《长安的荔枝 The Litchi Road》EP18：李善德郑平安同时找寻关键人物阿土，荔枝转运路程或能缩短至十一日｜雷佳音 岳云鹏｜古装 传奇 剧情｜KUKAN Drama
[The Litchi Road] [A Brief Separation] [Ten years ago] I finally made it back. Mr. Li, I must thank you for your help. But let’s be honest, Mr. Liu knew full well you were newly married, yet he still sent you on this errand to buy peonies. I really feel for you. At least we’re paid to do this. Yeah. Good thing it went smoothly without any hiccups. Mr. Li! Mr… Mr. Li! Hurry! Mr. Li! Hold on, donkey! Move, please! Jinniang! Honey! Why are you back so late? Your colleague returned by noon. Didn’t he tell you? I was held up by it on the way. It? It went into a thicket, and I got dragged in too. Then both of us were delayed by another donkey. Typical donkey behavior. Let’s forget about donkeys! You came back a day later than planned. Did anything go wrong? Not at all. I ran into tax collectors on the road. But for you, I would’ve returned even later. Everyone, today, rooms are half-price, and breakfast is free! [Luck Inn has rooms at half price today] Half-price. Shall we? Let’s go! Too expensive! Not at all. I made some money. Go home! Breakfast is free! Still expensive! Be gentle. Look at her big eyes. Just like yours. Not like yours anyway. Give me a smile! [Episode 18] Li Shande, what are you doing? I’m saving your lives! What the hell? How dare you interrupt my ritual? This is poisonous! These are Datura flowers [Chai]
and leaves. When they are dried and burned, they induce hallucinations. It’s toxic! Do you trust me or this city man? I’ve seen this many times. When we’re sick, a sniff cures us all! Not cure, just an anesthetic effect. It merely masks your symptoms temporarily. Stop inhaling! How come a city man like you knows so much? This is my profession. I’m not leaving. I won’t leave. Our god has given me a revelation. He said this city man would bring changes to us Dong people. But I need to stay and see whether it’s good or bad. You’re from Chang’an? Do you have a house? A mansion? A mansion is expensive. On credit? So, you don’t have savings? How much is your salary? How much did you borrow? When do you plan to pay it back? Do you have any plans? You have a girl? That’s good! Your conditions aren’t great, but you’re honest with me. You’re decent. So, I won’t nitpick about the rest. Well, if you succeed in the litchi transport, will you return to Chang’an or stay in Gaozhou? Chang’an, of course. You can’t! Tong won’t go to Chang’an with you. She doesn’t have to go with me. But… If I succeed in delivering litchis and His Majesty is satisfied, this litchi orchard will become an imperial one! No one will dare to stir up trouble. Tong can stay here afterward. She won’t leave. But then you can’t see each other. You’ll be worlds apart. And that will… Ma’am, you got us wrong. I only care about my daughter. I’ve never had any designs on Miss Tong. We’re friends. I’ve made that clear to her before. Miss Tong is… Stunning. Stunning and exceptionally talented. Right? Yeah. And kindhearted. She’ll find a good man. Aunt, please don’t play matchmaker for us. We’re truly just friends. Are you blaming me for meddling too much? I need to make sure of it. Or you might be fooled. Fine, if you don’t want me to stay, I’ll go back to the Dayu Mountains! I’m leaving! Please don’t! If you let this city man stay in the litchi orchard, I won’t come back again! Ma’am, you said you came
from the Dayu Mountains. Isn’t the Dayu Mountains north of Lingnan? Jiangnan West Circuit is further north? So? Are you looking down
on our poor hometown? Not at all! I’m sorry for being blunt. Ma’am, can I ask you about something? Does standing higher give you a better view? This time of year, Pingyun Mountain is always the most pleasant. It’s said that a person’s fate is like a drop of water, drifting with the wind and each
having its own destiny. Some merge into clear springs, ending up in the nobles’ cups, while others flow into the muddy waters beneath the rocks. Sir, you’re like the spring, while I’m like the muddy water. Miss, don’t say that. We can’t choose our families. But through hard work, we can definitely change our lives. Are you crying? I’m not crying. The fog here is thick. It obscured my vision. Mr. Ma, I’m really happy that you came out for a walk with me. Mr. Ma, you’re eloquent and willing to comfort me. I’m more than happy. If you don’t mind, I can go with you, even to Chang’an! I don’t seek any title. I just hope to be cherished. Miss, do you even believe your own words? Your conviction is strong. If you can’t win my heart today, will you be in trouble later? Mr. Ma, I don’t understand what you are saying. You know. You know what I mean. You shouldn’t dive straight into the topic. We don’t know each other well, so jumping right
to the point isn’t right. We can take our time. Not really. Think about it. You don’t have a target yet. Taking action is useless. One’s eyes never lie. Look closely at me. You’re about to throw up! I know myself very well. We’ve met a few times, but you’ve never focused on me. But yesterday, you suddenly showed interest in me. You must have done it by order. I came out with you today to help you clear your mind and relax. No need to act. Acting is exhausting, you know. Mr. Ma, so you knew all along. I just don’t understand why Mr. Zhao is so concerned about my private life. Um… You don’t have to tell me. If Mr. Zhao asks about it, just say you find me disgusting and can’t accept me. Forced love isn’t happiness. Alright? Thanks, Mr. Ma. During the litchi transport, we have to go through the Dayu Mountains and then head north
into Jiangnan West Circuit. But the Dayu Mountains are treacherous. The winding mountain roads
require two days to traverse. So is there a new route, a shortcut, that could save us that time? Then I can succeed. Can you think of a path that’s helpful? Shande. Alright. Take this for fun. In your dream! The Dayu Mountains isn’t easy to climb over! Aunt, please help him this time. But I really can’t assist with this. The god can help, but he doesn’t believe in it. Ma’am, I believe we’re the same kind of person. Don’t act like you know me so well. Look, Tong is indeed my friend. Yeah. I understand that life is hard for Dong people in the mountains. With no access to medicine, even a minor injury could mean waiting for death. You, as the great priestess, use the religion to provide them with the utmost care and healing. I know the pain in your heart, so I don’t mean to look down on you. I only have admiration, truly. Among city people, you’re not the most eloquent, but your understanding of us Dong people is rare. I’m sincerely asking for your help. Aunt, please do him a favor. There was someone in our tribe named Tu. He was the only one from our tribe who made a living in Gaozhou. One day, Tu returned to the mountains with a brush and paper of city people. Then he drew and sketched. I was curious and asked what he was doing. He told me that when he was a hunter, he discovered a hidden path in the Dayu Mountains. If he could transport what he drew out of Lingnan along that path, He could make a fortune. Then our tribe would live an affluent life. So, that path really exists? Yeah! But he suddenly disappeared. It’s been ten years. There’s no news. We can’t find him. Doesn’t anyone else know about this path? Only he knows. Dong people don’t usually interact with city people, so we have no news about him… Li Shande, where are you going? Elder Su, good news! What good news? Don’t rush. Take your time. What is it? Well, a great priestess
of the Dong people has come to the litchi orchard. A priestess? Yeah, a great priestess! She says there’s a shortcut through the Dayu Mountains. A shortcut? Yes! We can avoid the winding roads and save two days of travel. That’s indeed good news! But there’s a problem. What’s wrong? I don’t know where this path is. That’s not good news. But someone does. Who? A Dong person named Tu. Tu? Where is he? He’s been missing for ten years. And then? That’s all. So what’s good about this news? Can you use your connections to help me find Tu? If our plan works out, that’ll be good news! Did you say Amita’s maid is pursuing you? Yes. Interesting. Well, in Chang’an, I handled the social scene. Now in Lingnan, I’ve stirred up the dating scene. I’m always surrounded by women. It’s quite bothersome! But you look excited. You didn’t have such a good chance in Chang’an. You got me wrong. I just feel I have a talent for handling matters in love. A gentleman should remain composed. But Lan Yu is really quite beautiful. If you’re attracted to her, you can accept her. You won’t have wasted
your trip to Lingnan. You got me wrong again. Although Lan Yu is pretty, I prefer someone who’s pretty and intelligent. Alright. Get down to business. From the clues we’ve gathered, the fire at the Whale-riding Tower should be a premeditated murder. We found out just before it caught fire, Lan’s father happened to get 2,000 shares of the Sea Sail Share. So you’re implying the one who sold those 2,000 shares is the arsonist? Right. The value of the Sea Sail Share is largely based on Havoc’s reputation. Once Havoc died, the Sea Sail Share completely collapsed. Everyone who bought in at a high price lost everything. Lan’s father was also left with nothing but big trouble. Do we have any evidence proving He Youguang started the fire? No, but those 2,000 shares were purchased from a broker named Tu. If we can find him, we might uncover the truth. He died in a fire? Oh no. Doesn’t that mean we can’t find the route
through the Dayu Mountains that Tu discovered? Do you mean Tu died in a fire ten years ago? I’ve never seen it myself though. That’s impossible! Five years ago, he asked a merchant to bring us something. Did you see him in the flesh? I didn’t see him then. But he did send back some medicine for his parents through that merchant. Did he leave any messages? Not that I know of. So who is that merchant? I don’t know. He just delivered the goods and left. I’ve only seen him once. Disappearance and death aren’t too different. We can’t afford the two days. Ma’am, can you offer other clues? Other clues. Clues… I just remembered, that merchant stared at me once he arrived. That was annoying! I criticized him and he explained that he had a squint. Lan, I’m out of money. Lend me some. Lending money requires collateral. Do you have anything? Well, [Squint-eyed Feng]
your father and I are from the same town. For the sake of that… How dare you bring that up? You made my family go bankrupt. Luckily, I survived. I… I don’t want to bring up old grievances, but you keep trying to cozy up to me. You can’t blame me for that. When your father bought those shares, I told him the risk was his. I only helped make the connection. You can’t keep holding on to that issue. Not just your father lost a lot. The whole city lost, Lan. So you’re denying any responsibility? Lan, you know what my life has been like these past few years. I’ve been scraping by. Any little money I had went to your cockfight den. I really can’t go on like this. I-I’m sick! And yet you still gamble? What can I do then? I don’t have enough money. I’m begging you. I’m sorry for what happened ten years ago. But I don’t deserve to die. Lan, I’m practically your uncle. Please help me this once, Lan. Why should I help you? Because you made my family go bankrupt? Good, one more time. [Inspector’s Mansion] Done! It’s done now. Mr. Zhao. How was it? Ma Guiyun saw right through us. Ma Guiyun figured out our intentions? Yes. It doesn’t matter. Was he interested? No. Ma Guiyun remained composed? The Right Chancellor’s side is indeed formidable. He must have undergone special training a long time ago. Will he tell the Guild Leader about it? He won’t. What if the Guild Leader finds out I lied to her? If he’s genuinely pursuing Amita, he won’t dare bring it up. I’ll handle it. You can go. Thanks, Mr. Zhao. See you then. Have some water. Honey, you look worried. Recently, I’ve sent Amita’s maid, Lan Yu, to seduce Ma Guiyun. Miss Lan Yu is quite attractive. Yet Ma Guiyun remained calm. That puzzles me. Why do I feel that man passed the test while you have fallen? Honey, are you developing feelings for that young and beautiful woman? Not at all! What comes too easily isn’t cherished. I bet I’ve let you easily get me. That’s nonsense! You know nothing! I’ve set up that trap for Ma Guiyun, and he should’ve fallen into it. Then in Chang’an, I’ll have connections. It seems you still want to go to Chang’an. We met when I was a nobody. That means a lot to me. I’ll never betray you. But now, the situation is so unpredictable. Even the Hu merchants start to support the litchi transport. Given the situation, if the transport succeeds, no one knows what will happen. Mr. He isn’t reliable at all. I need to think about my backup plan. Maybe Ma Guiyun is just the backup we need. But honey, you and Ma Guiyun aren’t close. You hit the nail on the head. Relationships are built over time. Guiyun, I need to apologize to you in person. I shouldn’t have let Lan Yu do that. Mr. Zhao, don’t take it to heart. Fate is a strange thing. The timing just isn’t right. Let bygones be bygones! Guiyun, you’re really nice. With spring planting done
and summer harvest yet to begin, I suddenly find myself
with some free time since fishing isn’t under my purview. It’s a perfect opportunity to drink together. Xinmin, I really envy your life. Unlike Chang’an, where there’s always something to do. One task after another, non-stop every day. Chang’an is so vibrant. It draws so many talented individuals. Actually, I was once appreciated by a noble and could go to Chang’an, but I had already committed to my wife, so I gave it up. Now, sometimes, in the middle of the night, I wonder what would have happened if I had gone to Chang’an. Xinmin, you’re a great talent. It’s natural for nobles to take notice. But you’ve dabbled in farming and commerce. I don’t understand that. Well, I ranked first in the provincial exams and was once favored by a noble, which opened the door for me. But when I first arrived in Lingnan, things were tough. I’ve farmed, sold Sea Sail Share, and everything. After a long journey, I finally went to serve Mr. He. I heard that the Sea Sail Share was all the rage in Lingnan, only to leave countless people bankrupt overnight. At the time, it was big news. Big news! That’s true. Back then, I was just a broker. Havoc wanted to do the Sea Sail Share. A pirate could rob but wasn’t good at finance. He needed someone to issue them for him. I’m not boasting but as a broker, I had connections everywhere. I was so successful. There was no deal I couldn’t do. Havoc wanted to do the Sea Sail Share, so he had to enlist me to issue them. From then on, I was in the business of handling the Sea Sail Share. I’m really impressed! Havoc found the right person. Not just me. He turned to many then. But I did it best and handled the most. I’ve heard whispers about that. But I heard the one who dealt the most should be a Dong person. They meant Tu? But a Dong man was barely comparable to me. He only surpassed me in that last deal. Someone suddenly dumped 2,000 shares. Tu really hit the jackpot with that deal. And next? He died in the fire at the Whale-riding Tower. What a twist of fate! Both Tu and Havoc perished in that fire. The Sea Sail Share turned into trash. Otherwise, I would’ve become rich! Well, I wouldn’t have had this connection with you today. That isn’t good. Cheers! Xinmin, you’re truly exceptional and won’t stay beneath others for long. Don’t worry, when I return to Chang’an, I’ll recommend you to a few people. Your talents won’t go unnoticed. Don’t try to tempt me. I’m working for Mr. He. That’s enough. I’m satisfied. But if you can recommend me
to important people, I’ll be grateful. Master, you’ve been traveling lately and working hard. You’ve lost some weight. But that’s meaningless. Dead people won’t come back to life. We found a dead man in the end. The only lead has vanished. Ping’an. Ping’an. Mr. Li. I need your help. What’s wrong? Help me find a man in Lingnan. Who? A Dong person named Tu. Find him. From the Dayu Mountains? How do you know it? I’m looking for evidence of He Youguang’s corruption. It’s connected to Tu. Huh? What a coincidence! Did you find him? Yes. Where is he? He died in a fire. When did he die? Ten years ago. It’s outdated. He didn’t die? He escaped the fire but is hiding. He must know something that could get him silenced. This is getting interesting. We’re looking for him, and so is Li Shande. Looks like he’s the key. Ma’am, I have a suggestion. I’m all ears. Can we talk about something else? We need to balance our talks. Sure, what do you want to talk about? I’m not very good with words. I don’t know what to talk about. I have no idea. There’s plenty to talk about! Like? Like music, chess,
calligraphy, and painting. Or poems and romance. Romance! Gou, go out! Master, I didn’t go in at all. Out! We can just talk about romance. – I think…
– But after you finish your business. You can go. I’ll send Luotuo to check on that squint-eyed merchant. But you can’t play Go alone… Yunchuan! Mr. Zhao! What is it? With your introduction, I bought some fine porcelain and tea. I need to thank you for that. Have a seat. That’s nothing. This is a gift for you. It isn’t much. Please accept it. Yunchuan, you have many connections. Even without my help, you could still find suitable sources. I haven’t been a broker for years. It won’t be right to split profits like a broker. Mr. Zhao, you helped me save broker fees and a lot of time. Time is money to us merchants! If you don’t accept it, you’ll be looking down on me. Then I have to accept it. Yunchuan, feel free to tell me everything. I really can’t hide anything from you! The Guild is about to hold elections. The position of the Leader
is still undecided, so please recommend me to Mr. He. That’s honestly quite tricky. No matter what, I’ll remember your kindness. Mr. Zhao, please try your best. I can give you a 30% share of the net profits
from my merchant fleet. Here’s the contract. No rush. Let me see what I can do. No problem! The squint-eyed merchant is named Squint-eyed Feng. He has a history with Lan from the cockfight den. But it’s crowded and chaotic. Konglang can’t make an appearance. So please get more information from the cockfight den. But it’s a place He Youguang frequents. Is it convenient for me? Mr. Ma, you’ve discovered the key to find Tu. The Consultant is very pleased. She said your talents extend beyond business meals. She truly admires your cleverness and your wit to turn the tables. She really appreciates you. Did she really say that? Master, Mr. He is a regular around here. What if we run into him? Shut up! You can’t say it out loud. It might actually happen. I’m sorry. You’ll be fine. You have the wit to turn the tables! Guiyun! Mr. He. I came to see you. Really? Why did you go out? When I saw you, I suddenly remembered I bought something for you and needed to get it. Guiyun, we’re close friends. I don’t really need a gift. It isn’t important. What’s the matter? About love. Elaborate it. I’ve taken a liking to Amita, so I’ve been seeing her more often. I didn’t expect my charm to reflect on Lan Yu. They’re both your people. I’m having a hard time managing this love triangle. What’s so hard about it? This just shows you’re charming, and they’re attracted! It’s a good thing! If I were you, I would choose Lan Yu. Why? Well, to get married, you need someone who loves you. I know Amita very well! She has a quick temper. She also has martial skills. Her favorite thing is picking fights. She’ll hit anyone! Can you stand her? Lan Yu is different. She’s gentle and pretty. She listens to you. Let me ask you, in your life, do you want to be beaten up or enjoy a life of comfort? I prefer comfort, of course! That’s right! Choose Lan Yu. You came at the right time. Just a moment. Lan! Lan! Lan. Come here! Mr. He. This is Guiyun. Guiyun. Lan. Help me pick out an exceptionally strong gamecock for Guiyun to use. On me. Sure. Good! You should give it a try! I can’t. It’s fun! Mr. He, take care. Lan, can we talk? Please. Can you help me find a man? Mr. He? No. Someone you know. Squint-eyed Feng. Through Squint-eyed Feng, I need to find a broker who dealt
in the Sea Sail Share. Sea Sail Share? Yeah. The broker suddenly flipped 2,000 shares of the Sea Sail Share. Back then, anyone who owned the Sea Sail Share shares could make a fortune. But someone knew in advance that Havoc was going to fall. Or no one would’ve sold them. What do you mean? I mean what I said. Guiyun, you’re Mr. He’s friend. Why do you come to me for help instead of him? What’s your intention? I didn’t come all the way from Chang’an to make friends. I want to figure out some things. I believe you’ll be more invested in this than Mr. He. Why? Because that broker sold those shares to your father. Don’t you want to know who the real seller behind this is? So you, um, what’s the name of the man you want to find? [The Litchi Road] ♪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♪