Joy of Life (庆余年)

Adapted from Mao Ni's novel of the same name, Joy of Life tells the story of Fan Xian, a man from the 21st century who, after dying from myasthenia gravis, is reborn as an infant in the fictional Southern Qing Empire with all his modern memories intact. Raised secretly in the seaside town of Danzhou by his grandmother, he is taught martial arts by the mysterious, blind guardian Wu Zhu and trained in medicine and poisons by Fei Jie of the Overwatch Council. After surviving a sudden assassination attempt, Fan Xian ventures to the capital to uncover his true origins and the truth behind the mysterious death of his mother, Ye Qingmei—a celebrated inventor who founded both the Overwatch Council and the Treasury Department. What he seeks is a leisurely life, but he quickly finds himself entangled in a web of palace intrigue, power struggles between princes, and conspiracies that stretch across realms. Sent to the rival Northern Qi court as a diplomatic envoy, Fan Xian edges closer to unveiling decades-old secrets, only to face greater danger than ever before.

The 46-episode first season (≈45 min each) covers the first four volumes of the original novel. Following Fan Xian's coming-of-age chronology, the season can be broadly divided into four main arcs:

• Act 1: Childhood in Danzhou (Episodes 1-5): Fan Xian grows up in the coastal town of Danzhou, trained by Wu Zhu and Fei Jie. An assassination attempt targeting him forces him to confront his unknown enemies, setting him on a path to the capital.
• Act 2: Entering the Capital & Meeting Lin Wan'er (Episodes 6-25): Fan Xian arrives in the Southern Qing capital and falls in love with Lin Wan'er, the "chicken leg lady" whom the Emperor has chosen as his wife. He makes a name for himself as a "god of poetry," navigates court factions, and investigates who is trying to kill him. His friend Teng Zijing is killed protecting Fan Xian, prompting a quest for revenge that uncovers a conspiracy involving the Elder Princess. This arc, set entirely in the Southern Qing capital, focuses on his struggle to survive in a dangerous political landscape filled with deadly traps.
• Act 3: The Overwatch Council & Unraveling the Truth (Episodes 26-36): As Fan Xian deepens his ties with the Overwatch Council under its stern director Chen Pingping, he uncovers more about his mother Ye Qingmei's revolutionary ideals. The conspiracy surrounding the Emperor, the two rival princes, and the Elder Princess tightens around him, forcing him to make difficult choices about loyalty, power, and justice.
• Act 4: Diplomatic Mission to Northern Qi (Episodes 37-46): The final arc shifts to Northern Qi after the Southern Qing spy chief Yan Bingyun is captured. Fan Xian is sent as a diplomatic envoy to negotiate a prisoner exchange. In the Northern Qi court, he encounters formidable enemies and allies, including the seemingly carefree yet sharp-witted warrior Haitang Duoduo. The season ends on a shocking cliffhanger as Fan Xian's trust is brutally betrayed.