Original subtitles

[The Heir]

[Episode 33]

[City Gate of She County, Huizhou Prefecture]

With way too many refugees right now,

it might lead to turmoil.

Hurry to ask Lord He for instructions

on how to handle this.

Yes.

Mother, Zhengliang.

How was it going?

Thankfully, Zhengliang ran fast

and got to the front of the line.

The price at the rice shop

has increased by 40% to 50%

within half an hour.

This is never going to end, is it?

How are the common people supposed to survive?

Magistrate He

has already sent officers to the ink workshop to inform us.

The miners' riot this time

has affected Ningguo and Huizhou.

Also, the Japanese pirates along the river are using this to pillage everywhere.

The trade routes in and out of Huizhou are also cut off.

Magistrate He

has called on the merchants of Huizhou to work with the prefectural office,

giving away porridge to help the needy,

pacifying the refugees, and getting through this crisis together.

How are things going at the ink workshop?

Don't worry.

For the orders the ink workshop took previously,

I have prepared sufficient materials.

The delivery of the ink products won't be a problem.

I heard this time, Marshal Qi will deploy troops to suppress the rebellion.

It probably won't last for long.

And this gave me

the chance to be back and spend some time with Mother

and Grandfather.

And I can also talk more

with my unborn nephew.

During this time,

I'll keep watch at night.

Mother, you should also go out less.

If you need to go out, you must call me to go with you.

Zhen,

how are things going at the main house?

Eldest Aunt has also sent people to buy food and rice.

Excluding the portion for porridge distribution,

if they live frugally,

surviving for half a year won't be a problem.

So don't worry.

Benchang!

Young Master Wu's letter arrived.

Keep it down!

Benchang,

I have found a way

for the matter we discussed before.

Just wait for the good news.

Also, regarding your previous question,

I've sent someone to check with the Ministry of Revenue.

Qi Jiu's original name

was Wang Fuquan.

He's from the north.

His family has all passed away.

In the 39th year of Jiajing's Reign,

he joined Marshal Qi's army.

There is nothing suspicious.

Best regards, Wu Weishi.

The north?

The 39th year of Jiajing's Reign?

Isn't that...

Bensheng.

Do you remember which year

we moved into this mansion?

Three years ago, when the Luo family fell,

Luo Wensong tried to run away but failed and died.

Their second young master managed to escape,

but it was said he also died in the north.

So we moved in.

Go to the posthouse later

and send this letter to Nanjing.

After sending the letter,

go to the prefectural office

and find Officer Zhang, who is on good terms with us.

What for?

Ask him to pull out the arrest warrants

issued for Luo Wenqian from the 39th year of Jiajing's Reign.

Understood.

We invited all the ink workshop managers here today.

I guess

you all know the reason.

Recently,

the miners have been rioting.

Our raw materials can't be transported in,

and the ink

can't be shipped out.

The Huizhou ink industry

is facing another crisis.

Third Master Chen,

you are sophisticated and knowledgeable.

In your opinion,

when will this situation

take a turn for the better?

The current riot

probably occurred because of the lack

of food and clothing in winter.

I'm afraid it won't get any better

until spring.

Elders,

I heard that for this riot,

Marshal Qi will send General Yu to handle it.

Besides, Magistrate He has always cared for the people.

And he is also on close terms with General Yu.

You don't have to worry too much, elders.

That being said,

none of the workshops has recovered

from that outbreak of pine wilt disease yet.

Now, with this crisis striking again,

the raw materials can't get in,

and everything is going up in price.

The large ink workshops might be able to hold on,

but how are we,

the small ones, supposed to survive?

In my point of view,

the first priority now

is to stabilize the prices

of these raw materials.

We have always been interdependent with the merchants

of the pine timber, glue, and medicinal materials.

So, President Hu,

could you please

step forward

and coordinate with these merchants

to see if we can

stabilize the prices of materials in these few months?

This way,

everyone can hold on until spring.

What Zhen said makes sense.

The raw material suppliers might survive for a while by raising prices,

but if our ink workshops go out of business,

it will do no good to them in the end.

Exactly.

I'll head out to do it later.

Besides, during every riot,

what all walks of life fear the most is large merchants

taking the chance to lower prices,

squeezing out or merging

small merchants at low prices.

Given the current situation,

I am afraid

some people will generate wrong ideas,

causing a real disaster for the whole ink industry.

That's right.

President, you also need to draw up an agreement.

During these difficult times,

all ink workshops must not exploit the situation to squeeze out our peers.

We must stick together and get through this.

I'm just afraid that, although we are

willing to obey orders,

someone might not

keep the agreement.

Master,

this is a wood carving specially sent by the Wu household.

Look at this carving.

How exquisite it is.

Our two children are

really something now.

They are friends with Young Master Wu,

and he even sent such a precious gift.

They're really something?

When the two sons

you cherish so much come back later,

you can question them carefully

and see what shady business

they have been doing out there!

Mother.

Father.

Welcome back.

The wood carving has been delivered.

How bold you two are!

Come with me!

Instead of doing business properly outside,

what exactly have you done?

Speak!

Father, I have no idea

what you are talking about.

Master,

don't resort to violence.

What's going on?

Your sister

invited you to go to Nanjing.

You should have focused on doing proper business.

Why are you engaged in illicit foreign trade?

Illicit foreign trade?

That's a capital offense, Master.

Father,

what are you afraid of?

I have secured every step of the whole process.

Even Commander Wu's son is in the same boat with me.

As long as Commander Wu doesn't fall,

we will be safe and sound.

Besides,

how can we make a fortune

without taking some risks?

Isn't the reputation of the Tian family's Tribute Ink

enough for you to rake in money?

No matter how famous the Tribute Ink is,

the Tian family are no more than ordinary merchants.

What great things can we achieve?

No matter how successful Ronghua is in the Capital,

didn't she still fail to help our family

win the job of Ink Supplier for the Princess's household?

I will no longer be a lowly merchant.

I'll earn myself a position in the Directorate of Imperial Household.

Forget about the Tribute Ink or the Ink Supplier.

I will no longer be a candidate at the mercy of others.

I want to be the official who makes the rules.

Is the officialdom easy to enter?

Don't you know

what happened to the Luo family?

Father,

why have you become

so timid as you get older?

Befriending powerful officials to aid the Tian family,

isn't this the path you've always wanted to take, Father?

I'm just taking one more step forward

to make money and buy myself an official position.

What's wrong with that?

Then tell me.

If the riots outside

keep up

and business remains ailing,

how can you earn back the money

you invested in illicit foreign trade?

The miners' riots might be a disaster for others,

but for me,

I will take advantage of their momentum.

[Yihousheng]

There are more and more rebels outside the city,

and refugees are trying to squeeze into the city.

The situation is obviously

getting worse day by day.

What about the trade routes outside the city?

Except for us, whom no one dares to mess with for now,

as we rely on Marshal Qi's name,

none of the merchants in the city

dares to transport goods out.

The trade routes are almost cut off.

Has Xiao Qi written back?

No one dares to take the official road.

Even if Mr. Xiao sent a letter,

I'm afraid

it'd take several more days to be delivered.

However,

our men heard today

that Tian Benchang and Tian Bensheng have both returned to Huizhou.

We don't know what they're up to.

Send a few men

to keep an eye on them.

If there are any updates,

report to me immediately.

Understood.

Wait.

Go out of the city

and tell General Yu

about the situation in Huizhou.

Only by sending troops to quell the rebellion

as soon as possible can the troubles in the city be resolved.

Yes.

Zhen!

Qi Jiu!

Zhen.

What brings you here?

It's not safe outside now.

I don't want you to walk alone.

It's still warm.

Zhen,

this place is still too close

to the outside of the city.

It's not safe.

How about this?

Tomorrow,

I'll have someone bring Eighth Master Li

and your mother into the city. What do you think?

My Eldest Aunt said the same thing.

But my grandfather and mother thought it was too much trouble.

And my sister-in-law is heavily pregnant now

and shouldn't move too much.

The government is watching over this place,

so I'm not worried about safety.

It's just that with unrest outside

and trade routes blocked,

our ink workshop, which had just started getting back on its feet,

is now

struggling to hold on again.

I think you don't really need to worry about the trade routes.

Although my Yihousheng is not as powerful as it used to be,

I still have some connections.

I can help you transport the ink out.

I was just about to discuss this with you.

Li Ink had Shize Ink to open the market before,

so we can barely hold on.

But other ink workshops...

If Yihousheng

has the ability to transport goods out,

I'm willing to spare some quota

for the other ink workshops.

Are you willing to do it?

If you're willing to give up your profit,

I'm just doing a small favor.

But you need to think it through.

The riot outside

could last anywhere from a few months

to even a year or two.

Are you really going to give away the ink transport quota

to others for nothing?

When the Li family made the reprocessed ink,

everyone lent a helping hand.

I must repay this kindness.

Besides,

during my trip to Nanjing this time,

I met ink makers from all over the state.

Only then did I truly realize

what it means for Hui Ink to be one entity.

We prosper together and suffer together.

In this predicament,

if the other ink workshops can't hold on,

and Li Ink is

lucky enough to survive,

it will still be hard to reverse the decline of Hui Ink.

Isn't that right?

Why are you looking at me like this?

Did I say anything wrong?

You're absolutely right.

And I

just judged a noble person

with the heart of a petty man.

Manager Zhen, you're really thinking big.

I am ashamed

and not worthy of you.

I got it.

Don't eat here.

Let's go back and eat.

Are you tired?

Not at all. You are very light.

You need to eat more, you know?

Don't I eat a lot already?

You are no longer Li Zhen.

You are Manager Zhen now.

You need to eat more,

so your body can endure

the development of the Li family's ink business.

Let's go!

Slow down!

Xiao Qi,

did you see it clearly?

Is there really something wrong with their ship?

Yes, absolutely.

Not only were the freighters acting sneaky,

but the whole ship was also fishy.

At first glance, it might look like an ordinary merchant ship,

but there was one thing.

When the laborers loaded water and provisions onto the ship,

I specifically calculated it.

The amount of water and food stored on the entire ship

was enough to sustain the people on board for several months.

If they were just going south to places like Quanzhou,

it would only take half a month.

Why would they need such large reserves?

That means

the Tian family's cargo ships

might sail across the ocean

to do illicit foreign trade.

It's pretty much a sure thing.

But Tian Benchang is extremely cautious and paranoid,

so we didn't get solid evidence.

While the miners are rioting,

the trade routes have been cut off.

The two Tian brothers have returned to Huizhou.

I'm afraid they won't

make any major moves anytime soon.

Good.

The Tian family actually dares to do illicit foreign trade.

Since they dare to do it, we will definitely find traces.

Xiao Qi,

you've been tracking them for months.

Can you confirm

where the illicit ink

came from?

No matter how audacious the Tian family is,

they probably wouldn't dare to open an ink workshop in Nanjing,

a place they're unfamiliar with.

I think this batch of ink

was probably transported from Huizhou to Nanjing.

I was just hoping they made the ink in Huizhou.

As long as they did it,

they must have left a trace.

We only need to investigate carefully.

You can't do this!

You can't!

Sir, I'm begging you.

Please give me 3 more days.

Take it down!

Two days! Give me 2 more days!

Just 2 days!

Two days?

Even if you pay back the money today,

this shop still belongs to the Tians now.

How can it hang your Pan Ink's signboard?

Second Young Master Pan,

your family also makes ink.

You should know

that an ink workshop's plaque

means everything to an ink maker!

Move away!

You can't push people this far!

Did I push your Pan family to lose money in business?

He mortgaged the ink workshop to the bank.

Our Tian family legally

bought this shop

from the bank.

It's legal and reasonable.

Manager Pan,

since this plaque means everything to you,

just take it back

and keep it well.

Well, Mr. Tian,

if your Tian family hadn't broken the agreement of the Literary Association,

lowering prices day by day

and cornering the peers,

would the Pan family have ended up like this?

Am I right, everyone?

-Yes! -Yeah!

Exactly!

You've gone too far!

You

and you.

I will remember you guys.

Instead of standing up for others,

you'd better plan ahead for your own ink workshops.

Pan Ink is just the beginning.

Be careful.

Maybe tomorrow,

your signboards will be the next ones taken down.

Make way! Make way!

Stop looking!

Come on, Manager Pan,

Manager Pan,

Madam, excuse me.

Thank you.

They even emptied the shop.

How could this happen?

The underground ink workshops in Huizhou?

The Tian family illegally trades ink with foreign states.

This batch of ink definitely wouldn't be made

in the Tian family's own ink workshop.

So I am sure that

they have other underground ink workshops.

Sister,

you have more informants in Huizhou than I do.

So you might be able

to investigate it faster than I can.

Besides,

if we look into it in your name,

it won't alert the Tian family.

These past two days,

I heard from my men that

Tian Ink was using the chaos to lower ink prices,

crushing many small ink workshops

and taking them over.

Perhaps they want to use these small ink workshops

to cover their tracks and make ink secretly.

If that's the case,

I will leave it to you, Sister.

I can help you look into it.

But I have one more thing to tell you.

This is news from the Capital.

Someone is investigating your background.

I'm afraid it's the Tian family's doing. You must be on your guard.

But back then,

you and General Yu

falsified my identity and background information

flawlessly.

Even if they try to investigate,

I don't think they can find any inconsistencies anytime soon.

That may be so,

but it's always right to be cautious.

Remember this.

You must not bring

any trouble to Marshal Qi because of your identity.

Marshal Qi,

General Yu,

and you, Sister,

all gave me a second chance in life.

I will never implicate

any of you, even at the cost of my life.

However,

if anything goes wrong,

Sister, please

do as we previously agreed.

Are you still worried about Pan Ink?

It's not just Pan Ink.

Right now in Huizhou, apart from the Tian family,

the other ink workshops

are barely holding on.

What did President Hu say about it?

Although the Tian family has done plenty of evil deeds,

what they have done

hasn't broken any laws.

President Hu and Third Grandfather Chen

could only try to ask Lord Yan to step in

and negotiate with the Tian family.

How is the Li family doing now?

Not very well.

We are barely holding on.

If the Tian family intentionally suppresses us

by lowering prices day by day,

I'm afraid we won't last much longer.

Grandfather,

it's not just Li Ink suffering now.

It's the same for Chen Ink.

I think Tian Benchang

just wants to take advantage of this riot

and is hell-bent

on crushing all ink workshops in Huizhou.

I heard today

that General Yu has arrived in Huizhou to quell the rebellion.

Really?

They have set up camp outside the city,

so it must be true.

This crisis in the ink industry

started because of the riot.

If the rebellion is successfully quelled and trade routes clear,

the Tian family probably

won't be able to cause much trouble.

Go find Third Grandfather Chen tomorrow to discuss it.

One ink workshop can't hold out alone,

but if the Chen and Li families join forces,

the Tian family will somewhat think twice before making a move.

Okay.

I'll go tomorrow.

Zhen.

No more frowning.

If your mother sees you this way,

she will be worried.

Tian Huai'an!

Tian Benchang!

You bastards!

Let me show you what I've got!

You Tians!

You destroyed the Pan family,

and now you are causing trouble for the Chen family!

How many years have you been making ink?

You want to challenge me?

Don't you even know your place?

Right?

-Exactly! -Indeed!

Tian Benchang!

Bring your ungrateful father

and get out here!

-Get out! -Get out here!

The Huizhou ink industry with millennia of history

has never seen such treacherous, profit-seeking scum!

-Yes! -Right!

-Get out here! -Get out!

Excuse me, excuse me.

Let me through. Father!

Father.

Father, Father.

Stop cursing.

Stop cursing. No matter how relentlessly you curse them,

even if you curse them for a year,

they won't change their ways, Father!

Forget it.

No way! I can't let this slide.

-Good! -Well done!

You Tians,

listen up.

You are no more than menial servants

who don't even know your roots!

-Exactly. -Exactly.

How dare you scheme against me?

In your dreams!

Alright, enough, Father.

Excuse me. Please let me through.

Third Grandfather!

Uncle Junshan!

What...

What was going on?

Girl, you arrived just in time.

Let me take a breath.

You help me curse those cowardly bastards

and make them come out.

I'm not letting it slide.

Alright, Father.

Zhen.

Yesterday,

the Tian family lowered the price of Styrax resin ink by 40%.

The merchants who originally ordered Cloud Ink and Scholar Ink

all switched over

to order Styrax resin ink.

We also bought our oil and glue at high prices.

Now the cash flow is stuck.

We can't hold on anymore.

My father's been feeling upset.

You see, I didn't keep an eye on him, and he...

Third Grandfather,

Li Ink's Shize Ink

and ancient lacquer-soot ink are

now facing the same situation as Chen Ink.

I was going to discuss this with you.

-I didn't expect you to... -Girl,

discussing is useless.

We have to cuss out these bastards

and settle scores with them face to face!

Yes, settle scores.

Tian Huai'an, Tian Benchang!

You scum of the Huizhou ink industry!

Get out here!

-Get out! -Get out here!

You won't come out, huh?

You can keep hiding,

and I will keep cursing you here!

As long as I, Third Master Chen, am here,

you won't have a single peaceful day!

-Get out! -Get out here!

Third Master!

Get out here!

Third Master!

Third Master!

Third Master!

Third Master, Third Master.

Manager Zhen.

Bad news! Something bad happened!

What is it?

Manager Pan

threw himself into the Xin'an River and committed suicide!

We can't even find his body.

His wife and child were wailing at the Literary Association.

Please go take a look.

You guys keep cursing for me.

Hurry, let's go.

I'll go, too.

This is outrageous!

Third Master Chen!

He was fine this morning.

Yeah.

That animal!

Go back now.

You may all go back.

Indeed!

The Pan Ink Workshop that has been passed down for generations is occupied.

My husband died a tragic death,

leaving only us orphans and a widow.

[Mrs. Pan]

President Hu,

you must help us seek justice!

Mrs. Pan.

Ruogu.

Third Master Chen.

Manager Zhen.

Auntie.

Zhen...

Auntie!

Zhen, what should we do? Zhen...

I already complained about what the Tian family did to Lord Yan.

Although Lord Yan was in a difficult position,

he still wouldn't just let this matter go.

If only Manager Pan could have waited a little longer.

My father originally listened to you, President Hu.

[Pan Ruogu, the Eldest Young Master of the Pan family]

But the Tian family sent people to our place.

They kept making trouble for my father.

My father couldn't stand it anymore...

Scum!

Scum!

Auntie,

don't be afraid.

President Hu,

what do you plan to do now?

What else can we do?

Let's gather everyone in the ink industry first

and raise some money for the Pan family

to arrange the funeral.

We can't let Pan's wife and child have no means of livelihood.

As for the rest,

we can only take it one step at a time.

President Hu, Third Grandfather,

if we give them an inch,

the Tian family will take a mile.

At this rate,

we will just end up waiting for destruction without doing anything.

Now,

we can't let the Tian family's evil deeds

continue to succeed anymore!

But, Zhen,

the Tian family is sailing smoothly now.

Even Lord Yan can't do anything about it.

So what...

What can we do?

The riot hasn't stopped yet.

Only by going out of the city and asking General Yu to step in

and clear trade routes to escort

the merchants in Huizhou

can we have a chance to turn the tables.

Manager Zhen,

you're a woman,

so you might not know.

Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants,

merchants have always ranked last.

Given our status,

how dare we ask the soldiers to help us?

Manager Huang,

we do business with our own capabilities.

We pay taxes to the imperial court

and provide military pay for the army.

Even Master Qi is collecting military supplies here.

Who dares to say that our merchants are inferior?

But...

Since ancient times,

no merchant has ever dared to negotiate terms with soldiers,

nor have soldiers ever protected

merchants' trade routes.

It's absolutely unprecedented.

Manager Zhen,

I'm not being pessimistic.

Even if you want to do this,

I'm afraid you can't even enter the military camp,

let alone meet General Yu in person

and speak up for the merchants of Huizhou.

But if we don't even give it a try,

how would we know how it will turn out?

Manager Pan has just passed away.

No matter what,

we cannot let such a tragedy happen again.

Elders,

everyone says

that the soldiers led by Marshal Qi

all care for the people.

How would they ignore us

and leave us alone just because we merchants

rank last among all walks of life?

Whatever the matter,

justice and reason must prevail.

Besides, I believe

General Yu is also a righteous person.

I'd like to take the risk

and plead with General Yu

for all the merchants in Huizhou!

Qi Jiu!

[Yu Dayong's Military Camp in the Suburbs of Huizhou]

What are you doing?

General Yu, please hear me out.

I know I broke the rules, bringing an outsider into the camp

with no authorization.

I am willing to accept punishment.

But this is a special case.

General Yu, I beg you

to hear Manager Zhen's story.

General Yu.

Guards.

Arrest Qi Jiu

and kick this woman out!

General, Master Qi has nothing to do with this.

My actions today are indeed offensive,

but I had no other choice.

Please take a look at this.

[Elegant Ink Hall]

This is the plaque of the Famous Pan Ink Workshop in Huizhou.

Now that the trade routes are blocked,

the Tian family, as the family offering Tribute Ink,

has been lowering prices unreasonably during this crisis,

taking over small ink workshops,

causing Manager Pan to be overwhelmed by debt and throw himself

into the Xin'an River to commit suicide.

What are you trying to say?

Please show mercy, General,

and open a trade route

to save the merchants in Huizhou.

It's not that I don't want to do it.

Now, there are Japanese pirates in the southeast,

and the north is not peaceful either.

There are riots and bandits everywhere.

The soldiers have exhausted their strength

quelling the rebellions

and can't spare any more forces.

I understand

the challenges you're facing, General.

But the people all say

you are benevolent, honest, and dedicated to the people.

I think you

wouldn't want to see

the people of Huizhou

turn into rebels one by one

in order to survive, right?

What do you mean?

I heard

the cause of this riot

was law-abiding miners

who couldn't bear the heavy taxes and harsh extortion

of the local government.

They had to rebel

just to survive.

Of course, there are people who deliberately incite hatred

and intentionally go against the imperial court.

But most of them

just want a bite to eat,

a livelihood to support themselves,

and a place

to settle down and call home.

General,

as long as public sentiment is unstable,

the riots will never end.

Once the trade routes are clear,

the businesses in the city can operate normally,

and the shops can naturally accommodate

people from outside the city to work,

offering them money and food.

Once they have a place to stay,

who would risk their lives to fight the imperial court?

Please weigh the consequences

carefully, General.

General Yu,

this move can avoid war and slaughter,

without fighting or bloodshed,

and win the hearts of millions of people.

Please think it through, General Yu.

You've said so much.

Do you have a solution?

I have discussed it with Cuiqiao in detail.

The blocked trade route

is only a section at the southern end of Huizhou.

As for the troops,

there's no need to use too many.

Qi Jiu,

you're so audacious.

How dare you plot against me so early?

I wouldn't dare.

However,

the Qi Army is fighting the Japanese pirates and quelling

the rebellion also for the people's sake.

Manager Zhen,

I am entirely focused on quelling the rebellion

and only know military strategies.

Regarding the livelihood of Huizhou,

I know far less than you do.

How about this?

You and Qi Jiu go back first.

I will discuss this matter with Marshal Qi myself.

-Thank you, General Yu. -Thank you, General!

Thank you, General!

You may go back.

Benchang!

Officer Zhang searched through the government office's archive

but failed to find the arrest warrants

issued for Luo Wenqian back then!

Just as I expected.

I got a reply from Nanjing early this morning.

Not only are Huizhou's arrest warrants gone,

but even the things in the Ministry of Justice have been tampered with.

Commander Wu's men searched the entire archive

and couldn't find a single portrait of Luo Wenqian.

Then... Then doesn't that mean our investigation can't go any further?

The fact that nothing can be found simply

proves that there is something fishy.

You mean...

If my guess is right,

this time,

we can kill two birds with one stone.

We'll bring down Qi Jiu first

and then hand over

to Commander Wu a pledge of allegiance he's been waiting for.

Mr. Liao,

the goods have all been counted and checked.

These 2 carts have a total of 15 boxes.

Plus the ones already handed over,

there are 20 carts in total.

For the rest of the trade route,

we'll have to entrust it to you.

Please rest assured, miss.

Don't worry, shopkeepers and managers.

General Yu has issued a military order.

Just leave these goods to us.

Thank you so much.

Farewell.

Thank you, General.

Thank you.

Let's go!

-Yes. -Yes.

As I said, there's no such thing as a perfectly kept secret.

Sister,

after half a month of investigation, we've finally found something.

I've arranged for people

to closely watch the 3 suspicious ink workshops.

As soon as anyone from the Tian family shows up there,

I can get the evidence of their illicit foreign trade.

Wenqian,

you can't keep investigating anymore.

Why?

Come check these out.

This was sent by our people in the Ministry of Justice.

This is from the Ministry of War.

And these are

messages from the Liaodong Military Commander in the north.

They are all investigating your identity.

When did Tian Benchang become so powerful?

The one investigating you isn't him,

but the powerful man behind him.

The Nanjing Garrison Commander,

Wu Ru.

Tian Benchang turned his suspicion of your identity

into a pledge of allegiance

to Wu Ru.

As you know,

Wu Ru and Marshal Qi are at odds in the imperial court.

With this opportunity,

they will go to extreme lengths

to uncover your identity,

using this to accuse Marshal Qi

of the major crime of harboring a fugitive!

But the arrest warrants for me from the Ministry of Justice

are all gone.

We've searched the entire Huizhou Prefecture,

and there's not a single one left!

What other evidence can he find?

Why don't you understand?

The power Wu Ru can mobilize is

far beyond our imagination.

He is no less powerful than Marshal Qi.

Fine.

Even in the best-case scenario

where they can't find any arrest warrants,

the people who saw you when you just arrived in the North,

and your classmates from when you studied in the Capital,

each one of them can testify against you.

If it were just one or two people,

we could handle it.

But if they gather them all together,

how can you possibly argue against them?

General Yu and I

already had a discussion about this matter.

You should leave right now while there's still a chance.

Go to Annam

or Siam.

Anyway, you cannot stay in Huizhou!

Go now!

Sister.

As things stand,

I absolutely cannot leave.

Are you going to wait for them to catch you?

Don't forget,

when you sought refuge with General Yu in the first place,

we already had a contingency plan for today's situation.

After you leave,

General Yu will go to the prefectural office

and accuse you of concealing your identity

and deceiving Marshal Qi.

Only this way can you survive.

And the damage

to Marshal Qi can be minimized.

Sister,

times have changed.

Behind the Tian family is Commander Wu.

Even if I leave,

do you think he will just let it go?

He won't.

He's eager to find some leverage!

In that case,

Marshal Qi, General Yu,

and you, Sister,

will all be implicated.

The only way out now

is to find evidence of Tian Benchang's illicit foreign trade

to turn the tables!

Sister, think about it.

Doing illicit foreign trade requires connections at every step of the process.

What does that mean?

It means the powerful one behind Tian Benchang

is exactly the Wu family!

He can investigate my identity now.

Then why can't I do the opposite,

finding evidence of his illicit foreign trade

before he learns about our plan?

Only by finding evidence of his illicit foreign trade

can Marshal Qi remain invincible

with no flaws before His Majesty.

But if you keep investigating,

you will lose the final chance to leave.

Sister.

General Yu took us in when we were

at our most difficult time.

Over the years, you've been taking care of us all the time.

Although Marshal Qi doesn't know my identity,

he has shown me great kindness.

I can leave.

I can leave everything behind.

But I'd be leaving the most serious problem

to you guys!

I, Qi Jiu, will never do such a disloyal

and unrighteous thing.

What about Zhen?

If you don't care what will happen to you,

then think about Zhen.

If you are put in prison,

it will be a capital offense.

Can you bear to see her grieve for you?

I've already thought it through.

During this time, I have gotten

too deeply involved

with the Li family and Li Zhen.

I'll still say the same thing.

I can go and leave everything behind,

but what about them?

Will Tian Benchang let them go?

Only by finding evidence of Tian Benchang's illicit foreign trade

can I protect the Li family

and not let Li Zhen down.

But before I take action,

I must completely

cut ties with the Li family

and Li Zhen.

I have to insist that they're

pawns utilized by me.

Only then can I keep their family

completely out of this.

Please let me do it, Sister.

I am willing to fight to the bitter end.