Original subtitles

=The Road to Splendor=

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

=Episode 35=

It bears the seal of the Anzhou Prefectural Office.

Then this matter

can be considered done.

Then can we

return to the capital and report back?

When the Three Judicial Offices convene for the trial,

it will be the day when those responsible

finally answer for what they did to Lord Shen.

I can only block this water route for one day.

After today,

I don't know what I can do.

As for the official salt from Minzhou,

I can only move a few thousand catties.

There's no way to put it into circulation.

What will you

do next?

Evidence from Anzhou alone

won't be enough to bring down Grand Secretary Yu.

If we want the officials

to join together and testify against him,

Feiyu,

you're with the Imperial Guards.

You're more reliable than I am.

We need to split up.

The identity of Jiuweijiao

won't last much longer.

From now on,

I'll work in the open,

and you'll work in the shadows.

As long as I hold out long enough,

I'll buy you more time.

Then what about you?

Don't worry, Lord Qin.

Before we became officials,

we were bandits.

The ability to survive

is something we were born with.

But you're traveling everywhere so people across the realm

can have salt to eat.

Your safety matters more than mine.

From now on,

I'll cover you.

I

will not

fail you.

I wonder how things are going in the capital.

I wonder how he's doing now.

Mr. Zhao

always had a way out.

Madam,

don't worry about him.

You're right.

Worrying won't change anything.

I should do something useful to help him instead.

It's been around a hundred days since Mr. Zhao left the capital.

The mourning period is over.

It's time for you to step outside again, Madam.

Summon the managers

of all Xie branches.

Starting today,

all grocery stores under Xie

selling rice, flour, oil, tea, and salt

will all switch to using gold-weighted scales.

Before Mr. Zhao left,

we made a promise.

We gave it three months.

No matter whether

he can bring back the evidence,

I will expose the Yu family's lies

and give the people the justice they deserve.

(Xie Rice and Flour Shop)

Excuse me.

What's going on?

Why does the amount seem off today?

Off?

It seems like there's more than usual.

That can't be.

Let me weigh it for you.

Mine was more than usual the other day too.

So was mine.

That's right.

Really?

They're truly honest merchants.

Look.

Three catties. Exactly right.

Could it be other shops have been giving you less than you paid for?

When it comes to the scales,

we would never dare cheat.

A merchant's scale is a measure of our integrity.

It is also the standard by which the authorities ensure fairness.

Good!

This Xie Rice and Flour Shop

is truly a fair and honest business.

All of Xie's shops

have switched to gold-weighted scales.

After weighing every catty of goods,

they always give a little extra.

This woman

is really troublesome.

She can afford to keep losing money,

but other businesses

can't withstand the pressure.

Ever since she changed the scales,

our losses have been piling up.

Xie's shops were the private property my mother left me.

I can't afford to worry about losing this money.

I have to make this as big as possible

and drag the Yu family into it.

If this continues, it may draw

the attention of the Military and the Market Administration Office.

Given enough time,

the people will start to believe

that every shop except Xie

has been shortchanging them.

They'll be forced to prove their own innocence.

That's exactly what I want.

The type of scale I use doesn't matter.

What matters is letting the people know

that there is another standard of measure in this world.

Whether I win or lose doesn't matter.

What matters is letting them know

that some people can keep winning simply because they have power.

That's what truly matters.

But if this exposes

the authorities hiding the gold weights,

we'll be in trouble.

She's using money to win over the people

and build support for Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling?

It has to be it.

Zhao Ling must have gone after

those gold weights.

Once this matter

comes to light,

it will provoke public outrage.

And the Yu family...

Grand Secretary Yu understands power better than anyone.

What he fears most

is that the people will eventually

come to understand

what power truly means.

After all, they still have no actual proof.

She's using public opinion against me.

When enough people repeat a lie,

it can destroy anyone.

Who needs a formal conviction then?

What about Anzhou?

By my estimate,

whether it succeeds or fails,

Mr. Zhao should be on his way back by now.

Send out more goods.

I will do everything I can

to build support for him.

We're burning time.

She's burning money.

We'll see who gives in first.

Give me a hand.

Come on.

Here, hand it to me.

Put it down carefully.

Okay.

Wait.

Open it.

Move!

What are you staring at?

Open them all!

Yes.

Check them!

I've looked into it.

There was indeed a Jiuweijiao in the Northwest in recent years.

He built a very large business.

He had

a type of salt called Ground Snow that was as pure as official salt.

He even controlled the transport routes.

He wore a mask at all times.

Ordinary people had never seen his face.

Everything matches.

What happened after that?

Later, for some reason,

he joined the army in Ganlin.

And after that?

A few years later,

he was transferred to the capital

and became a court official.

Do you know his surname?

I think...

his surname was Zhao.

Ganlin.

Joined the army.

Court official.

Surname Zhao.

Could it be Zhao Ling,

the one who was falsely accused

and had his family ruined?

Hurry!

Send an urgent report to the Grand Secretary!

Hurry!

Yes.

(Xie Rice and Flour Shop) The rice, oil, salt, and tea

(Xie Rice and Flour Shop) we've bought from Xie lately

weigh more than what other shops give us.

Exactly.

Xie insists that their scales are accurate.

Then what we bought from other shops before

must have been short-weighted!

Don't you owe us an explanation?

Give us an explanation! Give us an explanation!

You owe us an explanation! Give us an explanation!

Our scales are absolutely accurate.

Absolutely accurate.

Our scales

have all been inspected and approved by the authorities.

We've never shortchanged anyone.

Who runs a business

by losing money just to sell more?

Wouldn't that disrupt the market?

Move aside.

Officer.

Officer.

(Xie Rice and Flour Shop) You came just in time.

(Xie Rice and Flour Shop) Look at these people.

Stop causing trouble.

Officer,

you can't just ignore this.

Who has actually been shortchanging us?

You officials owe us an answer.

Exactly.

Can't the authorities even tell

how much one catty is?

How many standards are there?

How many different weights are there?

Exactly!

You need to take this

to the Market Administration Office.

Today, even if

we get a few extra taels, that's fine.

But what if one day the authorities collect goods from us

and claim they're short in weight?

If this continues,

how can there be any standard at all?

Exactly.

Tell me,

could any official resist the temptation?

(Xie Jewelry Shop) The pearl is worth ten thousand taels.

No wonder the Yu family gives such lavish gifts.

They have a fortune

backing them.

Money seems to know where to go,

straight into officials' pockets.

Once it goes there,

it never comes our way.

What are they showing off for?

Isn't that just proof of how much they've taken?

Master.

An urgent report from Anzhou.

Zhao Ling obtained the gold weights from the Anzhou Prefecture Office

and Shen Congsi's final letter.

Why weren't you informed sooner

about such a major matter?

Forgive me, Master.

It's all because Prefect Liu failed in his duty.

I calculated based on the date the message was sent.

Zhao Ling should be nearing Yuzhou.

He'll arrive in the capital within the next two days.

Issue the order.

At any cost,

Zhao Ling must not

return to the capital alive.

Yes.

I should have never killed Shen Congsi in the first place.

Stop Zhao Ling at all costs.

He must not make it back to the capital alive.

Yes.

Deploy men along the road from Yuzhou to the capital.

Make sure nothing goes wrong.

Move. Hurry.

I never thought

General Zhao would still be alive.

Madam Zhao

won't have to live as a widow anymore.

No.

That's not the point.

The real question

is why the Yu family fears him so much.

They even sent people to kill him on the way.

Could it be

that General Zhao has evidence

that could bring the Yu family down?

If they fail,

the Yu family will face disaster.

Cairong.

Go pack our belongings.

My Lady.

I've already prepared everything.

I exchanged

all the valuable jewelry for silver notes.

I've sewn them into the belt.

There are several hundred taels in there.

And I've prepared some silver pieces as well,

for expenses on the road.

Well done.

Hurry.

Tie this on.

Where are you going?

We're going to the estate

to deliver some embroidery to Young Madam.

Do you

want to see them?

No need.

If you have time,

could you go to Xie's for me?

I understand.

Young Master.

Instead of worrying about that,

you should think more about Young Master Ji.

Spend more time with him these next few days.

After what happened before,

even if I went to Xie's,

Fu Tingyun wouldn't see me.

How dare you call her by her name?

Then what should I call her?

My ancestor?

A goddess?

What nonsense are you talking about?

I'll take my leave, Young Master.

(Yu Residence)

(Yu Residence)

Madam.

Concubine Wu is here.

What brings you here?

Madam, your performance

has been quite convincing.

What do you mean?

Exactly what I said.

Please take a seat.

Madam.

I not only know

that General Zhao is still alive,

but I also know

that he has obtained

evidence that could destroy the Yu family.

But now,

Grand Secretary Yu has ordered

that General Zhao be killed

at all costs

before he returns to the capital.

He has already reached Yuzhou.

He'll arrive in the capital within two days.

Madam,

you don't have much time left.

What do you want?

I wonder if you

still remember

that I once asked you for a new household register.

The time has come.

I want to leave the Yu family for good.

I need your help.

You want me to win

because you're afraid

the Yu family won't be ruined completely

and will still have the power to come after you.

Exactly.

I'll prepare

what you need.

You won't survive on your own.

After things calm down in a couple of years,

you can stay at one of Xie's branches

and become a manager.

At least you'll have somewhere to rely on.

Thank you, Madam.

Thank you.

Madam.

I came here today

without prior notice,

to ask something difficult of you.

I hope you can lend us a hand.

As long as the Wang family

can shield you from some of the trouble,

just tell me what you need.

Zhao Ling is already on his way back to the capital.

Zhao Ling?

He has

the key evidence in his hands.

But the road ahead is filled with danger.

I beg you, Madam,

to help him through the final stretch

and ensure he reaches the capital safely.

Zhao Ling

is still alive?

A border general mobilizing troops is strictly forbidden.

Commander Wang.

If Zhao Ling

falls before reaching the capital,

the Yu faction will escape unscathed

and go free.

By then,

all the efforts

will have been wasted.

And countless injustices

will remain buried forever.

Things

have reached a critical point.

Please rise and speak.

My Lord.

We can't just stand by and watch him die.

It's not that I would stand by and watch him die.

It's just that

this is not a decision I can make alone.

Whether we can help Zhao Ling

depends on whether the soldiers in the Northwest

are willing to help him.

I will explain the situation to them.

But I cannot order them to do so.

If he cannot make it back to court,

then it is simply fate.

I would never blame

the people of the Northwest for it.

What is this?

Mr. Jin,

these are local specialties

sent from the Huaying shop.

It's not even a holiday.

Why would they send me a gift?

It says ten catties here.

But there are at least 14 catties inside.

Who told you to bring this?

Well...

Speak.

Madam Zhao sent you here?

Quanhui said

she wants to build support for Mr. Zhao's return to the capital.

She asks if you'll repent

and help her.

Mr. Zhao

is returning to the capital?

He is alive?

She said

that you cut off one of your ears in Yongning Prefecture.

She has never forgotten that.

And she believes

that you want this chance.

It's fine if you don't help.

We'll find another way.

Mr. Zhao is alive.

Mr. Zhao is alive.

I, Jin Yuanbao,

hereby accuse Grand Secretary Yu Guodong

of framing a loyal official!

I, Jin Yuanbao, confess my crimes.

I falsely accused General Zhaoyong, Zhao Ling.

For years,

Grand Secretary Yu used the gold counterweight

to manipulate measurements.

When we salt merchants

delivered grain and supplies,

we were forced to provide one catty and seven taels for every catty required.

No merchant is entirely honest.

To make up for the losses,

we

had no choice but to pass off inferior goods as quality ones,

hoard salt and drive up prices,

causing

prices to soar.

When the salt reform was introduced,

to adapt to the new policy,

I sought refuge with Grand Secretary Yu.

Under his orders,

I forged evidence

to frame General Zhao.

Those who falsely accuse others of crimes punishable by death

shall receive

eighty strokes.

Do you

confess your crimes?

I confess.

Strike!

Will you

change your statement?

Never.

Isn't he that salt merchant?

He always seemed

to live quite a lavish life.

After eighty strokes,

he didn't even make a sound.

Grand Secretary Yu is truly ruthless.

No wonder he was always giving away such gifts, like that luminous pearl.

(Convict Jin Yuanbao. Signed and marked) Turns out his wealth

(Convict Jin Yuanbao. Signed and marked) was all taken from the people.

I never thought

that during all these days I've been staying at the estate,

you would be the first to come see me.

I only hope I'll be the last one.

The Yu family is on the brink of collapse.

They are barely holding on.

Yake,

if you want to survive,

you should leave.

You went through all this trouble

just to warn me.

If it were anyone else,

I might have believed it was out of friendship.

But you've always been

a master strategist,

always planning several steps ahead.

Tingyun,

what do you want?

I came here today

to warn you,

but I also have my own motives.

If you have

any evidence of the Yu family's crimes,

give it to me.

Then,

I may be able

to secure a way out

for you and Ji.

The Yu family has committed countless crimes.

Whether I live or die

is up to fate.

It no longer matters.

What about Ji?

He is innocent.

He's still in the residence.

Everyone says you are heartless.

But I know

no mother

could ever stop loving her child.

I knew it.

You are still trying to use him to pressure me.

Of course.

Back then, I grew close to you

because you shone so brightly,

while I had nothing.

I only wanted to borrow a little warmth from your light.

If this friendship

was built on a swamp of schemes from the very beginning,

then the flowers it blooms

could hardly retain any fragrance.

Now I am lost in the fog,

and I can no longer see clearly.

Why should I force anything from you?

There was a time

when I considered you a true friend, like family.

I once shared with you

many secrets between us.

The first

joys and sorrows of my life...

I shared with you were always sincere.

But later,

we both grew up.

And everything changed.

I did not come here today

to reminisce about the past,

nor to seek reconciliation.

I came only to give you

and Ji

a chance to survive.

I have already shown

you a way out.

Whether you believe me or not is up to you.

Since you are here,

take this chest of my poems with you.

It's almost laughable.

I once prided myself on my talent,

yet I was confined within this secluded household.

This chest of poems

is all I can offer to honor the bond we once shared.

I hope you will put them to good use

and let them see the light of day,

rather than remain buried in dust.

Are you truly not going to reconsider?

Wasn't it you who said

that whether you believe

or choose

all depends on a single thought?

Doesn't that apply

to you as well?

Or is it that

without something to gain,

you would not even accept my poems?

(Dongshan Poetry Talks)

(Yu Residence Gift Record)

This...

This is the Yu family's

record of social dealings.

(Yu Residence Gift Record)

(Lord Cheng, Hanlin Academician) This only records

the inner residence's

guest lists for banquets.

Not just that.

With this list,

we can identify the members of the Yu faction.

♪Once a bird in a cage♪ (Lidu Prefecture Advisor)

♪Longing for the boundless sky♪

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

So that's how it is.

If I had not clung to this ridiculous old affection,

and looked through the poems she gave me,

this evidence

would have remained buried forever among old papers.

But what if I had not held on to those old feelings?

What if I had thrown them away without a second thought?

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

Who wants her schemes?

Who wants her charity?

Enough.

Hey.

♪Let the past remain beyond recall♪

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

♪I seek no mercy lent by mortal world♪

Father.

♪I seek nothing beyond the world♪

♪Let this fleeting world carry me through a life adrift♪

Ji.

This is all I can do

for you.

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

♪I crave no clarity from outside my soul♪

♪I crave no clarity♪

♪from outside my soul♪

Wei Donglin is such a fool.

His Majesty clearly let a threat slip away.

He is waiting for the right moment

to wipe out

the entire Yu faction in one stroke.

Yet he remains completely unaware.

He thinks that with Zhao Ling gone,

this court

would be

entirely under Grand Secretary Yu's control.

Fortunately, I was quick to act

and removed these promotion records in time.

It's

up to you

whether

to protect him

or not.

I can't help it.

I

just like him.

Keeping a dog is fine,

but

never forget to keep it on a leash.

With this,

no matter where this man

climbs to in the future,

even if he surpasses me someday,

you can still bring him down.

This is the last thing

I leave for you.

Keep it safe.

Do not let him deceive you into giving it away.

Rest assured, Father.

I will remember.

(Liu Shulin, Ministry of Personnel Zhao Shiqing, Ministry of Revenue)

The Northwest Army is here.

Though I'm old,

can I still fight?

Thank you, Commander Wang.

A frontier general privately mobilizing troops is a grave offense.

But your loyalty,

I, Zhao Ling, will never forget.

General Zhao, you risked your life for the Northwest for years.

Today, the Northwest Army will protect you.

It is only right.

What you have done for the Northwest,

the brothers here all remember.

Today,

it is our turn to see you safely home.

Look.

They're back.

After this rain,

the sun should finally shine again.

I, Zhao Ling,

was ordered by Your Majesty to investigate

the case of the Anzhou Imperial Salt Censor

Shen Congsi's wrongful death.

Today, I return to court!

Lay down your armor and enter the palace!

I, Zhao Ling,

pay my respects to Your Majesty.

Rise.

You all should know

that Zhao Ling acted under my secret decree

to thoroughly investigate the wrongful death of Shen Congsi,

the Anzhou Imperial Salt Censor.

Huchen.

Present the evidence

you have gathered.

I was

ordered to investigate this case.

At Xie's in Anzhou,

I found this final letter.

It was written by Lord Shen himself.

The words within

are deeply moving.

Please allow me

to read it aloud.

Granted.

But I have already alarmed them.

I fear I will not survive.

Yet,

to plead for the people's cause,

even death is without regret.

If anyone should read this letter,

may they carry on

and see it through.

Heaven has laid out countless paths for all living beings,

yet I alone walk the path of Asura.

(Written by Shen Congsi)

Your Majesty.

There is one more matter.

This is a standard weight.

It bears no seal or marking.

But this one

bears the official seal of Anzhou Prefecture.

This was done by the authorities.

This...

This weight is made of iron wrapped in copper.

For every catty and seven taels of grain the salt merchants paid,

the authorities recorded only one catty.

Over the years,

the embezzled amount became immeasurable.

Furthermore, Lord Shen stated in his letter

that the grain loss issue

was connected to Grand Secretary Yu.

And now, this golden weight

also

points to Grand Secretary Yu.

Grand Secretary Yu.

Do you

have anything to say?

Your Majesty,

these are all false accusations and framing.

Everything General Zhao has said

has nothing to do with me.

Please allow me some time to refute each accusation.

Before that,

I would like to ask Commander Wang first.

The Northwest Army

belongs to the imperial court.

What punishment should one face for mobilizing troops without a decree?

Commander Wang.

Are the Northwest Army

your troops,

or His Majesty's?

Your Majesty,

I am guilty.

I accept whatever punishment Your Majesty deems fit.

But I ask Your Majesty to see clearly.

There was indeed injustice in the case of Mo Yi.

I stake my life on this.

Mo Yi

was never a corrupt official.

I believe

this case

must also be connected to Grand Secretary Yu.

I ask Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.

General Zhao, you think you can rely

on a single weight to pin

these baseless crimes on me?

What if there is more than one golden weight?

Your Majesty,

I was ordered to investigate

the golden weight case.

In Minzhou,

I recovered crucial evidence

and have come to report!

I

have brought back the golden weight from Yuzhou

and have come to report!

I

have brought back the golden weight from Qianzhou

and have come to report!

I

have brought back the golden weight from Langzhou

and have come to report!

Rise.

I

impeach Grand Secretary Yu

for embezzling salt tax revenues.

After Salt Transport Commissioner Yan of Yongning was brought to justice,

he colluded with his successor,

continued illegally selling salt permits,

and embezzled state taxes.

Even the confiscated property of the Yan family

was taken for personal gain.

He also used these iron weights wrapped in copper

to embezzle countless amounts of salt tax over the years.

Even more outrageous,

to conceal his crimes,

he even poisoned Imperial Salt Censor Shen Congsi.

I impeach Grand Secretary Yu

for embezzling military provisions

and colluding with Li Mao, the Gandu Circuit Military Advisor,

to act together in corruption.

During the transport of grain shipments,

he falsified losses,

mixed sand and water into the grain,

and resold military provisions.

After the crime was exposed,

he forced Li Mao to his death and framed Mo Yi,

silencing them both.

I

impeach Grand Secretary Yu for framing loyal officials,

for ordering the salt merchant

Jin Yuanbao

to falsely accuse Zhao Ling.

I impeach Grand Secretary Yu

for forming factions and pursuing personal gain.

Among the Six Ministries and Nine Chief Ministers,

half are his followers.

I impeach Grand Secretary Yu

for corrupting the salt administration,

using salt reform as a pretext

to fill his own coffers.

I impeach Grand Secretary Yu,

for his own personal gain,

ordering Fifth Master Fu

to poison his wife Xie,

and forcing me to step down in the name of filial duty.

Such a parasite who harms the nation and its people,

if he is not executed, how can the court's order be restored?

If he is not beheaded,

how can the people's anger be appeased?

Seconded.

Seconded.

Furthermore,

Master Zhenghe

has brought a list of Grand Secretary Yu's faction members.

Summon

Master Zhenghe to court.

(Received rare books from Lord Cheng to be returned with cloth as gifts)

Grand Secretary Yu,

you and your accomplices divided the spoils among yourselves,

thinking your power was deeply rooted.

But I'm afraid

greed will eventually lose to anger.

As long as one person points a sword at you,

the people's fury

will become thousands of blades turned against you.

Your Majesty, please see the truth.

I have always sought only to ease Your Majesty's burdens

and relieve the treasury's troubles.

That is why I have ended up today

surrounded and attacked by everyone in court.

Yet my loyalty remains true.

Knowing this would offend the newly risen officials,

I still did it for the sake of the realm.

I persisted despite all opposition,

only to become the target

of everyone's condemnation.

Your Majesty, please judge fairly.

Grand Secretary,

I also

entrusted you

with such an important position

because the treasury was empty.

Who would have thought

you would fill

the Yu family's accounts instead of the imperial treasury?

The people's money

ended up

in your own pockets.

I am innocent.

Three days.

The Three Judicial Offices shall, within three days,

jointly hear the case of Grand Academician Yu Guodong.

All those involved shall be severely punished without exception.

Commander Wang Yi of Gandu

shall be stripped of his position

for the unauthorized troop mobilization matter.

As a common subject,

he shall assist in the investigation.

Your Majesty is wise and just.

Your Majesty is wise and just.

(Next Episode)

What I desire,

Jingxiu,

you must do your utmost to fulfill.

Who doesn't know about

the things you've been doing?

Do you think I have no one else

to serve me in this court?

Look at what has become of the world outside!

Even you, Madam,

are nothing more

than a vessel for men's power.

But if I

go to prison and face punishment,

the Yu family will be finished.

Have you come to take my life?

♪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♪