Original subtitles

[Glory]

[Episode 25]

Is that all?

I've been to several secondhand clothing shops

to gather all these items.

Everything is inside.

My Lord.

Governor Jiang allows his soldiers

to arrest innocent people,

torture them for confessions and falsely accuse them as thieves.

This is absolutely intolerable!

Deploying troops without authorization and disturbing the peace

is one crime.

Harming the innocent and falsely accusing honest people as thieves

is another offense.

The people of Linji are now living in fear,

and their lives are in turmoil,

which adds to his crimes.

The petition has been drafted

for your review, My Lord.

Alright. Dress up.

Let's leave the mansion.

Linji has always been peaceful,

a rare prosperous place in Jiangnan.

The Rong family contributes

substantial tea taxes to the court every year.

Now that the Rong family has been robbed,

local officials

are locked in endless accusations with the imperial Prefect.

His Majesty would never

easily believe just one side.

The court will surely send a new imperial envoy.

We must find evidence

before the new imperial envoy

arrives at Linji.

Otherwise...

Otherwise what?

Otherwise, opposing my superior

means that I,

your lord, will lose my head.

Jun Dai,

is that Kaitai Teahouse

really as busy as you described?

Young Master,

that Kaitai Teahouse

is right by the east gate.

Outside its doors, there's a constant stream of traffic

day and night.

All the chief managers in town

like to do business there.

Fine. Let's go to this Kaitai Teahouse.

Let's go.

My Lord,

this hat doesn't match my outfit.

Could I have another one?

Change it then.

Steward Quan,

these are the finest goods

in all of Linji.

Not usually shown to just anyone.

Take a look.

This is quite nice.

This. This bead.

The quality is excellent.

Such a bright bead.

These rice-sized ones are nothing.

Have you ever seen ones the size of pigeon eggs?

Have you seen them?

Don't exaggerate too much.

What did you say?

- What did you say? - You’ve seen them?

These items are inauspicious.

I'll take all the rest.

Wonderful!

Really? So many?

Wonderful!

How generous!

Steward,

I have some excellent goods in my shop.

I'll send someone to fetch them right away.

Would you honor us by taking a look?

Bring them quickly for me to see.

Yes, certainly.

I have more!

Look at mine!

Don't push!

I have more items too!

From Xiu Qiong?

Miss Xiu Qiong

was worried about the poor prison food

and specially prepared this meal

for you, Lady Shanbao.

Miss Xiu Qiong also said

Lady Yunyin made a scene at the Rong Mansion gate

and was driven away.

She's been depressed ever since.

Miss Yi sent a message saying

Lady Yunxi and Lady Xiangling

have both entered the plantation.

They're urgently recruiting workers

to ensure the tribute tea is shipped on time.

Please don't worry, Lady Shanbao.

I understand.

Good thing you left when you did.

I heard you've become a clerk now.

Lady Shanbao, if you hadn't been so generous

and released me from servitude,

I wouldn't have my current prospects.

Father just came yesterday to tell me

he's been promoted to estate manager

with a salary increase.

My sister

can now work in the tea house too.

Our entire family,

young and old, relies on your care, Lady Shanbao.

We'll never forget your great kindness.

Let me ask you again,

when will you give me

the travel permit to leave the city?

Don't worry. Don't worry.

Things are very tense these days.

Just stay here calmly

and hide for a while.

Bullshit!

If the case drags on for a year or more,

I and my brothers

will be trapped here like prisoners.

Even a good man would be driven mad here!

I might as well kill you first

and be done with it!

- You... - If you really kill me now,

I guarantee you

will never leave this city alive.

Let go!

Let go!

Alright. Alright.

Just be patient for now.

In another month or two,

I'll help you leave the city safely.

By then, with treasures in hand,

you'll have wealth beyond measure.

That jade tea set alone

in Old Madam Rong's room

would keep you fed for 2 years.

Small impatience ruins great plans.

Can that powerful person

behind you really...

Cannot be discussed.

Fine.

Boss.

I sent you to gather information,

but you've been gone so long.

If you're tired of living,

I'll finish you right now

to avoid trouble later.

Boss, have mercy!

We're not like

that spineless Yang fellow.

We've weathered

many storms.

These few soldiers can't scare us.

Boss.

Boss.

Boss.

We risk our heads doing business.

We don't fear scars on our necks.

We only fear not selling our goods.

Boss.

I found a big buyer.

A big buyer.

Selling now? Are you looking to die?

Boss.

I've selected

only unmarked treasures,

and the gold items have already been melted down.

We'll find a middleman then.

I'm sure the officials

can't trace anything back to us.

Is it reliable?

Scent pouches! Fragrant sachets!

[Liufang Treasure Studio]

Candied haws!

Candied haws here!

Go!

What's happening?

Lady Shanbao.

My lord requests your presence.

What?

Lord Lu, you want to interrogate me tonight?

Yes, I'm going to interrogate you.

But considering our past relationship,

you can choose your own torture instruments.

Come here.

Come here now.

See if you recognize this.

It's my family heirloom.

It's just an ordinary jade pendant,

commonly found in markets,

with nothing special about it.

People often like

to wear jade pendants as earrings,

but this one is different.

One of my ancestors

was shot in the right eye on the battlefield.

When he was buried,

this jade pendant was placed in his eye socket,

in the hope he would be

whole again in the next life.

Later, a flash flood collapsed the tomb,

and this jade pendant

eventually came into my grandmother's possession.

She's kept it all these years.

I couldn't possibly mistake it.

If the owner says so,

then it must be true.

These cunning bandits

took only ordinary items,

thinking they could fool everyone.

You caught the thieves so quickly?

Listen.

Injustice!

The officials are wrongly accusing innocent people!

Injustice!

Injustice!

The officials are wrongly accusing innocent people!

My Lord.

It's him! It's him!

The gold and jade in that box

were brought by him.

The precious gems

were all pried out.

So you're a master thief!

You've ruined me!

My Lord, please see clearly.

You must bring me justice!

I travel far and wide doing business,

collecting gold and gems through hard work.

This dishonest merchant tried to lowball me,

and when I refused, he accused me of being a thief.

You

shameless bastard!

My Lord, this is unjust!

I'm innocent, My Lord!

Continue beating him.

Yes.

You're killing an innocent man, My Lord!

My Lord,

He Cifu refuses to confess even if it means death.

My grandmother is bedridden after a stroke

and cannot speak.

I'm already a prisoner,

so my testimony isn't credible.

If you can't make the thieves talk,

how will you solve this case?

My Lord,

these thieves are extremely cunning.

They're hiding separately

and can't be caught all at once.

Even those two

were only caught

while they were trading with the jewelry shop,

when we quietly apprehended them.

I fear if we delay too long,

the rest of the bandits will flee.

It's the first watch already.

Caught red-handed yet still refusing to confess.

They must have powerful backing.

Well, encountering these vicious

and heinous criminals

gives me a chance to show my skills.

Before the third watch tonight,

I will make those bandits

voluntarily confess to their crimes.

You said it yourself

that you believe I can distinguish right from wrong

and give justice to the innocent.

How could I possibly disappoint you?

Then I'll wait and see.

Water.

I need water.

I need water.

What are you yelling about in the middle of the night?

Until you sign,

you won't get a drop of water.

Keep yelling and I'll cut out your tongue.

The officials are wronging an innocent man!

Shut your mouth!

Mr. Xu, give him some water.

Then we'll all have some peace.

So he won't make a racket in the middle of the night.

It's so annoying.

You...

If you want to live, don't ask questions.

Hurry, put on his clothes.

I'll lead you out of the city under cover of darkness.

Someone will meet you in the west of the city.

I knew Mr. Yang

would keep his word.

That patron of his

truly has incredible

influence.

Where's my man?

Everything's arranged. Hurry!

I'll go check ahead.

Don't wander around.

Let's go.

As if they

could make me talk.

I fear neither fire nor water,

nor blade nor spear!

This way.

The two ringleaders know they are sinful.

They assaulted the guards late at night

and escaped from prison.

They can be executed immediately according to the law.

Execute them on the spot

to set the public's mind at ease.

No, no, no!

You haven't even tried my case in court yet!

You... You can't kill me!

Before, you were a suspect,

so naturally you needed to be questioned.

Now you're an escaped prisoner.

What's wrong with killing you?

Do it.

I'll talk! I'll talk!

I'll confess everything!

Please don't kill me!

It was... It was Yang Yitang.

He approached me first for the deal.

He said he had powerful backing.

That if we were caught by officials, it wouldn't matter.

Someone would save me.

So there really is a powerful patron behind this.

However, I had already

suspected all of this.

No need for your redundant words.

Jun Dai.

I know

where that Yang fellow is hiding!

Please, My Lord, don't kill me!

It's the third watch already.

Coming, coming!

Who are you people?

Seize him!

Everyone,

what are you doing?

Don't move!

Search the place!

Who are you people anyway?

My Lord, there's no one inside.

Nothing here either.

The suspect climbed over the wall and escaped.

After him!

Yes, sir!

The fugitive is ahead! Hurry!

I'll wait until five at most.

Please pass on my message.

If I don't see Lady Yunshu,

then I'll meet her at Chongxi Hall.

Lady Yunshu, Mr. Bai is...

You may leave.

Why have you come here?

Lu Jianglai is hunting me down.

You need to help me leave Linji quickly.

Your patron has abandoned you,

so now you come to me seeking refuge?

Lady Yunshu, you're mistaken.

I'm not here seeking refuge.

After all, we were once allies.

If I'm captured,

I'm afraid you

won't have a good ending either.

You're threatening me?

I'm just helping you see

the current situation clearly.

You just said

Lu Jianglai is hunting you down.

You escaped from him?

That's right. Before he discovers me,

help me leave the city quickly.

I deliberately left

one side of this trap net open

so Yang Yitang could go

where he's supposed to go.

Where?

I have men watching the Provincial Governor's Office.

If Jiang Yiqian

is truly his patron,

then he must be

caught at the Provincial Governor's Office.

That would be catching them red-handed.

You people

are so cunning.

What if he doesn't dare

go to the Provincial Governor's Office?

Then he must have

other accomplices in the city.

Catching them all would be convenient.

I suspect this person

might be at...

Where?

My Lord, that Yang fellow

is heading toward the Rong family.

My Lord,

since the trouble is at my home,

please allow me to capture them myself

to prove my innocence.

You're afraid I might let the criminal escape

and implicate yourself?

Now that I'm useful to you,

Lady Shanbao,

you're finally being nice to me.

I fear that someday

when you clear your name,

you'll throw me over the wall again.

I won't.

You're not lying to me?

Fine, I believe you.

But Lady Shanbao, don't be impatient.

It's better to catch someone in the act.

You've made up your mind?

You used threats and inducements.

How could I not come?

Are you reluctant?

What you're asking me to give up

is wealth and status,

and the noble identity of Lady Rong Yunshu.

Even if I'm reluctant, what difference does it make?

Would you let me go back?

The luggage and boat have been waiting

at the dock for some time.

Let's go.

Yunshu, don't be mad at me.

After the spring examination is over,

I'll bring you back

to apologize to Grandmother.

You're just afraid I might

poison that wicked old woman.

That's why you're in such a hurry

to force me to leave,

not even daring to say goodbye.

Now that things have come to this,

why still pretend to be virtuous?

I know you talk tough but have a soft heart.

You certainly wouldn't do

something so unconscionable.

Yunshu.

You've been mad at me the whole way.

Have some water first.

You're wrong.

What?

Come out.

Don't move, Mr. Bai.

This boat is small and the river is deep.

Fall in and your body will never be found.

You agreed to come with me

just to help him escape?

Lady Yunshu and I

are on the same side.

If you're smart,

you should know your place.

Don't you know

what kind of person he is?

How could you

get involved with him?

Did he threaten you?

You're no different from him.

You're both threatening me.

Don't worry. Once I'm safe,

I'll naturally be discreet

and won't make things difficult for Lady Yunshu.

You poisoned me.

I despise being threatened more than anything.

My life

must remain

in my own hands.

Hasn't Lord Lu caught up yet?

- Lady Yunshu, no sign of him. - Fine.

You dare to scheme against me.

Then don't expect to get away with it.

Yunshu.

You'll keep it a secret,

right?

I'll send you back to the capital.

You'll swallow

what you know, okay?

No.

I want you to leave with me.

I told you,

I hate being threatened most of all.

I don't know how I offended him.

Last night he broke into my house

and forced me to help him escape.

Fortunately, I'm always cautious

and carry sedatives with me,

so I was able to capture him.

Such a villain disrupts public order.

I hope you'll punish him properly, Lord Lu.

Of course.

Where is Bai Yingsheng?

Bai tried to protect me

but was thrown into the water by this villain.

I've been searching but found nothing.

Now that I've handed the criminal over

to you, Lord Lu,

I'll continue searching for Bai.

Get more people

to search for Bai Yingsheng.

Yes, My Lord.

Let's go.

This sister of yours

is truly extraordinary.

I fear she already saw through

my intentional release of Yang Yitang,

so she deliberately planned

to hand over Yang Yitang

to clear herself of suspicion.

If Yang Yitang implicates her later,

it will only be seen as

an act of personal revenge.

She managed to stay in Rong Mansion,

keeping a low profile for over a decade.

She's certainly no ordinary person.

I won't let any of those

involved in this case off easily.

Bai Yingsheng's fate remains unknown.

This case will not be closed hastily.

Come to think of it,

you two have been

sisters for over a decade.

If she remains obstinate,

could you bear to take action yourself?

[Imperial Inspector Luo Deze, newly appointed by the Court, ]

[will arrive in Linji tomorrow. All preparations are in place.]

My Lord,

the new Imperial Inspector sent by the court

will arrive in Linji tomorrow.

Bind him first.

I will interrogate him through the night.

This case is no small matter.

It involves the Emperor's beloved officials.

It's not something that can be easily handled by local authorities.

Please, Lord Luo, make a decisive action.

Please immediately send

a memorial to the imperial court,

requesting judgment.

My Lord.

My Lord, Prefect Lu Jianglai requests an audience.

Good timing.

If he hadn't come,

I would have sent someone to question him.

Bring him in.

Yes.

Lord Luo, forgive me for not greeting you properly.

My Lord, you carry a heavy responsibility on this visit.

Let's skip the pleasantries.

Once the case is resolved,

I will host a welcoming banquet for you.

Guards, bring in the prisoner!

Lord Lu!

What is the meaning of this?

You're conducting a trial

in the Provincial Governor's Office?

Lord Jiang, please calm down.

Lord Luo,

He Cifu is the real

ringleader who robbed the Rong Mansion.

The remaining 16 criminals

have all been captured.

He confessed that

he was acting under orders from the corrupt merchant Yang Yitang

and secretly hid stolen weapons in the tea plantation

to frame Rong Shanbao.

Yang Yitang,

repeat what you told me

to the Imperial Inspector.

All the stolen goods have been found.

If you don't name the mastermind behind this,

you alone will bear

the serious crimes of murder, robbery,

and falsely accusing the innocent.

You'd better think carefully.

Imperial Inspector,

I don't have the guts.

It was all...

It was all the order of Governor Jiang.

Preposterous!

Do you know that falsely accusing a government official

is punishable by death by dismemberment?

Heaven knows

I dare not lie.

Ten years ago, you arbitrarily ruled that

Wei Kejian was a murderer.

To quickly close the case and quiet public opinion,

you instructed Xu Song

to substitute a male corpse for Madam Yang

and hastily closed the case.

You feared that Lu Jianglai and Rong Shanbao

would continue investigating.

You also feared those county officials in prison

might overturn the verdict and take it up the chain.

Sooner or later, it would come back to you.

So you decided to eliminate all loose ends.

You keep saying I instructed you.

What evidence do you have?

For our regular communications,

you always sent him to find me.

I remember

every time and place clearly.

Imperial Inspector.

My Lord, I have no idea

what this man is talking about.

Lord Luo, you heard it with your own ears.

Now you understand

how difficult this case is to judge.

I came to Linji

originally to deliver birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager,

never expecting to encounter such a case.

This tea farmer, Chen Asong,

has accused Rong Shanbao of using tea cultivation as a cover

to secretly forge weapons and store thousands of armors.

To be safe,

I have consulted with the Provincial Governor

to immediately deploy troops and search the mountains.

My Lord, this matter...

Take Rong Shanbao along.

Lord Lu, please.

Lord Lu, what should I do?

My Lord! My Lord!

Lady Shanbao isn't at the tea plantation.

The officials have arrested many people.

Everyone is scattered and in chaos.

Thankfully, you two ladies came to help.

Otherwise, when Lady Shanbao returns,

I wouldn't know how to explain this situation.

We are sisters, after all.

No need to be so formal.

If I were in trouble,

your lady

wouldn't stand by idly either.

Such a major incident has happened,

yet Grandmother is being biased,

ignoring Shanbao completely.

Who knows

what the Rong family

will become in the future?

Lady Shanbao is back!

Shanbao!

Shanbao, why have the officials come again?

Lord Luo,

the troops inside and outside the tea plantation

have already completed their search.

I fear this time

someone is afraid of being investigated

and deliberately wasting time.

Lu Jianglai,

don't think that because you're favored by His Majesty

you can disrespect your superior.

As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows.

If the Rong family has tunnels,

wouldn't they have them in the mountains too?

It's better to search thoroughly.

Bring the person up here.

Lady Rong Shanbao,

do you recognize him?

Traitor!

What nonsense

have you been telling the officials?

Lady Shanbao has been kind to you because of your young age,

taking special care of you,

yet you dare to falsely accuse her?

Aren't you afraid heaven's lightning will strike you dead?

Speak! Where are the weapons?

They're hidden in that cave over there.

Weapons?

How could there be weapons on the tea mountains?

Search!

Take everything out!

Yes!

Open it.

Yes.

This is aged green tea

that has been stored for 5 years.

Please be careful, My Lord.

If it gets chipped,

it won't sell for much.

Open them! Open all of them!

My Lord.

Zhang Zhong,

what exactly is going on here?

Where are the weapons you mentioned?

My Lord, this isn't right!

There must be weapons here!

This isn't right!

Quickly! Search everywhere!

My Lord.

Lady Rong Shanbao.

Please.

My Lord, spare me!

The Provincial Governor said

there must be weapons hidden in the tea mountains

and that Lady Shanbao was planning a rebellion.

If I couldn't confess,

he would beat me to death.

I've never heard anything

about privately making weapons

or raising troops.

To save my life,

I randomly pointed to

a cellar used for making tea bricks.

I just wanted to stay alive.

Please don't kill me, My Lord.

Don't kill me.

I only asked you to interrogate,

yet you used threats and bribes

to fabricate evidence.

You deserve to die!

Lord Luo.

Times have been hard these years.

The border regions have suffered either natural disasters

or man-made calamities.

Whenever war breaks out,

the court urgently needs to transport

large quantities of provisions.

Others fear the dangers of war,

the long journeys and low profits,

avoiding it at all costs.

Only the Rong family has wholeheartedly organized

and risked dangers to transport provisions.

In just these 20 years,

the rice and grain transported by our family

has exceeded a million loads.

The court still owes my family

for transportation.

Three years ago, the northern border suffered a severe drought.

The court wanted to show benevolence to pacify the people,

urging so urgently

that cotton and grain couldn't be gathered in time.

Again it was the Rong family

who managed to rush supplies from the south.

The Empress Dowager praised our family's loyalty and courage,

calling us pillars of the state.

Lord Jiang instigated bandits

to plunder the Rong family.

When he failed to frame Lady Rong Shanbao,

he fabricated charges

and accused the Rong family of rebellion.

He's acting out of personal grudges,

framing the innocent.

Misleading official business and harming good people,

How dare he shamelessly remain in a position of such power?

Lord Luo, according to our dynasty's laws,

those who falsely accuse 10 or more persons

shall suffer death by dismemberment, with their head displayed in their hometown.

Lord Jiang has falsely accused

the entire Rong family.

Lord Luo, I hope you will report to the court

and request severe punishment.

Ridiculous.

I came to investigate after receiving reports.

How is it that when I arrive here

it becomes my false accusation?

The captured bandits are heinous criminals.

They're smearing my reputation.

How can you believe them?

The tea farmers on these tea mountains

number 1,200.

Everyone is fabricating accusations against you, Lord Jiang.

Lord Jiang, you truly

have lost the people's support.

The tea farmers on these mountains

are all your Rong family's people,

so of course they speak for you.

Since taking office, I have been upright and honest,

never forming factions or cliques.

The Rong family

has absolute power in Linji.

Now you've brought Lu Jianglai

under your wing.

You're afraid that I, as Governor,

will block your money-making schemes.

So you've joined forces

to get rid of me.

Take a look

at this.

An heirloom jade seal.

Lord Jiang, to cover up his own mistakes,

falsely accused my family of making weapons.

What are his true intentions?

Or do you think

by sacrificing a minor official,

you can shift the blame

and wash your hands clean?

Lord Luo,

are you just going to stand by

while loyal subjects are wronged?

Rise.

I represent the Emperor on this inspection.

I never expected

to encounter such a serious case of false accusation.

The truth is clear to all.

I must thoroughly investigate

and question those responsible.

Please rest assured.

I will never

wrong an innocent family.

Justice will not be compromised.

Lord Luo, you're wise.

I hope you'll examine this case carefully, My Lord.

[Tea Brick]

This is aged green tea

that has been stored for 5 years.

Please be careful, My Lord.

If it gets chipped,

it won't sell for much.

[Tea brick; Dense structure; Improves with age]

Why did ancient people

make tea leaves into tea bricks?

Just imagine.

In ancient times, there were no refrigerators

or express delivery services.

If tea leaves weren't properly stored,

they would easily spoil.

And tea leaves are very fluffy,

taking up a lot of space during transport.

So clever ancient people

came up with a solution.

They steamed the tea leaves until soft,

then used molds

to press them into blocks.

Just like making cookies.

This made them easier to preserve

and convenient to carry.

Tea bricks were first used in the imperial court

and by the nobility.

Then they spread to frontier regions.

They became treasures

that nomads couldn't live without.

They would carry tea bricks while riding on horseback,

brewing a cup whenever they wished...

Not only to quench their thirst, but also to aid digestion.

The production process of tea bricks

preserves active ingredients

while creating a compact structure.

This achieved

the legendary quality of improving with age.