Episode 19
Madam Ying.
Where's my mother-in-law? - She's inside.
Madam Ying, you're the best.
Everyone else left. Only you came back.
Let me see mother.
Mother.
Madam Zheng!
Mother.
I just learnt of everything. What happened?
How unfair.
How did father die?
They claimed that he died in jail...
"because of a sudden illness.
Father has always been fit. Why would he suddenly fall ill?
Then, what about father's funeral?
It's over. -That's fast.
Master Wei Wu said that master's death is suspicious...
...and decided to bury him quietly.
Madam Ying!
Chun Xing.
Madam Ying! You're finally back!
The decent maids and servants...
msecretly ran away.
The heartless ones stole our valuables and ran away.
Only Wu Pin's maids and servants stayed.
Madam Ying, we've been waiting for you.
Madam Ying, you won't leave, right?
I... -Master didn't mean what he said.
Please don't leave.
But, I...
Look at the mess here.
Madam Zheng is so sick.
Someone has to manage the household.
Madam Zheng, I, Yang Zhi Huan, has come to say goodbye to you.
These people are so heartless.
They made money all thanks to master.
Yet, now that master is gone, they all want to resign.
I'll scold him. -Lian Er, forget it.
He's struggling as well.
I'll ask him.
Housekeeper Yang.
Madam Ying. -You want to leave as well?
By right, now that the master is gone...
...I should stay and take care of everything.
But, I'm 50 years old now.
I'm too disheartened by this misfortune.
I just want to go back to my hometown...
...for a peaceful life.
Please be understanding.
Housekeeper Yang, everything was fine when I left.
How come this happened so suddenly? What happened?
Madam Ying, do you still remember Shen Yue Sheng?
Isn't he...
...the young master of Shen Family who died in...
...our warehouse?
After Shen Yue Sheng died, master and I discovered...
...a sack of dragon's blood in the warehouse...
...which turned out to be dyed rosin.
The imperial commissioner was about to arrive at that time.
So, master ordered me to hide the fake dragon's blood quickly.
Little did we know that the fake dragon's blood...
...became an evidence of adulteration.
Where did the fake dragon's blood come from?
We've no idea.
Master and I thought that...
...maybe Shen Yue Sheng was planning to frame us.
But, Shen Yue Sheng's death itself is a mystery.
Then, we never found an answer.
They convicted father because of one sack of fake dragon's blood?
There's also Hu Zhi Cun's testimony.
What does this have to do with Hu Family?
In order to produce the medicine...
...master bought a batch of...
...dragon's blood from Gu Yue Pharmacy...
...and the fake dragon's blood I mentioned...
...was contained in Gu Yue Pharmacy's sack.
Hu Family is the culprit then. -But, Hu Zhi Cun lied...
...and claimed that master instructed him to...
...replace the dragon's blood with rosin.
Father? That's impossible. -Yes.
I entered this household at 16 years old...
...and started as an apprentice.
I dare to guarantee with my life that...
...master has never done any dishonest business.
Housekeeper Yang, you all should speak for my father.
Madam Ying.
Even though I was tortured...
...I did not go against my conscience.
But, Shopkeeper Tong...
Master treated him well.
Yet, he helped Hu Zhi Cun!
Madam Ying! Where are you going?
The court session begins! - The court session begins!
Who is the plaintiff?
It's you. -I am Zhou Ying.
My family has been treated unfairly.
Mr. Zhao, please restore justice.
Do you know that your complaint will only be entertained if...
...you accept 20 spanks? -I am aware.
Why did you beat the drum then?
I must appeal even if I will be beaten.
Are you sure? Even normal men cannot withstand the spanking.
If I can't redress the injustice for Wu Family...
...the pain in my heart...
...will far exceed the pain of getting spanked.
Are you talking about the case of military supply?
Yes. It has been proven that Wu Wei Wen...
...adulterated the military supply...
...and profiteered. -When Wu Wei Wen was alive...
...he put honesty above everything.
When he was discussing about this business, I suggested to...
...replace dragon's blood with leaves of azaleas...
...that has similar efficacy and he scolded me. Why would he...
...replace dragon's blood with rosin that can't stop bleeding?
But, Wu Wei Wen signed the confession himself.
They must have forced him to sign it.
Wu Wei Wen instructed Yang Zhi Huan to hide the proof.
How do you explain this?
He was forced to resort to this.
Hu Zhi Cun confessed that Wu Wei Wen instructed him to...
muse rosin to replace dragon's blood.
How do you explain this?
Hu Zhi Cun framed my father-in-law.
Shopkeeper Tong also said that...
...Wu Wei Wen instructed Hu Zhi Cun to...
...replace the real with fake.
That's extortion of confession. -How ridiculous!
Mr. Zhao, look at Housekeeper Yang's hands...
...and you will know.
Zhou Ying!
Listen. Even if Wu Wei Wen is alive...
...a severe punishment awaits him.
Now, only some of his properties are confiscated.
All household members of Wu Family have been freed.
This is already the most lenient punishment.
What else do you want?
Do you want to get your mother-in-law exiled...
...and drag the whole Wu Family into this case?
Do you want to lose even the east mansion?
Zhou Ying, considering the fact that...
...you once helped the disaster victims...
...I will not punish you for beating the drum.
But, the case of the military supply has been closed.
I won't spare you if you do anything reckless again.
Dismiss! -Mr. Zhao!
I'm not done talking! Let go of me!
Mr. Zhao! Let go of me!
Let go of me!
Wang Shi Jun.
Come with me. -Where to?
Wang Shi Jun.
What are you doing?
Are you alright? -I'm fine.
Can you stop being reckless?
Why do we need to come here?
Someone asked me to hand this to you.
What is this?
The seal of Shiyi Hall. -Master told me to pass it to you.
My father-in-law? Isn't he dead?
After ousting you, master came to me.
He handed this seal to me and said that...
...if he is still alive by the time the case of...
...the military supply is closed, I will have to return this to him.
If he's gone, I'll have to hand this seal to you.
He even told me to wait at the young master's tomb.
He said that you'll surely go there.
He was also the one...
...who prepared that house in Gaoling.
All expenses on you and Uncle Si...
...over the past 4 weeks came from master as well.
Get lost immediately.
Get lost!
Don't stay here any longer!
Get lost!
He was just putting up an act when he ousted me.
I think so.
He foresaw the danger in this case.
So, he ousted me.
If it implicates the entire family...
...at least I'll be spared.
He was cruel to me in order to protect me.
You're not the only one he was trying to protect.
Who else?
The child in your body.
What? I'm pregnant?
Wu Pin, we have a child.
Mother, I'm back. -Xing Er, have you eaten?
I haven't even had lunch.
Hurry. Heat up some food for Xing Yi.
Why are you so tired?
Did those shopkeepers make you run errands for real?
Don't worry. I'll send them a message tomorrow.
No, mother. I told them to give me jobs.
You're Shen Family's young master. - What's so great about that?
What's great then?
The title of "Jingyang's King of Errands".
Mother, is there hot tea? I want hot tea.
Alright. Wait for a while. I'll tell them to prepare tea.
My dear, why are you back?
I thought you said you won't be back today.
Have you eaten? -Yes.
Xing Er is inside. Don't scold him.
What is he doing here?
I'm his mother. He came to greet me.
Look at him.
It's all your fault. -Why is it my fault?
After the last time you scolded him...
...he started spending his days running errands.
He's exhausted each time he gets home.
He even fell asleep while eating a few times.
He went to run errands on his own? -Yes.
The tea shop, pharmacy, textile shop...
...leather shop and rice shop.
Those shopkeepers took advantage of him.
They used to have 5 workers running errands.
Now, only 3 are left.
Xing Er is doing 2 men's work.
How come I wasn't informed?
Xing Er told them to keep it from you.
Haven't you noticed?
Over the past 4 weeks...
...Xing Er has become much thinner and tanner.
He has injuries all over his body and back.
Master.
Master. Mrs. Shen. Mr. Du of Long Sheng He came.
Let's go.
He might catch a cold. Put a blanket over him.
You want to go to the capital personally...
...to thank the young prince.
Yes.
If it wasn't for the young prince's help...
...we might never get to avenge our son.
I must kowtow to him and thank him personally for this.
You don't have to kowtow.
If you're really grateful...
...you'll surely have chances to repay him.
The prince is a blue blood while I am just a commoner.
I dare not bother him again.
Are you saying that you want to cut ties with the young prince?
Mr. Du, that's not what I meant.
I'm glad then.
Since I can't meet the young prince personally...
...I shall...
I shall trouble you to...
...pass a token of appreciation to the prince.
Who do you think the young prince is?
Will your money mean anything to him?
L---
Please enlighten me.
Shen Si Hai, you're really too lucky.
On top of not wanting repayment from you...
...the young prince has a reward for you.
A military supply order?
Yes. Prior to this, Wu Family of the east mansion...
...monopolised the military supply business.
But, now that Wu Family of the east mansion has fallen...
msomeone has to replace them.
Mr. Shen, are you interested?
The young prince helped me with my revenge...
...and I'm already utterly grateful.
Now, he even did me this huge favour.
I can never do enough to repay the young prince.
Mr. Shen, if you really want to repay the prince...
...it's easy.
30% of the profit...
...Shen Family earns from this business...
...will go to Long Sheng He.
Mr. Shen, you will get this business every year.
In fact, it's just medicine for now.
In the future, you will be requested to supply horses...
...textiles and even military rations.
Think about it. How did Wu Wei Wen...
...become the richest merchant in Jingyang?
He relied on the military supply business.
Now, you are presented with the same opportunity.
Mr. Shen, the choice is yours.
I am...
...utterly thankful to the young prince.
Bai Shen, you got promoted to the position of...
...the governor of Xi'an all thanks to Mr. Li's support
It's thank to your recommendation as well.
You don't have to thank me.
If it wasn't because of General Zuo's subordinates...
...you would have been promoted to this position...
...for your service in aiding the disaster victims.
Serve tea.
Now that General Zuo is dead...
...they can't create troubles anymore.
Hopefully, Shaanxi will be free from corruption from now onwards.
Bai Shi, you're still so naive.
Think about it carefully.
Who are the new officials in Shaanxi...
...below the position of provincial governor?
They are all the young prince's men.
I'm afraid you're still all alone in Shaanxi.
No matter how complicated it is...
...I will advance bravely.
You need to pay special attention to someone.
He is Du Ming Li, the owner of Long Sheng He in Jingyang.
He's not an ordinary man. He has a very strong background.
Stop. -Stop!
Ms. Yong Mei, we're done.
Put the palanquin down.
Gu Yue Pharmacy is reopened.
Yes.
What about Hu Zhi Cun? Has he gone home?
After learning that Wu Wei Wen did not frame him...
...he has been speaking for Wu Wei Wen.
He even requested to take back his testimony.
If I didn't help him...
...the young prince would have killed him.
So, we're going to keep on confining him?
That's the young prince's idea.
Let's go. -Move.
My dear, it's so unfair to you.
It's really unfair to you.
My dear, it's so unfair to you.
It's so unfair.
According to Wu Family's rule...
...whoever holds the seal of Shiyi Hall...
...is the master of Wu Family...
...who will lead all four households of Wu Family.
The master of Wu Family?
No. This won't do. - This is master's idea.
This won't do. I'm not capable enough.
Besides, my three uncles won't listen to me.
Master must have handed this to you for a reason.
As for the three other masters...
...they will have to listen to you...
...since you hold the seal of Shiyi Hall.
It's really unfair to you.
Why did this happen? Why?
My dear.
Father, I'm back.
Since you passed the seal of Shiyi Hall to me...
...I will accept it.
I don't know if I can handle this.
But, I must do it still...
...for your trust and the child in my body.
What did you say?
Mother, Wu Family of the east mansion has an heir.
Is this true?
My dear, did you hear that?
Wu Family of the east mansion has an heir.
How fortunate!
How do you feel?
I feel much better now.
Alright. -Father.
I'm not a jinx.
I know.
I've experienced so many things in life.
I know how to judge.
Father.
Madam Zhang.
Father, I'm planning to return to Wu Family's east mansion.
There's nothing left in the east mansion.
I'm the only one who can support the family.
If I leave, the household will collapse completely.
Wu Pin won't be able to rest in peace.
Wu Wei Wen passed this to me before he died.
He wants me to be Wu Family's master.
YOU?
How can you possibly be the master of Wu Family?
For this trust he placed in me, I can't leave.
Are you stupid?
If you really become Wu Family's masten...
...you'll be stuck here forever.
Father, I'm already stuck. -Why?
I'm pregnant.
I want to give birth to this child and raise him up.
I'll make him succeed and restore the family's legacy.
In the future, I will pass this seal of Shiyi Hall to him.
Father, please stay as well. Don't leave.
You want me to stay...
...and live like a widow with you? No way.
I'll only stay...
...to accompany my grandchild.
Father, you'll surely be a good grandfather.
Is this real or fake? I can't tell.
It's real.
Why is it with you?
My father passed it to me.
I thought Brother Wei Wen ousted you.
Why would he pass the seal to you?
He ousted me in order to protect me...
...and my child.
Your child?
Wu Pin's child. -Brother Wei Shuang.
This is a serious matter. Of course I need to ask.
Did our brother pass it to you personally?
Master passed it to me personally...
...and instructed me to hand it to Madam Ying...
...when the case is closed.
Why did he entrust it to you...
...of all people in the east mansion?
Father could not predict when the case would be closed.
He didn't want to get others involved.
Wang Shi Jun is just an apprentice.
He's not considered our household member.
He's my friend and he's also honest.
So, father chose him.
It does seem like Brother Wei Wen's style.
You all won't doubt me anymore, right?
What do you plan to do?
According to Wu Family's rule...
...whoever holds the seal of Shiyi Hall...
...is the leader of Wu Family.
So, I'm thinking of... -Dream on.
Even if we're all dead, we won't let a woman lead us.
Uncle Wei Quan, are you not going to...
...acknowledge the seal of Shiyi Hall?
I acknowledge the seal. But, I don't acknowledge you.
Me? What's wrong with me?
Am I not a member of Wu Family's east mansion?
We all know how you entered Wu Family.
You've just brought a disaster to the east mansion.
I can't let you do the same to the centre mansion.
Brother Wei Wu. Brother Wei Shuang.
I don't care about what you think.
But, I won't acknowledge this woman...
was Wu Family's leader. Goodbye.
Uncle Wei Wu. Uncle Wei Shuang.
Say something.
Over the past decades...
...the leaders of Wu Family were all capable and virtuous men.
Zhou Ying, based on your current qualification...
...even if you have the seal of Shiyi Hall...
...this might still be unacceptable to others.
What do you suggest then?
I suggest that we put this matter on hold.
By the way, we've been very busy with our businesses lately.
I shall excuse myself. From now on, unless necessary...
...I won't come to Liuchuan Hall.
Zhou Ying, don't be sad.
It won't make a difference even if we acknowledge you.
Why?
The four households of Wu Family...
...were only united because of Brother Wei Wen.
Now that Brother Wei Wen is dead...
...everyone has to be realistic.
This seal is nothing but a rock now.
Why?
Please take care.
According to Wu Family's rule, all agreements and contracts...
...are not legit unless approved with...
...a stamp by the seal of Shiyi Hall.
Do you remember? Before ousting you...
mmaster cut ties with Master Wei Wu...
"Master Wei Shuang and Master Wei Quan as well.
Father was using the same method to...
...protect his three brothers.
He also declared that all textile agents...
...shall serve Master Wei Wu...
...transferred 70% of the shares of...
...San Yuan Pawn Shop to Master Wei Shuang...
...and waived the debt Master Wei Quan owes him.
He even wrote the contracts personally.
But, he did not use this seal of Shiyi Hall.
So...
...the agents, shares and money...
...still belong to Wu Family of the east mansion.
Yes.
With these three, we don't have to worry about...
...our livelihood.
When my husband was alive...
...those three came as frequently as possible.
But, they turned against us...
...as soon as my husband died.
What kind of brothers are they?
Even brothers have personal agendas.
They are afraid of getting dragged into the lawsuit...
...and burdened by us. So, they try to steer clear of us.
On top of being so cold-blooded...
...they even disregarded the rules set by our ancestors.
Mother, this is how realistic people are.
I've seen much of this.
My dear.
This seal is useless to us.
Who says it's useless?
I think...
...we can use it as a paperweight.
If a thief breaks in, I can use it as a brick.
I can use it to cushion a table leg too.
I can also use it to collect debts.
I don't mind if I'm not the leader of Wu Family.
But, I must claim the money that belongs to us.