Episode 8: Fan Xian and Chicken Leg Girl Have a Fate to Say Goodbye

The second prince told Fan Xian that the crown prince would eventually know about his meeting with him, and in his words, he wanted to win over Fan Xian. Fan Xian suddenly asked him if he knew a girl who liked to eat chicken legs, and if he believed in love at first sight. The second prince listened in a mist, and Fan Xian continued to tell him the story of himself and the chicken leg girl in detail. The second prince was forced to listen to a love story and was puzzled. Fan Xian said seriously that he liked the chicken leg girl and wanted to marry her. Since he had made up his mind to terminate the engagement, he naturally wouldn't accept the inner treasury.

After seeing off the second prince, Fan Xian was strolling in the backyard. As he passed by the kitchen, a girl happened to burst into the room. Looking back, he saw that she was being searched for thousands of times in the crowd, but the person was holding a chicken leg and looking innocent. The two of them looked at each other, but for a moment they were speechless and choked. It wasn't until he heard the commotion of the kitchen staff that Fan Xian pulled Lin Wan'er into the miscellaneous room in the kitchen and hid. Fan Xian mistakenly thought that Lin Wan'er was a maid in the mansion, and Wan'er did not deny it. Instead, he asked why he appeared here? Fan Xian's mind suddenly came to his senses, and he falsely claimed that he was a poor bookboy who suffered from bullying on weekdays but still adhered to justice. As for the owner who was incompetent, immoral, and had poor conduct, it was Guo Baokun, the Minister of Personnel who was fighting poetry with Fan Xian in the front yard.

Upon hearing this, Lin Wan'er pretended to be curious and asked him to take her to the front yard to sneak a peek at Fan Xian. When Fan Xian acted in front of his beloved, he naturally wouldn't refuse. He took Lin Waner's hand and secretly led her all the way to a hidden place in the front hall, pointing to Teng Zijing and telling her that it was Fan Xian. At this moment, he didn't know how much hindrance this white lie would bring to their future. Lin Wan'er saw Fan Xian and hurriedly left once again. She didn't want her crush to know that she had a engagement, so she decided to wait until the poetry meeting ended and directly go to Fan Xian's mansion to terminate the engagement.

Wang Qinian came to the Fan Mansion as agreed to deliver the case file to Fan Xian. As he walked through the main gate, he secretly climbed over the wall and sneaked into Fan Xian's house, handing over Teng Zijing's case file to him. Fan Xian opened the case file and saw at a glance the news that Teng Zijing's wife and children had been completely killed by Guo Baokun. Teng Zijing saw his serious expression and snatched the case file. Seeing the news of his wife and children being murdered, his eyes were torn. Fan Xian was afraid that he would act impulsively, but Teng Zijing could no longer listen. He deliberately turned against Fan Xian in public and was determined to seek revenge for his family alone. Lin Wan'er arrived at the entrance of Fan Mansion in a sedan chair and happened to encounter Teng Zijing, who had an angry expression, walking out. She stopped Teng Zijing and suggested discussing the matter of marriage, but Teng Zijing ignored her and turned around before leaving.

Fan Xian knew that Teng Zijing would definitely take action tonight. He asked Ruo Ruo to help inquire where Guo Baokun could be found. Ruo Ruo had already secretly inquired about Guo Baokun's discord with his brother since he found out. Guo Baokun is naturally promiscuous and often wanders along the banks of the Liujing River in the brothels and flower boats. After learning about it, Fan Xian asked Ruo Ruo to send a message to Prince Jing, Li Hongcheng, inviting him to visit the banks of the Liujing River tonight, drink alcohol, and have heart to heart talks. On the other hand, Lin Wan'er failed to withdraw from her marriage and had to plead with her best friend Ye Ling'er to help her visit Fan Xian. Ye Ling'er listened to her request to visit a scholar named Guo Baokun, but couldn't help but feel confused and wanted to ask more questions. However, Lin Wan'er refused to say so, so she reluctantly agreed.

If he disguises himself as a man and takes Fan Xian to the most famous brothel in Liujing River - Drunken Immortal Residence, and informs him that Guo Baokun's family education is extremely strict, he will definitely return to his mansion before midnight. Fan Xian saw that she was eager to go in with him, so he quickly stopped her and at least persuaded her to go back. Fan Xian entered the Drunken Immortal Residence, where Li Hongcheng had already been waiting. As soon as they met, Li Hongcheng told him that he had sent his poems to the newly appointed Hua Kui Si Li's painting boat, and then took him on a tour. Drunken Immortal Residence is not just an ordinary flower tower. Most girls have beautiful looks, but each has their own strengths. This is the most popular place for famous families in Kyoto, because no matter what their hobbies are, they can find their best friends here.

The two were talking when suddenly a girl came in and shouted. The flower boat of the manager girl moved. For a moment, everyone in the flower tower ran out, and Li Hongcheng also pulled Fan Xian to the bridge. The night is deep, and the fireworks are dazzling in the sky. The lights in the flower tower are also dim, and the girls on the shore are clamoring and shouting. In the lake, there is a painted boat coming with broken colors. Li Hongcheng joked that this was the first time the manager's painted boat had moved. She had never left a guest and was still a virgin. I'm afraid Fan Xian is destined to linger and forget to leave tonight. Fan Xian had never seen such a scene before, and his heart couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Amidst countless calls, a beautiful woman appeared in full view, dressed in a golden silk dress and wearing a jade ring on her head. Her features were picturesque and her figure was graceful. When she appeared, everyone was amazed. So, the manager walked through the crowd and came to Fan Xian, actively inviting him to join him on a lake tour. Upon arriving at the painted boat, the two of them raised their glasses and drank together. The manager smiled brightly and had just finished a glass when suddenly their eyes turned black and they fainted. Fan Xian naturally didn't come to seek pleasure. He placed the manager on the bed, took off her coat, messed up her makeup and hair, and quietly left. He didn't know that this scene was all being watched by Li Hongcheng who had been staring at him.

On the other hand, Teng Zijing finally waited for Guo Baokun to come out. He was about to step forward when he was suddenly stopped by Fan Xian. Fan Xian believed that it was not necessary for Guo Baokun to kill Teng Zijing's wife and children, so he advised him to temporarily postpone his actions. Then he found an opportunity to knock out Guo Baokun's sedan chair driver, put him in a sack, and beat him severely, forcing him to ask why he killed someone. Guo Baokun was beaten to seven meat and eight vegetarian dishes, but he refused to admit that he had done it. It wasn't until he was knocked unconscious that Teng Zijing walked out. Fan Xian believed that Guo Baokun should not have spoken, probably because there was an issue with the documents from the Examination Yuan. The two decided to go find Wang Qinian to figure it out.

Unexpectedly, the two had not yet arrived at Wang Qinian's doorstep when Fan Xian noticed someone following behind them. As expected, the person who was following them was Wang Qinian. Wang Qinian was very surprised when he saw Teng Zijing, and only then did he tell the two that his wife and son were actually fine. Originally, Wang Qinian was worried that after Fan Xian killed Teng Zijing, he would not let his family go, so he falsified the documents. Now Teng Zijing's wife and children are living in a courtyard outside the city. Teng Zijing followed Wang Qinian to the entrance of the courtyard, but suddenly dared not enter. It wasn't until he knocked on the door and saw his wife crying into tears, and his son who had grown up sleeping on the bed that he felt like he had finally come to life.

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Joy of Life or Qing Yu Nian (庆余年), is a Chinese web novel written by Mao Ni (猫腻). The novel was originally published by China Literature Limited's Qidian platform.

You can search for "Joy of Life" to read, or visit this URL: https://www.webnovel.com/book/7961226605002505