Original subtitles

=The Road to Splendor=

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

=Episode 31=

Your Majesty, please judge this matter fairly!

Your Majesty, please judge this matter fairly!

(Northwest bribery, merchant murder) Not even Wu's remains were left.

(Destroying evidence, a heartless act) When Wu refused their bribe demand,

the Northwest officials killed her!

Where is justice?

Those people in the Northwest have gone too far.

The salt reform

is clearly meant to benefit the people,

yet they keep blocking it at every turn,

afraid it will cost them their own profits.

Where is justice?

How dare you!

Gathering a crowd to cause trouble

and disturbing His Majesty?

Do you realize

what you're risking?

(Northwest bribery, merchant murder) Your Majesty, please investigate it!

(Northwest bribery, merchant murder) Give the Wu family justice!

We beg Your Majesty to investigate the Northwest!

Give the Wu family justice!

We beg Your Majesty to investigate the Northwest!

Give the Wu family justice!

Your Majesty, please see the truth.

This protest by the Anzhou merchants

must have been orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.

I request permission

to immediately...

Merchants are kneeling outside,

and the people are in an uproar.

This matter

must come to a resolution.

General Mo is incorruptible.

He would never embezzle funds,

much less extort merchants for bribes.

Please reconsider, Your Majesty.

How could I not know

that the Northwest guards the state's vital frontier,

keeping Wangur from daring to invade again?

I remember

all they have done.

But sometimes,

emotions and reason

cannot both be served.

Before,

the Grand Empress Dowager stepped forward

to resolve the imperial mausoleum matter.

But later,

I still issued an edict of self-criticism.

Do you think

that edict

was meant for the people to see,

or was it meant

for my grandmother?

In that edict, I condemned myself,

but in truth,

I was condemning my grandmother.

I hoped she would take it as a warning

and stop acting beyond proper bounds.

The Grand Empress Dowager said

she would not bring up the matter of joint burial for now.

I don't want her to merely let it go this time.

I want her to never mention it

again.

I told you before,

I truly respect my grandmother.

Yet I must deceive her,

and even

leave her condemned in the history books.

Do you think

it doesn't pain me?

But sitting on this throne,

I must weigh

even my own feelings against the greater good.

As a matter of fact,

I've known Mo Yi

even longer than you have.

Do you remember?

Huchen,

I believe

we've talked enough.

But I want to ask you one thing.

Are you

my man,

or the Northwest's?

If Mo Yi's case isn't resolved,

the Northwest's reputation will be ruined.

The salt reform cannot move forward,

and the court's deadlock will remain.

You know which matters more.

Your work

has always earned my trust.

This time,

don't disappoint me.

Your Majesty,

I will not fail you.

Concubine Wu

has always been unpredictable.

She should have delivered it by now.

Could it be

she's changed her mind?

Wait a little longer.

(Graceful and Virtuous)

Madam.

Jingxiu

has been troubled lately.

Go keep him company for a while.

This is aged Lihua Bai wine.

It's perfect

for helping him open his heart.

Thank you, Madam.

The Yu family has few heirs.

Young Madam is no longer an option.

You've been

in this household for quite some time.

No matter whom a woman relies on,

no one is more dependable than her own child.

I understand.

Good.

Go on, then.

An opportunity like this is rare.

I'm only thinking of what's best for you.

Yes,

Madam.

I chose the Yu family

not for wealth or status.

I thought a family of scholars

would not be home to such wicked people.

But now,

my aunt died because of the Yu family.

I was wrong about them once.

I won't make the same mistake again.

I need to find a way

to get my aunt's journal

out of here.

My Lady, please reconsider.

Right now,

the household is watching closely.

There are even

servants guarding the door.

It will be difficult

to send anything out again.

(Qingli Hall of Learning)

Young Master.

What?

Mother couldn't get Young Madam to do it,

so now she's sending you instead?

Whatever happens between Madam and Young Madam

has nothing to do with me.

I only thought

you were troubled at the moment.

You may need someone to comfort you.

You are both people who have fallen on hard times.

Ninth Young Lady

is having a difficult time herself.

She has lost her mother and then her father in quick succession.

Her heart is already heavy with grief.

And yet, at a time like this,

my father still used the past to humiliate her.

I went to Tanshui Temple today

to pray for my aunt.

I also thought

of lighting a prayer lamp for the Ninth Young Lady.

Young Master.

If the scripture is touched by the worldly presence of others,

it may lose its blessing.

I know

you still care about her.

Why not

send someone to take this

to Xie Jewelry Shop?

Consider it a way to repay

the kindness she showed me.

Chengxin.

Young Master.

Take this there.

Remember,

do not let anyone else touch it.

It may ruin the blessing.

Yes.

(The Diamond Sutra)

Just as I thought.

Madam Wu

was bribing officials to push the salt reforms forward.

And the Mo family wasn't the only one.

This records

the preferences of influential families.

Excellent.

With this,

we can prove Madam Wu donated the money voluntarily.

There's hope for the Northwest.

There's hope.

There's hope.

Madam.

Madam, someone is here.

No.

I won't see anyone.

It's Commander Zhao.

Madam Mo.

Commander Zhao.

His Majesty has ordered me to handle this matter.

Do you have any message

for General Mo?

If you're the one questioning Mo Yi,

then I can rest assured.

By the way,

I happen to have something to send him.

Commander Zhao,

please have a seat.

It's fine.

It's fine.

Take it.

Mo Yi may be

a tough man,

but he's never had to endure

the hardships of prison.

The weather is turning cold.

It's cold in the cell.

My children and I

spent three days and nights

making this for him.

Please make sure he gets it.

Is there anything

you'd like me to tell General Mo?

We've been married for years.

There's no need for sweet words.

Whatever needs to be said,

I'll tell him when he comes home.

Mo Yi.

Time for questioning.

Ling.

I'm relieved it's you.

Quite a feast.

How long has it been

since we had a drink together?

Here.

Tonight,

let's share a few good cups.

Fill them up.

Smells wonderful.

Technically,

I'm a few years older than you,

and I also

entered court service a few years before you did.

You should call me Brother.

But

to be fair,

you surpass me in every way.

The achievements in Yongning Prefecture,

the honor of the Northwest Army,

all of it is thanks to you.

Come on.

This toast

is to you.

Consider it

my thanks.

General Mo, your bravery

rid me of Feng Laosi,

and gave me a chance to survive.

You also guided me in Ganlin Town.

I should be the one to toast you.

Didn't I tell you to call me Brother?

Why are you still calling me General Mo?

Don't you see me as your brother anymore?

Brother Mo.

Cheers.

Ling.

I know

the Northwest

can't afford to be dragged into this.

It's my own fault.

I insisted on

chasing the same fame and power as others.

And in the end,

all I got in return

was a blade turned against me.

You've suffered enough because of me, Ling.

And now you have to clean up my mess.

Does my wife

have anything to say to me?

She said...

She hoped to be your wife again in another life.

Ling,

you...

You really don't know her well enough.

Let me tell you something.

Even if you had me executed right now,

she'd shed a few tears,

and never want to see me again in the next life.

Still, Ling,

I appreciate your kindness.

Come on.

Bottoms up.

All right.

It's almost time.

Time to do this.

But Ling,

this time,

you'll have to be the one to do it.

These are turbulent times.

Don't give His Majesty

any reason to doubt you.

Come on.

Ling...

From now on,

I'll have to leave my wife and children in your care.

Consider it

the fulfillment of the bond we shared as brothers in arms.

Will you do that for me?

Don't worry.

♪The wind sweeps the yellow sands, as a grand ballad rings out♪

♪A lone rider heads for the distant frontier♪

♪The road stretches on, swallowed by wind and sand♪

♪My unyielding spirit shines across the land♪

♪The wind howls, yet never chills my soul♪

♪War drums resound across the vast sky♪

♪I laugh to the heavens to hide my sobs♪

♪Looking back, this life was a song♪

♪Looking back, I see this life as a song♪

You're back so late.

Have you had dinner?

Regarding Madam Wu's case,

I found a piece of evidence.

It may prove useful.

I'll show it to you.

Don't go.

Stay with me for a while.

Madam Wu's case

will be resolved soon.

The Northwest will be fine.

Really?

A few days ago,

weren't the Anzhou merchants still causing a scene?

How did they

give up so quickly?

His Majesty

upheld justice.

And with the Grand Empress Dowager granting Madam Wu a lavish burial,

the matter has come to an end.

There must be a lot going on

in the capital lately.

Try not to go out too much for now.

Just rest up and take care of yourself.

(Mo Residence)

Madam.

When did this happen?

The authorities informed us this morning.

They asked us to bring him home.

(Coffin of My Late Husband, General Mo Yi)

I even knelt before you.

I trusted you with all my heart.

How could Zhao Ling

do something so cruel?

After all these years of friendship...

How could he bear to do this?

Why didn't you tell me?

I thought of you as my own sister.

Come here.

Look!

You're the sworn mother

of my three children!

Why didn't you tell me?

Why didn't you tell me?

These are matters

beyond what women like us can decide.

Why blame her for this?

Don't blame her?

Then who should I blame?

You!

Mo!

Get up!

You heartless man!

Only three months after we married,

you rode off to war to the sound of the war horns.

You were never home.

When you finally returned,

you even brought back a mistress.

I bore you three children.

How could you just

leave the three of us

behind?

Get up!

You get up!

(Coffin of My Late Husband, General Mo Yi)

- Sister! - Sister!

Sister!

Sister!

Your health comes first.

Sister!

At the end of the day,

it's my fault.

I shouldn't have pushed him to chase success and glory.

It's my fault.

I shouldn't have kept finding fault with him.

I shouldn't have urged him to get involved in those donations.

That's what led us

to where we are today!

It's my fault!

Mother!

It's all my fault!

Sister!

Sister!

Sister!

Sister!

It's all my fault!

Take care of yourself!

Mother!

(Mo Residence)

I told you

I had found the key piece of evidence.

All we had to do was submit it to Chengqian Prefecture for a retrial.

Why couldn't you wait even a few more days?

Even if you obtained the bribery records,

what would they prove?

This matter

was ordered by His Majesty himself.

He chose to sacrifice Mo Yi to calm the Anzhou merchants.

Whatever the truth is,

does His Majesty even care?

He only wants to stabilize the situation around the salt reform

and fill the treasury as soon as possible.

There's nothing we can do to save him.

It's already decided.

Now we must pull ourselves together

and prepare for the next move.

The next move?

What could possibly come next?

I'm afraid His Majesty

will use this to promote me,

and grant you an official title.

Then we'd have to hold a promotion banquet.

I can play the role of Madam Zhao well.

But I'm afraid that one day...

while playing this role,

I might become Madam Yu.

And you might become Grand Secretary Yu.

I regret it more and more...

that back then,

for my own selfish desires,

I pushed you onto the path of politics.

Former

Northwestern Guerrilla General Mo Yi

attempted to extort a bribe from the merchant

and killed her in rage when he failed.

Having betrayed the Emperor's grace,

he was confined in the Imperial Prison...

and was executed.

Mo Yi,

though his crimes warrant death by a thousand cuts,

in recognition of his past loyalty and bravery

and his achievements in battle,

it is hereby ordered

that his wife and daughters be spared exile

and allowed to live as commoners.

Your Majesty is wise and just.

This case was resolved swiftly,

preventing unrest throughout the court and the realm.

I am greatly pleased.

I hereby grant Zhao Ling

the honorary rank of Third-Rank General Zhaoyong

and bestow an official decree upon him.

His wife, Fu, has rendered meritorious assistance.

Therefore,

you are hereby promoted to

Second-Rank Lady.

You are hereby granted:

a gold-embroidered ceremonial cape with cloud and peacock patterns,

a jeweled pheasant crown,

an annual stipend of one hundred dan,

and permission to attend court

on New Year's Day

and the Winter Solstice in official attire.

Accept this imperial favor.

So decreed.

I

thank His Majesty for his gracious favor.

(Imperial Decree)

I humbly thank

Your Majesty for this gracious favor.

He fought against Grand Secretary Yu

and lost.

Yet his rank was raised.

A promotion in honorary rank from fourth rank to senior third rank.

And all in such a short time.

Not to mention

that bracelet.

It was worn by His Majesty himself.

He is the only one in the entire court who possesses one.

His third-rank wife was elevated to the second rank.

Such a thing

has never happened since the founding of the dynasty.

His Majesty is making it clear

to all officials in the court

that Zhao Ling

is his trusted aide,

not the Northwest's man.

Right now, you can't tell whether he won or lost,

because

the decisive moment has yet to come.

The Emperor's biggest concern

is the imperial treasury.

Whoever can solve this problem

will become

His Majesty's favorite.

Congratulations, General Zhao.

Does that lapis lazuli bracelet

feel smooth

in your hand?

Grand Secretary Yu, you flatter me.

I am merely blessed by His Majesty's gracious favor.

General Zhao, you are still so young,

yet you already hold such great power.

But do you know

what power truly is?

From now on,

you must do the things you want to do,

and the things you don't want to do

you must do as well.

Those you wish to kill, you must kill.

Those you don't wish to kill, you must kill too.

Do you feel that bracelet in your hand

growing heavier

and harder to bear?

You were born into the Yu family,

raised in the Yu family,

and witnessed its enduring prosperity.

You have seen enough of the world.

In your opinion,

what kind of man

is Zhao Ling?

I think

he is no different

from Madam Wu.

Like a blade of grass.

Because he has no roots,

he has to fight his way upward.

He must also make everyone see

that he is thriving,

that he is a useful plant

and will not harm the crops,

so he will not be uprooted.

You are right.

The more someone rises from the bottom,

the more they fear two things.

First, becoming insatiably hungry for advancement.

Second,

blindly proving loyalty to those above them.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Zhao family

is currently at the height of its glory,

enjoying unprecedented success.

In truth, Zhao Ling is surrounded by enemies on all sides,

and has lost the support of the Northwest.

The moment the Emperor stops protecting him,

he will be doomed beyond redemption.

Young men...

never know that the higher they climb, the harder they fall.

(Xie Residence)

Congratulations, General Zhao.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

When you have time,

you must visit the Zhou Residence sometime.

Of course.

Please.

Thank you.

Do you remember back in Ganlin,

General Mo couldn't openly favor us,

but whenever assignments were given,

he would quietly arrange for us

to work alongside Mr. Zhao.

But today,

he has to smile

and make everyone see how happy he is.

Madam Wei is tied up with family matters

and sends her apologies for not attending.

She sent someone

with a generous gift instead.

Why don't we see the ladies from the Northwest?

Perhaps they were invited,

but didn't dare show up.

Madam Zhao,

take my advice.

A husband is a woman's lifelong support.

On such a joyous occasion,

don't let outsiders ruin your mood.

Exactly.

A married woman should follow her husband.

Now that you are the lady of the household,

your every word and action

represent the Zhao family.

As long as husband and wife stand together,

you can look forward to

a life of wealth and glory.

Exactly.

Here.

Madam Zhao,

have another drink.

Cheers.

Cheers.

General Zhao,

if you ever need our help,

just say the word.

General Zhao,

you are the one most favored by His Majesty.

But we wonder,

what does His Majesty truly think of the new salt reform?

General Zhao,

could you give us some insight?

Yes.

What is His Majesty's stance

on the salt reform?

We hope you can enlighten us, General Zhao.

Please enlighten us.

General Zhao is drunk.

Help him get some rest.

General.

Mr. Zhao.

Come on. Easy.

Careful.

Farewell, General Zhao.

Take care, General Zhao.

Farewell, General Zhao.

(Next Episode)

I'm afraid that one day,

I may have to abandon everyone,

including you.

Then perhaps

we should end our marriage.

I will never leave you alone in the capital.

You can't beat them.

Nonsense!

What nonsense are you talking about?

The more chaotic this household becomes,

the happier I am.

I have a thousand ways to kill her.

One used me.

The other threatened me.

Young Lord Yu,

watch yourself.

♪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♪