Original subtitles

Joy of Life 2

Do masters always give such generous gifts?

Well, you are Ye Qingmei's son after all

My teacher said

This cultivation technique originally belonged to your mother

Now it's rightfully returned to its owner

My mother's influence is everywhere

You're lucky

I should thank you for intervening earlier

Don't thank me for that

That shadow hiding in the water was your real trump card

Did you know Yun Zhilan was coming?

Not just Yun Zhilan

I didn't even know Shadow was in Jiangnan

You didn't know?

That's very strange

The ambush spot he chose in the water was way too precise.

No matter how you look at it, someone must have leaked the secret.

I really don’t know—I’m even more confused than you are.

Whatever, not my problem.

Eat up.

How’s married life treating you?

Pretty good.

That’s a relief.

Sis Li told me to ask.

How is she doing?

Don’t ask.

- Who’s Sis Li? - For her...

Not asking at all is the greatest comfort.

You should figure out...

Is this duck or goose?

- You don’t recognize it? - I mean this.

Isn’t this chicken?

Salted chicken, right?

Alright, slow down...

Don't fall

Okay

Stop running

Mother, Lord Fan has arrived.

Why didn't you say so earlier?

I should have gone out to greet him.

Did Lord Fan come alone?

No matter how chaotic Jiangnan becomes,

the Ming family remains safe, right?

The Ming family will protect Lord Fan with our lives.

Quickly, go and call Lord Fan.

-Lord Fan -Lord Fan

Good kids, I didn’t bring candy today—I’ll make it up to you later.

Hurry along now.

Mother

You're not done yet

Just two more bows and the ceremony is complete

Please have a seat, sir

Let me keep you company for a while

What's all this about?

The adoption ceremony

-"Adoption"? -Yes

He's from my clan

You could say he's my cousin

Today, he's being adopted under my mother's name

From now on, my cousin will become my younger brother

An even closer bond

He's quite fortunate

To have Lord Fan presiding over the ceremony

This will bring honor to the family

Please have some tea

Alright...

The ceremony's done, no need to bow anymore.

Come...stand up now.

Here, take this.

From this day forward,

you and I are sworn brothers.

As your elder brother,

I should at least show my sincerity.

I'm getting old,

not as thoughtful as you.

These trivial matters

shouldn't trouble mother's heart.

Wouldn't that make me an unworthy family head?

See, mother has spoken.

Take it quickly.

The children get some too.

Come...the children also get some.

Come quickly...

Go on.

From now on, I'm your uncle.

I'll make the decisions from now on.

My word is law, understand?

-Here...everyone gets some -Thank you, uncle.

Thank you, uncle.

-Thank you, uncle. -Here, go buy some candy.

Go ahead.

Mother.

Family matters are settled.

Now to official business.

You're the head of the family.

Your decision stands.

Young Master Fan.

Please take the seat of honor.

Since the ceremony is already complete,

why are you still kneeling?

Today at the docks,

I, Ming, promised Young Master Fan

that before nightfall,

I would give you an explanation.

Sir

This person is the one blinded by greed

the criminal who issued bounty notices without authorization

Him?

The murderer?

Isn't this the cousin who just became your blood brother?

The motive? Blinded by greed?

Most likely a pledge of allegiance.

When Your Excellency went south, you affected someone's interests.

He might just be a pawn.

Affected the Ming family's interests?

The Ming family isn't even worthy.

Your Excellency.

The three major workshops belong to the royal family.

Our Ming family is just helping with the work.

All workshop equipment,

personnel management,

are supervised by the Transport Department.

Even those merchant transactions,

the actual silver,

must all be handed over to Her Highness the Princess.

To put it bluntly,

Our Ming family is just a watchdog on a leash.

No matter whose hand holds the leash,

it makes no difference to us.

Don’t you agree?

- Even dogs can bite. - Only strays bite.

A watchdog’s duty is all about…

loyalty.

Very well, Your Excellency

Today, I shall declare the Ming family's position

Your Excellency's southern expedition has imperial sanction - fully legitimate

The Ming family shall fully support Your Excellency in reclaiming the Three Great Workshops

The family head's words

are the Ming family's words

Good...

This explanation suffices

And our position is secured

But what shall we do with this person?

Issuing unauthorized bounties to assassinate imperial officials

Is a capital offense

Lord Fan

The Ming family never shows favoritism

We ask Your Lordship to deal with the criminal...

in accordance with the law

At least let the child get off first.

Everyone is watching.

Since he's a criminal, why bother with adoption?

Though he deserves death,

the children are innocent after all.

If they're adopted under my care,

after his passing,

these children

will be raised as my own grandchildren.

Then he can rest in peace.

Mother is compassionate and kind.

If I were him...

I would certainly find peace.

Young Master Fan,

after you.

-Is this the murderer? -Indeed

Blinded by greed?

Correct

Do you confess?

I confess

Confession means death

I beg your mercy

I refuse to grant it

Death can wait until we investigate thoroughly

I'll take this person to the magistrate's office for detailed investigation

Brother

Can you let the child go first?

Turn yourself in peacefully and cooperate fully with the investigation

Don't worry about your family

I'll take care of the children for you

There will be no problems

Get a few people over here

Escorted to the government office

Be careful, Master Fan

This...

So it was suicide out of guilt.

Sir, are you alright?

Did any blood get on you?

You blocked it all—how could any reach me?

This...

If this can't be cleaned properly...

we'll have to throw it away and get a new one.

What a waste.

Look at this...

This whole table of perfectly good dishes...

Sir, what about the corpse...

Are you still going to carry it back?

He already committed suicide out of guilt.

What would I interrogate a corpse for?

If that's the case...

then have my own brother's body...

carried out for burial.

I'll be back shortly.

Lord Fan

My lord raised funds to send disaster victims home

Truly admirable

Such charitable acts

The Ming family must not fall behind others

Let's discuss charity later

The blood hasn't even been wiped clean yet

Fellow villagers

We've said all there is to say

The Ming family does good deeds

There's no time to lose

Let's all drink up

Bottoms up

Family Head

Family Head

Are all these villagers joining us voluntarily?

Yes

Why do so many faces look familiar?

It's all for our Ming family

Elder, please have a seat...

Thank you, sir

You've worked hard

Ming Qingda

For the Ming family...

Thank you, dear folks of Jinzhou

A man without credibility cannot stand.

Fellow villagers,

Our Ming family keeps its promises.

After this bowl of wine...

your families

will be the Ming family's families

I can't promise much else

but as long as the Ming family exists

Guarantee they'll have no worries about food and clothing

Fellow villagers

Farewell in the afterlife

Thank you, Family Head

The Family Head's great kindness

There's so much to say...

But the auspicious time has come.

Everyone,

Safe travels.

Does Lord Fan think it's clean now?

Handled with practiced ease

Your household hasn't been short on deaths, has it?

A great family

Many births, many deaths

Grown accustomed to it

Don't get the headcount wrong.

Rest assured, Sect Leader.

Including the one you brought.

Perfect, not a single one missing.

The follow-up is all arranged.

Everything's been arranged.

They all volunteered.

If not for the limited quota,

many more would've wanted to die.

After all, once their families are taken in by Ming Manor,

their fates are transformed.

Something they'd never dare dream of.

Load them up quickly.

Time won't wait.

Understood, we'll deliver them to the Transfer Office immediately.

What a sin

Hurry up

Move faster

Mr. Xie

You were looking for me?

I wasn't looking for you.

Mr. Xie

This room...

You should open the windows often for ventilation.

Mr. Xie, please have a seat.

Please

I heard Fan Xian has arrived?

Yes.

The Old Madam insists...

on giving him an explanation.

She says regarding the bounty notice...

if not resolved soon...

our Ming family faces extermination.

Mr. Xie, to be frank...

I've already advised her.

Though nominally the family head...

my words carry little weight.

All matters...

are decided by my mother.

Your mother's stance...

isn't entirely wrong.

Mr. Xie, I must disagree.

One should act with integrity.

How can we be two-faced?

Since our Ming family has pledged loyalty to the Princess and Second Prince...

we cannot maintain ties with Fan Xian.

We must avoid suspicion.

As long as you remember this principle.

I never forget it.

Rest assured, sir.

Our Ming family's dealings with Fan Xian...

are merely superficial.

With my unyielding nature...

even if our family were slaughtered...

I wouldn't give him a pleasant look.

No need for excessive concern.

Let me share some inside news.

In two days...

will be Fan Xian's demise.

"Two days"?

What do you mean?

The Princess's visit...

has already sealed the matter.

Well...

Who will kill Fan Xian?

Don't ask too much, just wait for the outcome.

Understood...

With your assurance,

I can rest completely at ease.

The Ming family head is truly too careless.

There was just a death over there.

Lord Fan must have lost his appetite.

It's much quieter here.

Your Lordship raises funds for charity and good deeds.

Though the Ming family faces hardships,

we are willing to donate 200,000 taels of silver

to support this noble cause.

Even the leading family of Jiangnan has difficulties?

To be frank, my lord,

the Ming family was entrusted by the Princess

to manage the sales of goods from the Three Great Workshops.

Yet we face perpetual deficits.

Our Ming family

keeps pouring money into it.

The goods from the Three Great Workshops are exclusively monopolized.

How can you still lose money?

"Monopoly"?

Monopoly means

exclusive ownership with guarded techniques.

However...

there are too many unscrupulous merchants,

making price negotiations difficult.

And the cost of goods keeps rising.

Not to mention...

All of you, leave now.

Not to mention the treasury funds

all have to go through the Princess's hands

So the treasury deficit

is unavoidable

Are you implying

the Princess is profiting personally?

I never said that

Understood, you said nothing

I'll read between the lines

Thankfully you've come

The Three Workshops finally have hope

I thought you'd help Li Yunrui obstruct me

- Would we? - Why would you say that?

The Three Workshops don't belong to our Ming family

Whoever controls them

makes no difference to us

Your southern expedition

shouldn't be delayed

Tomorrow I'll have Qingda escort you to the Transport Office

for a swift handover

The Three Workshops will naturally

fall under your control

with no further concerns

Tell me

what do you want?

The Three Workshops in the south

will need local management

What do you think, sir?

Interesting

This business loses money every year

yet you're eager to continue?

Serving the nation...

How could I care about personal gains and losses?

The Ming family's current standing

is no mere coincidence

It relies on the nation's prosperity

and also depends on your esteemed favor

What good tea

Such good tea...

Why haven't you left yet?

Won't Fan Xian get impatient waiting?

Lord Fan is just a passing figure

Just deal with it casually

Besides

With my mother here

There won't be any problems

Mr. Xie

Please have some tea

What's going on here?

This...

What's going on?

The sky has turned red from the flames.

Can't you see it?

It looks like there's a fire

Master Fan...

This...

Master Fan

Something terrible has happened

I sent someone to check

It seems the Transport Office caught fire

- The Inner Treasury Transport Office? - Exactly

All items from the three main workshops

Along with the workshop staff

Were at the Transport Office

But rest assured, sir

Before I came to report

I already mobilized the entire Ming family to fight the fire

Who does the family head suspect started the fire?

This...

Could this be man-made?

After all,

burning down the Transport Bureau benefits no one.

Fortunately, I was at the Ming family's tonight.

Otherwise, people might suspect the Ming family started the fire.

Officer Fan,

even if the Ming family had the courage of a bear and leopard,

-they wouldn't dare do such a thing. -I know...

Of course it couldn't be the Ming family.

After all, I'm living proof.

Wait,

though we can't speak for the entire Ming family.

With such a large family, many members have died.

But at least the matriarch and family head

are definitely innocent.

I, Ming, swear on my honor

to help you uncover the truth no matter what.

This fire burns so fiercely

it lights up the night.

You said Baoyue Tower is no longer a brothel

What else would Teacher Keqin want from driving it in the future?

The teacher thinks further ahead than we do

The teacher didn't say anything either

How should we arrange these women?

No instructions.

Probably waiting until after taking the three workshops.

Did you hear about last night's fire?

The Transport Office was burned to ruins, and the Three Great Workshops are gone.

Why not earlier or later?

It just had to burn when the teacher arrived in Jiangnan.

With the Three Great Workshops gone,

the Imperial Treasury can't hold on.

This is too much of a coincidence.

I refuse to believe

that such a convenient fire could happen.

Also, we've already located Yuan Meng in Jiangnan.

Aren't we going to arrest her next?

The teacher has his own plans.

A bit profound

Sir, I've returned.

What terrible luck.

I've walked through the entire fire site.

The warehouses of the Three Great Workshops...

have all been completely burned down.

Nothing remains.

The cause of the fire is difficult to investigate.

- The people? - All dead.

But I've checked the body count...

and it matches the number of Three Great Workshops personnel.

Not a single one missing.

In other words, no survivors were left.

I've also examined the bodies.

I think there's something suspicious here.

I examined two bodies in total.

There was no soot deep in their throats.

This means they were burned after death.

But I didn't want to alert anyone,

so I only checked these two.

This fire was definitely no accident.

Any concrete leads?

Everything was burned clean, nothing left behind.

No real clues.

What do you think the Three Great Workshops represent?

The imperial treasury.

And...

endless wealth.

So who benefits from burning the Three Great Workshops?

Who would...

No one benefits.

Therefore this fire...

only burned the name of the Three Great Workshops.

You mean to say...

there's more to this than meets the eye?

Old Wang, good work. Guard the back door.

If this fire is truly suspicious,

then news of it...

should reach us soon.

I'll go right away.

Fan Xian returns to his residence

He stays inside without making any moves

-Where does he live? -The Moon Embrace Pavilion

That brothel in the capital?

Yes, the Jiangnan branch of the capital's brothel

I’ve never been there

Just heard rumors

Seems even the righteous Fan Xian

can’t resist wine, women, and wealth

I thought

he’d investigate this fire with great fanfare

This massive fire

burned everything to the ground

Even if he investigates

he has no leads

I think he won’t be easily fooled

Suspicions will surely arise

But logically and reasonably,

we have absolutely no reason to risk

the destruction of our family by starting this fire.

There's no motive,

so naturally the Ming family wouldn't be suspected.

That's impossible.

If this were discovered,

our entire clan would be executed.

The Ming family aren't fools, senior brother.

How is it impossible?

Wealth can move gods, Your Highness.

But what does this have to do with starting the fire, senior brother?

- I'll take black. - Why do you take black, Your Highness?

Because you're the prince.

Very well, let's determine who goes first.

I still believe that fire was just an accident.

But I'm convinced the Ming family started it.

The Ming family has secretly controlled the three great workshops for years.

Now that our teacher is taking them over by imperial decree, the Mings surely resist.

But our teacher has already arrived in Jiangnan.

Whether surrendered or burned,

they'll no longer belong to the Ming family.

Why would they take such a risk?

This is a capital offense.

If the storeroom had long been emptied bit by bit by the Ming family,

wouldn't that make sense?

Teacher, I understand now.

The Ming family set this fire deliberately to put on a show for the world.

They wanted to divert the three major workshops.

And then monopolize all that wealth.

For people to be this greedy for wealth...

And even cost so many lives...

Aren't they afraid of Qing's laws?

But that's the Ming family of Jiangnan.

Why do you assume the worst in people?

It's not that I assume the worst, Your Highness.

People die for wealth—that's just human nature.

You have no proof.

I don't believe it. Could such a thing really happen?

Yes.

Your Highness may not know

This is how I am

My home

Shijia Town

was burned down just like that

The disaster report from the magistrate stated

Dry weather caused an accidental fire

An entire town of people, Your Highness

They're all dead.

Couldn't they have run away?

Yet they hastily closed the case as an accident.

I don't believe it.

What do you think?

Do you think it was an accident...

Or deliberate?

Sorry about that, senior.

I didn't know.

My apologies.

I touched a nerve there.

There are many things you don't understand

Wealth can move even the gods

It can also make people cease to be human

How's Xie Bi'an doing over there?

Xie Bi'an isn't suspicious either

After all, these past years, rumors have been circulating

that mother and son...

have been endlessly fighting over the family leadership position.

But in reality,

we share a loving mother-son relationship.

The Grand Princess would never have imagined

This time, mother and son join forces

to lay out such an elaborate scheme

There must be no mistakes at the fire scene

Rest assured

Even if they investigate

we'll direct suspicion toward Li Yunrui

After all

in the conflicts between powerful figures

who would truly care about merchants like us?

We're beneath their notice

As the saying goes

The mightiest dam can be destroyed by an ant's nest

But who would...

truly pay attention to those ants?

In a few more days

the large ships will be deployed

Everything is already prepared

But the situation is too tense these days

We dare not act recklessly

Once everything is over

and Fan Xian returns to the capital

I'll deploy the large ships

to transport the warehouse and workers

out to sea

Beware of human interference

I've bribed two key officials

They believe

this grand scheme was arranged by Li Yunrui

The workers are all obedient too

Once everything is at sea...

it will be a done deal

It seems you need me less and less

You've arranged everything yourself

It's all thanks to mother's good teaching

I deserve no credit at all

My legs...

are becoming less and less flexible.

Seems like I'm just a useless person now.

Mother, why do you call yourself useless?

Come, let me carry you on my back.

As the family head,

you're becoming more secure in your position.

Without Mother's guidance,

family head...

is just an empty title.

What do you think is the biggest problem in Jiangnan?

- The Ming family - Not them

The Eldest Princess and Second Prince

Actually, not them either

- Then who could it be? - Sometimes,

the problem might not be a person, but...

human nature.

All these years in Jiangnan,

the Ming family has monopolized everything while other merchants struggle.

The Ming family has grown wealthy,

but poverty in the counties keeps increasing.

So we should replace the Ming family.

It wouldn't matter who replaces them.

In a few years, there'd just be a new Ming family.

During this southern trip, I heard something:

"Without the Ming family, another would take their place.

The Three Great Workshops are a treasure trove.

Whoever controls them becomes the next Ming family."

So who owns the Three Great Workshops doesn't matter.

What matters is their nature.

What nature?

They contain the most profitable craftsmanship secrets in the world.

I know that.

Glassmaking, sugar refining,

cotton weaving, perfume making -

countless trade secrets never shared.

I want to release them.

Release them how?

All the Three Great Workshops' secrets - I'll make them public.

Release...release them where?

Share the technology with all merchants.

Sell them at sky-high prices to repay treasury debts.

There would be fees,

but not for treasury debts.

I don't intend to charge exorbitant prices either.

Each craft would have its own reasonable fee.

Merchants would pay annual fees to use them.

A steady, sustainable income.

This is called "intellectual property rights."

But this way,

all the exclusive secrets of the imperial treasury will be gone.

But this way, the common people will have hope.

But the imperial treasury belongs to the royal family.

Aren't the common people also part of the royal family's domain?

Well...

That does seem reasonable.

The reason I chose the path of intellectual property

is because true wealth

shouldn't belong to just one family

nor any royal enterprise,

but rather

shared progress for all, with wealth stored among the people.

If this path succeeds,

perhaps it could give some weight

to those overlooked lives.

Teacher,

does His Majesty know

about this path of storing wealth among the people?

First accomplish the task, then report back to the capital.

Teacher,

I think we should seek approval first.

Acting first and reporting later in such matters

I fear His Majesty might...

unleash his thunderous wrath.

To accomplish great things,

one cannot hesitate and look back.