Original subtitles

[The Heir]

[Episode 39]

Luo Wenqian.

Turn around and take one last look.

You won't be back

for another 20 years.

Zhen, you're finally back.

Eldest Aunt, what's wrong?

Qiu'e is about to give birth.

Let's hurry over.

Mother, how is she?

The midwife said the fetal position and term are both fine.

But why hasn't she delivered yet?

Childbirth can be fast or slow.

Why so anxious?

Back when I gave birth to you,

it took a full 8 to 10 hours.

But this is too long.

She's delivered.

She's delivered.

Grandpa.

She's delivered!

Both mother and son are safe.

Congratulations, everyone!

Thank you. Thank you.

Jin.

It's a happy occasion. Don't cry.

The baby's finally born.

Who am I?

The baby actually stopped crying

as soon as you held him.

This is my own nephew, after all.

He recognizes me.

Right?

After all these hardships, our Li family

is finally seeing better days.

This baby really came at just the right time.

Qiu'e.

Have you and Zhengliang decided

on a name for him?

We chatted about it a few days ago.

I was thinking,

now that our family's embracing a whole new beginning,

we planned to name him

Li Tianxin.

Li Tianxin.

Wonderful name.

Aren't you going in to take a look?

Grandpa.

Over the past few days,

I feel like I've lived through my whole life.

Then tell me—

what does it feel like,

having lived through your whole life?

Sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy—

everything is there,

but it's constantly changing.

It really makes one sigh at how unpredictable life is.

Scared?

I am.

But I have to keep moving forward.

Yes.

We can only move forward,

and we have no choice but to.

I

will also try my best to live on

and move forward with you.

Grandpa.

Look, the snow's getting heavier and heavier.

By tomorrow morning,

everything will be covered in white.

I haven't seen such heavy snow in a long time.

[3 Years Later, the First Year of the Longqing Era]

Ancestors above,

in this season of abundant harvest,

our family is well

and all matters proceed smoothly.

I hereby report this to you, ancestors,

and share this blessing with you.

Mother.

I miss you dearly.

Everything has been well at home.

The new emperor has ascended the throne,

and the date for the tribute selection has been moved up.

Mother,

please bless Zhen.

May she lead our Li Ink

[Spirit Tablet of Lady Wang, Rujun]

to win the "Champion of Ink Making" plaque once again.

Great-aunt!

Be careful.

Why are you here?

Mother asked me to call you home to "eat daylight."

[Li Tianxin, Great-Grandson of the Li Family's Eighth Branch]

["Eating daylight" is an old Huizhou dialect term for having breakfast]

Look at him.

He insisted on coming to find you, making quite a fuss about it.

You came to pick me up to "eat daylight",

right?

Let's go home.

Come on.

Have you eaten?

I haven't.

What did Grandma make?

Grandma made tofu pudding.

Your favorite tofu pudding, right?

Jin, we're here to help you.

Grandma. Grandma.

No need.

We all came to help.

Why did you all come in here?

Just wait to eat.

I can handle this bit of work myself.

Our Jingdong and Zhengshen

run off to the ink workshop before dawn every day,

and I'm left alone at home with nothing to do.

Yeah. I thought the return of the Eighth Branch

would bring some life back to the family.

But in the end, every morning,

it's still just the same few of us.

Exactly.

We definitely can't get Zhen back.

Over the past 3 years,

you could count her days off on one hand.

Ever since our Zhengliang opened his inkstone shop last year,

he's been so busy he's hardly home, either.

And Zhengyou.

Zhengyou has gotten completely hooked on learning ink-making from Zhen.

He goes to the ink workshop every single day.

This year,

the imperial court's starting a new round of tribute selection.

My father's condition has just improved a bit,

and even he has gone to the ink workshop.

Look at that—our whole family is at the ink workshop.

Our Zhengrun is the same.

He's constantly talking about

how he wants to go to the ink workshop.

Last night in his sleep,

he was even mumbling about it,

something about the soot aging and collecting it quickly.

Mother, the ink workshop is fun. I want to go too.

Sure. Sure.

We Huizhou people are just born to work hard.

No one in our family can escape it.

Doggie, the tofu pudding is ready.

Coming.

Be careful.

Alright.

So, as usual—

one for the inkstone shop,

one for New Li Ink Workshop,

and one for Li Ink Workshop.

That's right.

Alright.

Be careful on the way.

Tell Zhen to eat it while it's still warm.

You can trust me with this.

Here, try some too, everyone.

Come on.

Tianxin, come here.

Tianxin, come quickly.

Come have some tofu pudding.

[Sihe Ink]

Masters.

The new round of Tribute Ink selection

will be held again soon.

The "Champion of Ink Making" plaque has been out of the Li family's hands

for over 16 years.

This time, it is our best opportunity to clear our past shame

and restore the glory of Li Ink.

I hereby announce

that the Li family will recreate our ancestors' Sihe Ink

to take part in the selection on behalf of Li Ink.

Manager Zhen.

This Sihe Ink is a priceless treasure, the only one of its kind in the world.

Moreover, restoring it would take a great deal of time and effort,

and it may not be ready in time for this year's Tribute Ink selection.

Why don't we...

Why don't we improve the ancient lacquer-soot ink

and submit it for the selection?

It would be safer that way.

-Indeed. -Agreed.

Everyone.

Without breaking the old, nothing new can be established.

If we blindly cling to what's incomplete and outdated,

we'll only trap ourselves in stagnation.

Only by discarding the old and bringing forth the new

can we move forward.

Masters.

The Li Ink legacy has lasted for a century,

and its essence is not in the physical form of the ink,

but

in the spirit that unites people's hearts.

The so-called "Sihe"

not only refers to the ink itself,

but also to heaven, earth, and human hearts coming together.

At present, the hearts of everyone in Li Ink are more united than ever.

This is the best time to restore the ancient Sihe Ink.

Masters.

Every word Eighth Uncle said makes sense.

I, Li Jingdong, have faith in Zhen.

Let's entrust the future of Li Ink

to Zhen.

Everyone.

My decision today

is meant to bring together all our strength in the present

to uncover the key techniques of our ancestors' ink-making.

It is also

to light the way for future generations.

I hope you all can pool your wisdom and efforts,

and lend a helping hand to our Li Ink.

That's right.

Every time Li Ink has faced difficulties,

it was Manager Zhen who led us out of them.

So what's there to hesitate about?

Manager Zhen.

We will not fail your trust

and will give it our all.

Yes.

This Sihe Ink

was won back by Manager Zhen.

For the future of Li Ink,

we'll give it our all.

-We'll give it our all! -We'll give it our all!

Manager Zhen.

Here's the fresh tofu pudding your mother made today.

Here, eat it while it's still warm.

Okay, just put it here.

That's not right.

Isinglass,

horn glue,

peach resin...

What else?

Manager Zhen, why don't you eat it while it's still warm?

It'll get cold soon.

Horn glue, isinglass, peach resin..

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

What's wrong?

You got the wrong thing.

I...

I'm truly scatterbrained.

How did I end up rinsing my brush in here?

Then please don't forget today's family banquet.

It's the first of August.

The first of August?

It's already the first of August?

This is bad. This is bad.

The Literary Association meeting is today.

I have to go immediately.

Manager Zhen, Manager Zhen.

What is it now?

I promised your mother

to make sure you finish it.

Given the situation in this bowl,

I probably can't eat it anymore, right?

Yeah.

Come on. Make way.

Then please don't forget the family banquet tonight.

Your mother said no one could be missing.

Got it!

My Lady,

it's such a nice day outside,

and these flowers are so beautiful.

Why are you still frowning?

Mr. Li made efforts all over

to gather these flowers for you.

Just because back in Nanjing,

you said that wind orchid

was the best among orchids in your heart—

quiet and serene, growing deep in the mountains and forests,

yet possessing a uniquely refined fragrance.

Man.

Check how many leaves this wind orchid has.

One, two, three,

four, five, six.

Six leaves, My Lady.

What's wrong?

A wind orchid only grows 2 leaves a year.

Six leaves—

it's been 3 years.

Yet not a single moment

in the past 3 years could compare to the 3 days I spent in Nanjing.

Wait, wait, wait.

All Father does is make me wait and endure.

I-I've been waiting for 3 whole years!

My Lady...

Why hasn't Li Zhengshen's betrothal gift been delivered yet?

It's fine to talk like this

at home,

but don't let it spread outside.

If it gets out, you'll be a laughingstock.

Be good and stay at home.

I need to go to the Literary Association

to discuss this year's Tribute Ink selection.

What does that have to do with me?

It has everything to do with you.

Once the Tribute Ink selection is over,

I'll petition the imperial court to retire and return to our hometown.

Return to our hometown?

Father, I'm not going anywhere.

This is where Zhengshen's home is.

I... I'm not leaving.

Look at you. Look at you.

A grown daughter cannot be kept at home forever, right?

Honey, think about it.

If I resign from my position as the Ink Affairs Official,

then when the Li family comes to propose marriage,

there won't be any suspicion of them climbing the social ladder, right?

And once the Tribute Ink is decided and a new Ink Affairs Official takes office,

at the earliest, you and Zhengshen

could be married next spring.

And then,

-I'll be free to travel and enjoy life. -Congratulations, My Lady.

Do you really mean it, Father?

Of course.

Well then... Man,

let's go get changed.

We'll go to the Literary Association with Father.

I'll go tell Zhen.

Alright, alright.

Stop making a fuss.

Stop making a fuss, alright?

Let me finish the important matter first,

then we'll plan things carefully together, alright?

Alright, alright.

Master, a message came from the prefectural office

that Eunuch Zhao has arrived in Huizhou.

You're summoned to receive the imperial edict there.

All the other Hui Ink families have also headed from the Literary Association

to the prefectural office to wait for the edict.

Why is there another imperial edict?

Alright. Prepare the sedan chair. To the prefectural office.

Yes.

Xianglan, I'm going to handle official business.

Take care, Father.

Okay.

I'll be waiting!

Everyone.

With the accession of the new emperor,

the Tribute Ink selection is about to begin.

Today, Eunuch Zhao has come in person to deliver an imperial decree,

which shows just how highly His Majesty regards this year's tribute selection.

Three years ago, Li Ink exercised the tribute ink contract on our behalf.

After Qing He's downfall,

the imperial court

also restored the Chen family's good name.

Manager Zhen.

Third Master Chen.

Li Ink and Chen Ink

are now the pillars of Huizhou's ink industry.

In this year's tribute selection, your two families will face off.

We are all

looking forward to it.

President Hu, that's not the way to look at it.

Great talents often reveal themselves at a young age.

Word has it that Ruogu secluded himself for 3 years

and created an ink pellet that dissolves instantly in water.

Third Grandfather.

We can't just sit back and do nothing.

Kid, do you dare to compete with me?

Third Grandfather.

Please don't go easy on me then.

The youth of today are something else.

Here comes the imperial edict!

[Harmony Hall]

Imperial edict to

the ink merchants of Huizhou Prefecture:

Recently, a group of Japanese ink artisans led by Master Kuroda

has arrived in our Great Ming, bringing ink products of their own making,

stating that they wish to admire the excellence of our ink industry

and exchange ink-making techniques.

In recognition of their sincerity,

I hereby grant them special permission to participate in the Tribute Ink selection,

so that they may share in this grand occasion.

The winner of this tribute selection

shall receive, by imperial bestowal, the title "Finest Ink Under Heaven",

and their name shall be made known throughout the realm.

Respect this decree. Issued in August of the first year of the Longqing Era.

I respectfully obey the edict.

Lord Yan,

this selection is highly unusual.

Hui Ink has thousands of years of history.

Whether in craftsmanship or in talent,

it stands among the very best in our Great Ming's ink industry.

His Majesty has high hopes for you all,

so please give this selection your utmost effort.

We will certainly not disappoint His Majesty's expectations.

Here, Zhengyou,

give me your bowl.

My opinion remains unchanged.

Our Li family has held the tribute ink contract

on an acting basis for 3 years now.

If we back down at a time like this,

then who can we expect

to willingly

represent Hui Ink in the selection?

And how could Li Ink still have the face

to remain the foremost of the Hui Ink-making families?

Our Sihe Ink

hasn't been restored yet,

and this matter concerns His Majesty's prestige.

I truly can't put my mind at ease.

I'm worried what happened a decade ago might happen again.

Sister-in-law.

Competing with our own people is competing,

and competing with the Japanese is also competing.

It's...

Zhen, you are the head of the family.

Do you agree with me?

Uncle Jingdong, I understand how you feel.

But I also understand Eldest Aunt's worries.

After all, it wasn't easy for our family

to finally gather together.

Zhen...

However,

given the current situation,

we're at the point of no return.

His Majesty has placed great hopes in Hui Ink,

and our Li family has no reason to shrink back.

Now that His Majesty has reopened maritime trade,

exchanges with foreigners will naturally become commonplace.

If foreigners can come to us,

then we can go out into the world as well.

For this Tribute Ink selection,

Grandpa, Uncle Jingdong, and I had already planned

to restore our Sihe Ink,

so as to further refine Li Ink's craftsmanship.

Furthermore, if Li Ink

can use the momentum of the Tribute Ink selection to build its reputation,

and ride the wave of the reopening of maritime trade,

then perhaps

our Li Ink could expand throughout the world.

By then, our business would reach all corners of the world,

and Li Ink could truly become the Finest Ink Under Heaven.

Zhen is right.

[Li Zhengyou (Young)] [Li Zhengrun (Young)]

Mother, times have changed.

Even the emperor has been replaced.

Eighth Uncle,

what's your opinion?

I still hold the same view:

in an ink competition, the focus should be on the ink,

not the people.

As ink makers,

all we can do right now is fulfill what we are supposed to do.

As for what the future holds,

none of us can know.

Eldest Aunt.

We've all lived through what happened back then.

Compared to that,

how much worse can the present really be?

Zhen, I support you.

I support you too.

-Me too. -Me too.

If our Li Ink

can win the title of the Finest Ink Under Heaven,

then I, Li Jingdong,

will not have lived this life in vain.

Uncle Jingdong.

As long as we make the Sihe Ink well,

we don't need to fear any opponent.

This time, Li Ink

will spare no effort

to compete with all the best ink makers in this world.

Alright.

Then let's have a thrilling competition.

It seems our Zhengyou

has great ambitions.

Alright.

We'll listen to Zhen

and have a thrilling competition.

Alright.

Come on.

Let's have a drink.

Come on, Eighth Uncle.

Zhen.

Mother.

Take this soup.

It's still warm.

Also, these are your grandpa's clothes.

Bring them to him too.

Grandpa has already gone to the ink workshop?

Don't you know your grandpa's temper?

That old man's really stubborn.

Even though during the meal just now,

he didn't want to say an extra word,

deep down,

he wants to win this Tribute Ink selection

more than anyone else.

I know.

Although Grandpa has been back for 3 years,

he's never let it go.

His heart is still hanging on that ship

that delivered ink to the capital back then.

That's even more reason

for you to focus on making the ink well.

Think about it.

If a case from over a decade ago can be overturned,

then what can't be resolved in time?

As long as we stay safe and well,

we'll see that day sooner or later.

Don't worry.

Please go back, Mother.

Look, you're coughing again.

You should go back and rest.

This is when

the smell is the most pungent.

With your condition, you can't take it.

I'm here keeping an eye on things.

What's there for you to worry about?

Grandpa.

Manager Zhen.

Go back and rest.

Steward Shao and I are here.

Put this on.

Go back to making your ink.

Why are you getting more and more stubborn?

This is chicken soup my mother made.

Have a few sips.

Here.

Ronghua?

Why are you here?

This is New Li Ink's account book for this month.

Check it when you have time.

I trust your accounting, Ronghua.

No need to check.

Ronghua.

I'm testing ink.

Go wait for me over there.

I'll be there in a moment.

Why are you spacing out here, Ronghua?

Is something on your mind?

Zhen,

after this Tribute Ink selection,

I'd like to resign.

The new emperor has granted a general amnesty.

Counting the days,

your mother and second brother should be returning soon.

If you wish to return to the Tian family,

I won't stop you.

Mother already sent me a letter.

She said that she and my second brother

really were too ashamed to return to Huizhou.

Right now,

they've settled somewhere in Ningguo Prefecture,

and she asked

if I'd be willing to join them there.

So what's your thought on this?

With the maritme restrictions now lifted,

I want to follow Cuiqiao's example

and learn how to do business.

I want to go see the sea,

and see what's beyond it.

I also want to see

the other side of my own life.

Okay.

My ink is going to see the sea,

and my Ronghua is going to see the sea too.

Then I will wait here

for you to come back and tell me about your sea.

Who knows,

I might even go ahead and scout things out for you.

Later,

I'll have Hua'er translate the introduction of each type of ink

into European languages and teach me.

That way, I can go around telling everyone about it.

That would be incredible.

Zhen,

after this general amnesty,

have you heard any news about him?

Madam Wang told me

that he too has been pardoned from his exile sentence.

He has taken on the name Luo Wenqian

and rejoined General Yu's ranks.

The battlefield is perilous.

I only wish he could stay safe.

It seems a bit better this time.

Give it a bit more time,

and it will surely keep getting better.

By my calculation,

we should be able to

fully restore the Sihe Ink

before the Tribute Ink selection.

Small discrepancies

can lead to great errors.

The proportions

are still off.

Grandpa, why don't you go back and rest for a bit?

Leave this to me and Uncle Jingdong.

We'll think it over a bit more.

That's right.

With the Sihe Ink unfinished,

how can I rest?

Grandpa.

Take a look.

The pattern on this piece of old Sihe Ink

really is different from the new ones we've made.

Perhaps the problem lies right here.

This old ink piece is too small.

I can't see the full pattern clearly.

Zhen,

go to the Ink Vault and get that other piece of Sihe Ink

so we can compare them carefully.

Who's there?

I'll explain it to you later.

I have to go after the thief right now.

Zhen.

What happened?

Grandpa,

a thief broke into the ink workshop.

Are you okay?

I'm okay.

Manager Zhen.

Steward Shao, you came just in time.

A thief broke into the ink workshop.

He ran that way.

Hurry

-and look around. -Hurry. Alright.

Got it.

He ran that way.

Uncle Jingdong. Grandpa.

Just now, I...

Luo Wenqian?

Eighth Master Li.

Uncle Jingdong.

Steward Shao.

Why are you here?

It's a long story.

Give me a second.

This is a hidden weapon used by the Japanese.

The group led by Kuroda this time is made up of people with mixed backgrounds.

General Yu ordered me to monitor them secretly.

Over the past few months,

they've always been moving as a group.

Until half a month ago,

one of them quietly broke away from the group.

I followed him all the way—

from Nanjing

to Wuyuan,

then to Xiuning,

and finally to She County.

This person had no other agenda

than visit various ink-making families

to gather intelligence about ink workshops.

In order not to alert him,

I didn't make a move against him,

because I wanted to figure out

what his ultimate goal was.

However,

he just attempted to kill you, so I had to...

Reveal myself.

It seems that person means no good.

Exactly.

Her Highness Princess Shouyang has arrived!

Greetings, Your Highness!

You may rise.

Thank you, Your Highness.

In this Tribute Ink selection,

His Majesty has specially permitted the Kuroda family from Japan

to participate by bringing their ink and exchange ink-making techniques.

I've been entrusted by His Majesty

to oversee this matter.

You must all devote yourselves fully

and not fail His Majesty's grace.

All of us in the Huizhou ink industry will certainly give it our utmost effort.

The Kuroda family of Japan seeks an audience!

Greetings, Your Highness.

Please rise.

Your Highness.

Your esteemed country truly lives up to its reputation

as a great and superior state, a land of profound cultural heritage.

What we've seen and experienced along the way

is more than enough to deeply convince us of its greatness.

Even the city of Huizhou today

presents itself with a solemn and dignified presence.

[Head of the Kuroda Family, Kuroda Ichiro]

It's truly a place blessed with outstanding natural beauty

and a thousand-year legacy of ink-making.

Thank you for your kind words.

Your Highness.

We've long heard that Hui Ink leads the ink industry in this world.

Since this is our first visit to your esteemed land,

[Master Ink Maker of the Kuroda Family, Renkichi Eisho]

we did not dare come empty-handed.

In this box

are ink products made by our Kuroda family,

which we'd like to present as gifts to various ink workshops in Huizhou.

We respectfully request Your Highness's approval.

Bring it forward.

President Hu, we humbly request your guidance.

We've long heard that the Chen family has been renowned for a century

for its Cloud Ink and Scholar Ink.

This is the ink our Kuroda family has produced

based on those 2 types of ink as reference.

We respectfully ask for your guidance, Manager Chen.

[Scholar Ink]

Father.

How is this even possible?

Li Ink originates from the Southern Tang dynasty

and is regarded as the foremost of the ink industry in the Great Ming.

Even in Japan,

Li Ink is widely known to all.

The gift we present to Li Ink

also traces its origins back to the Southern Tang dynasty.

Please offer your guidance, Manager Li.

[Sihe Ink]

Manager Li,

do you recognize this ink?

It's the Sihe Ink of the Li family.

Now that the gifts have been delivered,

I just wonder—

in this Tribute Ink selection,

which types of ink will you all use

to compete against our Kuroda family's ink?

Renkichi.

Don't be rude.