《长安的荔枝 The Litchi Road》EP24：李善德办荔枝转运一事却接连碰壁，阿弥塔见卢司丞欲报仇｜雷佳音 岳云鹏｜古装 传奇 剧情｜KUKAN Drama
[The Litchi Road] [Blood Swiftlet Nests] Right Chancellor. Try some stewed blood swiftlet nests from Lingnan that just arrived today. Those Hu merchants said this year’s voyage sailed farther with exceptional luck to harvest these high-quality nests. Are those bound for the palace prepared? What’s their quality like? All are ready, same as the ones you’re about to taste. Have them replaced with quality matching last year’s. That suffices. The nests this year are truly extraordinary. But if next year’s supply fails, what should we do then? Serving His Majesty demands not just excellence but unwavering reliability. Sir, His Majesty’s favorite peony has sprouted new buds. The recovery looks promising. Excellent. Remember. This remains our foremost priority. [Episode 24] Spare your worries. He won’t meet his end by the first day of the sixth month. You’re his woman. Of course, you’re taking his side. From today
till the first day of the sixth month, variables could still unfold. Why should I fret over this every day, entangling my fate with his? Your lip stain smudged after that sip of tea. In business, look beyond immediate gains and set your sights afar. Seize one prime opportunity, and your future is secured. If I were you, I’d urge my patron to trade a mere hundred and fifty guan for Li Shande’s profound gratitude. Once he succeeds in transporting litchis, his nature ensures he’ll remember and repay your kindness. Other people
won’t be able to buy this bond at ten or a hundred times the price after he climbs up the social ladder. Should he fail, he’ll still pay the debts. Because before death, he’d secure his daughter’s safety. Thus either way, your patron will not suffer losses. Halt! Don’t run, halt! Stop! Where’s my daughter? Where is she? Why the haste? When I sought repayment, didn’t you ask me to be patient, too? Didn’t I repay debts due before the first day of the sixth month? And I pledged to settle the remainder by the first day of the sixth month. What more can I do? I demand repayment now. I heard you sought approval today. Any glad tidings to share? Approval isn’t easily granted. Each bureau requires three or five visits and two or three days’ negotiation. I returned but yesterday. Rest assured. The approval will be granted, the debts will be repaid, and the mission will be accomplished. Trust me. Okay? Someone already asked me to do so. You are lucky in love affairs. Found yourself a worthy companion. Set your mind at ease. I shan’t trouble you now. Yet I, too, must answer to the patron behind me. During your stay in Chang’an, you need to offer concrete assurance. Otherwise, you won’t leave Chang’an safe and sound. Understood. [Pingkang Ward]
Those at the back! Hurry! Ward gates close soon. Hurry up! No dawdling. Come on! Who permitted you to take her to meet them? Who allowed it? Should harm befall Xiu, could you bear the responsibility? They outnumbered us. Direct conflict would be unwise. A merchant like me knows their methods. Besides, a mere hundred guan… A mere hundred? A mere hundred? Today fortune favored you, and my daughter was lucky to escape! Know where this is? You think you’re still in your domain where you made thousand-guan deals at your whim? This is Chang’an, a den of rogues and chaos! That 100 guan could have… Where are you going? Chang’an has 108 wards. Do you even know where you should go? This way. Those at the back, hurry! Do you want to exit or not? Zhang, could you watch Xiu for a while? Sure. Father, where are you going? To fetch you treats. Help Mrs. Zhang with vegetables. Come, Xiu. Sit over here. You’re such a sweet girl. Last night, I had a dream. I dreamed that Li Shande smiled at me in Chang’an’s streets. Mr. He, spare your fury. It’s not worth
harming your health with rage over such a lowlife. I fell between two stools. Mr. Zhao, you’ve always deemed yourself shrewd and clever. Yet I say you’re less than a chicken. Where’s he? Find him, go after him! Track him down! Or I’ll skin you alive. I’m less than a chicken. Less than a chicken! I… I brought you some warm food. I said some harsh words out of anxiety. Please take no offense. I don’t blame you. I know you were anxious
for Xiu’s safety. You’re a good father. I wouldn’t call myself a good father. I strive so that Xiu won’t become a fatherless waif at such a young age. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Eat it while it’s still warm. I did lose my father when I was young. So many years have passed. My memories of him already faded. I recalled some fragments as I watched you with Xiu. My father had been strict with me since I was little. He taught me horseback archery and took me to sea. Once I fell from the horseback, and he gave me a ring he wore all the time for protection. He said that Havoc’s daughter
feared no pain and that his ring would guard me. I didn’t cry. But I resented him. Why couldn’t my father care for his daughter’s well-being like other fathers did? I craved his comfort. It was only later that I learned he killed the horse that day. But at that time, for once, I refused to sail with him out of anger. He reached Lingnan… He reached Lingnan and died in flames. Daughters are their fathers’ soft spot. He cared deeply. But he knew seas held perils. He was uncertain if he’d return next time. He just wished you to know that even without his shelter, you would still thrive. But all these years, I lived under He Youguang’s roof. He was different from my father. He doted on me and cleansed my pirate past. I became a law-abiding citizen and the leader
of the Hu Merchants Guild. Yet the opulence he offered over the years had eroded my true self. Like a blade jeweled, gilded, yet sheathed too long and grew rusty. Now stripped of status and wealth, I fled to Chang’an alone. How can I avenge my father? I am powerless! Life is like a whetstone. A blade must be ground to shine anew. At the end of the day,
you’re Havoc’s daughter. Sir, I’ll fetch her when I finish work. Don’t skip your meal. Thank you. You arrive early. Your father’s on duty again? He said he would
win the first place today. I’m the Supervisor
of the Office of Imperial Parks. Gentlemen, wait here, please. [Supervisor of the Court
of the Imperial Treasury]
A marvel! You’re truly a marvel! You honor me. Skilled and visionary! Have some tea. Who knew Chang’an held such talent. Go on. What can I do for you? I need an official approval document to mobilize ships, horses at courier stations, local governments, and checkpoints. I need to coordinate bureaus. Only thus can litchis reach Chang’an for Her Highness
the Noble Consort’s birthday feast. So there is little time left. What are you still waiting for? Begin the process! Complete these registry forms first. Thank you. You grant me priceless aid. Supporting a genius and his grand endeavor is my duty. Fresh litchis at Her Highness’s feast. Whose idea is that? Brilliant! It will proclaim Tang’s power, vast resources, and abundant talents. Are those litchis at the feast merely fruit? No! They embody Tang’s sovereign glory. “Palaces revealed
like heavens in the sky. Nations bow to Tang’s imperial might!” The spectacle at the feast shall let neighboring realms behold our splendor. I too shall marvel at fresh litchis’ sight. I shan’t forget your support. Wait. They’re from Lingnan? His Majesty decreed Lingnan litchis. You made a mistake then. The Court of the Imperial Treasury handles only tributary offerings from foreign soil. Lingnan affairs lie beyond my scope. Oh. Then whom should I seek
for Lingnan litchis’ affairs? Tributes from local governments are the Left Treasury Office’s
jurisdiction. You followed me? I was sent by Mr. Lu to protect you. You’re with the Jing’an Office? Tell Mr. Lu that I seek an audience. I heard you wanted to see me. Mr. Lu. Consultant Konglang surely has briefed you about my past. I was anxious to see you for two things. First, I want to declare my intent that I came to Chang’an to aid the Left Chancellor. Second, I’d like to submit
this letter of accusation. For years He Youguang laundered illicit wealth through my merchant ships. I know that he’s been
bribing the Right Chancellor, and I know about the embezzlement and malpractices for his personal benefit. I’ve listed them in the letter, each item a grave crime. Should the Left Chancellor present it to His Majesty, the Right Chancellor and He Youguang will face judgment. Unsubstantiated claims lack weight. Mr. Lu, my father was Havoc, someone known throughout Lingnan. My mother was the leader of the Hu Merchants Guild. My testimony carries authority. Not to mention that I participated in He Youguang’s crimes. Now I’m staking my life to expose them. This fact should convince the public. If we were to go against lesser foes, such proof might suffice. But our target is one of Tang’s Chancellors. The Right Chancellor is the Noble Consort’s brother. Your testimony alone cannot convict him. Let’s say His Majesty believes it, the Court swarms with the Right Chancellor’s allies. Malicious voices could claim that the Left Chancellor used you to frame him. Then we would be attacked. Should His Majesty doubt the Right Chancellor over it, conviction remains improbable. Once His Majesty’s wrath subsides, and the Noble Consort whispers soft pleas, it’s very likely that the storm calms without leaving a ripple. So, my journey here aids you nothing. To bring down a shrewd man like him, we need to be fully prepared before the final lethal strike, leaving him no room for resurgence. I will keep this letter. But we must wait. Once Consultant Konglang gathers enough proof in Lingnan, you’ll testify. So I can but wait. Amita, the Left Chancellor and I have been planning this for years. Most of our moves are defensive. Yet dormancy harbors victory. We don’t doubt your sincerity. But we demand your patience. Li Shande must have reached Chang’an by now. I wonder how the litchi affair is going. Is Xiu doing well? We idle through days wasting each moment. And Consultant Konglang… Pay him. Two wen. Go now. Well, at least tell me [The Left Treasury Office]
where I should go! Where should I go? Don’t make a scene here! Out! What’s the fuss about? How many times did I tell you dealing with others requires courtesy? All the official exchanges [Supervisor of the Left Treasury Office]
serve the Court’s needs. Everyone has their own challenges. Mr. Xu… Leping? This man… Leping! Liangyuan? I’ve long heard there is a Litchi Commissioner in Chang’an. But I never thought this cursed post fell to you. Spare me. So? Liangyuan, you err in coming here. The funds you seek to be stored
along the road cover transport wear and tear. The Left Treasury Office handles storage, not transport. For transport funds, talk to the Director of the Bureau of Equipment
of the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War is
a restricted area. Since transport falls to them, and storage falls to you, you two must work closely. Could… Could you… Liangyuan, the Left Treasury Office does interact often
with the Bureau of Equipment. But I am just a lowly supervisor. Only the Director can address the Director
of the Bureau of Equipment. Indeed. Then could you ask your Director to forward my memorial to the Ministry of War? How about you leave the memorial? I’ll try to convince our Director. I’ll urge him to pass it to the Director
of the Bureau of Equipment. I’m forever indebted to you for this big favor. You’re most welcome. During the three years as classmates, you often tutored me in my mathematics studies. You were a mentor and a friend. I’m flattered. This assignment sounds prestigious, but it means death. I am telling you, over the past two days I’ve been… Never mind. You’ve saved me. Leping, please accept my bow for your life-saving grace. You really don’t have to. I didn’t know he was your classmate. Had I known, I would’ve treated him nicely. Don’t bother. We merely studied math together for three years. Had we been truly close, wouldn’t he have known I work here? Yet you promised to deliver his memorial. Why? Just empty words! He’s stubborn as stone. Without that promise, he’d never leave. That memorial
obviously breaks the rules. Submitting it would cost my post. Not worth it for an acquaintance. If he comes back, just tell him that it’s been delivered. The Ministry of War’s response is beyond our control. Matter settled. Liangyuan. Why are you back? I was on my way to the lavatory. You taught me a lesson. One question. You know I’m racing death. Why did you spin deceit with the empty promise? Fine, then answer this. You know your task is fatal. How dare you ask me to submit this memorial? So you are racing death. But must I then be scolded
or even lose my post for your doomed quest? For old times’ sake, I spared your dignity. Any other would’ve been thrown out. I’d accept it had you thrown me out. Just official protocol, right? But you should have told me the truth! You knew I was pressed for time, yet you wasted a whole day of mine. It’s not just a waste of time. The delay can cost my life! Li Shande, all these years have passed, and you still didn’t learn. For supervisors of bureaus, avoiding blame is
more important than seeking credit. You know very well your task’s nature and consequences. Why should I help you? You know your task can be fatal. Yet you came to ask for my help. Why should I forward this dangerous memorial? Just because you taught me some tips in math? I mean, do the math! Okay then. Since you discard false courtesy, I’ll speak plainly. Forget the Ministry of War. That memorial won’t pass. Truth be told, it won’t even cross the Ministry of War’s threshold. I blush to call you friend. I’ll go to the Ministry of War myself. Halt. [The Ministry of War] Have you got a bamboo tally? I need to see the Director of the Bureau of Equipment. This is a military-restricted area. No tally, no entry. Stand back. My memorial. I need to pick it up. We stop you to save you. Offend any generals coming and going here, and you’ll face severe punishment. Just leave. Don’t stand in other’s way. When it was impossible
to transport litchis here, all avoided the task. But now with a transport method, litchis might arrive. Why do they still shy away from it
or make perfunctory efforts? Even though your task is to fulfill His Majesty’s wish, what’s that to petty clerks? If you succeed, you get the rewards. But if it fails, those who handled the work will be blamed. Go yell at the ministers of the Secretariat-Chancellery. Tributes from local governments are the Left Treasury Office’s
jurisdiction. Transport matters aren’t our area. You should follow procedures. Go now. This memorial won’t even cross
the Ministry of War’s threshold. Stop fighting! What happened? Let go of her! Let go! Let go! What’s going on? Why did you fight again? I let it slide when she mocked my big head. But today she said my father took a suicidal task and wouldn’t live past
the first day of the sixth month! Shouldn’t I hit her? Enough. Enough! Let go! Let go! My father told me! He said everyone in Chang’an knows it! You’re that cursed Litchi Commissioner! If Lingnan’s litchis don’t reach Chang’an, you’ll be executed. They’ve all heard about it! Tell them now! Are you the Litchi Commissioner? Go tell your parents that I can transport litchis to Chang’an. What… Xiu! Are you ignoring me? Come on. You truly won’t speak to me? Xiu, this post of Litchi Commissioner is a real plum. All Transport Commissioners feel inferior. Out of jealousy, they spread the rumors. My daughter’s so clever. Of course, you’ll understand, right? Why would they envy the Litchi Commissioner? Answer this. In this whole wide world, whose affairs
deserve the highest priority? His Majesty. Exactly! Thus the Court spares no expense to serve him well. In terms of transporting things, longer journeys cost more. Across our empire, is there any place farther than Lingnan? Exactly! So Father’s trip bringing litchis for His Majesty has the greatest cost and the greatest gain. Hence their envy. Lately, at every office I visited, everyone knew me, and everyone was talking about me. But they said Lingnan litchis can’t reach Chang’an fresh. Your task is impossible. I will be the first to bring litchis north to Chang’an. Those who failed lacked skills. But not me. Because I excel in mathematics. Smile now. You are not lying, right? No. Father, one more question. Will Amita stay in Chang’an? I have no idea. I haven’t asked her yet. Will she stay in the house we rent? When the rent expires, I’ll ask her to pay the rent herself. Then she won’t move in with us, right? Why would she do that? It’s too small for the three of us. Xiu dear. Father and Amita are friends. Just friends. My heart holds only your mother. She was the only one who ever understood me. At school, I specialized in mathematics. But somehow I was sent
to the Office of Imperial Parks tending plants while I was a total layman. Then I met your mother. We got married and moved here. She planted that osmanthus tree. One snowy winter, I said, “This tree would die.” But she nurtured, watered, and fertilized it. She insisted it would revive. And she was right. It budded the next spring. She said flowers and plants sense kindness and would repay your care. Osmanthus means “success with the help of others”. When I tended plants every day at the Office of Imperial Parks, I always recalled her words and before I knew it,
I had become an expert. So, I have only ever had eyes for your mother. Master. Didn’t Consultant Konglang say we should avoid the Konglang Bookstore unless she summoned us? We’re passing by, so it’s only natural to ask her about the progress. Master, this isn’t passing by. You are rushing straight to the bookstore. And if you only inquire of her about the progress, why did you buy a lady’s round fan? We can’t arrive empty-handed, can we? Courtesy demands, got it? I think it’s because you haven’t seen her for days, and you miss her. Gou, keep talking and I’ll rip your mouth open! My master’s mind holds vital matters. No room for romance. I deserve it. Gou, does this attire look dignified? Your glamour stands in sharp contrast to this mundane world! Come here. Mimic Zhao Xinmin again, I’ll end you. Go home. You’ll be informed. I know Consultant Konglang’s rules. Serve by order. But my inquiry bears urgency. This is a silver ingot. I hope she can give priority to me. Rules stand unbroken. But I will deliver your message. Please. Guiyun. Xinmin. What brings you here? This is a bookstore,
of course I come for books. Aren’t you here for books? I am. But I didn’t find anything interesting. So I thought
I should look somewhere else. So… See you? Farewell. Farewell. Where’s everyone? You’re back so soon. I missed the inner shelves. So I returned to browse. I can also keep you company. What book are you looking for? I am looking for a copy of the “Longevity Sutra”. I want to chant daily for the Right Chancellor’s well-being. Your loyalty shines bright. This round silk fan with fine embroidery is clearly for ladies. Your beloved one is working here? This is a misunderstanding. This fan’s for me. You’re joking. See? This fan is magical. It flatters my complexion. [The Litchi Road] If the Litchi Commissioner does master the method to transport litchis
while keeping them fresh, his hands clutch fortune and promotion’s key. I heard Li Shande has returned. Really? Perhaps invite him back to the Office of Imperial Parks
for a chat? Aye. ♪The beauty-loving ruler
longed for a divine lady♪ ♪Yet through his reign,
none stirred his soul’s desires♪ ♪A maiden of the Yangs
now ripens in grace♪ ♪Raised in seclusion,
unseen by any face♪ ♪Endowed with heaven-sent beauty,
she is bound to be known♪ ♪Finally chosen to be
where the ruler goes♪ ♪A glance, a smile,
and all charms awake♪ ♪The glow of all ladies in the harem
fades in her wake♪ ♪In the spring chill, she was granted
a bath in the Huaqing Hot Spring♪ ♪Thermal waves
embraced her moonlit skin♪ ♪Arms held by her attendants,
delicate and weak♪ ♪This marked the dawn
of royal favor’s peak♪ ♪Cloud-like hair, floral visage
with a golden step-shaking hairpin♪ ♪Lotus-curtains drank
their shared breath♪ ♪Dawn always came too soon,
shearing the night too short♪ ♪Thus indulged in joy, the ruler
no longer joined the morning court♪ ♪Entertain the ruler and attend events
without a moment to spare♪ ♪Spring outings and night-long stays
all through the year♪ ♪Despite thousands
of beauties in the harem♪ ♪All the ruler’s favor rests on her♪