Original subtitles

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=The Road to Splendor=

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

=Episode 21=

Stop following me around.

Cousin.

People will get the wrong idea.

Look.

What's this?

Why do you have my undergarment?

Give it back!

You'll never explain this.

Either come with me,

or

I'll take this bodice

straight to your aunt and ask for your hand.

How dare you smear my reputation?

Give it back!

No.

Give it back!

No!

Stop!

What are you doing?

If you truly care for this young lady,

then propose to her properly.

Don't resort to such vile tricks.

If you ever try to ruin another woman's reputation,

you'd better watch your life.

Don't worry, miss.

Nothing happened here.

We won't tell anyone.

Truly a match made in heaven.

Greetings, Commander Zhao.

I come from Anzhou.

I've traveled all this way

because of the salt reform.

You're the Anzhou merchant?

I am.

I've brought a gift on behalf of the Anzhou merchants.

My niece

is gentle and obedient.

I hope you'll accept her, Commander Zhao.

As for the two merchant factions,

the Yan merchants and the Anzhou merchants,

we'll see which side you favor

by whether you take the girl.

Exactly.

The salt reform is no small matter.

The rivalry between the northern and southern merchants

is already difficult enough to manage.

He won't reject you to your face

and openly humiliate the Anzhou merchants.

An opportunity like this is rare.

Zhao Ling is overseeing the salt reform.

If your niece

marries into his family,

he'll be able to help

with the salt trade.

Thank you for the advice, Madam.

Mr. Zhao didn't say he'd accept her,

but he didn't refuse her either.

No wonder Miss Wu bears some resemblance to you.

So she was specially prepared

as a gift for Commander Zhao.

Miss Xie hasn't even married him yet,

and he's already taking a concubine?

Exactly.

Young Madam,

Young Master is here to pick you up.

Jingxiu.

Young Lord Yu even came to pick her up himself.

He really does adore her.

Get in.

Safe travels, Miss Xie.

(Yu Residence)

(Fu's Notes)

You and Young Master

have been married for five years, and he's never taken a concubine.

Those two aren't even married yet,

and Zhao Ling

is taking another woman in.

Young Madam, you certainly made the better match.

What good

is choosing a husband for status and power alone?

No matter how successful Zhao Ling is,

without true love,

he may still stray.

You and Young Master married for love,

so naturally your position is secure.

This painting

is truly priceless.

Young Master will surely love it.

Put it here...

Or...

Maybe there.

I never knew

he still had feelings like this.

Please don't be angry, Madam.

Perhaps a servant put it here by mistake.

There's no need to make excuses for him.

At the first-birthday banquet,

he insisted on adding the sesame flatbread.

I thought it was strange even then.

This all goes back to what happened in Huaying.

It forced me

to compete with two girls.

And now look at this.

After all he went through

to marry his precious narcissus,

he spends his days painting magnolias and thinking of someone else.

How did a family like ours

raise such a hopeless romantic?

Please don't be angry, Madam.

Hurry.

Take it away.

(Rosy in the Evening Glow)

Mother, you wanted to see me?

I've set aside

five hundred taels for you from the household funds.

Take it.

You're too generous, Mother.

I merely followed your instructions

and had Miss Wu imitate her somewhat.

Consider it

a reward

for handling the matter well.

Buy yourself some cosmetics,

or have a few new dresses made.

Whatever you choose,

just don't skimp on yourself.

Thank you, Mother.

Men spend their days away from home,

working themselves weary.

When they come home,

they want comfort

and peace.

So where effort is needed,

don't grow careless.

Don't worry, Mother.

I'll be sure

to try even harder.

Go on, then.

Madam, you do care about Young Madam after all.

We're all women.

When something like this happens in a marriage,

there's bound to be trouble at home.

I only hope she understood what I meant.

Young Madam, you handled the matter very well.

Madam Yu knows that.

Mother has never cared how I dress before.

Could she think that after giving birth,

I've let myself go?

You're overthinking it, Young Madam.

You handled this matter well.

Madam Yu may not say it outright,

but in her heart,

she knows exactly what you've done.

(Xie Residence)

Honestly, Mr. Zhao...

he didn't even

reject Miss Wu to her face.

He has his reasons.

The merchant dispute

is tied to the salt reform.

He probably couldn't reject her outright.

He still should've done something to reassure you.

It's been a whole night,

and he hasn't even come to apologize.

If you keep letting this slide,

who knows what kind of trouble it'll cause.

What kind of trouble?

A new pastry shop opened at the end of the alley.

I heard from a colleague

that their chestnut cakes are quite good.

Try one.

See if you like it.

(Chestnut Pastries)

Mr. Zhao, you came all this way

just to bring me chestnut cakes?

Of course I'm here about Miss Wu.

There's no way

I'm taking her in.

That's enough.

He does care about you after all.

Besides, Miss Wu

comes from the Anzhou merchants.

If I just take her in,

then in the future,

if someone wanted to plant someone

by my side to scheme against me,

who knows what could happen?

So that's why you

won't take Miss Wu in?

It's difficult for me to handle this personally.

The salt reform is under intense scrutiny.

Anything I do

will be read as a political signal.

And I don't want to offend the Anzhou merchants.

So could you

help me settle the matter?

So you came here to put me to work.

You want to use me as your shield?

Life together is like rowing a boat.

Two rowers will always beat one.

Besides, with your abilities,

even ten Miss Wus

wouldn't be a match for you.

And if I weren't so capable?

Would you simply take her in?

How could you not be?

As far as I'm concerned,

there's nothing to settle.

Why don't you just take Miss Wu in

so the salt reform can proceed?

Miss Wu

isn't just connected to the Anzhou merchants.

She also has ties to the Yu family.

The Yu family

is taking advantage of the fact

that I can't openly refuse,

trying to plant someone by my side.

That's why

I absolutely cannot take her in.

Why not?

What...?

She didn't mean that... right?

(Five years apart.)

(Every time Mr. Zhao comes, it's about work.)

(Instead of getting married, you've become colleagues.)

(Xie Jewelry Shop) Let's go.

- Sis. - Over there.

Miss Xie,

there's a customer

who's impossible to please.

We've shown her

all our hair accessories.

If it's expensive,

she says the design is tacky.

If the design is good,

she complains

about the materials.

And when the materials are good,

she says it's too expensive.

Don't worry about her.

She's here for me.

Miss Xie.

This hairpin is meant as a gift for you.

That's why I was being so particular.

I had no idea

this shop belonged to you.

Please forgive me.

We're open for business.

Anyone who walks in is a customer.

But this gift of yours, Miss Wu,

is far too generous.

How could I possibly accept it?

Of course you can.

I've long heard

that you, Miss Xie,

having made the county gazetteer three times.

and are quite an extraordinary woman.

You have both wisdom

and good fortune in abundance.

If in the future

we are to live under the same roof,

I will respect you

and defer to you in all things.

What do you mean by that?

Who says you're going to live with us?

A woman's reputation

can be a matter of life and death.

At the Willow-Shooting Gathering that day,

didn't he already...?

Could it be

that I misunderstood?

Yes, you did.

You're a sharp woman, Miss Wu.

You're determined to marry into the Zhao family

because you know

there are no parents-in-law to answer to,

and no sisters-in-law to make your life difficult.

Once you bear him a child,

you'll have secured your place.

But for all your careful planning,

you forgot one thing.

What if I'm jealous

and make your life miserable every day?

How could that be?

You're known for being broad-minded, Miss Xie,

a model for other women.

How could you possibly mistreat me?

I can be broad-minded about other things.

But when it comes to love and marriage,

I won't share even a fraction of his love with another woman.

Since you know my past,

you should know

what I'm capable of.

Do you truly wish

to contend with me?

I won't make things difficult for you.

I know this isn't your decision to make.

Have your aunt

come speak to me.

But how could you possibly persuade my aunt?

Everyone wants different things.

Everyone has their own desires.

That's why conflict never ends

and schemes never cease.

But even the cleverest scheme

has flaws.

An open strategy is different.

Give each side what it wants,

and both sides can benefit.

(Xie Residence)

Greetings, Miss Xie.

We meet again.

When Madam Yu persuaded you to offer up your niece,

did she mention that Commander Zhao

was overseeing the salt reform?

Though I suspect

she only told you half the story

and kept the rest to herself.

Otherwise,

a shrewd businesswoman like you

would never agree to a losing deal.

Miss Xie, you give me too much credit.

I'm only a merchant's wife.

All the twists and turns of official politics

are quite beyond me.

It's true that Commander Zhao is overseeing the salt reform,

but it's only a temporary assignment.

Once things settle down,

his duties may have nothing to do with salt at all.

By then,

even if he wanted to intervene,

he might have no power to do so.

Is that true?

You've been in business for years, Madam Wu.

You can judge for yourself.

Think about it.

Commander Zhao's power base is in the northwest.

It relies on the grain-for-salt system,

grain transport,

and frontier defense.

If one day

his own position forces him to avoid a conflict of interest

and step away from the salt reform,

then, Madam Wu,

what will you do?

That Madam Yu.

She fooled me with half the truth.

Once she had me convinced,

she conveniently left out that Zhao Ling

was only serving in a temporary post.

I nearly fell right into her trap

and made

a disastrous deal.

Good thing it's not too late.

Miss Xie

really is something.

Even someone as calculating as your aunt

was no match for her.

All these years,

I've felt stuck in the mire,

pushed around

and worn down by Aunt,

with no one to turn to,

always living in fear.

If I hadn't met Miss Xie,

I'd still think it was simply my bad luck

that I hadn't found

a husband good enough to satisfy Aunt.

Isn't

that true?

Cairong,

I think I've found my answer.

If I want a place of my own in this world,

I can't rely on

what kind of husband I marry.

I have to rely on myself

and build a life of my own.

Look at Miss Xie.

She never seems

to lose her composure.

The worst thing a woman can do

is let herself be trapped by matters of love.

Ninth Young Lady knows exactly where to strike.

She never fixated on household rivalries,

yet she settled them all the same.

She reminds me of myself back then.

I used to act just as decisively.

Madam Wu

is a merchant after all.

All she sees

is profit.

Never mind.

In a marriage,

nothing is worse than growing apart while living together.

Ninth Young Lady may be able

to handle the bigger picture,

but can she handle what lies in her own heart?

Has she really

let go?

Huchen, you kept your head under pressure this time

and handled the merchants well.

I wouldn't dare take the credit.

I owe much of it

to Grand Secretary Tian's guidance.

Minister Tian,

could you perhaps postpone

your medical leave?

If I let a pillar of the court like you go,

it'd be like losing my right hand.

Your Majesty,

you flatter this old servant.

I was only examined by the Imperial Medical Bureau last month.

Never mind, then.

Your health comes first.

Have some aged wild renshen sent over

for Grand Secretary Tian's medicine.

Yes, Your Majesty.

(Virtue Blesses the Hometown)

What are you doing?

I'm going back to Ganlin.

Mr. Zhao,

take care of yourself.

What's wrong?

Wait.

No, wait.

Why?

Isn't everything

going well here in the capital?

Keep these three thousand taels

for your own use.

The salt reform has only just gotten underway.

From now on,

you'll have plenty of expenses and people to deal with.

And one more thing.

Don't let a lack of money tie your hands,

or tempt you into taking anyone's bribes,

only to

lose far more than you gain.

Is this because of

what happened with Miss Wu?

I swear

I never intended to take her in.

Honestly,

it really was all for the salt reform.

Mr. Zhao, you always have a reason for everything.

I'm the one who overreacted.

I'm just jealous.

Has someone been gossiping about us?

I'll have their tongue cut out.

Chuan!

Biao!

Mr. Zhao,

do you really not understand,

or are you pretending not to?

- Mr. Zhao. - Mr. Zhao.

- Who? - Who?

Miss Xie,

are you moving away?

We'll help.

Okay.

Come on, then.

Miss Xie, where are you going?

Back to Ganlin.

Back to Ganlin?

This is all your fault.

All I want now

is a peaceful life.

There's nothing wrong with you trying to rise in the world,

and I don't blame you for it.

But being caught up in all of this

has worn me out.

Mr. Zhao,

do you really not understand why she's angry?

I just think...

she's gotten quite a temper.

It's been five years.

What's wrong with her having a little temper?

A woman wants to be reassured.

She's waited five years for you.

And the moment you're reunited,

along comes some Miss Wu.

Who wouldn't be upset?

I swear...

Are you really just going to let her leave?

She's always cautious.

She won't actually leave.

Mr. Zhao,

that's an awful lot of luggage.

This doesn't look like a bluff.

Seriously?

Fine.

Go to Xie's shop at once

and have someone ask Fifth Madam to come over.

I...

I...

What am I supposed to tell her?

Just tell her

Miss Xie is upset

and ask her to come talk some sense into her.

Zhao Ling!

If you dare disturb my mother,

just try.

I...

What a blockhead.

I made it that obvious,

and he still didn't understand.

He should understand now.

Don't be upset, Miss Xie.

It's fine.

I...

I was pretty convincing, wasn't I?

Very convincing.

(Virtue Blesses the Hometown)

We've come such a long way

to finally make it to the capital.

I don't want to see

you and your mother separated again.

I know you're still angry with me.

How about this?

Don't leave.

I'll stay away

for a while.

(Yunshe Hut)

Good child.

Mother.

What are you doing here?

Leave these chores

to me.

Really,

you don't have to come every day.

(Madam Shen, Fu Tingzhuo's Wife) Tingzhuo is away studying

and can't tend to the family,

so you've had to shoulder all this yourself.

Father

was only meant to mourn for three years,

yet now

he's lived here in mourning for seven.

Not even the bitterest winters have stopped him.

Such devotion to his parents

is something we younger generations

ought to follow.

From the city to here

takes two hours even by sedan chair.

A round trip

takes four hours.

It's one thing for old people like us

to spend our days here.

(Fifth Master Fu)

But you're still young.

You're giving up half your day

every time you come.

Mother,

it's the least I should do.

Allow me.

Father.

Mother,

let me get you another one.

There's an opening here.

Wait.

An opening?

What opening?

At the Ministry of Personnel?

The Ministry of Revenue?

Even the Ministry of Rites would do.

Did you

hear about an opening for my reinstatement?

I meant

there's an opening in the rim.

An opening in the cup's rim.

Never mind.

An opening is good.

An opening is good.

Give Madam the cup without an opening.

I'm feeling a little unwell.

I'll excuse myself.

An opening...

It's a sign from heaven!

Your Majesty,

all preparations for the salt reform are complete.

The salt merchants in every region have been appeased

and are willing to cooperate with the new policy.

I recommend

piloting it first in Anzhou

to see how effective it is.

I submit it all

for Your Majesty's review and decision.

You've handled this matter well.

The northwest has just sent some fine sheep as tribute.

I'll grant you one.

As for the Anzhou Imperial Salt Censor,

I

want to see results from the salt reform as soon as possible.

So

I need someone decisive.

This is a matter of great importance.

Besides the candidates proposed by the Ministry of Personnel,

I need you

to help me

find another suitable match.

Yes,

Your Majesty.

How festive.

Is today's meal

not to your liking, Father?

Something's missing.

What's missing?

A sheep.

Father,

you've been in mourning for seven years

and abstaining from meat.

Mutton...

You fool.

Who said I wanted to eat it?

The word for sheep

signifies good fortune.

It is an honor bestowed upon high ministers.

As a mark of imperial favor,

His Majesty often grants

a live sheep to his most trusted ministers.

One of the Fu ancestors

received the honor when he was appointed Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince.

He was once granted one too.

Sadly, in my generation,

we've never seen such glory again.

Young people know nothing of these customs.

He receives an imperial gift,

yet doesn't know to honor his elders with it.

Commander Zhao surely doesn't know the tradition.

If he did,

he would surely send it over.

He doesn't know any better,

but surely you do!

I was foolish.

I'll send someone at once

to Commander Zhao's office

and say the elders of the family

would like to see His Majesty's imperial gift.

(To Shichang: Anzhou Imperial Salt Censor is open.)

(The time is ripe. Act now.)

It won't be long

before I can wear you openly.

This is the opening.

Miss Xie,

Mr. Zhao sent this over.

It's a tribute sheep

bestowed by His Majesty.

He especially wanted you

to have a taste.

Then...

is he coming back for dinner today?

Mr. Zhao said

he's been very busy with official matters

and can't get away,

so he won't be coming back.

On the ninth of every month,

Mr. Zhao always brings the lamp oil himself.

These past few days,

perhaps his official duties

have been especially demanding.

Is he really busy,

or does he just not want to come?

Take the sheep back!

We're out of lamp oil!

How are we supposed to enjoy it?

Send it back exactly as it came!

Sanniang,

does this mutton

need lamp oil to roast it or something?

What am I supposed to tell Mr. Zhao?

You fool.

Tell him exactly

what Miss Xie said.

Don't change

a single word.

Miss Xie said,

"We're out of lamp oil.

How are we supposed to enjoy it?

Take the sheep back."

That's exactly what she said?

"We're out of lamp oil!

How are we supposed to enjoy it?

Take the sheep back!"

I...

That's exactly what she said.

What on earth is she mad about?

Do we roast mutton

with lamp oil?

I didn't bring it to her.

She didn't come get it either.

Mr. Zhao.

Mr. Zhao.

(To Commander Zhao) A letter came from the Fu family.

Which Fu family?

Which one do you think?

Miss Xie's own father,

Fifth Master Fu, of course.

Back then, Fifth Master Fu

was implicated in the Huaying salt case

and nearly lost his post.

Old Madam Fu died around that time.

He used his mourning leave

to preserve his official standing for the time being,

then built a mourning hut at Phoenix Ridge

outside the capital.

He abstains from women,

eats no meat,

and wears only coarse mourning clothes.

But I hear Old Madam Fu's grave

still stands outside his hut

instead of in the Fu ancestral cemetery.

He's practically buried himself there with her.

Mourning only requires three years,

yet he's kept this up outside the capital for seven.

(May you win imperial favor.)

He's probably trying to build himself a reputation as a devoted son

while waiting for a chance to return to the office.

The men of the Fu family

have finally learned to guard their own arches.

I suppose that's some improvement.

Have the horses ready tomorrow.

I'm going to Phoenix Ridge.

(To Commander Zhao, Jinwu Vanguard Office)

He hasn't asked about his daughter once in five years.

And now he sent a letter?

Fifth Master Fu

must be getting impatient to return to the office.

Why haven't you come in?

I wouldn't dare enter

without your invitation.

Come in.

I've been tied up

with official duties lately

and couldn't come pay my respects sooner.

Please forgive me.

But you've always been

on my mind.

If you know you should be ashamed, Commander Zhao,

then why

did you wait until today?

Without your letter,

I wouldn't have dared call on you uninvited.

I was afraid of disturbing your peace.

Commander Zhao, have you come this time

to have

Tingyun return to the Fu family?

With parents' approval,

and a proper matchmaker,

I hope

to marry Tingyun properly and honorably.

I also hope

to have her parents' blessing.

Good.

Good.

Commander Zhao,

the Fu family

places great importance on filial piety.

Filial piety comes before all other virtues.

Shouldn't you show us

some real proof of that?

Is this

meant for the family

or for outsiders to see?

No need.

Why hasn't the lamp oil

arrived yet?

Mr. Zhao...

Maybe the rain is too heavy

and something delayed him.

Miss Xie,

let's wait a little longer.

Wait for what?

Does he really expect me

to keep begging him to come?

Why am I the one who has to humor him now?

Miss Xie,

Fifth Master Fu sent Mr. Zhao a letter.

Mr. Zhao went there

and is kneeling outside the gate right now.

How long has he been kneeling?

A full four hours.

The rain is pouring down.

And from what I saw,

Mr. Zhao's face was flushed

and his forehead was burning.

I'm afraid he's fallen ill.

The roads are slippery in this rain.

Get the carriage ready.

Now!

Commander Zhao,

your devotion is truly moving.

Your sincerity is beyond doubt.

I hear the post of the Anzhou Imperial Salt Censor

is still open.

Perhaps...

Tingyun...

you're all grown up,

and only now you come to see your father?

I've been away from home all these years,

yet I never once saw you

send me a single letter.

That's no way to speak to your father.

Commander Zhao and I just made everything perfectly clear.

Ruler and minister,

father and son, each in their place.

No matter what you say,

you are still my own daughter.

Am I really still your daughter?

Am I a Fu or a Xie?

You never wanted to acknowledge me.

You're only doing this now

because

I can help you regain an official post

and power.

And even then,

you still can't let go of your pride

or bring yourself to bend.

You made Zhao Ling kneel here

just so everyone could see it,

so they'd know

Fifth Master Fu still commands respect.

If that's how you're going to speak to me,

you don't have to come see me anymore.

There is no way the two of you will ever get married.

I won't let you see your mother either.

You have my word.

I don't care whether you approve of our marriage.

Whatever you do,

I will not let Zhao Ling kneel at your door.

We've done nothing wrong.

We've been neither heartless

nor dishonorable.

So you have no right to make him kneel before you.

Commander Zhao,

remember what we agreed on

just now.

♪Once a bird in a cage, longing for the boundless sky♪

♪To break through a thousand barriers and cast off a life of illusion♪

♪Bearing wings through stormy tides♪

Let's go home first.

In a couple of days,

I'll bring you back to see your mother.

♪Every lantern rest in peace♪

♪Let this humble name carry me through a life adrift♪

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

♪Let the past remain beyond recall♪

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

(Next Episode)

The Anzhou Imperial Salt Censor

will be

a key figure in carrying out the salt reform.

But if we choose the right man,

(Respectfully submitted by Shen Congsi) he can share Zhao Ling's burden

and leave the northwest some room to survive.

His Majesty is pushing through the salt reform.

This post is crucial.

Adding a name to the recommendation list

should be easy

for you.

This position

is one I am determined to secure.

(Since I volunteered for this assignment,)

(I have to see it through.)

(With the salt reform about to begin,)

(someone has to)

(speak for the northwest garrisons.)

♪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♪

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