Original subtitles

=The Road to Splendor=

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

=Episode 5=

Father,

all these years,

you've run our household with frugality and diligence.

I've never told you this,

but I loathe leftover cold rice.

Living on leftovers day after day,

a musty, shabby scent clings to the skin.

That odor never fails to remind me

that I am inferior to others.

Madam Yu.

Mother isn't feeling well,

so she couldn't see you off today.

I hope you'll forgive her.

Once we part today,

who knows when we'll meet again.

Please tell the Old Madam

to take good care of herself.

Master Fan.

Miss Fan.

Be careful with that chest.

Inside is

a rare edition from the previous dynasty

of the Collected Commentaries on the Four Books.

It's the only surviving copy in existence.

Its value can't be measured in money.

I suppose there is one good thing.

At least

he's willing to sit the exams and make a name for himself.

If you succeed in the examinations,

do not fail me.

At least now,

I've finally taken my fate

into my own hands.

I chose a husband for his family standing,

and he truly cares for me.

She used to live at the mercy of others.

Now she's risen in status,

and sees our family as her stepping stone.

Madam,

you still don't approve of Miss Fan?

Whether I approve of her or not

hardly matters now.

It's the Ninth Young Lady I feel sorry for.

Never mind.

What matters most now

is getting to Linchun Town

and finding the Crown Prince.

If Jingxiu can win his favor,

his path ahead

will be much easier.

(My Sworn Sister, Yuwei)

Ninth Young Lady,

open your eyes and see

how people with no family or status

make their way in this world.

Let's go.

Eat it.

Ninth Young Lady,

we're supposed to be refugees right now.

Thanks to you,

we're being chased by all sorts of people.

I promised your mother,

I'd take you back to the capital.

Mr. Zhao,

could we not go to the capital,

and go to Yongning Prefecture instead?

Why?

If I head to the capital

without clearing things up,

won't I be admitting to adultery?

Zuo Junjie

is going to Yongning Prefecture for the examinations.

I want to go there

and find a way to have him captured.

I'll have him interrogated

and force him to sign a written confession.

Then I'll go to the capital

and use it to clear my name.

Quite a plan, Ninth Young Lady.

But let me ask you something.

Who's going to capture him and interrogate him for you?

And even if you find him,

what exactly are you going to use to clear your name?

Don't tell me

you're counting on us.

Wake up.

You are no longer

the Ninth Young Lady of the Fu family.

That's what your mother wanted too.

Eat something. Then we leave.

Miss Xie.

When I went to Biyun Nunnery,

I only wanted your money.

I wasn't trying to save you.

And I only promised your mother I'd take you to the capital

because she paid me.

I'm only doing what I was paid to do.

So, are you coming or not?

If we don't leave now, it'll be dark soon.

And there are wolves out here.

Wait.

Hold on.

Help!

Please help me!

Help!

Please, sir! Help me!

Help!

- That's the last of our food. - Give it to me!

Give it to me!

Sir!

Please!

Please help me!

Please, sir!

I'll do anything for you!

I'll be your servant for life!

Please help me!

Please!

I'll do anything you ask!

Sen.

Let go!

No way.

Stay out of this.

Please!

No!

Sir!

- Sir, I'm begging you! - Let go!

Please!

I'm begging you!

- Please! - Let go!

Save me!

Please!

Help me!

Food!

Food!

There's food here too!

They've got more food!

Get back!

Go away!

Stay back!

Get away!

Stay back!

Get back!

Go away!

Stop!

The food's on the horse!

Great. Just great.

Thanks to you,

our food is gone,

and so is our money!

Now we're all going hungry!

I was only trying to help her.

Look at the state you're in.

You think you can save others?

You're not some pampered young lady anymore.

How many times do we have to tell you?

Sen!

Don't do anything so stupid again.

You're hurt.

Let's go!

Cause us any more trouble,

and we'll leave you here.

Without us,

you'll end up just like that woman.

Sir,

we're on horseback.

We can go faster than him.

If we're headed the right way,

we'll catch him.

Keep your blades out of sight.

Don't draw attention.

But the second you spot him,

hack him to pieces.

Yes, sir!

Yes, sir!

Move out!

That shovel must've been filthy.

This is on you.

If you hadn't stuck your nose in,

Mr. Zhao wouldn't have gotten hurt.

You're the quickest.

Head to the nearest town

and pick up some wound salve.

Go. Now.

I remember a temple not far from here.

Puji Temple.

Meet us there.

Go.

Enjoying the view?

I'm sorry.

This is my fault.

Comes with the territory.

No big deal.

I'm wrong if I leave someone to die.

I'm wrong if I save them too.

Once you lose your sense of direction,

every road feels wrong.

If I'm not the Ninth Young Lady of the Fu family anymore,

then who am I?

Who am I supposed to be?

You know,

truth is,

I'm not Jiuweijiao.

I'm just a salt smuggler.

One time, on a smuggling run,

I got caught in a struggle between Jiuweijiao and his own men.

What I brought you

is top-grade Ground Snow.

You can't find this stuff anywhere.

You bring the money?

We're rich!

We hit it big this time!

We did it!

Who gave you the nerve

to steal my salt and sell it behind my back?

Mr. Jiu.

Mr. Jiu.

We've been with you for years.

Please, spare me.

If I don't make an example of you today,

how am I supposed to

keep the rest of my men in line?

Take the money.

It's all yours.

Please, Mr. Jiu,

just let me live!

Go!

Go!

Come on!

Quick!

Move, Sen!

Go!

(Jiuweijiao's men were selling his salt on the side.)

(We got caught in the fallout.)

(We lost our money)

(and never got the salt.)

Guys!

We're dead either way!

Whoever kills him

and takes his token

becomes the next Jiuweijiao!

Run! Move!

Run!

Give it up.

Give up.

Let's give it up.

Go!

No.

Sen!

Sen.

Sen.

Sen.

Ling.

You okay?

Are you trying to get yourself killed?

Why'd you hit me?

I...

Ling,

people like us don't get many chances.

We scraped together that money.

We've struggled all our lives.

We were counting on this deal

to finally move up in the world as salt merchants.

The salt

was my future!

You okay?

You okay?

Are you okay?

I knew that amount

couldn't possibly buy Ground Snow.

Come on.

Let's go.

Ling,

we should go.

We're no match for Jiuweijiao.

Jiuweijiao...

Let's go.

Come on.

I had to make sure

my men were fed and taken care of.

That's when

I ended up with this token.

But becoming Jiuweijiao didn't make my life any easier.

His men want me dead.

The authorities want me behind bars.

And the gangs want nothing to do with me.

I'd say I've had it pretty rough,

no?

But you know what?

I'll survive.

Are you trying to make me feel better?

People have to keep moving forward.

What you're born into doesn't matter.

What matters is who you make of yourself.

People can change their places in this world.

Keep looking!

Your enemies?

Jiuweijiao's.

Over there!

If things go bad...

Check over there!

Use this to protect yourself.

Look everywhere!

Nothing here.

Pull the blade out.

Go for something vital,

and run.

Can you do that?

You two, check over there!

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

I...

I can't.

Yes, you can.

You've got more nerve than you think.

(Search!)

We can't stay here.

We need to get to Puji Temple.

If we run into them,

pretend you've never seen me before.

They don't know your face.

You might make it out alive.

Come on.

(Puji Temple)

(Qin Feiyu, Mo Yi)

Look at how they're dressed.

They're no ordinary travelers.

We're far from home.

Best not to start any trouble.

We...

we're merchants passing through.

We couldn't make it to town before nightfall.

Would you mind

if we stayed here tonight?

Sure.

Of course.

There are quite a few of us,

and we've settled in the northwest corner.

You can take the northeast corner.

That way we'll stay out of each other's way.

Thank you.

Find somewhere to hide. Now.

Be careful.

You seen this man?

He's traveling with a young boy.

What about you?

I'm talking to you!

Watch your mouth!

Sir,

we only just arrived ourselves.

We've never seen the man

you're looking for.

Search the place.

No time to explain.

Sorry about this.

Guys,

here

is a pretty lady all alone.

I know where the man you're after went.

What's in it for me?

What's in it for you?

What do you want?

Can you take me to Yongning Prefecture? I have family there.

The man you're looking for

carries a pair of fighting staffs.

He's also traveling

with a boy, twelve or thirteen.

Come out!

They seem

to be headed that way.

Whatever you hear,

don't come out.

Stay hidden here.

Sen will come find you.

Do you trust me?

Bring her with us.

Mr. Zhao!

You're pretty handy with that dagger.

Much better than throwing cups.

Thanks.

Now find somewhere safe and stay hidden.

This is

between you and me.

No one else is involved.

If I die here today,

then so be it.

But you leave that lady out of this.

Guys!

Boss says,

dead or alive,

we get paid when we bring him in!

Please!

I beg you! Spare his life!

Move!

Let him go!

Get over here!

I'm begging you!

Don't kill him!

Mr. Zhao.

I was going to stay out of this,

but...

they were getting on my nerves.

What do we do with them?

They seem like decent people.

We were just out on the road

when some enemies came after us.

We're not hardened criminals.

These two stood by each other.

They're nothing like those thugs.

Let's

leave it at that.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

(Lapis lazuli of this quality)

(is reserved for the imperial family.)

I know who His Majesty sent as Imperial Envoy.

In this entire realm,

aside from His Majesty,

no one outranks him.

Everyone in this world

is looking for a way up.

Sir,

there's already been fighting here.

It's no longer safe.

We should get to Linchun Town as soon as possible.

Sir!

Sir, please!

My fiance is too badly hurt to travel.

We're in the middle of nowhere,

with no healer or herbalist's shop nearby.

I know I'm asking too much,

but please see us through to the end.

Could you take the two of us with you?

Your Highness, our movements must remain secret.

No one can know where you're going.

Then to make sure they don't talk,

we might as well bring them with us.

Better to keep them where we can see them.

Get up.

Come take a look!

(Linchun Town)

(Wayfarers' Guidepost)

Food, supplies, wine...

everything they need

must be provided according to protocol.

Madam,

still worried about what gift to give?

His Highness is here to investigate a case,

and he's known for living simply.

Anything too expensive would be inappropriate,

but we can't show up empty-handed either

and waste our chance to make the right connection.

It's a difficult gift to choose.

Madam,

I may have

just the thing.

Go on.

There's that treasured manuscript in Master Fan Kun's collection,

a rare edition from the previous dynasty

of the Collected Commentaries on the Four Books.

Among scholars and nobles in the capital,

it's highly sought after.

A work like that

isn't ostentatiously expensive,

yet money can hardly buy one.

That would be perfect.

It is part of your dowry,

so the Yu family have no right to ask for it.

But

I can't think of anything more suitable

as a gift for His Highness.

Would you be willing

to give it to the Yu family

and do me this favor?

We're family now.

I was wrong before.

When two people marry,

what matters most is that they truly want each other.

I'll treat you well from now on.

Thank you, Madam.

I

won't let you down.

(Collected Commentaries on the Four Books: The Analects)

With Young Master's affection

and Madam's approval,

you won't have to worry

about finding your place in the Yu family.

(Commentaries on the Four Books) Being the Yu family's eldest young madam

will carry far more weight than being some young lady.

Young Master.

(Commentaries on the Four Books) I heard

you're presenting His Highness with a rare edition

of the Collected Commentaries on the Four Books.

Your father devoted years of his life to it.

Others may not understand its value

and see nothing but an old book.

But you know. How can you give it away?

(Commentaries on the Four Books) Of course I know

it's my father's life's work.

But your mother asked for it.

If I refuse,

I'll only put you in the middle.

I don't want this book

used to curry favor.

And I certainly don't want my career

bought with my wife's dowry.

You...

What are you doing?

Don't worry.

I only got one volume wet.

We can dry it in the sun

and touch up the damaged text.

It'll still be perfectly fit for the collection.

You fool.

I'd rather destroy it

than see it used to curry favor

and put you in a difficult position.

Looks like I've found a wife who truly understands me.

My very own kindred spirit.

(Collected Commentaries on the Four Books: The Analects)

What a shame about your father's collection.

What are we going to tell

Madam Yu?

As long as this keeps

Jingxiu's heart

firmly in my hands,

no one will ever push me around again.

What happened?

I failed to take proper care of it.

I only discovered it yesterday while checking the storeroom.

(Commentaries on the Four Books) The manuscript was soaked by the rain.

I'm afraid

we can no longer present it to His Highness.

Then forget it.

I'll find something else.

Take it back.

Yes, Madam.

She doesn't have

the family background

to elevate the Yu family,

nor the wit and skill

to stand by my son

and help him navigate the world.

If she's no use to this family,

why should she get to be its eldest young madam?

Good thing you had a backup plan, Madam.

Imagine meeting His Highness empty-handed.

An opportunity like this could've turned into a disaster.

The Crown Prince.

One man who could change Jingxiu's entire future.

If this were the Ninth Young Lady,

she'd have thought of a dozen ways by now

to get His Highness on Jingxiu's side.

His fever's broken.

No need to worry too much, Miss Xie.

Put this salve on the wound,

let him rest for a few days,

and he'll be fine.

Thank you, sir.

Funny coincidence.

You're headed to Linchun Town too.

It's still a long way from here.

You should

eat something before we go.

Take care, sir.

Easy.

Who said we're going to Linchun Town?

You could've told me you were awake.

How's the wound?

I'd heal with or without that salve.

You, on the other hand...

stay away from those people.

Why are you so interested in them?

You might as well tell me the truth.

Otherwise,

your dear fiance here

might say the wrong thing

and blow your whole story.

Then we'd both be in trouble.

Back in Huaying,

Madam Yu told me

an Imperial Envoy was coming to investigate the salt trade.

Now that we've crossed paths with him,

if I can make it to Linchun Town with his party

and somehow

help him

with the salt case he's investigating,

maybe he'll be willing

to clear my name in return.

You?

Miss Xie?

What difference does it make

whether I'm a Xie or a Fu?

You're no longer

a young lady of the Fu family.

That means no family name, no money, no connections.

You have no standing,

and no one to vouch for you.

Why would anyone believe a word you say?

You're right.

Everything I had before

was handed to me.

So if it's gone,

so be it.

But if I can prove myself

by helping the Envoy crack this salt case,

maybe

I can earn something

that comes from the court itself.

Then I can turn "Miss Xie"

into a name

that's more than "Ninth Young Lady Fu" ever was.

Just like you,

Mr. Zhao.

You found that token

and became Jiuweijiao.

It brought danger,

but it also gave you a chance.

That Imperial Envoy

is my token.

You want my help?

What's in it for me?

If this works,

you'll get your share of the credit.

You and Sen could go legit,

start over with a clean name.

No more enemies hunting you down,

no more living

with a knife at your throat every day.

Go legit?

That's a pretty big commitment.

Like buying a courtesan out of a pleasure house.

Got my whole future planned out already?

Zhao,

what's wrong?

I don't know.

Ever since I woke up this morning,

I've felt like

my chest and back

are burning up from the inside.

You have an open wound.

A fever isn't unusual.

I'm so thirsty.

But I can't stop shivering.

My chest feels tight,

and I'm losing my voice.

What's happening to me?

Sit up. Let me take a look.

Easy.

What is it?

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm just gonna lie back down.

You think he's got the plague?

Looks like it.

Let's go.

Let's get out of here.

(Next Episode)

Mr. Zhao.

That's the man

we fought at the salt shop.

The second he saw me,

he came straight for this token.

I came across a piece of evidence on the road.

I thought

you might find it interesting.

Something this important...

Where did you get it?

It belongs

to the biggest salt smuggler in the northwest,

Jiuweijiao.

Give me the token and the man,

and I'll walk away right now.

And if I say no?

Then I guess

we do this the hard way.

♪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♪