Original subtitles

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

=Episode 14=

(Granted a Marquis Title While in Prison)

(Cui Mansion)

(Prosperity for Generations)

He is in prison now, right?

Overestimating himself.

He thought being a Lord made him impressive.

He has no idea

how powerful our great clans are.

This time,

we cannot settle for just half his shares.

I say

we take eighty percent.

Otherwise, he will not learn his lesson.

By now,

he must have realized how formidable we are.

(Prosperity for Generations) Later, we will go to the prison

and give him a hint.

Let him know

this was all our doing.

Of course.

He may not agree now,

but

after a few days behind bars,

I am sure

he will come around.

Good.

Let us go to the prison now and ask Wei Hao

if he has thought it through.

Let's go.

Go.

(Prosperity for Generations)

People from the great clans?

Tell them to get lost.

I am sleepy right now.

If they keep bothering me,

I will go out and deal with them myself.

Go.

Repeat exactly what I said.

What?

Deal with us?

This Wei the Fool

is truly full of himself.

Looks like he is furious after what we did to him.

Exactly.

Fine.

I will not stoop to the level of a prisoner!

If he will not see us, so be it.

I will come back in a few days.

By then, he will be begging us.

These people

have gone too far.

The Wei clan finally produced a Lord,

and they suppressed him like this.

Indeed.

From this incident,

I have come to see clearly.

Though Wei Hao

is somewhat hot-tempered,

he is still a decent man.

He is reasonable.

Besides,

he is from the Wei clan.

Whatever the issue,

it is not for outsiders to discipline him.

Clan Leader,

how should

we handle this?

Inform Wei Ting at the Central Secretariat.

Have the members of our clan

also impeach officials from their clans.

Choose those

in key positions.

One from each clan.

If they want to stir trouble,

the Wei clan is not to be trifled with.

Understood.

These are the impeachment memorials submitted by the Wei clan officials.

Investigate each one carefully.

Yes.

(The moment the Wei clan impeached, His Majesty began investigating.)

(He is even reviewing earlier cases,)

(the officials who impeached Wei Hao.)

(His Majesty is...)

Hurry.

Move.

Quickly.

Lord, what is going on with those people?

They were all impeached by the Wei clan.

This time, quite a number of officials have been removed.

About

a dozen or so.

All are officials of the fifth rank and above.

What a waste.

Impeached by the Wei clan?

Yes.

Impeached by the Wei clan?

(Isn't Father-in-law the one who intended to deal with them?)

(Why did it turn into the Wei clan impeaching them?)

(Could it be...)

(Could it be Father-in-law used my position)

(to stir conflict among the great clans,)

(using the Wei clan)

(to weaken their power?)

A clever move.

What?

All of them were arrested?

Yes.

This time, these clans have all suffered losses.

Clan Leader,

will this not cause conflict

between our clan and the others?

How could it?

Impeachment is just impeachment.

When has it ever succeeded before?

We only hoped

to bring down one or two.

How did it become all of them?

You...

Clan Leader!

You...

Clan Leader Wei.

Clan Leader Wei.

What is the meaning of this from the Wei clan?

You brought down so many of our officials at once.

What exactly are you trying to do?

What do you mean?

You are allowed to arrest Wei Hao from our clan,

but we are not allowed

to impeach officials from your clans?

Even so, you should not have taken down so many at once.

Is it a lot?

Who is Wei Hao?

He is the only Lord in the Wei clan.

Those officials who were arrested,

can they even compare to Wei Hao?

So what if he is a Lord?

It was the Wei clan that broke the rules.

Are we not allowed to deal with it?

Everyone,

we did not expect

the impeachment to turn out like this.

Normally,

such accusations

would not land so many officials in prison.

I believe

there must be something behind this

that we do not know.

Did you perhaps anger His Majesty?

(Based on the Wei clan alone,)

(it would not be possible to bring down so many officials.)

(Could it be that another force intervened?)

Everyone,

you have

come to the Wei clan to demand answers,

but you are asking the wrong people.

Let's set aside

whether we even have the ability

to bring down so many officials.

Just think about it. You had Wei Hao thrown into prison.

Wei Hao is impulsive.

By doing this,

you will only make things worse.

Just wait and see.

Once Wei Hao comes out,

if you can still get glaze from him,

then you have some ability.

He does not agree,

and he thinks he can just walk out?

Then I would like to see that.

If he still does not know his place,

we will impeach a few more of his people.

That is enough.

That

is done?

What is so complicated about it?

This really is pure white salt.

So fine.

This one batch alone must be seventy to eighty jin.

And it only took about two hours.

That is incredibly fast.

When you scale this up,

use more pots.

Start with a strong fire,

then switch to a low heat to produce the salt.

Alright.

Just follow my method.

If there are any problems,

come to me anytime.

I will report back to His Majesty at once.

Many thanks, Lord Wei.

Thank you.

Think nothing of it.

This is for the people,

after all.

Can something this fine

really be salt?

Of course.

Wei the Fool taught me how to make it.

It was Wei Hao again.

This fine white salt

is far superior

to the official salt we have.

And the Ministry of Works has already verified it.

It is safe to consume

and not toxic.

Remarkable.

Such fine salt is exceptional.

Then, what about its production?

Your Majesty,

Wei the Fool said

that as long as there is enough brine

and enough pots,

it can produce at least four to five hundred jin a day.

If there are twenty such pots,

the daily output could reach over ten thousand jin.

That much?

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

If what Minister Duan said is true,

then Wei Hao, with salt alone,

could bring in

over a million guan in profit for the court.

This year's deficit in the Ministry of Revenue

can be covered.

If production reaches that scale,

then it cannot be sold at the current price.

Salt is not easy for common people to obtain.

Ordinary families are reluctant to buy it.

The price must be lowered.

We cannot

use this to profit from the people.

When the time comes, the Ministry of Revenue

will discuss measures

to regulate the price.

- Wise decision, Your Majesty. - Wise decision, Your Majesty.

Wei Hao

has rendered great service to the Great Yong.

He should be well rewarded.

What do you all suggest?

Your Majesty,

judging by such merit,

even granting him a dukedom would be justified.

At present,

our frontline soldiers cannot even get coarse salt.

Wei Hao has solved the problem of salt for the troops.

Your Majesty,

I do not agree.

I have heard

that this Wei Hao is notorious,

arrogant, and ill-mannered.

He is hardly fit for court service.

Indeed,

his contribution with salt

has brought

great merit to the court.

But to grant him a dukedom on that basis alone

may stir dissatisfaction among other meritorious officials.

The current dukes

have all lived through turbulent times,

with distinguished military achievements,

and have rendered great service

in founding the Great Yong.

Yet Wei Hao, an uncrowned youth,

would be granted a dukedom

based solely on salt?

Would that not dishearten the veteran generals?

Minister Zhangsun, that is not quite right.

Everyone here knows

how vital salt is to the Great Yong.

With such a great contribution,

granting him a dukedom

would not draw objections from other officials.

Exactly.

Though Wei Hao is young,

and he has indeed

done some reckless things before,

he is simply a fool

and still young.

Acting impulsively is understandable.

Now, speaking strictly of this matter,

with this one achievement in salt,

not only did he solve the people's need for salt,

but he also brought new revenue to the court,

making up for the Ministry of Revenue's deficit.

And this source of income

will continue year after year.

One could say

it is worth countless guan.

He deserves to be made a duke.

That is right,

Your Majesty,

I still do not agree.

Granting a dukedom at such a young age,

who knows

how arrogant he will become later?

(This boy truly speaks without thinking.)

(So young, yet placed in such a high position,)

(he will surely invite resentment.)

A dukedom will not do.

Enough.

How about this?

The lad

does tend to cause trouble.

Grant him a marquis title instead.

Would that be too light?

Yes.

Let us settle it this way.

Have the Department of State Affairs draft the decree.

This afternoon, go to Wei Hao's mansion to deliver it.

Your Majesty,

Wei Hao is still in prison.

Should he be released?

Not yet.

Let him remain there for now.

(Wei Mansion) By the Mandate of Heaven and the Emperor decrees,

salt is the lifeblood of the state,

yet it has long faced obstacles.

This has weighed on my mind.

Wei Hao is gifted and perceptive,

with the state at heart.

In the art of salt production,

he has forged a new path.

In recognition of his outstanding merit,

I hereby confer upon Wei Hao the title of

Dynasty-Founding Marquis Pingyang.

(Marquis.)

By imperial decree.

On Wei Hao's behalf, I thank His Majesty for this great grace.

Congratulations.

Eunuch,

Hao is still in prison.

Could there be a mistake?

There is no mistake.

This is His Majesty's personal decree,

decided upon in court.

You may rest assured.

Also,

His Majesty has instructed

that Wei Hao...

No,

the Marquis.

There's a reason

Marquis remains in prison.

You need not worry.

Understood.

If there is nothing further,

I shall take my leave.

We respectfully see you off.

Marquis, Marquis!

Hao may not know yet.

Mister Wang,

prepare some good food

and some celebratory gifts.

I am going to the Ministry of Justice Prison

to tell Hao the good news.

Yes.

I will go myself.

Am I dreaming?

Our mansion is now a marquis's estate?

The fool must have stumbled into some incredible stroke of luck.

♪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♪