness and suspicion. He felt that he was being auditioned if he is worthy to be the Emperor’s son.
Fan Xian decided to go to Jiangnan to find out more about his mother.
Wu Zhu turned up at the Fan Residence. The person he found him was Wan’er. Poor Wu Zhu was shortcircuiting. He was mumbling about telling Fan Xian to go to Jiangnan immediately.
It is rather poignant the scene between Wu Zhu and Wan’er. She asked him if he was the one who killed her brother. He admitted freely that it was him. Wan’er told him that she was going to kill him. Wu Zhu said that it was the best time to kill him as he was already vulnerable and dying.
Wan’er felt sorry for him. She screamed at him that she was taking a raincheck. She will not kill for now because Fan Xian needs him. Fan Xian lost his inner energy.
Wu Zhu told Wan’er simply that she is worthy. He said that when Fan Xian does not need him anymore, she could kill him.,😭😭😭
The four princess gave Fan Xian a von voyage. They said it was only right as he was their blood brother.
Fan Jian and Madam Fan also came to say goodbye. Fan Xian told his brothers that he will always be a Fan and would be buried at the Fan Ancestral Tomb.
The princes could not really refute it as Fan Xian was determined.
Second Brother told Fan Xian to come back from Jiangnan and he said he meant it.
It is always heartwarming the loving scenes between the Fan family. He hugged Fan Jian and Madam Fan who were upset to see him go.
The Second Prince visited the the influential Ming Family. He warned them not to change side to Fan Xian.
Wan’er turned up at the last minute, waving Fan Xian goodbye. They are really so sweet.
Meanwhile, refugees ambushed Fan Xian’s barge and told him that the Mings made them work day and night with much remunaration if any at all.
Episode 34
The Ming mother and son have a weird sadomasochistic relationship. The adult son is punished by his elderly mother by sticking needles into his finger tips. Ouch.
The Second Prince told Master Ming to find an assistant to become an escapegoat. Master Ming said he had it covered. He was going to get one of his brothers to do it which shocked the Second Prince a little bit for the sheer cruelty of it.
Fan Xian was rapturously welcome at Jiangnian. Chests of treasures were offered to him but he humialiated them. He told them that there are so many poor people more deserving of their alms.
Some interesting characters in town including a mysterious fisherman. Hai Tang Dou Dou was also on show.
This drama has got the most beautiful OST.
Episode 35
Hai Tang Duo Duo gave Fan Xian Ye Qingmei’s book.
Fan Xian thanked Hai Tang Duo Duo for neutrilising the mysterious fisherman, Yu Zhi Lan, who was there to kill Fan Xian.
Fan Xian later visited the Ming, He interrupted an adoption ritual. An older man was being adopted into the family. The man looked so weary and unwilling.
He was the man that was going to be used as escapegoat for fraud.
Episode 36
Fan Xian had a heart to heart with Hai Tang Duo Duo. He told her that he had met many but he had only met a few who could be a friend. Dou Dou is only one of the very few,
Dou Dou winningly smirked off Fan Xian’s confession. They really have a good camaraderie. Anyway Dou Dou being a saintess of Northern Qi could restore Fan Xian’s inner qi but not to the 9th Level.
Grandma Ming was a complete psycho.
Shadow turned up for the final confrontation with the Grandmaster.
The Grandmaster was too powerful. He can bend time and space. But Fan Xian knew that he will not kill him because he believes the Grandmaster still has humanity in him.
The Grandmaster said that Fan Xian was different from his mother. Fan Xian was curious about his mother.
Anyway, the Grandmaster just walked on. Fan Xian got his qi back.
Professor Ye asked Zhang Qing if the final part of the story would take years to complete.
Zhang Qing smirked but agreed. Noooooo
Not another 5 years for the final chapter…..😭😭😭😭😭