Original subtitles

=The Road to Splendor=

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

=Episode 17=

Why did you falsify the records?

Why did you claim Lu Dahu's merits

under the brothers' names?

Yucheng, why did you do it?

Answer me.

Doesn't this happen all the time in the army?

I'm asking about you.

Yang Yucheng.

Why

did you do this?

Fine.

Then let me ask you something, Mr. Zhao.

Why

shouldn't I do it?

Those singers in the pleasure houses...

all they have to do is humble themselves

and smile for the officials,

and their pockets fill with gold.

Those who act as attack dogs for powerful families

may rip out a few throats,

fawn on their masters with wagging tails,

and still climb the ranks.

If everyone else can do it,

why can't we?

The men came all the way out here

to serve in the army.

What for?

Wasn't it so they could

take the heads of enemies

and bandits

and earn military merit?

And what did they get?

No grain.

No salt.

Not even the merit we'd rightfully earned.

How is that fair?

Now I've found a way

to set all that injustice

right.

Why shouldn't we take it?

Lately,

I keep thinking about

when we were salt smugglers.

One job,

one payment.

Sure, we lived outside the law,

but we were free

to live as we pleased.

But now?

Look at us now.

We always do the right thing,

and somehow we're the ones with our hands tied.

If that's what it means

to be an honorable man,

then I'd rather be a villain.

Mr. Zhao,

I've said my piece.

Beat me or punish me. I'll take it.

But when there's a shortcut,

everyone wants to take it.

I'm begging you.

Take the easy way just once.

Bend the knee just once.

Just once.

Yucheng,

when you worked as muscle for those bandits,

did you ever take an innocent life?

There are lines we can cross.

But there are some

we never can.

Yucheng,

do you want a moment of glory,

or a lifetime with a clear conscience?

Fine.

The men and I can put up with the hardship.

But what about Miss Xie?

Are you willing to make her suffer with you for the rest of her life?

We still have a long road ahead.

Why rush?

You have a long road ahead.

What about my mother?

How much time does she have left?

(For Fifth Madam Fu, the Capital) The post station sent

all your letters back.

They said they're short-staffed,

so they won't be delivering letters to the capital anymore.

They also said...

What did they say?

They said

you could try asking for a favor,

but you'd better ask the right person.

It made me wonder

if someone specifically ordered them

not to deliver our letters.

I think I know who it is.

Yu Jingxiu.

No.

That's your favorite hairpin.

You can't pawn it.

I'll go ask Mr. Zhao.

He is already upset.

Don't burden him with this too.

Sanniang,

could you

make another trip to the post station for me?

(Zhao Residence)

There'll be other chances.

What matters most

is that you don't lose your drive.

Don't worry.

I'm no hothead anymore.

I can be patient.

Mr. Zhao, I...

You already know?

If it's something you treasure most,

you should keep it.

I still have some personal savings.

I had Zheng San

give it to a courier at the post station.

Hopefully, the money will persuade him

to make the trip for you.

I'm not in a hurry.

Mr. Zhao,

you don't need to rush either.

There will always be

another chance.

Mr. Zhao.

Did the letter get sent?

They returned the money.

(Just one rank above you,)

(and I can crush you.)

(Ganlin Town is like a swamp.)

(You have to walk over corpses to carve a path forward.)

(Ten lifetimes won't be enough to get ahead.)

(Want to turn things around?)

(That's a bit difficult.)

(But the inspector has flagged your record.)

(If you can't get past this yourself,)

(there's nothing I can do for you.)

(She was born a lady of a noble house.)

(Now she wears rough clothes and eats plain food,)

(her hands scarred from hard labor,)

(no different from the farm women of Ganlin.)

(Why)

(would you let a jewel like her be buried in the dust?)

♪The wind howls, yet never chills my soul♪

♪War drums resound across the vast sky♪

(But what about Miss Xie?)

(Are you willing to make her suffer with you for the rest of her life?)

(Now I've found a way)

(to set all that injustice)

(right.)

(Why shouldn't we take it?)

♪Looking back, this life was a song♪

Your subordinate, Banner Commander Yang,

is credited with killing 36 bandits.

Today, according to the military merit record,

we're conducting a second verification.

Commander Zhao,

is this military merit

genuine?

My Lord,

this record...

is accurate.

Alright.

If it's accurate,

then countersign

the military merit record.

(Zhao Ling)

Miss Xie!

Miss Xie!

Word just came from the army.

Mr. Zhao's military merit

has been approved!

Before long,

he'll be made battalion commander.

Battalion commander!

Really?

Really.

We can go back to the capital!

I'll go make something tasty.

I'll go.

Okay.

Mother...

I can come back to the capital.

I can finally come home.

Mr. Zhao, you're back.

This is wonderful.

We can finally go back to the capital.

I can finally be reunited with Mother.

Back then,

I promised your mother

I'd get you safely back to the capital.

I never expected all these twists and turns

to delay us for so long.

I wouldn't call it a delay.

Mother only asked you to take me back to the capital.

I was the one who thought

there might be another way to get there.

And you stayed with me through the hardest path of all.

Once we're safely back in the capital,

I'll visit your family in person

and complete all the proper betrothal rites.

I only hope

your mother will forgive my earlier disrespect.

She'll like you.

And then,

just as we promised

back in Yongning.

We'll stand together in what is right

and trust each other with our lives.

For these three-grain buns,

steam at least twenty baskets in advance.

Between each layer,

pack plenty of pepper-and-salt cured meat.

Otherwise,

we won't have enough for the journey.

Yes, Miss Xie.

Don't worry.

That'll be more than enough.

Miss Xie,

we found

six sacks of millet in the storeroom.

I'll go to the market now

and have it ground into flour.

Keep three sacks each of grain and flour.

Then go to the market

and have all the mules and horses fitted with double horseshoes.

Also, buy

20 tanned-leather waterskins,

along with fire starters and tung oil.

Dozens of men burn through supplies fast.

Don't wait until we run short on the road

and have to scramble everywhere for more.

Okay.

Take this with you.

It's a long journey,

and it'll only get colder as you travel.

You'll definitely need the extra layer.

(But there are some)

(we never can.)

(Yucheng,)

(do you want a moment of glory,)

(or a lifetime with a clear conscience?)

(Chiyu Post Station) They murdered innocent people!

Please, My Lord,

give us justice!

Commander Wang,

the victim's family claims

Zhao Ling was involved.

You there.

How can you be sure the man was Zhao Ling?

I was too far away that day.

But I vaguely

heard his men and soldiers

calling him Mr. Zhao.

Well...

according to the military merit records,

the unit escorting the supplies that day

was indeed Zhao Ling's.

(Yang Yucheng; Zhao Ling)

(Garrison Military Merit Record)

Zhao Ling

is a soldier I personally trained and promoted.

I don't believe

he'd murder civilians and claim them as military kills.

Commander Wang,

Zhao Ling is your subordinate.

By law,

you should recuse yourself.

Why don't you leave this case

to us?

(Official Document) You're accused

of killing civilians for merit.

Come with us.

Miss Xie!

Sis?

Commander Zhao has been arrested.

Someone reported him

for killing civilians and claiming military credit.

That is a crime

punishable by death.

The Wangur people are attacking!

The Wangur people are here!

(Shaqiong Town Border)

(Hall of Pacification)

Sir.

The Wangur people

launched a surprise attack on Shaqiong.

They breached the defenses

and extinguished the beacon tower.

By the time the six frontier towns realized what had happened,

Shaqiong had already fallen to the enemy.

Pass down my orders.

Muster the troops for battle immediately.

All provisions and weapons

must be ready by dawn tomorrow.

They'll go with the advance force to reinforce Shaqiong.

Yes, sir.

The evidence that you killed civilians and claimed merit has been reported.

There's no chance of overturning the case now.

All that's left is for you to be beheaded.

If you're after me,

why drag innocent people into it?

You can't even save yourself,

and you're still trying to protect others?

The army has confirmed

that your men killed 16 civilians

and claimed them as Wangur to earn merit.

Those civilians didn't choose to be branded as enemies.

But your brothers are so loyal.

Maybe they'd volunteer.

What do you mean?

It's only 16 heads.

Easy enough.

You've got plenty of brothers who've risked their lives with you.

Kill 16 of them

and use their heads instead.

Then you get to live.

Otherwise,

your entire unit

won't even get the chance

to fight at Shaqiong.

The Wangur tribe has attacked the frontier?

Shaqiong has already fallen.

The army is about to march out,

while you

will be stuck in here,

without even making the deployment roster.

Yu Jingxiu!

To go after me,

you disregard the external threat.

The Wangur attack on the pass is a matter of national security.

Aren't you afraid of delaying critical military actions?

You're nothing but a lowborn former salt smuggler.

Don't presume to lecture me about affairs of state.

You can use brute force to seize a few warhorses,

or use some street tricks to win a lantern festival contest.

But so what?

You know nothing of military texts,

nothing of strategy,

and you've never killed an enemy on the battlefield.

All your military merit

came from tricks and shortcuts.

How far do you think that'll take you?

You're the son of a high censor

and the top scholar of your year.

Yet you stoop to this.

Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?

No one will laugh at me.

Everyone wants to be me.

Don't you want to be me too?

Otherwise,

why did you sign

that falsified military merit record?

People are born into different stations.

Some are highborn, others lowborn.

If those at the bottom want to rise,

they have to climb over others to do it,

even if it costs them a piece of themselves.

For every man promoted, another is demoted.

For every man who prospers, another suffers.

Whenever one person gains,

someone else has to lose.

You want to reinvent yourself and rise in the world?

It's not that easy.

You could spend ten years,

even decades,

and still never reach my father's level.

This world has its phoenixes

and its barren branches.

(She was born a phoenix,)

(yet she's perched on a barren branch.)

(She believed you were an honorable man.)

(But look at you.)

(The moment your own desires got in the way,)

(you became just as selfish as anyone else.)

(Zhao Ling.)

(If you have any pride left as a man,)

(then let her spread her wings and go.)

(Don't waste the best years of her life.)

Madam,

Zhao Ling has been framed.

Please help us get justice.

Let me see him.

With war breaking out,

Commander Wang simply can't get away right now.

And I certainly can't let you see Zhao Ling without permission.

You'll have to wait a little longer.

Advisor Li!

The army is about to march.

Why haven't your military supplies arrived?

The soldiers are cold and hungry.

How are they supposed to fight?

Commander Wang,

let's not talk as though we've already lost.

It's not that I'm withholding supplies.

The truth is,

the storehouses

are empty.

Advisor Li,

if that's your answer,

then I'll report this to His Majesty

and ask him to investigate.

We'll see whether someone

has been lining his own pockets.

Very well.

Then you and I

can both submit reports.

Let the Censorate

conduct a proper investigation

into exactly who has been allowing

the garrison

to openly engage

in the illegal salt trade.

If you hadn't spent all these years

skimming our military funds,

why would I ever have needed

to buy illegal salt from bandits?

Skimming funds? Nonsense.

Transport losses,

and storage losses...

every expense

is clearly itemized

in the account books.

I've always been

diligent in my duties

and, as an official,

completely aboveboard.

You...

Commander Wang,

if you really want to take this all the way,

my life isn't worth much.

I have nothing to fear from death.

But we're different.

War is about to begin.

If His Majesty takes notice of this,

one imperial decree

could summon you back to the capital.

And then,

the army would be left without a commander.

You still couldn't

fight the war.

Ninth Young Lady, you're here.

I, Fu Tingyun,

have come regarding the false charges against my fiance, Zhao Ling.

I beg you to investigate the matter fairly, Young Lord Yu.

The charge against him

is a complete fabrication.

Do you have proof?

The proof is right here.

(Declarant: Yu Jingxiu)

These four written confessions

are enough to prove

that you put Zuo Junjie up to

falsely accusing me of adultery.

You, the distinguished top scholar,

broke your word and backed out of the match,

then went so far as to frame a defenseless woman,

all because you were at odds with your mother.

If this becomes public,

your reputation will be ruined.

Are you threatening me, Ninth Young Lady?

Do you think I'm afraid?

If you're willing to show mercy

and let Zhao Ling go,

I'll let this matter go

as though it never happened.

From then on,

we'll have

nothing more

to do with each other.

(Declarant: Yu Jingxiu) You went through so much

to get these four written confessions.

And now you're just giving them up?

What is so special about Zhao Ling

that you'd go this far for him?

I've shown you my sincerity.

I hope you'll accept it.

Do you really think

I did all this

just to get these four confessions?

Do you truly not know

what it is I really want?

Zhao Ling has no hope of recovering from this.

In family background,

in talent...

How can you say this to me?

What about Fan Yake?

I always believed

marriage meant

finding someone to walk beside you,

never failing each other as you rise together.

But you've made me realize

that even within marriage,

a person can still be heartless.

Yu Jingxiu.

I already have someone I choose to stand beside.

I will never treat him as coldly as you treat others.

Guards!

What are you doing?

Sanniang!

Let go of me!

Miss Xie!

Miss Xie!

Let me go!

Don't hurt her.

Miss Xie!

I don't care what you think of me.

But a major battle is imminent.

If Ganlin falls,

it will descend into chaos instantly.

Come back to the capital with me.

During the sandstorm,

you saved my life.

So today,

even if I have to use force,

even if it goes against your wishes,

I won't let you throw your life away.

Shameless.

Mr. Zhao.

Mr. Zhao.

The garrison's been busy mustering troops these past two days.

Security is thin.

We should

escape.

Where's Miss Xie?

She went to see Yu Jingxiu

and still hasn't come back.

Mr. Zhao,

staying alive comes first.

As long as we're alive...

Where could we possibly run?

When you're at the bottom,

people can trample you whenever they please.

You can't even protect the people you care about.

Mr. Zhao.

I was too eager for merit.

I dragged all the men into this.

You all go.

I'll stay.

I'm not leaving.

Neither am I.

But the charges have already been decided.

Even putting aside how we clear our names,

if we miss this campaign,

will we ever get another chance?

The horns haven't sounded.

The war drums haven't beaten.

As long as the army hasn't marched,

we still have a chance.

(Gandu Circuit Military Camp)

Commander.

Three more beacon fires have lit up the north.

The Wangur vanguard

will reach the Black River before dawn.

We can't delay any longer.

The camp is in a panic.

While making my rounds,

I even heard men crying.

Where did these bamboo slips come from?

They were found in trenches from the previous dynasty.

Miss Xie restored some of them.

Some were stored at the cavalry camp.

These past few days,

while preparing supplies,

we came across them again.

We're out of time.

Hurry.

Quick.

Yucheng.

Wait.

Yucheng.

What is it?

Say something.

Your mother

fell ill last night and passed away.

My mother...

Did she leave any last words?

She said...

she wanted you to take care of yourself.

Soldiers!

The enemy beacons are already before us.

I want to show you something.

A hundred years ago,

our people first

took Ganlin back

from the Wangur people.

That battle

lasted a full six months.

And these are

the final letters

those soldiers left behind.

If a young woman

hadn't restored these bamboo slips,

even I might have forgotten

what we're fighting for.

We fight

to honor those recorded on bamboo slips,

whose eyes have watched us through the ages

still hoping we defend our homes and land!

And now,

the Wangur cavalry has returned,

trampling

the land our forefathers soaked with their blood.

What lies behind us?

The gateway to the northwest.

Thousands upon thousands of homes.

And the spirits of every hero

who has given his life on this land over the past century!

Soldiers!

Yes, Commander!

This battle

isn't just about rank and glory.

It's about carving your names

deep into the hearts

of generations to come.

So they will know

that a hundred years ago,

someone held this ground.

And a hundred years later,

we will hold it again!

We will not fail our forefathers!

We will not fail our forefathers!

Let's go!

Take their heads

and earn our merit!

(Bandit Camp)

Murder!

Help!

Murder!

Wretch.

What's all that noise?

How am I supposed to sleep?

They're all dead.

Commander Zhao,

please spare my life.

Mr. Zhao,

we've got

15 in all.

We're still one short.

Even Heaven's against us.

We're only short one head.

That's easy enough.

What do you mean, Yucheng?

You want us to grab some villager and kill him?

Don't talk nonsense.

(Your mother fell ill last night and passed away.)

(My mother...)

(Did she leave any last words?)

(She said...)

(she wanted you to take care of yourself.)

Yucheng!

Yucheng!

- Yucheng! - Yucheng!

Yucheng!

Yucheng!

- Yucheng! - Yucheng!

Yucheng!

Yucheng!

Yucheng!

Bro.

No.

The heads...

you've got enough now.

No.

No.

From now on,

the road

ahead...

I can't walk it with you anymore.

No.

I'm too tired.

I can't go any farther.

Yucheng!

- Yucheng! - Yucheng!

Yucheng!

Why?

Yucheng!

Why?

Yucheng!

Why?

Why?

Yucheng!

Yucheng!

16 heads.

Not one short.

From now on,

there won't be a single stain on your record,

and no one will be able to threaten you with this again.

You really are something.

My wife was born into a great family

and knows the art of dealing with people.

She always says a good gift

is what someone needs, not what's expensive,

something rare, not something ordinary.

So tell me, Commander,

this gift before you...

is it to your liking?

Tell me.

What do you want?

A chance.

And what do you think a chance is?

Fairness.

Fairness?

Fairness means having what everyone else has.

A chance is something no one else has,

something that's yours alone.

That's why they say

talent is easy to find,

but opportunity is rare.

Young man,

think carefully and tell me.

What is it you truly want?

I want to make something of myself.

I want to rise to the highest ranks.

I want the people I care about

never to be bullied or humiliated again.

I want the brothers at my side

never to die because of me again.

If there is

a road in this world that leads all the way to the top,

no matter how hard it is,

I'll climb it one step at a time.

Zhao Ling.

Everything you've said is for yourself.

Why should I help you?

Let me answer that for you.

In this world,

few are born with Yu Jingxiu's advantages.

But there are countless people like you, Zhao Ling...

born with nothing,

with no family or status behind them.

Only when someone like you rises

will those without privilege

be less easily trampled.

And only when men like you hold power

will there be a little less injustice

in this world.

Am I right?

Zhao Ling.

I need a trusted man.

One with ability

and, more importantly, integrity.

Your methods may be unconventional,

but your purpose must be honorable.

Commander,

I, Zhao Ling,

will serve as the army's vanguard

and pledge my life in loyalty to you.

Zhao Ling.

With your character and ability...

Give me five years.

As long as you remain loyal to me,

I'll see you rise through the ranks.

Thank you, Commander.

Pass down my orders!

Zhao Ling

is reinstated to his former post.

He may enter my command tent without prior notice.

Effective immediately,

he will march with the army!

Yes, Commander.

(Next Episode)

Go find the Ninth Young Lady!

Enough!

Ever since you came to Ganlin,

because of that woman,

you've been completely out of sorts!

Don't forget we're your superior officers,

not your fathers!

You brought armed men and forced your way into my residence today.

You have no respect for the law.

I'll petition the Emperor himself!

Then you,

that wretched woman you haven't even married,

- and all you - (Zhao Ling!)

northwestern mongrels

will all come down with me.

♪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♪