《长安的荔枝 The Litchi Road》EP17：何刺史与胡商以投资为由搅局，阿弥塔逐渐对李善德改观｜雷佳音 岳云鹏｜古装 传奇 剧情｜KUKAN Drama
[The Litchi Road] [No Turning Back] [Fifteen years ago] Liangyuan. Liangyuan! Guess who I met. Who? Mr. Cui who’s recently joined the Directorate of Education. Why are you in a daze? Go with me. Go where? Go meet Mr. Cui! He’s newly enrolled. You haven’t met him. He’s from the Cui clan of Qinghe. His father is the Vice Minister
of the Directorate of Education. Some young men from the Wang clan of Taiyuan
are also there. Let’s go. A commoner like me shouldn’t attend. Just go without me. Liangyuan… Since that’s the case, goodbye. This mountain is truly high. Jinniang? Miss Zheng. Jinniang is from the Zheng clan of Xingyang. She was once betrothed to Mr. Cui. Are you okay? I’m fine. I sprained my ankle. It’s been six months. Is your family well? Thank you for asking. They’re fine. A daughter of the Prominent Five Clans! Matchmakers once flooded her house. Even noble young men struggled to court her. Why break the engagement? Six months ago, her father’s branch was expelled from the Zheng clan. This… You still keep it? Distinctions exist
between gentry and commoners. Nobles don’t wed the disgraced. Mr. Cui’s justified to annul the engagement. Shall I help you? Aren’t you afraid I’ll latch onto you? You already knew it? It was arranged by our parents and matched by go-betweens. Please just go. You’d want to avoid gossip. Perhaps we take turns carrying her down? We can’t do that. We’ll be risking our lives to carry her down. Besides, if seen, it’ll invite slander. Indeed. Moreover, she’s expelled from the Zheng clan. We might shame our own clan for helping her. If she latches onto us, we won’t be able
to get rid of this liability! Please go. Don’t hinder me from scenery viewing. After you. After you. After you. It’s swollen? I sprained my ankle. Let me help you up. Give me your sachet. No, I don’t mean that! Libertine! How dare you ask a woman for her sachet? I… I’m not asking for it. I just need to smell it. Here. I don’t need it anymore. Borneol. Musk. It’s quite fragrant. Here. Here we go. Libertine! Vent your anger when you get
to the foot of the mountain. But I doubt you can walk. I’ll carry you. We’re strangers. You don’t have to take risks for me. I’m not taking risks. We’re losing daylight, and we’ll both be trapped
in the mountains. That way. Which way? There. Put me down. It’s too dangerous. Unseen paths ahead don’t mean no path at all. Follow the path beneath us. Step by step. Step by step. Step by step. We’ll get there. I promised to carry you down. So I won’t abandon you midway. Mister, how should I address you? Had we fallen and died, I wouldn’t even know whom I died with. My surname is Li. Courtesy name Liangyuan. I hailed from Huayin County. Oh, my! I thought you were
from the Prominent Five Clans. No. How old are you? I am twenty. Twenty? You look mature. Yes. At forty, I’ll look the same. Your name? Me? I’ll tell you downhill. I can’t carry on. Let me take a rest. Watch out! Liangyuan, were you afraid when we passed the steep rock face? I was. Why? Because two lives were at stake. But I couldn’t leave you. At night… At night, you might be bitten by insects or frozen to death. Right? Alright. Hold tight. Let’s go. Why the laugh? Nothing. You’re still laughing. I just recalled something. As a child, one day I went to sell goats
in Chang’an. I had two goats. One foolish goat fell into a ditch and got its legs sprained. So I carried one goat and led the other to Chang’an. I feel like you’re describing me. I am. Anyway, what’s your name? Like I said, I’ll tell you downhill. We’re almost there. Your name? Not yet. But we’re almost there. [Episode 17] Solid bone. Solid bone. Solid bone. Ma’am, the litchi transport project
is approved. Yes! Don’t celebrate yet. A frank warning. The Hu Merchant Guild has a rule: If no progress is made in 30 days, the investment will be withdrawn. Close the two-day gap as soon as possible. I understand. I’ll get busy. Thank you, everyone. Hurry, Li. Get up. Merchants flooded Li Shande’s place today. [Inspector’s Mansion] I sent gifts too. Eight exquisite cups. Five small glass cups. Plus two purple clay teapots. Such fine items go wasted. He’s the Litchi Commissioner on imperial duty. We must show courtesy at least. Rest assured. When he falls, I’ll reclaim everything. Those aren’t worth fighting for. My mansion has plenty. You’re right. Sorry, sir! What have you done? I brought shame
to the Inspector’s Mansion. It was a golden opportunity yet you let Li Shande steal the thunder. My Inspector’s Mansion was there to applaud him? You only cast the net when the fish had escaped? Useless! Too late! Sorry, sir! Father. Amita. Why are you still here? Go. Aye. Make yourself useful! Aye. Amita. You’re here. It was my negligence. I never expected Li Shande to devise this method. How long have you been by my side? Ten years. I remember when you just got here, you were this tall. When your father died, I exhausted all options to give the brothers a peaceful life. I didn’t fail your father. I tried hard to raise you and supported you to become the Guild Leader. And I? I did nothing but feign madness, cockfight, and clown. Why? To coordinate with you backstage. To maintain our good life without drawing attention. Now the Military Fish Tally is secured, the Right Chancellor eagerly awaits our control of trade routes. Yet we remain inactive. Li Shande’s interference drew the Hu merchants to his side. If things continue this way, our good life will end. You’re right, Father. I understand. That’s why I made Li Shande promise: If he has no viable transport plan, funds will be withdrawn. What if he produces one? Don’t worry. Litchis stay fresh for only 11 days. Transport takes 13 days. It’s impossible unless he grows wings. Impossible? Impossible. Every time we say “impossible”, he creates trouble. Since arriving in Lingnan, he has caused trouble and taken action. Has he ever stopped? I’ll monitor Li Shande closely. I won’t let Su Liang
become the Guild Leader. Amita, I tire of this promise, too. I want methods. Results. Amita. Mr. He’s anger is justified. You’re the Guild Leader and his pride. Yet someone made a fool of you. Silence. I only want to know your next plan. I’ll devise solutions. It’s not your concern. Mr. He values old ties. If you fail, at most you’ll be scolded. I fail? Not so simple. Whether you’ll be scolded or not isn’t my concern. If Li Shande stays, Su Liang will be the next Guild Leader. My headship isn’t your concern, either. Mr. He scolded me before he scolded you. You think he wants us to solve it separately? It’s not your concern, nor mine. It’s Mr. He’s concern. I’ve arranged it for you. Ma’am. I’ll let you catch up. Mr. Li. Let me introduce them. Mr. Wei, Mr. Zhao, and Mr. Zhou. They are businessmen and major investors of our guild. They heard of your litchi transport to Chang’an and they’re very interested. Mr. Li. Gentlemen. Mr. Li. Nice to meet you. Mr. Li, we specially requested our leader to bring us for inspection for future collaboration. Can you kindly brief us? I… I’ve said everything I should say at the Guild. I’m inarticulate. I might not be
the right person for this. In business since antiquity, buyers come before sellers. Investors request and the guild must comply. This venture is fully funded by the Guild. Mr. Li should cooperate. Elder Su and Lan Yu are supervising the orchard already. How else should I cooperate? Mr. Li, we’re here to help you undertake this monumental project. See my Hu-style attire? My Great Fortune Trading House improved its design. Vibrant colors blended with Tang elegance. If you can advertise it to the public, sales will soar. I transport litchis. How am I supposed to advertise your clothes? I don’t need attention! Unnecessary! Ma’am, he might misunderstand our collaboration slightly. Can you kindly explain? These investors handle thirty to forty percent of the Guild’s procurement. Your non-cooperation may jeopardize the funding, which might be beyond my control. Gentlemen, we toured the cultivation zone. Now we’re heading to the village… Please move to the middle. The village of the litchi-savvy Dong people. Is this also a litchi tree? Sharp eyes! This is the only millennial tree in the orchard with a significant history. The entire orchard thrives under its shade. Truly sharp eyes! See? The Dong people enjoy litchis joyfully. Imagine when the Noble Consort tastes them, the glory is yours to share! Do you know the purpose of these double-layered urns? This is for… Correct! For transporting incense materials. Cost the Guild fortunes. Mainly thanks to Mr. Li… Mr… Mr. Li! I’m here. Mr. Li. Thanks to Mr. Li and his water-isolation preservation. Thank you for your dedication. You’re welcome. You’re truly professional. Tong? Come here. Tong, get up. Miss Tong is young. But she is the orchard’s chief. She manages everything. She’s a little stubborn. But she’s very devoted. Everything is arranged meticulously. Greet the managers. Excellent! Spirited girl! Let’s continue. Mr. Li, what are those bamboo baskets for? They’re newly-arrived spares for litchi transport. Such a waste! These are common dock cargo baskets. No branding, no custom design. You can’t use these. Mr. Li, pick one style. Don’t worry. We’ll provide free baskets. Yes! The most important thing is to make sure Mr. Zhao’s shop name is visible. So, the litchi urns, the horses, the riders’ attire, and the litchi packaging, all will feature your designs? We’ll arrange everything for you. All costs covered. It’s not about costs! Efficiency matters! These litchis aren’t sweet enough. Sugar-curing them would sweeten them. Are cured litchis even “fresh”? Can we rename it? Let’s call it Great Fortune Fruit. An auspicious name boosts sales! We can hire popular poets to write verses about the Great Fortune Fruit. It’d ensure fame. Or we can paint all the urns red. That would give them excellent symbolism! Festive! And the horses… Stop it right now! This is enough! If you keep messing around, transporting litchis will be a joke! Or perhaps this is exactly what you want? This is not our intent. This is a misunderstanding. They’re merely suggestions. We can talk about them. Right? Litchi transport is our blind spot. You make the call. But promoting fame and capturing public interest is our expertise. Yes. We understand that you’re a professional from the Office of Imperial Parks. You may scorn our tricks. Understandable. But without these tricks, we can’t raise funds. That’s right. Mr. Wei, I’m blunt, but I mean no offense. You’re major Guild investors. But I just want to get this job done. I’m afraid I cannot comply with this collaboration thing. I admire your integrity and dedication. You flatter me. Mr. Li, does your daughter attend an embroidery workshop in Anren Ward’s Willow Lane? Run by an old eunuch surnamed Wang, right? You know him? Yes. How coincidental. His shop is leased from me. When he opened the workshop, he was financially strained, so I funded him. If I reclaim the property and evict him, would that old eunuch end up homeless? Mr. Li, both morally and rationally, you might want to reconsider our collaboration. Tell Zhao Xinmin. I won’t play along. Ma’am, this slap will cost you dearly. Li Shande, you still want to dine here? Let’s go somewhere else. It stinks. Coming! Move faster! Leave some more over here. Remember them! Come on. Since these match the technical specifications, repaint them. Then we’ll inspect. Put them on the far side. Don’t break them! Drag that fool away. He’s in the way! Get him away! Go! He’s my brother. Nag, nag! You’re nonstop! Organized items are messed up by you. Miss Tong, these are priorities the managers just mentioned. I’m merely organizing and inventorying. Control your dog. This is my orchard. Not your place to rampage. Li Shande leads the litchi transport. You must consult him before touching anything. The Guild sent me to supervise. Everything here is paid for by the Guild. But the Commissioner hasn’t approved! The Guild Leader has. I execute matters she’s approved. Understand? Fine. I’ll tell Li Shande. Go ahead. You may also ask him how many days the repainting and replacing cost. Hurry. I’ll return for inspection. Fine, I’ll go. Your wine. Buy some sugarcane for Mr. He. Ma’am. Ma’am. I haven’t seen you for some days. How about some tripe strips
I put aside for you? Excellent. The usual for the other dishes? Two cups of wine. Aye. Food needs time. Have some litchis first. So that Mr. Wei was planted by Zhao Xinmin? You hit him. How will you explain this
to Zhao Xinmin? Your wine. Zhao Xinmin is just He Youguang’s watchdog. Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself. Though I’m unsure why you helped me out, thank you. Hitting him wasn’t for you. I have my reasons. Answer me. Have you solved that two-day gap? Not yet. Still working on it. Off-season now. It’ll be tastier later. A Chang’an man became a litchi expert? I have no choice but to study. Does His Majesty know transporting litchis from Lingnan to Chang’an is a mission impossible? Of course. They say the Noble Consort
craves litchis. I doubt it. It’s more like a man’s hollow promise to please a woman. Then he shifts the burden to others. We shouldn’t speculate. How timid. You’re not a brave man. Yet you’re striving for this suicidal task. I’ve seen desperate people. Honest people. But desperate and honest? You’re the first. What kind of person are you really? A Chang’an man. Petty official, clinging to life. That’s all. Yet you stir much commotion. I was swept in the vortex unwittingly. Like this litchi, sweet to you, and yet bitter to me. Why eat it at all if it’s bitter? I guess this is life. Even immortals can’t act freely. Maybe even Taibai Jinxing
[*A deity in Chinese folk religion] has worries too, right? In this mortal world, there’s always something
you don’t want to do but have to get it done. You just seek a clear conscience. So that when you die and see the god of death, you can look back at your life
and answer him, “I did my best.” That’s it. Why did you take a suicidal mission willingly? How much money do you have? Why ask? I have 300 guan, among which 150 guan was from the Righteousness Loan. I bought a house with the money. Mortgaging a house? Normal. For you, normal. You can buy as many mansions anywhere in Lingnan as you please. But not for me. That house is for my daughter. My only hope and purpose. This purpose is taken away from me by this litchi task. To return to her, I must succeed in this task. No matter how He Youguang obstructs me, I won’t quit. You asked why I helped you. Because from what you did, I recalled how my father protected me with the same desperation. Li Shande, what took you so long? I dined with Amita. What’s her scheme this time? We just dined, that’s all. That girl from the Guild came today ransacking and said she’d come again
for inspection. They were never so diligent before. There must be some malicious intent. Villains now invade our doorstep. Be cautious. What? Amita hit a merchant? Yes. Amita acts increasingly recklessly. When her father died in flames, had you not intervened, taking her in, or had you not overruled objections, legitimizing her father’s fleet, and handed it to her, would she have become who she is today? But she shows no gratitude when she makes decisions. Ma Guiyun has been pursuing Amita lately. What is Ma Guiyun? At best, the Right Chancellor’s envoy. Pursuing Amita? He bites off more than he can chew. But still… Ma Guiyun is a petty villain. I fear complications. What complications? Hear me out, sir. I have a plan. Speak. Ma Guiyun has strutted like a peacock lately, pursuing Amita madly. But Amita ignores him. He’s frustrated now. Perfect timing to arrange a beautiful woman to win him over. “For men, love is climbing mountains; for women, it’s opening a door.” We can exploit this chance to recruit Ma Guiyun. But since he fancies Amita, his standards for women are high. Any candidate? Indeed one. Mr. Ma. Miss Lan Yu. Mr. Ma. Seeing that it’s not our Leader, are you disappointed? Not at all. Knowing of this banquet with you present, Miss Lan Yu dressed splendidly. When she dances with you later, it’ll be like paired phoenixes soaring. Miss Lan Yu, does Amita know you come here alone? I’ve long admired you. Sadly, you see none else. Your eyes and your heart hold only Ma’am. Before I came, I confessed to her. She approved, saying you’d stop pestering her. Isn’t she cold-hearted? I didn’t realize it earlier, but you’re sitting together now? Truly a perfect match. I’m so jealous. Guiyun, your future travels with a beauty will be so delightful. Deserves a toast. A grand toast! Mr. Zhao. Cheers. You went to the trouble for me. Is this banquet merely for setting Lan Yu up with me? Just to catch up on each other’s news. Only a catching-up? Of course! Hope you enjoy the banquet. Drink heartily and revel joyously! Lan Yu, dance! Dance! Mr. Zhao. Have you enjoyed yourself? Seems so. Take care of yourself. Mr. Ma. Miss Lan Yu. You’re still stunning without the make-up. And you’re a true hero! Unaware observers might think you were the host tonight. It was a get-together of good friends. You treated me warmly, so I felt at home. No hosts or guests. Mr. Ma, I heard the Pingyun Mountain out of town has enchanting scenery. It’s worth visiting. Shall I accompany you tomorrow? I am lowly and plain. I’m asking what I don’t deserve. Don’t cry! Hold those tears back. I can’t stand to see women’s tears. You said Pingyun Mountain? Alright. Hold those tears back. I’ll be there. Farewell, Mr. Ma. Master, how can you be charmed so easily? Lan Yu is merely beautiful. How can you be so weak-willed? Your mission is unfinished, but you’re touring mountains now? Her cheap tricks can’t fool me. I went with the flow. Mr. Zhao invited me to the banquet with motives. I couldn’t act rashly without knowing his motives. I couldn’t sever ties either. So I had to play along to figure out his true intent. Master, you’re a true hero! We’re feeling each other out. Every word gets a reply yet leads to nowhere. Our rhetoric leaves room for maneuver. Gou, you’re still too young. Appearances often deceive. Time will tell. It often takes several rounds to know the outcome. I fear your act may become real. You clearly enjoy this game. You probably are relishing the feeling of being admired. After all, being pursued is easier than pursuing others. Love holds profound mysteries. Feigned affection is false. True feelings arise from the heart. What do you know at your age? I may be young. But I’m no fool. You’ve gained more female companions here. Consultant Konglang acts
as a mentor and friend. She’s both graceful and wise. Amita stands bold and spirited. She’s as excellent as any man. Today another showed up. Delicate and charming, a tender beauty evoking affection. You’re blessed with romantic luck. You’ve grown more mature. Starting tomorrow, you don’t have to brush your teeth. Because today, I’m going to knock them out and rip out your tongue which spoke such nonsense. Where did you learn those expressions? Shameless, get lost! What’s happening? My aunt has come. She’s a great priestess
from the mountains named Chai. She might assist with litchi transport. But… Confucius believed
neither in gods nor ghosts. We cannot place hope on superstitions. My aunt holds great power. She was born with divine gifts. The Dong people
all seek her rituals and guidance for weddings or funerals. Matters handled by her always proceed smoothly. Can she advise on preserving litchis then? Probably not. Deities care not for such trivial matters. Move, get out of here! Get out of here! What are you doing? Saving you, obviously! What are you doing? Hey! You disrupted my ritual! The heavenly gods are watching and they are furious! They will punish you. When have those gods ever spared me? This is poisonous. This is made [Chai]
of Datura flowers and leaves. When dried and burned, it induces hallucinations. This is toxic. Really? Truly. I’ve seen this many times. When we’re ill, a sniff cures us all! Not cure, just an anesthetic effect. It merely masks your symptoms temporarily. Stop inhaling! Do you trust me or this city man? [The Litchi Road] I’m unsure what to talk about. Perhaps poetry and verses. Or perhaps just some lovey-dovey sweet talk. Lovey-dovey… Gou. Out. Master, I never entered. The Dayu Mountains hold a shortcut. Shortcut? Shortcut. Saves two days’ travel. This is good news. Locate a person in Lingnan for me. Tu from the Dayu Mountains? He died in a fire ten years ago. Then your news is outdated. ♪Though I’m on a branch
in Lingnan’s land♪ ♪My red hue dyes the sky so grand♪ ♪My fairy aura floats to Chang’an town♪ ♪Driving mortals wild♪ ♪Their heads spin round♪ ♪Toiling day and night without a break♪ ♪Just to taste this fruit so rare♪ ♪All crave a bite of this fare♪ ♪Through mountains, lakes,
and rivers wide♪ ♪I journey in dreams far and wide♪ ♪Endless schemes and deceit I hear♪ ♪Absurd pretense so insincere♪ ♪I, too, wished to see
golden tiles glow♪ ♪In this bustling mortal world below♪ ♪But all I saw was a man’s plight♪ ♪Weeping through the lonely night♪ ♪Day by day, bit by bit♪ ♪Bit by bit, fit by fit♪ ♪I was Lingnan’s carefree sprite♪ ♪Dancing with the moon
and sky so bright♪ ♪Pursued by crowds with no respite♪ ♪Witnessing greed in human sight♪ ♪I was Lingnan’s carefree sprite♪ ♪Longing for a sleep in the woods
on a moonlit night♪ ♪Savoring breeze and lute’s sweet sound♪ ♪Free at heart, with peace profound♪ ♪Day by day, bit by bit♪ ♪Bit by bit, fit by fit♪ ♪Day by day, bit by bit♪ ♪Fit by fit, day by day♪ ♪I was Lingnan’s carefree sprite♪ ♪Swinging on green boughs in sunlight♪ ♪Till Chang’an called me to its gate♪ ♪And set my fate to twist and gyrate♪