Original subtitles

=Royal Upstart 2= (Based on "Zhenguan Foolish Son-in-Law")

=Episode 12=

(Do Not Call Me Father-in-Law)

The steward?

It is me.

What...

What?

What is this about?

You...

You...

Your Majesty?

This is unreal.

What?

Do I not look like it?

No.

No... You do.

You...

I...

So,

let me make sense of this.

Make sense of what?

Of how

you spoke to me before?

Calling me

a fool,

saying I do not understand state affairs?

Who said that?

Who would dare speak to His Majesty like that?

You did.

Your Majesty, give me a moment.

Let me sort this out.

I am a bit confused right now.

You are the steward of the girl,

and you are also her father.

Then why would you serve as steward to an unfavored daughter?

Unfavored?

Do you even know who Ning'an is?

Of course I know who Ning'an is.

Who are you calling nonsense?

Who is talking nonsense?

How would I know?

Wait, you...

You are not an impostor, are you?

That cannot be.

Showing up in the palace this early,

you...

You are not an impostor?

Wei Hao.

Ning'an is also called Baoqing.

Do you understand now?

She has another name?

Why does she

have so many names?

You...

What are you talking about?

Wei Ning'an,

my daughter, the eldest daughter of the Great Yong,

Princess Baoqing.

You have never heard of that?

There are people who do not know this?

She

is the eldest princess?

Is it not said among the people

that the eldest princess is the most favored?

You truly did not know?

It does not matter

whether she is favored or not.

Father-in-law,

then about my matter with Ning'an,

you agree?

What did you just call me?

Nothing, Father-in-law.

Ning'an will not suffer following me.

I can make money.

By the way...

(No one has ever called me father-in-law before.)

(This fool actually calls me father-in-law.)

(This...)

(Why does it feel somewhat familiar?)

Father-in-law, take a look at this.

What is this?

Try it.

Salt?

Why

is it so fine?

As far as I know,

salt has always been managed by the court.

But the current salt output in the Great Yong is far from sufficient.

The salt on the market now

sells for ten wen per liang,

so one jin costs one hundred sixty wen,

correct?

Based on the current population of the Great Yong,

there are about sixteen million people.

If each person uses half a jin of salt a year,

that is eight million jin.

Eight million jin amounts to one million two hundred thousand guan.

And the cost of producing salt is only about two hundred thousand guan.

So salt alone

brings nearly a million in profit.

That is how the accounts are calculated,

but the actual annual salt output of the Great Yong

is less than two hundred thousand jin.

Most people cannot afford it.

Salt production is not simple.

It requires a complicated process.

What is so complicated about it?

There is nothing difficult about this.

As long as you give me enough crude salt

or salt fields,

I can refine one hundred thousand jin in a day.

One hundred thousand jin?

You... Forget one hundred thousand.

If you can produce ten thousand jin,

I will put you in charge of all the salt fields in the realm.

No.

Why would I take on that responsibility?

You were

talking big just now, and now you are backing out?

That is deceiving the throne.

I am not backing out.

I have already written down

the whole salt-making method on this paper.

What is needed, how it is made, how the proportions are set,

it is all there.

I am not taking that on.

Why would I bother with it?

It is not even my business.

What you wrote here,

can it actually work?

Of course it can.

I made it very clear.

(Boiling and concentrating. Baking to crystallize. Cooling for purification.)

There is something worthwhile here.

I will have the Ministry of Works handle it.

Father-in-law,

then about

my matter with Ning'an...

Wei the Fool, I warn you.

If you call me father-in-law again,

I will have you locked up in the Ministry of Justice Prison.

Do you hear me?

Father-in-law,

you have already taken this,

and I have given you the method.

You cannot do me like this.

Your Majesty,

the Eldest Princess requests an audience.

Let her in.

Yes.

(Fortunately,)

(if my daughter knew I almost wavered,)

(she would surely make a scene.)

Eldest Princess.

Well now, you really had me fooled.

Did you not tell me you were a fallen princess?

It would be one thing if you fooled me alone,

but you even teamed up to fool me.

That is clearly my father-in-law,

yet you insisted he was a steward.

You really had me going.

Who teamed up to fool you?

You failed to see it. Who can you blame?

Exactly.

I...

No, Father-in-law,

go out on the street right now

and ask anyone.

Ask them if they know your name.

No...

I have never even seen you before.

How would I know who you are?

You father and daughter are both unreasonable.

Father-in-law?

Who are you calling father-in-law?

Do not call me that.

Enough.

I have something to discuss with father-in-law.

As for you,

I will deal with you later.

Wei the Fool,

who are you settling accounts with?

You...

You are truly infuriating.

Go back.

I do not wish to see you right now.

Fine.

Come on, girl.

Father-in-law told us to leave.

Come have lunch at my place later.

Let us go.

Let go of her.

What are you doing?

Wei the Fool,

you can barely look after yourself,

yet you still cling to my daughter.

Look at these memorials.

They accuse you of selling glaze to the Hu merchants,

and of colluding with Beicang.

Together with the previous ones,

there are over a hundred already.

Father-in-law,

you know I did that on purpose.

Those great clans are just jealous of my workshop.

No, how did a perfectly good Great Yong

end up being controlled by these clans?

Controlled?

I am still here.

If they push me too far,

I will root them out completely.

Then,

do you have a way to deal with them?

The printing method you mentioned before?

Not the kind you use now.

I cannot reveal it yet.

If I do,

they will come after me for sure.

(If this fool really has such a method,)

(then there is hope of dealing with the great clans.)

Wei the Fool,

I will protect you.

You stand with me?

That will not work.

You are in the palace, I am outside.

If I am killed, you would not even know.

You fool.

Stop talking nonsense in front of Father.

What nonsense?

Just watch.

Within twenty years,

half the officials from the great clans in court will be gone.

You are from the Wei clan yourself.

If you use this method,

are you not afraid of bringing trouble to your own family?

I may be surnamed Wei,

but I cannot stand those great clans.

Why should they control the power of the realm

and hoard all its wealth?

I am only a County Lord,

yet they dare to openly seize my workshop.

Then what chance do ordinary people have

to seek justice?

Father-in-law, the more I think about it, the more wrong it feels.

Tell me,

why should those from humble families

have their entire lives decided at birth?

They cannot become officials,

they cannot even earn enough to improve their families' lives.

These great clans

have gone too far.

If you truly have such ability, that would be best.

However,

what you said just now

stays between the three of us.

Do not let it spread.

If word gets out,

be careful with your head.

I know.

I am just speaking with you.

Your Majesty,

the Empress has learned that Lord Wei is in the palace.

She has instructed that after his audience,

he should go to Fengluan Palace.

Mother-in-law wants to see me?

Wait,

why did you not tell me earlier?

I did not bring any gift.

When you meet Mother later, do not address her carelessly.

Do not worry.

I will not embarrass you.

Just go.

(That is meeting my mother-in-law.)

(She matters more than the father-in-law.)

(As long as I win her over,)

(the rest will be easy.)

Let us go.

Your Majesty,

Your Majesty, are you heading out?

I am going with Father-in-law to see Mother-in-law.

Father...

Father-in-law?

What are you calling me?

My father-in-law.

This...

This...

Your father-in-law?

(His Majesty is actually not objecting to being called that.)

♪Everyone says I'm a big silly fool♪

♪When things happen, I only know how to count on my fingers♪

♪They shake their heads and say I'm pitiful♪

♪Sigh and walk away♪

♪Little do they know, I am sharp and bright♪

♪With a heart like a mirror, I understand the world's♪

♪Colors and darkness♪

♪But I keep my edge hidden♪

♪The day I become famous is just around the corner♪

♪In the hotpot restaurant, skewers boil in the broth♪

♪People come and go, with few worries or troubles♪

♪The clacking of the abacus rings out♪

♪See me differently. Who dares to challenge me?♪

♪The world mistakes me♪

♪For an ignorant and stubborn fool♪

♪As the storm approaches♪

♪I just shrug and watch with a smile♪

♪This foolish image is convenient♪

♪I use it as a protective shield♪

♪Navigating with ease, I attract♪

♪A lucky star to accompany me♪

♪In a peaceful golden age♪

♪I hold my lady's hand to watch the world♪

♪Pouring youth and fireworks♪

♪Into a precious glazed cup♪

♪Having experienced life's changes♪

♪And tasted its highs and lows♪

♪My wish has finally come true♪

♪To stay by your side♪

♪In this fleeting world♪

♪We are free and happy♪

♪From a nobody♪

♪To someone now famous♪

♪Ordinary people laugh at me♪

♪But I laugh at how they cannot see through it all♪

♪Let others plot and scheme♪

♪I will keep my heart unchanged♪

♪In this vast world♪

♪I find my own leisurely freedom♪

♪The world is bustling, and things constantly change♪

♪Everything ends eventually♪

♪All that remains before my eyes♪

♪Is this street wandering, still tinged with pity♪

♪No matter how time flies♪

♪Even if the falling snow♪

♪Dyes the hair at our temples white♪

♪All I want now♪

♪Is to pray for my lady's peace and safety♪

♪Year after year♪