Original subtitles

=The Road to Splendor=

(Adapted from China Literature author Zhizhi's novel of the same name)

=Episode 7=

Ninth Young Lady, you're full of schemes,

fully capable of handling all this alone.

Why drag me into this mess?

Unmarried women

can't navigate official social circles.

I need a man by my side.

Helping the Crown Prince with this case

works in both our favor.

Didn't you say

you were tired of everyone taking their cut?

If we pull this off,

we can clean up the salt trade

and give the powerless somewhere to turn.

That's one reason.

The other...

I can earn some credit of my own

and ask the Crown Prince to give me a proper status.

One that no one can simply decide whether I live or die,

or think they can

take me as a concubine whenever they please.

Mr. Zhao,

don't you want

to become the real Jiuweijiao?

That little wretch!

Just wait till I get my hands on him.

What happened?

Master Zhao.

That wretch Zhao played me!

He turned me into his henchman!

That scumbag.

I'll cut him down myself!

Who let you out?

Perfect timing.

I...

He's our informant on this case.

From now on, you two work together

and watch each other's backs.

Me? Work with him?

Yes.

Says who?

(Linchun Station)

Miss Fan.

Madam wants to see you.

What do we do, Miss Fan?

This has gotten out of hand.

Don't panic.

Go get my trump card.

Yes.

What was in that wine you gave me last night?

I only had one cup,

and I could barely keep my eyes open.

There was all that commotion outside,

and I slept through all of it.

Young Master, you've got Miss Fan all wrong.

That wine

came from Madam.

She insisted Miss Fan

put you and Ninth Young Lady Fu together.

Ninth Young Lady Fu?

She's alive?

Please don't be angry, Young Master.

I knew you didn't want it,

so I let her go.

I know I've made a terrible mistake.

I shouldn't have let her leave.

But I couldn't go against your wishes

and do something we'd both regret.

If you truly have feelings for her

and want her as your concubine,

tell me now.

I'll take the blame with Madam

and ask her to call off our engagement.

How could you think that?

I never wanted that.

Then that's all I needed to hear.

Whatever Madam does to punish me,

I'll accept it.

Mother.

How strange.

I sent for Miss Fan.

Why are you here instead?

I had too much to drink last night.

If Ninth Young Lady Fu hadn't set her sights elsewhere,

I imagine I would've woken up this morning

with someone else beside me.

I underestimated that Miss Fan.

A few words from her, and she's turned you against me.

All these years I've devoted to you,

raising you, shaping you...

Apparently it was all a mistake.

Mother.

After all this, you still don't understand?

Whatever came between us

was never because of anyone else.

How dare you!

Her father taught you

all those teachings of the sages

so you could defy your own mother?

But Master Fan

was the tutor you chose for me.

Even what I studied

was decided by you.

My whole life,

you've made every decision for me.

What I eat,

what I wear,

who I see,

where I study...

I've obeyed you in everything.

But when it comes to marriage...

I utterly detest the Ninth Young Lady,

as you well know.

Why must you choose her

to stand before me and irk my eyes?

Do you loathe her, or loathe my decision?

If I hadn't put so much effort into you,

do you think you'd be where you are today?

Your character, your talent...

What part of you was not shaped by me?

And now, over some woman,

you dare speak to me like this?

That's ingratitude.

Even your father was never this heartless.

What are you doing?

When we left Huaying,

you made me a promise, Mother.

I choose whom I marry,

and you decide my exams.

But since you've broken your word,

I suppose I don't need

to go to the autumn provincial exam.

I'll stay home instead

and devote myself to you,

like a dutiful son should!

- What are you doing? - Young Master!

Young Master! What are you doing?

Young Master!

You can't hurt Madam!

Jingxiu.

My son.

I'm your mother.

The lotus seed and its pod are one.

Do you really mean to shut me out?

A seed only becomes a seed

once it leaves the pod.

If it stays trapped inside,

it will never be more than a part of the pod.

Were you the one who dissolved the salt

in water and handed it out

to the people that day?

It was me.

Good.

You've got guts.

Miss Xie has the brains.

Once you're in Yongning Prefecture,

if you need anything, tell Master Zhao.

Solve this case,

and you'll both be highly rewarded.

I...

I...

- will do everything I can. - will do everything I can.

I need access to the officials' wives in Yongning.

For that, I need a respectable identity.

If you're truly willing to help,

tell them

I'm a distant relative of yours

and vouch for me.

The Snow Salt Ballad belongs to Zhao Ling.

The connections are mine.

You bring nothing but your silver tongue,

yet when this is over,

you expect the lion's share of the credit?

Your position makes it difficult

for you to show your face.

If you wish to sit at my table,

either obey my will,

or

take your leave.

You, I can understand.

But who is Zhao Ling?

Who is he to bargain with me?

What I don't understand

is why you'd choose him over me.

Madam,

if you're so busy protecting what you bring to the table

that you can't see anyone else's value,

I'm afraid

you'll end up exactly like my grandmother.

Whether you take that seat is up to you.

The Commissioner of the Western Capital Salt Transport Bureau is named Yan.

He's the one behind the salt permit racket.

The actual deals

are handled by his wife, Madam Yan.

Sounds like she's

our way into this case.

I know the salt trade inside and out.

If I have to,

I can pose as a salt merchant from Jiangnan

and approach her about buying salt permits.

That should draw her in.

I'll start with the circle of officials' wives

and coordinate with Mr. Zhao.

I've lived in Yongning for years.

I know the officials' families and all their connections.

I can make the introductions

and get the Ninth Young Lady inside.

That covers every angle.

Much appreciated, Madam.

Blankets!

(Yongning Prefecture) Tight stitching, nice and thick!

Come take a look!

Miss,

have you been to Yongning before?

Once, when I was little. I came with my mother.

Tea parties, cards, the opera...

The ladies in these circles love them all.

No wonder everyone wants a life like theirs.

It's not all for fun.

There's another game being played underneath.

The husbands conduct official business,

and some things

can't be said out in the open.

So their wives use these gatherings to meet in private

and trade information.

At a gathering like that,

you can't let your guard down for a second.

Miss one look,

or fail to read one remark,

and we could ruin the whole thing.

(Xie Residence)

The Sixteenth Master

arranged the house.

Get some rest.

I've got something to take care of.

Where are you going?

(Tea)

Fight's over.

So who's this guy?

Caught myself a traitor.

I'll question him myself.

No need for either of you to bother.

I want to take over Jiuweijiao's operation.

You were his trusted confidant.

You're the only one

who can help me.

You really have no shame, do you?

If I can't have Jiuweijiao's operation,

then this token is useless to me.

But it seems to mean a lot to you, doesn't it?

Don't burn it!

Now you've got another chance.

So?

(Well Salt. Mahuachi)

The salt warehouse.

So, there are

thirty thousand catties of salt here.

All top-grade.

And there are several more warehouses

just like this one.

Mr. Zhao.

The men are already in place.

Same rules as before.

They answer to you now.

The boats are mine?

The docks are mine too?

They're Jiuweijiao's.

Jiuweijiao's goods,

warehouses,

shops and shipping routes

are all in your hands now.

Why does this token matter so much to you?

Because it'll help me

find my mother.

I got what I wanted.

Now you should get what you want.

Back then,

I only agreed to work for Jiuweijiao for three years.

But then

he took my mother hostage.

That's how

he kept me working for him all these years.

Enough about that.

Thank you for helping me find my mother.

I, Yang Yucheng, will serve you for three years

without taking a single coin.

Enough.

Once we're done in Yongning,

you're free to leave whenever you want.

When Mr. Zhao

risked his life to save me at Biyun Nunnery,

I knew then

that he was a man of honor.

That's why he's different from Jiuweijiao.

He'd never hold a man's mother hostage to control him.

Yucheng, don't worry.

You can trust Mr. Zhao.

As for your mother,

I'll have Sanniang take good care of her.

Thank you, Miss.

Thank you, Mr. Zhao.

(Mother.)

(Mother, I hope you're well.)

(It has been over a month since I left home.)

(I've now reached Yongning Prefecture.)

(At the Fu Residence, I lived in comfort)

(and knew nothing of real hardship.)

(After all that's happened,)

(this journey has forced me to reflect on myself.)

(And I still refuse to accept my fate.)

(I know how deeply you love me)

(and want me to return to the capital.)

(But I don't want merely to survive.)

(Not everyone in this world has a family to shelter them.)

(I want to rely on myself)

(and make a life of my own.)

This little corner of the world

could never hold you forever.

Thanks to the Sixteenth Master's help,

Jiuweijiao's stockpiles, shipping routes

and men in Yongning

all belong to Zhao Ling now.

Then it's time

we paid Madam Yan a visit.

(Madam Yan, Wife of the Commissioner of the Western Capital Salt Bureau)

Your name is Jin Yuanbao?

Yes.

What a coincidence.

Just last night,

I happened to dream of a gold ingot, like your name.

(Madam Yan made a fortune interpreting dreams.)

(Whatever she dreamed of at night,)

(salt merchants had to bring her)

(the exact same thing)

Madam.

(to buy salt permits.)

I had a craftsman make it especially for you.

Solid gold.

The ingot in my dream

was rather unusual.

It was set with the Eight Treasures.

Eight Treasures?

Rubies and emeralds,

blood amber from the Western Regions,

Hotan mutton-fat jade...

Eight kinds in all.

Those are the Eight Treasures.

Remarkable.

It's exactly what I saw in my dream.

Not a single detail is off.

(Notes on Salt Administration, Volume I)

These are the funds the Sixteenth Master approved.

Will this be enough?

What do you need all that money for?

Madam Yu can get you

into Yongning's circle of officials' wives.

But if we want this to work,

we need to play on Madam Yan's greed.

So first, we make a splash.

Get people talking.

Enough to make Madam Yan

tell you exactly what she dreamed about.

Then, Mr. Zhao,

you'll have to learn how a real salt tycoon carries himself.

Don't give yourself away.

Then I suppose

you could teach me.

People of means

drink only the first infusion.

True wealth

is all about making it look effortless.

Try it.

When you shop, never ask the price.

Choose only what few others can have.

Madam Yan has expensive tastes.

Ordinary things won't impress her.

Remember.

When you raise your cup,

keep your wrist steady.

- See good things? Be unimpressed. - Keep it steady.

Be unimpressed.

Even if you're only after money,

you still have to make it seem like you have refined taste.

Maybe you should just show me how it's done.

I'm nothing compared to those who are truly great.

The one you should be studying

is him.

(The People Are the Foundation of the State)

(The People Are the Foundation of the State)

This inkstone

is so coarse it'll ruin a brush.

The ink it produces is muddy too.

You call this an inkstone?

Please don't be angry, sir.

This is the finest Duan inkstone we have.

A Duan inkstone?

The stone is porous,

and it sounds dull when tapped.

I want a greenstone inkstone,

preferably with gold-thread veining.

The stone should be smooth and lustrous,

and ring clear when tapped.

You have an excellent eye, sir.

We do have an heirloom greenstone inkstone.

It's just...

Bring it out.

That inkstone costs five thousand taels.

When Mr. Zhao buys something,

he doesn't ask the price.

Go get it.

- Right away! - Five thousand taels.

Who exactly is this Mr. Zhao?

What's he doing in Yongning?

(Jinxiu Cloth Shop)

Mr. Zhao.

Miss Xie had a new outfit made

and sent me to pick it up.

Look. It's pretty nice.

Nice fabric.

You have a good eye, Mr. Zhao.

This Huzhou silk just came in.

It's nothing particularly rare,

but the workmanship is excellent.

A fine match for the young lady.

How much more do you have?

I'll take all of it.

For a single outfit,

one bolt is more than enough.

You really don't need that much, Mr. Zhao.

I don't mean just your shop.

Every bolt of Huzhou silk in this city...

bring it all to me.

If Miss Xie wants to wear it,

then no one else gets to.

Impressive, Mr. Zhao.

Quite a grand gesture.

Huzhou silk isn't especially rare,

but now I'm the only woman in the city who can wear it.

That makes it more exclusive than gold or silver thread.

(Mr. Zhao learns fast.)

(He's already figured out how to take it one step further.)

(I underestimated him.)

(Mr. Zhao really spends money like water.)

(He sure does.)

(He drops thousands of taels without blinking.)

(Exactly.)

(He throws around a fortune like it's nothing.)

Master Zhao,

I really

can't figure out

what exactly he's up to.

He's burning through money like there's no tomorrow.

What if

this whole thing falls through

and we lose the money too?

Then what?

We chose to trust him.

Let's keep watching

and see what he's really planning.

Madam Yu asked me to pass along a message.

The road ahead is narrow.

She asks that you go first.

Madam Yu. It's been a long time.

It has indeed.

And this is...?

This is Miss Xie.

She's a close friend of my future daughter-in-law.

Madam Yan's birthday banquet is in a few days.

I'm afraid I won't be able to attend,

so I'm sending these two young ladies

to deliver a small gift on my behalf.

Thank you, Madam Yu.

In a few days,

Madam Yan, the Salt Transport Commissioner's wife,

is holding her birthday banquet.

She's invited the ladies of all the prominent families.

I'll be busy entertaining an important guest

and won't be able to go myself.

You'll go in my place.

It'll broaden your horizons.

(Invitation)

Yes, Madam.

Thank you for the introduction, Madam.

But when you go,

you'll need to take someone with you.

Fu Tingyun.

In public,

just call her Miss Xie.

Fu Tingyun knows how a proper young lady should carry herself in these circles.

She learned it all from Old Madam Fu.

You're bright and even-tempered.

Stay close to me. Watch and learn.

You won't be any less capable than she is.

A river does not seek to be first.

It triumphs by never stopping its flow.

This is the first lesson I teach you.

Remember it well.

Yes, Madam.

Go.

Madam,

have you really accepted Miss Fan?

What's done is done.

Since we've decided to welcome her into the family,

she'll have to shoulder her share of the responsibilities.

I'll rein in my temper from now on

and let bygones be bygones.

Let's see how well

she plays the hand she's been dealt.

I really got on her bad side.

She hasn't punished me outright,

but she's using others to put me in my place.

Today she paraded Fu Tingyun all over town.

Anyone who didn't know better

would think Fu Tingyun was her future daughter-in-law.

Don't worry, Miss Fan.

You're marrying into the prestigious Yu family.

You'll be the wife of a future Grand Secretary.

As for the Ninth Young Lady,

all she can do is run around with some shady salt smuggler.

That's as far as she'll ever get.

You're right.

I'm the lady Madam Yu chose herself.

The more something matters to Madam Yu,

the more I have to get it right.

How much silver do we have left?

Less than a hundred taels.

A hundred taels...

(Commentaries on the Four Books) These old books my father left me

are rare and valuable.

You can hardly find them anywhere,

and they contain his handwritten notes.

If I sell them,

they'll fetch a good amount of silver.

Miss Fan,

these books

were part of the dowry your father left you.

And since they're my dowry,

I can do with them as I please.

There are ten chests in all.

Losing three

won't matter.

But if my birthday gift isn't impressive enough

and I lose face,

I'll never get it back.

Miss Fan...

(Invitation)

Mr. Zhao.

Miss Xie's trying to decide on a birthday gift.

What's this?

Something rare.

Wasn't easy to get.

Cook it properly.

Give her a little treat.

I'll go steam it.

Still trying to figure out

what to give Madam Yan?

I've prepared some expensive gifts,

but I'm worried

none of them will truly impress her.

I'd hate to waste all the attention you've built up for us.

(Invitation) Are you short on money?

We could go to the market

first thing tomorrow.

I'm not worried

that it isn't expensive enough.

I'm worried it isn't unique enough.

It has to be something

no one but us could possibly give her.

That's how we show what we're capable of.

On the surface, it's a birthday gift.

But really, it's meant to make people wonder how deep our pockets go.

I've already had dinner.

Why is Sanniang cooking again?

I just took over Jiuweijiao's shipping routes.

I got you something fresh to try.

(I've got it!)

(Yan Residence)

(Tian Wanyi, Daughter of Grand Secretary Tian)

Careful with him.

This little beast of mine

won't sit on anything but brocade.

Is everything ready?

Yes, Madam Wei.

Everything's ready.

Madam Wei, you certainly know how to make an entrance.

I hear Lord Wei has an excellent record.

Once his performance review is over,

you'll be moving up to the capital.

No wonder you're positively glowing.

What good fortune?

More like bad luck.

What married couple wants to live apart?

Quite right.

Tingyun.

Yake.

(Lanyun Pavilion)

Tingyun,

given your low standing,

you should wait here for now.

I'll find the right moment

to introduce you to the ladies.

Miss Fan, daughter of Master Fan, has arrived.

So that's Miss Fan.

She certainly carries herself well.

She does. Just look at her.

Greetings, Madam Yan.

Madam Wei, you know everyone here.

Why don't you make the introductions?

This young lady is quite something.

Her father is a renowned scholar,

Master Fan Kun.

Young Master Yu of the Yu family here in Yongning

is one of Master Fan's finest students.

The two families arranged their marriage long ago.

So she's Madam Yu's future daughter-in-law?

If Madam Yu chose her herself,

she must be the cream of the crop.

Indeed.

I'm here today

on Madam Yu's behalf.

I've brought you an incense burner.

It's gilt-brass, begonia-shaped.

I hope

it's to your liking.

Have incense burners suddenly

become all the rage in Yongning?

Not just incense burners.

Incense, spices...

Madam Yan has received several of each already.

But that's all right.

A few more sets

and she'll have one for every room.

So the gifts happened to overlap.

It's the thought that counts,

isn't it?

Yes. The thought.

May I introduce someone

to you ladies?

Her name is Xie.

We've been close friends since childhood.

Her fiance has quite a head for business.

Aren't you the one with all that Huzhou silk?

Huzhou silk?

This young lady

has been the talk of the town lately.

Is your fiance

surnamed Zhao?

Mr. Zhao.

That explains it.

My friend only just arrived in Yongning.

She came in such a hurry

that she had no time to prepare a birthday gift.

I hope you won't hold it against her, Madam.

No need to worry, Miss Fan.

I did prepare a gift.

That's right.

The matron mentioned

one of today's dishes

was Miss Xie's birthday gift.

(Longevity) Miss Xie,

I can't quite tell

which of these dishes is your gift.

Do tell.

We'd love to know.

Miss Fan,

Miss Xie's gift is quite exceptional,

so we've made it today's main course.

It'll be served at once.

Miss Xie,

tell me.

What is it?

It is fairly well known,

but it's nothing terribly expensive.

Just something fresh for you ladies to enjoy.

These are Huajin crabs from the Lianghuai salt region.

Mr. Zhao had them delivered straight to the kitchen

while they were still alive.

Huajin crab, Yangcheng crab and Shengfang crab

are known as the three finest crabs.

But it is crab season right now.

It's not as though we ladies can't afford them,

so they're hardly priceless.

It's just that

Lianghuai is a long way from Yongning Prefecture.

Just something fresh for you to taste.

But that's exactly what makes them special.

Getting them here fresh is the hard part.

A person can survive such a long journey,

but

how could the crabs possibly survive it?

What's your secret?

How did you get them here alive and fresh?

There's no secret.

You simply ship enough of them.

If a hundred baskets aren't enough, send a thousand.

If that's still not enough, dedicate an entire boat to them.

Then surely enough will survive

for you ladies to enjoy.

The Yellow River is treacherous. Shipping isn't easy.

Who handled the shipment for you?

They must be very capable.

Mr. Zhao

happens to be a salt merchant from Lianghuai.

So you used the salt routes.

No wonder these crabs are so special.

How thoughtful of you, Miss Xie.

Though I hear

the salt trade runs smoothly in Lianghuai.

Here in Yongning,

people have to open new channels.

We're new to Yongning.

Going to the wrong people could get us into real trouble.

On that matter,

I was hoping you might advise me, Madam Yan.

Me?

I know plenty about food and entertainment,

but I know nothing about business.

Let's eat the crabs. Come on.

Of course.

I hate the rain.

It's gotten the hem of my dress filthy.

Thank you both for your hospitality.

Miss Xie.

So that's her fiance?

Mr. Zhao?

Come.

I didn't expect him to be so young and successful.

Indeed.

And quite handsome too.

He is.

Please.

Here.

Mr. Zhao really does treat her well.

Look at him. He's actually...

Come on up.

The longer we stand here,

the more people will see us.

No wonder they say

marrying a good man

is one of life's greatest blessings.

People are talking.

Lord Yan

is over forty with no son,

yet he refuses to take a concubine for Madam Yan's sake.

And now Mr. Zhao is holding his lady's shoes with his own hands.

Then I think of my husband

and it makes my blood boil.

You don't have to go this far.

Wasn't the whole point today

to get people talking?

We've already put on enough of a show

for everyone watching.

What about you?

Did she tell you what she's been daydreaming about?

I know what she wants now.

(Next Episode)

(I come from a lesser branch of the Xie family in Jiangnan.)

(We control some salt trading business.)

(I'd like, on behalf of my fiance, Mr. Zhao,)

(to ask)

(for a salt permit, Madam Yan.)

She was already betrothed to me,

and threw me over to chase after an Imperial Envoy!

For me,

I hate being lied to more than anything.

You came to do business with me,

but hid who you really are.

If you can't explain yourself today,

I'll kill your man.

Run.

They're going to kill you.

♪The past brushes by like a falling leaf♪

♪So light, yet my steps still pause for you♪

♪Through every rise and fall, our memories remain without regret♪

♪Carved into the rings of time♪

♪How I wish I could stay a little longer, but I can't♪

♪I turn away, afraid goodbye will fill my eyes with tears♪

♪Etched deep within my heart, yet buried without a word♪

♪The warmth of your hand in mine♪

♪Still makes us want to believe♪

♪One promise for a lifetime, echoing long after we part♪

♪For one fleeting moment, I found you in the crowd♪

♪Without a word, you lit up half my life♪

♪In silence, a love too deep for words♪

♪Kept close within my heart♪

♪From now on, no one else is worth waiting for♪

♪I turn away, afraid no one will ever come home to me again♪

♪If we can build our future together, no storm can chill my heart♪

♪The warmth of your hand in mine♪

♪Still makes us want to believe♪

♪One promise for a lifetime, echoing long after we part♪