All language subtitles for U7LaFq_The.Road_.to_.Splendor.E35_eng

=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♪