Original subtitles

=The Road to Splendor=

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

=Episode 9=

My eldest daughter

has always been levelheaded.

I'll save this Hotan jade Guanyin of Fertility

as a precious dowry piece for her.

May it bless her with children soon after marriage.

My second daughter loves dressing up.

This set of pure-gold hair ornaments

will suit her perfectly.

As for my third daughter,

it's too early to prepare her dowry.

I'll save this bolt of brocade

for her.

When she comes of age,

I'll have her measured

and make her a dress.

She'll outshine every girl there.

The dowries you've prepared, Madam,

are already more than generous.

Enough to set all three girls up for life.

Money...

I can't guarantee it'll last.

But at least

I can leave them something they can hold on to.

Something they can keep close,

and close to their hearts.

Something to rely on and pass down,

something that stays with them for life.

(Cuifu Garden Poetry Gathering)

Huizhou ink. Chengxintang paper.

Miss Fan, you've made this quite an elegant gathering.

How lovely to see the geese fly south,

while the great roc soars across the vast skies.

The southbound goose

sets its sights afar.

And the soaring roc

rises straight to the heavens.

What better way to celebrate Mr. Yu's success in the exams?

So this really is

a celebration for Mr. Yu.

Why not hold it at the Yu Residence?

Madam Yu said

we should keep things modest.

Besides,

they have a distant relative staying with them,

so they can't entertain guests.

What distant relative?

I don't know the details either.

Come, everyone. Please take a seat.

The autumn view is lovely,

but you must be tired.

- Please. - Come on.

Let's sit down.

This way, please.

Please, sit.

Have a seat.

It's such a beautiful day.

I've prepared some pastries for you.

Please, try them.

These pastries are unusual.

Madam sent these flower cakes for Young Master.

They're quite rare.

I heard

they came all the way from the capital.

They're certainly hard to forget.

There we go.

They smell amazing.

Crisp and not too sweet.

I've tried every kind of pastry you can imagine,

but nothing this good.

Even the shape

is so distinctive.

I think

I've had these before in the capital.

Good eye.

These flower cakes

can't be found anywhere in Yongning.

They simply aren't sold here.

Madam Yu couldn't attend

because she's busy at home,

so she had these specially sent

for all of you to enjoy.

Oh, please. They're not really for us.

I'd say

Madam Yu is simply doting on you, Miss Fan,

letting her future daughter-in-law have a taste of something special.

You always know how to tease me.

(Even the shape)

(is so distinctive.)

(I think)

(I've had these before in the capital.)

I think

I've had them too.

Had what, Madam?

The flower cakes.

At a palace banquet when my husband returned to report on his post.

(They have a distant relative staying with them,)

(so they can't entertain guests.)

(This is Miss Xie.)

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

(Madam,)

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

(to ask for a salt permit.)

(She threw me over to chase after an Imperial Envoy.)

(Mr. Zhao came to Huaying on business.)

(He falsely claimed to be an Imperial Envoy.)

(Mr. Zhao wields immense power.)

(Once you miss,)

(there'll be no more chance.)

Quick!

Go get my husband. Now.

Yes, Madam.

(I've dealt with men sent from above)

(more times than I can count.)

(Western Capital Salt Transport Bureau) (But this one is different.)

(He's from the imperial family.)

Jiuweijiao is such a big shot.

You did business with him

and didn't even tell me?

I...

I had no idea he was an informant.

Those two came through the Yu family,

and so did the flower cakes.

You see what's happening now?

I told you before,

with the heat on lately,

I need you to be vigilant.

Vigilant!

Fine.

If this blows up in our faces,

you and the three girls

are on your own.

Master,

I know I was wrong.

But we're in this together.

It's not too late to fix this.

They can't have found anything on us.

They can't have, Master.

That's strange.

You're the one who extorted bribes from salt merchants.

What's that got to do with me?

The Salt Transport Bureau

has always issued salt permits by the book.

Every one of them is properly recorded.

Whatever you did on your own,

whatever gifts and bribes you took,

how would I know about any of it?

Besides,

did any of those things

ever

end up in my storeroom?

Weren't they all put down

as our daughters' dowries?

Yan,

you're really leaving me to take the fall now?

All these years,

I was your go-between,

cleaned up your messes and collected your gold and silver.

Every coin that passed through my hands,

you handed over to your mistress.

Aside from these few things,

what did you ever leave our daughters or me?

Did you ever actually see me take your money

and give it to some mistress?

Can you prove it?

You...

We all have our lot in life.

If you could've given me a son,

I wouldn't have needed another woman.

Yan!

Give us a little more time, sir.

Once we know where things stand,

we can still turn this around.

It's too late.

Our cover's blown.

Madam Yan will never

do business with you again.

We'll have to move openly now,

arresting them first and questioning them later.

By now, the books may already be doctored.

We were careful every step of the way.

How did they figure us out?

His Highness isn't blaming you.

From here on,

leave it to us.

Don't give up just yet, sir.

We've tipped them off,

but that may not be

a bad thing for us.

Madam Yan has done plenty of dirty work,

but to Lord Yan, she's still expendable.

She must be terrified right now.

Give her what she needs,

and we can turn her to our side.

How?

(Madam Yan took all those risks)

(for the sake of her three daughters.)

(That's where we start.)

(That gives us an opening.)

My Lady.

Look at this.

Isn't it pretty?

Who would've thought

the great Jiuweijiao

would become the court's lapdog?

Since you already know who we really are,

you must know there's no escaping this.

The Crown Prince is investigating the Yan family.

This isn't going to simply go away.

You have no evidence.

You think a few accusations

are enough to convict me?

That depends on what the Ministry of Justice gets out of you.

From what I hear,

everyone confesses eventually.

After all,

abusing official power to sell salt permits for profit

not only

undermines the salt laws,

it also

harms the people.

By law,

it's a grave crime of treason.

A conviction means

ruin for your entire family.

And your three precious daughters

could be reduced to official courtesans.

Let me see!

Why'd you take mine?

My Lady!

Give it back!

Come here!

No!

Give it to me!

Every mother

wants to protect her daughters.

I know

you don't want it to come to that.

If you cooperate now,

there's still a way to make amends.

Give us a sworn statement

implicating Lord Yan.

I'll ask the Crown Prince for mercy

and keep your three daughters out of this.

You

lied to me once already.

Why should I trust you now?

Tell me.

If this all comes out,

what do you think Lord Yan will do?

He'll put

every last crime

squarely on you.

And then,

you may never get another chance

to save your three daughters.

Stop!

Don't run!

You can't see mine either!

Slow down!

Stop right there!

(Sworn Statement)

(Testimony of Madam Yan, nee Jiang)

(Since the thirteenth year of Dacheng,)

(I was coerced by my husband,)

(Commissioner of the Western Capital Salt Transport Bureau,)

(Yan Shouzheng,)

(to sell salt permits illegally.)

(Details of all payments)

(are recorded in the secret ledger.)

(The funds held in his mistress's name)

(all came from illegal salt-permit sales.)

(Sworn Statement) (I acknowledge my own guilt)

(and hereby name the salt merchants involved.)

(I humbly ask that the principal offender be punished)

(to uphold the law.)

(Observe Goodness, Cultivate Virtue)

(Yongning Prefectural Yamen)

(Arrest Warrant) We're here to search.

It's a mistake.

Officer, you must have got it wrong.

We have

a salt permit.

You've gone through a lot, gentlemen.

Save it.

That permit is exactly why we're here.

That gold ingot Madam Yan has...

You gave it to her, didn't you?

Orders from above.

All profits from the salt trade are confiscated,

and you pay a fine.

Otherwise,

it's exile under the law.

But...

I only just got that salt permit.

I haven't even made my money back.

How am I supposed to pay the fine?

If I can't raise the money, we'll be exiled.

Mr. Jin,

the truth is,

that salt-permit business

wasn't really our doing.

When we left Huaying,

we swore to share

both fortune and misfortune.

Well,

we've hardly had any fortune to share.

It's every man for himself.

You can't blame us for that.

Besides,

isn't that

exactly what you did to Mr. Zhao?

Exactly.

Try to understand.

Sorry.

(Yongning Prefectural Yamen)

Take all these salt merchants away.

Yes, sir.

Get up!

Move!

Go!

General Mo.

What brings you here?

What's wrong?

Is there a man in here

named Jin Yuanbao?

Jin Yuanbao...

Let me check.

Yeah, we've got him.

He won't pay the fine,

and no one's paid it for him.

He's waiting to be exiled.

Why?

I'll pay it for him.

You?

What's he to you?

That's going to cost you a lot.

Whatever it costs.

Back then...

We were like brothers.

Well, well.

That's loyal of you.

I appreciate it, General.

Come on. I'll take you to see him.

Might as well see what you're paying for.

All right.

Now that's a good man.

Miss Xie,

thank you for doing this.

No need to thank me, Madam Yan.

There's still

one thing I don't understand.

What is it?

That day,

did I give myself away somehow?

Why did you suddenly pull out?

It wasn't your mistake.

It was those flower cakes from Madam Yu.

You're clever, Miss Xie.

Too bad you're still a woman.

Since ancient times,

a father's legacy passes to his son,

a brother's to his brother.

Never to a wife or daughter.

Just look at my three daughters.

In the end,

everything I did for them came to nothing.

But why must a woman wait to inherit

what she could earn for herself?

There may be rules holding us back,

but rules can be broken.

All the more reason for a woman

to keep her wits about her.

Rather than waste her life waiting for nothing,

she can make her own way

and use her own abilities

to build a life for herself.

You've got ambition.

But this world

has never lacked remarkable women.

You could own countless mansions

and mountains of gold and silver,

but you couldn't keep them.

Why not?

Let me ask you.

When some thug eyes your wealth

and breaks in to take it,

what would you do?

I'd hire strong, capable men

to guard my home.

And what if one day

you take a husband?

Everything you've worked so hard for

becomes your dowry

and part of his family's property.

Then

what will you do?

Then I simply won't marry.

And what if someday

the men of the Fu family learn you're still alive

and claim, in the family's name,

that everything you own belongs to them?

That's the law.

It recognizes sons as the heirs.

In the end, you still need a man.

Even if you choose carefully

and find someone like Zhao Ling,

for the rest of your life,

you'll have to keep one eye on him.

Otherwise,

you'll end up

exactly where I am today.

That is

a woman's lot.

Thank you for the warning, Madam.

You've trusted me with the truth.

I promise your daughters will be protected.

You have my word.

(Miss Xie, you're a clever woman.)

(So take this advice from me.)

(A woman)

(should never give anyone her whole heart.)

(Only self-interest)

(will never betray you.)

How did it go?

Madam Yan pulled out at the last minute,

but it wasn't our mistake.

The leak came from the Yu family.

That explains it.

What are you up to now?

Saving your life.

Cut it out.

Before,

all I cared about was money.

I trusted the wrong people

and misjudged you.

I don't owe you money anymore,

and I don't owe you a favor.

So spare me the speech.

If our paths cross again,

we'll owe each other nothing.

Zhao Ling!

I, Jin Yuanbao,

will always regard you as my brother!

Let this be my pledge.

I'll never make the same mistake again!

(Yu Residence)

Jingxiu has two branches of the family to carry on.

His marriage is no small matter.

Nothing can be left to chance.

On the guest list,

every prominent family in Yongning,

every friend and relative...

not one can be left out.

The wedding feast should run for at least three days.

The first day for his fellow officials,

the second for friends and family,

and the third

for the local folks.

Madam,

perhaps we could invite

His Highness

to the wedding banquet.

You've kept His Highness's investigation at the separate courtyard

completely secret until now.

But the case is over,

so there's no need to hide it anymore.

If we invite His Highness

and Young Master gets even a few words with him,

it could only help

with his future examinations.

If you truly want to,

send over some wedding cakes.

Whether His Highness attends or not,

receiving even a gift from the royal household

would be a great honor for the Yu family.

Yes.

Madam,

an honored guest has arrived.

Welcome, Your Highness.

I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding, Madam.

His Highness is occupied elsewhere.

He sent me

to escort a friend here.

Madam Yu.

I hear there's to be a wedding here soon.

You've shown me great kindness before,

so I've brought a wedding gift.

Madam Yan saw those flower cakes

at Miss Fan's poetry gathering

and recognized them as something served only in the palace.

It nearly compromised His Highness's entire salt reform operation.

Please believe me, Miss Xie.

I truly knew nothing about this.

From now on,

I'll make sure it never happens again.

This can be taken one of two ways.

At best,

it was an innocent mistake,

a failure to keep

your household in line.

The Sixteenth Master may let it go

for old times' sake.

But at worst...

Miss Xie, you are

one of the Sixteenth Master's most trusted people.

What do you want?

You are clever, Madam.

Help me obtain one thing I want,

and this matter

will never be mentioned again.

When Zuo Junjie falsely accused me,

his accusations were baseless,

yet I had no way to defend myself

because someone I trusted dearly

gave false testimony for him.

Madam,

please...

Since you two old friends have some catching up to do,

take her there.

The Yu family needs something from me now.

If you want to keep this marriage

and preserve your dignity,

sign this written confession.

(Declarant: Fan Yake)

On the night of the poetry gathering,

did Tingyun come to see you?

No.

(Signature of Declarant: Fan Yake)

Press your thumb.

Tingyun.

I'm begging you.

Let me go this once.

Tingyun!

Tingyun!

Tingyun!

(Signature of Declarant: Fan Yake)

(Written Confession)

You must be feeling pretty pleased with yourself.

From the very beginning,

you never thought I was worth anything, did you?

People see

what they already believe in their hearts.

I never looked down on you.

You overthink everything

until you trap yourself in your own suspicions.

When we were children,

we truly cared for each other.

That's why I never guarded myself against you.

Yake.

I bear some blame for this too.

I failed to understand

what you kept hidden inside,

and that left you feeling wronged.

Maybe we were never meant to walk the same path.

Forcing ourselves to stay together

would only make us both miserable.

Fu Tingyun.

So you finally admit it.

You're Huaying's model young lady,

born into a fine family.

And what am I?

I'll always be nothing but your shadow.

You were born a magnolia,

so pure and above all others.

And me?

I'm nothing but mud.

If I don't cling to something higher,

how else am I supposed

to get ahead?

Maybe I was born a magnolia.

But that doesn't mean

I deserve to be plucked and trampled underfoot.

And you've never stepped on anyone?

Can you honestly say you didn't use Madam Zuo

and her chastity memorial arch to raise your own standing?

And my father.

So what if he has students throughout the land?

You still used him to land yourself a wealthy husband.

You're right.

And I've already paid the price for it.

Now

it's your turn to pay

for what you've done.

I stole your marriage from you.

Now you've gotten what you wanted

and ruined mine in return.

I don't believe this marriage

will take you anywhere higher.

We're

even now.

I won't come after you again.

You weren't the main culprit in what happened at Huaying.

Madam Zuo and her brother were far worse.

You lost your way

because Madam Zuo planted the seeds of it.

One day, I'll settle things with her too

and make her answer for what she caused.

Don't worry.

Your marriage will still go ahead.

The Crown Prince has already seen the wedding invitation.

It's too late for the Yu family to back out.

You slandered me

in front of my future mother-in-law.

How can I ever have a smooth path ahead?

♪May all common folk share one roof, every lantern rest in peace♪

Even without me,

your days ahead

will never be smooth.

♪I enter this game without regret♪

♪Let the past remain beyond recall♪

♪Trade it for boundless blue skies to fly free and far♪

The way Madam Yu looks at you

is exactly how my grandmother looked at Madam Zuo.

Yake.

Take care of yourself.

Madam Zuo...

♪With wit and strategy, I enter this game without regret♪

♪Though each move is forced upon me♪

♪May it buy the world one moment's peace from the storm♪

♪I crave no clarity from outside my soul♪

Thank you, Madam.

If you simply wanted to clear your name,

you didn't need to go to all this trouble.

You could have just asked me.

I wouldn't have refused.

By doing this,

you may have proven that Miss Fan lacks virtue,

but aren't you afraid

you've made yourself an enemy?

Even if I don't see you as an enemy,

does that mean you won't see me as one?

I only wanted to build a good life for myself.

But whenever I think of what you've done,

I can't feel at ease.

I need something I can hold over you

to make sure that from now on,

we stay out of each other's way.

So you weren't trying to clear your name.

You wanted something to protect yourself,

so no one would dare push you around again.

Exactly.

But you're still on your own.

Once this is over,

where will you go?

Got the written confession?

Yes.

My business is settled.

Now I'd like to ask about you.

Me?

I'd like to offer some advice

about what you should do next.

I'm listening.

Do you want to live rich for a while,

or live in peace for good?

Right now,

everyone believes you are Jiuweijiao.

By sheer luck,

you've ended up at the top of the salt-smuggling trade.

But what you don't see

is that all that wealth has put a target on your back.

Especially with the Sixteenth Master watching.

Once the salt case is closed,

even what you've done to help may not save you.

You have a point.

Instead of waiting for your enemies to hunt you down

or the court to come after you,

turn over everything that belongs to Jiuweijiao.

The Sixteenth Master may reward you

for what Zhao Ling has done.

That's something you can actually build a life on.

What about you?

What do you want?

To tell the Sixteenth Master the truth,

then return to the capital

and find your mother?

The world's wide open to you now.

Take care of yourself.

Your Highness, I wish to surrender all of Jiuweijiao's holdings.

Please review the accounts.

These assets amount to nearly one hundred thousand taels.

They can be used for disaster relief

to help those in immediate need.

Truly brave and strong in arms,

unyielding to the very end.

Today,

I see you in a new light.

Zhao Ling.

You rendered great service in this investigation

and deserve a reward.

I've already decided.

For your reward,

take my visiting card

and join the army.

I'm grateful for Your Highness's favor.

But I have no desire to join the army.

I only want to be a salt merchant

and live a quiet, steady life.

You really are a reckless fool.

Do you even understand what His Highness's name carries?

Think carefully.

If you miss this chance,

you may regret it for life.

What a pity that would be.

Join the garrison,

and you'll have horses and firearms,

and many chances to hone your skills.

How could you not want that?

You have three days.

Think it over, and give me your answer.

Zhao.

Zhao.

His Highness is steadily gaining strength.

One day, he will surely become a wise and virtuous ruler.

You're the first man

of the martial world he's personally sought to recruit.

Think very carefully.

Yes.

Thank you for the advice.

But I've made up my mind.

No need to persuade me further.

When we cross paths again,

we'll have a chance to spar.

Do you understand now?

His Highness

may seem to have given Zhao Ling three days,

but those three days are really for you.

You'd better think of something

and help His Highness

keep such a valuable man.

What's all this about?

Mr. Zhao.

I need to go home.

My mother sent word that she hasn't been well.

Same here.

I've been away for years.

It's time I went home too.

You should.

Safe travels.

We're off, Mr. Zhao.

Go on.

Let's go.

Mr. Zhao.

In a few days,

I'm leaving too.

After that,

our paths will part.

Take care.

Take care.

♪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♪

Though this matter could have been kept quiet,

I could not ease my conscience,

so I came to confess.

My foolish daughter-in-law

nearly jeopardized an important matter.

Even death would not be enough.

I beg Your Highness to forgive her youthful recklessness.

When I return home,

I will discipline her strictly.

I warned you long ago, Madam.

When the true scripture is finally obtained,

you too may ascend the lotus throne.

I failed to keep my household

in order.

I ask Your Highness to punish me.

Rise, Madam Yu.

Lord Yu

is one of His Majesty's most trusted ministers.

Though you were careless,

I won't be too harsh.

But as for the salt administration,

there can be no reward for your contribution.

It is the Yu family's duty

to ease Your Highness's burdens.

I would never dare claim credit.

I shall take my leave.

The most important thing still isn't settled.

If I'm going to marry,

I'll make sure it's a grand affair.

In three or five years,

once my life is secure,

all anyone will remember

is that I'm the eldest young madam of the Yu family.

Who will remember today's humiliation then?

If I lose my nerve now,

then I'm truly finished.

Bring me the dowry list.

How can this be?

I can overlook the cabinets not being made of expensive wood,

but this vanity box...

I'll use it every single day.

How can it not be made of huanghuali wood?

People will laugh at me.

Miss Fan,

a single huanghuali vanity box

costs at least a hundred taels of silver.

The more people look down on me,

the more I have to keep up appearances.

If we don't have enough silver,

sell three more chests of manuscripts.

(Next Episode)

(It's never easy for a woman to make her own way.)

(If I must find one tree strong enough to shelter me,)

(you're the one I trust most.)

Perhaps in this world,

the strongest alliances are forged

when sincere hearts yield mutual benefit,

and that benefit

ripens into genuine affection.

Bound by shared interests,

we may rely on each other fully.

Mr. Zhao, will you marry me?

For you,

marriage

is nothing but a bond of interests

and a path to advance your standing?

♪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♪