Original subtitles

[The Heir]

[Episode 7]

Eldest Young Master,

let's go.

It's almost done.

We're running out of time, Eldest Young Master!

Right.

Send all the servants in the house away

so they won't be implicated.

Go quickly.

Okay.

Where is your Eldest Young Master?

In his study.

Luo Wensong,

I'm here for Ronghua.

Since neither of you

has any feelings for the other,

why not let her off?

Just write the betrothal annulment letter.

Luo Wensong,

did you hear me?

Luo Wensong!

Zhen,

look.

Did I make it?

Look.

They blended.

Look.

I did it.

This new inkstick...

I've finally made it.

I made it!

I finally made it!

Eldest Young Master!

Quick...

Don't touch it!

The day the inkstick is born

is also the day it is destroyed.

Eldest Young Master,

let's go!

If we don't leave now, the officers will come!

Officers?

It's Heaven's will.

Luo Wensong,

what happened to your family?

Zhen.

Look.

Does what has befallen my family today

remind you of when the Li family lost

the Tribute Ink commission all those years ago?

Why brought that up?

I was still young then.

I don't remember much.

This inkstick

surpasses all others in the world.

But

I refuse to hand it over to those vile,

scheming scoundrels.

What should I do?

Ping'an.

Burn them.

Burn them?

Eldest Young Master!

You... You...

What are you doing, Eldest Young Master?

Well...

What are you doing?

You...

Luo Wensong!

You can't burn them!

Luo Wensong!

Don't burn them!

Let go!

Eldest Young Master!

Luo Wensong,

no matter what happened to your family,

as long as you're alive

and still have your craft,

there is always a chance to turn things around.

But if you burn everything,

there's no going back!

Everything will be gone!

If it's gone, then so be it.

As the saying goes,

"When the Way prevails, one serves;

when it does not, one withdraws into obscurity."

Luo Wensong,

you really disappoint me today!

That doesn't sound like you at all!

What should I say?

Unmoved by worldly gain

or personal loss.

Unmoved by worldly gain...

or personal loss.

Unmoved by worldly gain...

or personal loss.

Well said.

Do me a favor.

Keep this "Ink Chronicles"

safe for me.

Eldest Young Master!

Eldest Young Master,

the officers are already at the gate!

We have to leave now!

Where are we going?

Just come with me.

Go in and search!

Don't let anyone escape!

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

Yes, sir!

This way, sir.

Hurry up! Hurry!

Luo Wensong...

Where exactly are you taking me?

I'm now a fugitive wanted by the court.

If they find you with me,

you'll be caught up in this.

You...

Hide here.

You can only leave after the officers are gone.

Luo Wensong!

Luo Wensong,

you must go on living and live well.

Anyone there?

No!

Let's go

and search inside!

Did you check over there?

No.

Go check over there!

Yes, sir!

Eldest Young Master Tian,

did you find anyone?

I've searched this area.

No one found.

Boss,

I've searched outside,

and no one has been found.

We didn't find anyone inside the house either.

If we can't catch anyone,

we won't be able to answer to our superiors.

Sir,

I know another place.

Luo Wensong will definitely go there.

Sir, follow me.

Everyone, hurry up the mountain!

Don't let Luo Wensong escape!

Yes, sir!

Sir,

this is the place.

Surround Jingxin Hall!

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

Brother!

Brother!

Butler!

Butler!

Luo Wensong!

Luo Wensong!

Luo...

Young Master!

To Jingxin Hall!

Young Master.

Young Master.

The officers have surrounded us from all sides.

We can't escape.

Fugitive Luo Wensong,

you have nowhere left to run!

Come out and surrender now!

Sir,

I have an idea.

What idea?

Set the place on fire

and see if they come out.

Break the door!

Luo Wensong!

If you don't come out,

I'll burn Jingxin Hall to the ground!

Wait for me inside.

I'll go talk to them.

Wensong!

Even if the sky falls,

we will face it together as a family!

Grab your weapons!

You are Luo Wensong?

I am.

County Magistrate Zhao Shen has orders

that all members of your family must be taken back for investigation.

May I see the arrest warrant?

The warrant is on its way.

Why do you have so many questions?

Young Master,

we were still too late.

Why are there so many constables?

Luo Wensong!

Surrender at once.

Tian Benchang.

My father was right.

We really raised a fine, loyal dog.

Luo Wensong, you...

Tian Benchang?

Does he work for us?

Why is he with those officers?

Chief Constable,

may I negotiate something with you?

My aunt married out years ago

and is no longer part of the Luo family.

Can you let her go?

I will go with you.

And if he refuses,

what will you do?

If you don't let my aunt go,

I'm afraid I cannot surrender willingly.

Luo Wensong, you're resisting arrest!

If you don't surrender today,

the officers will raze this place to the ground

and wipe out your entire family!

I dare you!

Tian Benchang,

you treacherous dog!

Ping'an!

Take them down!

Ping'an!

Ping'an!

Brother!

Young Master!

Don't let him escape!

Sir!

He's running away!

Get him!

Sir!

Catch him!

Don't let him get away!

Luo Wensong!

Come out!

Luo Wensong!

Luo Wensong!

Torch it!

Burn it down!

My brother...

My brother and my aunt are still inside...

Young Master, you can't go.

Otherwise, the Old Master would've died in vain.

You must live!

Young Master,

let's go.

Young Master.

Young Master.

Let's go.

Yes.

[Jingxin Hall]

Torch it!

Burn it down!

Burn it!

Young Master.

Are you alright?

Let's rest here for a while.

Young Master,

have a bite first.

What...

What do you want?

Hand over all your valuables.

Get up.

Get up!

Boss!

Boss!

Search carefully.

This looks good.

Let me see.

Give it to me.

This...

This is worthless.

It's just an inkstick.

Give it to me!

It's really worth nothing.

It's just an inkstick!

Young Master!

Jixiang!

I'll kill you!

I'll strangle you!

Let's go. Let's go!

Hurry, hurry!

Hurry!

[Wang Cuiqiao]

You're awake.

Thank you, Madam,

for saving my buddy and me.

This place is desolate and dangerous.

Once you've rested,

go home as soon as possible.

Okay.

Understood, Madam.

I'm not some madam.

I'm just a merchant.

Our family was also in trade once.

Is that so?

What about now?

Now...

we were brought down by scheming men.

Our home is gone.

It's just the two of us left.

Then...

where are you going now?

We're heading southeast

to seek refuge with General Yu Dayong.

General Yu Dayong?

He's already redeployed from the southeast to the north.

Since we've crossed paths here,

it must be fate.

Well, then,

travel with me.

I'm also

going to find General Yu.

Let's go.

Young Master,

should we go with her?

At least it'll be safer

if we follow her.

But we still need to stay alert and play it by ear.

Heroine,

wait for us!

Let's go.

Let's go. Our luggage.

I'll carry it.

Let's go.

[Yaji Hall]

Wonderful!

Wonderful, wonderful!

Sir!

Welcome, welcome.

Okay, okay.

Likewise, likewise!

Congratulations!

Thank you, thank you!

Thank you.

Likewise, likewise.

Please come in, please!

Zhen.

Zhen,

listen to me.

I have something to tell you.

Tian Benchang,

I have nothing to say to you.

Can you just let me go?

Listen to me, Zhen.

Now, there is

nothing standing between us anymore.

I know

you resent me

and hate me.

Back then, I was weak.

I was wrong.

But things are different now.

My family,

I—

everything has changed.

I have everything now.

So what?

We'll never have to worry about orders again,

and we'll never have to scrape by.

From now on,

I'll make it up to you.

I'll treat you as well as I possibly can.

I'll come with a grand wedding procession

-and marry you properly. -Tian Benchang!

You clearly saw me there that night.

Yes, I saw you.

If you had been caught,

you would've been an accomplice.

I was protecting you, Zhen.

What about Luo Wensong?

Did he have to die?

Luo Wensong was a fugitive wanted by the court.

That was what he paid for resisting arrest.

Besides, Zhen,

it was Luo Wensong who tore us apart.

He made my family suffer the deepest humiliation.

Why are you speaking up for such a person?

But what about the others in Jingxin Hall?

They were all cut from the same rotten cloth.

That was entirely within the law!

Besides,

that was all done by the officials.

What has any of that to do with me?

I saw it all!

You set that fire.

I was in Jingxin Hall that day.

I saw everything.

You could've chosen not to set that fire!

Before, in my eyes,

my Benchang was a little timid

but kind

and gentle.

But the person you are today

terrifies me.

How could you have become like this?

Or

is this who you really are?

No matter what serious crime they committed,

they should've been handed over to the authorities—

not judged by you.

Yet, for your own selfish gain,

you killed them all!

How are you any different

from a bloodthirsty monster?

Tian Benchang,

we should never see each other again.

I don't want to see you anymore.

I did nothing wrong!

Was I supposed to spend my whole life carrying the status of a servant,

letting others trample all over me?

Let go of me!

What's wrong with climbing my way up?

Let go of me!

We grew up together—

you should understand me better than anyone!

Zhen,

give me another chance.

Let's go back to how things were.

Let's start over, okay, Zhen?

You've truly lost your mind!

The Li and Luo families

stood side by side in the ink industry

for decades.

I, too, competed in ink-making against Luo Hanzhang

several times.

His talent for ink-making

was no less than mine.

What a pity.

Today, the Luo family has fallen,

and he died in the Capital, far from home.

Grandfather...

Actually...

Actually, the day the Luo family met with disaster,

I was at the Luo residence.

Did anyone see you?

N-No.

I went very discreetly,

and no one noticed me.

I went there that day

to ask for a betrothal annulment letter for Ronghua.

But I never expected

that I would happen to witness

Eldest Young Master Luo dying in the fire.

Zhen, oh, Zhen.

You must never

mention this to anyone else again.

Grandfather,

I just never expected

that Eldest Young Master Luo

would truly die like that.

When all is said and done,

he helped me once.

I even have him to thank

for my decision to pursue ink-making.

What do you mean?

Some time ago,

when I went to the Luo household to appraise pine soot,

he said a few words

that awakened me.

It made me realize that...

deep down, I truly love making ink,

and I want to pursue it.

But that night,

when I watched him die in the flames,

I finally understood

that there are truly people in this world

who treat ink-making

as the calling of their entire life—

rising and falling with it,

living and dying with it.

While I admired him deeply,

I was also frightened.

Suddenly, I no longer understood why I made ink.

Was it out of momentary pride?

For money?

For love of it?

Or for something else entirely?

I suddenly no longer knew.

It must have weighed heavily on you,

carrying such thoughts alone.

Grandfather,

I used to think

Eldest Young Master Luo was just a madman,

caring about nothing but making ink,

and that we weren't on the same path.

But what he said

made a lot of sense to me.

An ink maker

should be wholly focused and undisturbed.

Focused and undisturbed.

The path of ink-making

is full of hardships and obstacles.

We grind the ink, and the ink

shapes us in return.

I've taught you how to make ink,

not so you could become some ordinary ink-maker

scrambling to earn a living.

What I want to pass on to you...

is the Way of Ink.

The Way of Ink?

To remain upright and pure

is the Li family's Way.

To live and die alongside the ink

was Luo Wensong's Way.

Forging ties with the powerful and noble

was Luo Hanzhang's Way.

I truly hope

that one day

you can find your own Way.

My own Way...

I hope

you can press forward

carrying those questions.

Keep questioning yourself,

then shatter

those doubts,

and temper yourself anew.

By repeating this process again and again,

something indestructible

will surely take root in your heart.

Grandfather,

although I still don't know

what my own Way is right now,

from now on,

I'll do my best to trim every lamp wick carefully,

burn every bowl of lampblack well,

and make every block of ink as good as it can be.

[Three Years Later]

Father.

How is it going?

She's at the most critical stage?

This is good stuff.

When I was out grocery shopping today,

I met a traveling merchant.

He said this is top-quality donkey-hide gelatin.

I thought

I'd make Zhen

some chicken broth with it

to replenish her strength.

Grandfather!

Zhen.

Grandfather!

Look at your face—

you look like a dirty little monkey.

Grandfather.

Come on, Grandfather.

Come see! I've made it!

Let's go.

Mother.

Come and see.

This one has large particles mixed in.

This one is a bit underdone.

Father,

how is it?

Zhen,

tell me,

what is the key here?

Lampblack with uneven color,

a coarse texture,

and a dull, dry appearance

is considered mid- to low-grade.

But if the color is pure black,

the texture fine,

and it carries a subtle sheen,

then it is of fine grade.

However, if the tung oil used is of exceptional quality,

the burning method is proper,

and the heat is precisely controlled,

the lampblack produced will carry a subtle grey undertone within the black—

delicate and light.

Then that's the rarest kind of all—

supreme-grade lampblack.

Good!

To know

what it is and why it is so—

that's what makes

a qualified ink-maker.

Father,

you mean...

Zhen produced supreme-grade lampblack?

That's great, Zhen.

Grandfather.

Does that mean

I've graduated from your tutelage?

It's getting late.

Add a meat dish

to tonight's dinner.

Alright, Father!

I'll go prepare it right away!

That's great!

You're amazing, Zhen.

Honored ancestors,

Zhen

has studied the art of ink-making for three years.

To keep her from growing proud and impatient,

I would scold and criticize her

whenever she made progress,

which caused her much suffering.

Yet this child

proved resilient,

unafraid of obstacles,

and progressed rapidly—

often putting even me to shame.

To me,

ink has always been life itself.

And yet

I was forced to give up halfway.

My heart had long since withered.

Thanks to heaven's grace,

Zhen

has attained proficiency in ink-making.

In just three years,

she's already produced supreme-grade lampblack.

Ancestors above,

Li Ink's legacy

has a worthy successor.

We have a worthy successor.

We have a worthy successor.

I heard there was another dispute

at the ink workshop.

It's all because

the master craftsmen are all talk and no skill.

They can't produce good ink,

yet all day long they keep demanding

higher wages.

Aunt Rujun,

you've seen the ledgers yourself.

Although our family's 10 years of heavy taxation have ended,

business at the workshop is now bleak.

Where would we get the spare money for them?

We

also want to

pay them more.

It's just

that times have changed.

We truly can't afford it.

Let alone the workers' wages,

even the monthly allowances for our own family members are still overdue.

[Li Zhengyou, Legitimate Grandson of the Seventh Branch—Son of Sun Wanyi]

I can only patch one hole by tearing open another.

Jiangyue,

the ink workshop has its difficulties.

I understand.

I vaguely heard a few days ago

that those big clients who have patronized

our business for years

have now switched to the Tian family.

The Tian family?

They only got where they are

by seizing the Luo family's estate and workshops.

Without that,

would their own abilities

have been enough?

Jingdong,

watch your words.

Aunt Rujun,

we're all family here.

What's there that cannot be said?

The Tian family's rise was paved

with the Luo family's blood!

Every coin they've earned is ill-gotten.

And now,

they've even colluded

with the County Magistrate

and powerful figures.

They don't even respect the Literary Association anymore.

In today's Huizhou,

I'm afraid no one

dares to s-stand against them.

Zhengshen?

Seventh Grandmother.

Grandfather.

Father.

Mother.

Eldest Aunt.

Fourth Aunt.

Don't you know

there's a family banquet

on the first and fifteenth of every month?

Why did you only show up after the meal was over?

Don't just stand there!

Apologize to your seventh grandmother now.

Please forgive me, Seventh Grandmother.

[Li Zhengshen, Eldest Grandson of the Li Family’s Sixth Branch]

Although I arrived late,

I've brought back

this divine elixir

for you,

Grandfather, and Father.

They say it's very effective.

Prolonging life

and curing illnesses are just the basics.

Even my father's leg—

if he takes this elixir,

given time,

he'll be able to walk as swiftly as the wind.

You...

Walk as swiftly as the wind, huh?

Father!

Seventh Grandmother,

I'm not fooling you.

This elixir is truly rare.

I heard that whenever Master Tian goes to the capital

to curry favor with officials and nobles,

this elixir is included among the gifts he presents!

Unfilial son!

I'll beat you to death today!

Jingdong!

Let's talk about it when we get back.

Zhengshen,

do you still remember our family's rules?

On every festive reunion day,

it is time to test the art of ink.

Bring the inksticks up.

This is...

This inkstick

smells wonderfully fragrant.

And the pattern is

quite flashy and ornate.

It must be Tian Ink's product.

This one smells quite nice too.

Maybe it's

Chen Ink's product.

This piece looks

very ordinary,

with nothing ingenious about it.

Even the scent is quite common.

I'm afraid this one was made by my father.

Then let's see

if Zhengshen got them right.

[Zhao Ink]

[Cao Ink]

[Li Ink]

Look, Seventh Grandmother.

Ordinary, huh?

I'll beat you to death, you rebellious son!

Calm down! Calm down.

Father,

at least I recognized the inkstick you made!

I think you're

far too consumed by your obsession!

That's why you can't produce truly good ink.

As the saying goes,

"Desire nothing,

and all things follow."

You've completely disgraced the Sixth Branch!

Enough!

What kind of behavior is this

in front of your elders?

Sorry, I lost my composure.

I am indeed disappointed by my son's failure.

But I...

But I hate myself even more.

Ever since our family fell into hardship,

our branch has shouldered the entire burden.

Day after day, I exhaust every thought,

not daring to slacken for even a moment.

I've spent my days and nights in the ink workshop.

I constantly fear my own abilities are insufficient

to uphold the family name.

I know I don't have much talent.

But does that mean I should just give in?

Should I just be like you?

Jingdong,

all these years,

I've seen clearly how much effort and devotion

you've poured into Li Ink.

I have held it all in my heart.

It has been hard on you.

Take a rest first.

Okay.

Have some water.

Qiu'e,

Zhengliang!

Zhen?

Zhen!

Qiu'e, are you tired?

Just seeing you makes all my tiredness disappear.

Zhen,

what are you going to buy on Sibao Street?

Did you bring enough money?

Here.

No, Qiu'e.

I don't need your money.

On the contrary,

today

I came here to earn money.

"Earn money?"

How?

I want to take on lamp-burning work to make lampblack.

Lamp-burning?

What's that?

Producing lampblack takes time and effort,

so major ink workshops usually hire people to make it for them.

As long as you pay the deposit

or have a guarantor,

anyone can collect the raw materials

and lamps to burn at home.

And the major ink workshops

will pay you

according to the quality produced.

But if the quality is poor

and their reputation suffers,

not only must you pay double in compensation,

but in the worst cases,

you may be barred from entering the ink trade ever again.

That...

That won't do.

Zhen,

I'll take care of all the household expenses.

You don't need to take such a risk.

Zhengliang,

over the past few years,

my study of ink-making

has cost the family a great deal of money,

with no return.

Now that I've succeeded in learning,

I naturally want to help earn some money for the household.

Besides...

Besides what?

Besides,

the best sister-in-law in the world has just joined our family.

How can we mistreat her?

You're just like your brother,

never serious.

Fine then.

Which ink workshop

are you planning to go to?

Zhengliang,

I've thought it through.

I want to go to Li's Ink Workshop.

Why go to the main family's workshop?

One of their lampblack-making masters

left a few days ago,

so the quality of their lampblack has declined.

So they'll be offering

a slightly higher price for lampblack.

Business is business.

Zhengliang,

let her do as she wishes.

I believe

she's thought everything through carefully.

When family members take on

lampblack work, they don't need to pay a deposit.

That works in our favor.

Even so,

precisely because of that,

I insist on paying the deposit.

Otherwise, they'll think

we're taking advantage of them.

That's right.

Business is business—

you do the work, you get paid.

If a deposit is due, pay it.

Here, take this.

No, Sister-in-law!

Take it!

I really don't want it!

I'll figure something out myself.

You two siblings—

when you get stubborn,

you're exactly alike.

Listen to me,

-take it! -No!

Take it!

Zhen, don't refuse!

Just keep it.

Keep it.

Brother, Sister-in-law,

don't worry.

I'll definitely earn money this time.

Okay.

We believe in you.

Qiu'e,

when will you be done for the day?

In a little while, I suppose.

But this building is so grand.

Yihousheng?

[Yihousheng]