Resumen del episodio 15 de The Heir
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Li Jinshui was deeply opposed to Li Zhen's plan of establishing Little Li's Ink Workshop to compete with Li Ink. Although he had been expelled from the clan, his heart still belonged to the Li family, and he felt a fierce urge to protect the reputation of the house that had rejected him.
Seeing Li Zhen obstinately pressing forward with her plans, Li Jinshui packed up in anger and departed for Wuyuan with his grandson, Li Zhengliang, and Zhengliang's wife, Qiu'e, to focus on the inkstone trade. Shortly after, Li Zhen's cousin, Li Zhengyou, arrived at her home carrying a basket. He had previously been manipulated by Jiangyue into saying harsh and hurtful things to Li Zhen, but he had finally realized his errors.
Sent by Seventh Grandmother, he presented Li Zhen with a box of pastries they had baked together and offered a sincere apology. Once he left, Li Zhen opened the basket and found a generous sum of silver alongside a letter from Seventh Grandmother. The letter expressed Seventh Grandmother's deep regret for not standing up for her during the disputes at the Li household, especially regarding the stolen ink recipe.
Acknowledging that the clan was now fractured by internal strife and external threats, Seventh Grandmother admitted she was powerless to protect her and urged Li Zhen to freely pursue her dreams, offering the silver as a starting fund. Meanwhile, Qi Jiu learned of Li Zhen's bold move to rent a storefront on Sibao Street.
His subordinate, Xiao Qi, mentioned that the dividends from their ancient lacquer-soot ink had reached eight hundred taels, which Qi Jiu ordered to be sent to his elder sister. Xiao Qi pointed out that the rent on Sibao Street was notoriously high, meaning Li Zhen was likely running out of funds, though he deeply admired her soldier-like bravery. Sensing his subordinate's frequent mention of Li Zhen, Qi Jiu decided to take one hundred taels and pay her a visit.
Li Zhen visited President Hu of the Literary Association to request the official permit for Little Li's Ink Workshop. Fearing the influence of Li Ink, President Hu refused to grant the approval, arguing that there was no historical precedent for two workshops operating under the same surname while the original still stood. Li Zhen argued that her branch had been formally expelled and was legally distinct, but President Hu insisted she must first obtain Li Ink's consent.
Outside the association, Li Zhen confronted her uncle, Li Jingdong, who admitted to blocking her. He declared he would never allow a mere brat like her to tarnish Li Ink's century-old lineage. When Li Jingdong threatened to invoke the Founder's Black Banner to pass judgment, Li Zhen, completely unfazed due to her expelled status, made it clear that she would open her workshop regardless of his approval.
Desperate for support, Li Zhen sought out Lord Yan, the Ink Affairs Official, hoping he would pressure the association to grant her permit. Lord Yan dismissed her aspirations, noting that without the backing of the Li family or Li Jinshui, she had no hope of competing against established giants like Li Ink or Chen Ink. During their conversation, they were interrupted by a commotion nearby.
Lord Yan's daughter, Miss Yan, was emotionally distraught, throwing out her physicians and calling them charlatans. Lord Yan tried to comfort her, promising to find the best doctors to cure the severe facial skin condition that had tormented her since childhood, leaving her secluded and miserable. This heartbreaking scene inspired Li Zhen. Back at the workshop, she discussed the situation with Wang Hua'er.
She recalled how her father had once created a medicinal rouge ink to treat her childhood injuries, and how his ultimate goal was to formulate the legendary Nine-Treasure Ink to cure persistent skin ailments. Li Zhen decided to create this medicine-infused ink. It would not only help patients like Miss Yan but also allow her to avoid direct competition with established workshops. If she could cure Lord Yan's daughter, he would undoubtedly approve her business.
Shortly after, Qi Jiu arrived and offered to invest one hundred taels to help her out of her financial bind. However, Li Zhen calmly rejected his money. She explained that she wanted her workshop to remain independent and was uneasy about accepting funds without clear profit-sharing terms or future business plans. Confident that her ink would eventually surpass Li Ink, she promised to invite him for a proper business discussion once her success was secured.
Qi Jiu, highly impressed, took his money back. At Qingfeng Pavilion, he discussed Li Zhen's principles with his sister, who expressed her admiration for the young woman. Qi Jiu then requested his sister to reserve thirty percent of his dividends so he could invest in her project in the future. In the old, abandoned Li family workshop, Li Zhen and Wang Hua'er studied the "Ink Chronicles" to find the recipe for the Nine-Treasure Ink.
They decoded the "three lower herbs" as ground plants like kochia fruit and dictamnus bark, and the "three middle herbs" as animal organs, but they remained stumped by the "three upper herbs." Their work was cut short when Li Jingdong barged in with his men. Demanding that Li Zhen leave since she wanted to be independent, he ordered his men to seize the property and throw her out.
Although Wang Hua'er protested that Seventh Grandmother had allowed its use, Li Jingdong remained heartless. Li Zhen agreed to leave but fiercely reclaimed her medicinal herbs and insisted that the tools crafted by her grandfather and bought by her family would not be left behind. Packing her belongings onto a wooden cart, she stepped out into a sudden, heavy rainstorm.
As she struggled to pull the heavy cart through the muddy streets, tears mixing with the rain, her mother arrived just in time to help her wheel the cart back home. At home, Li Zhen's mother urged her to conserve her strength and eat properly. Li Zhen explained her quest for the Nine-Treasure Ink, pointing out the vague references to the "three upper herbs." Her mother brought out her late husband's old notebook, which was filled with fragmented formulations.
In it, Li Zhen found his records on the ink, discovering that he used fermentation to preserve the medicinal properties. The notes identified two of the upper herbs as snow lotus and dindygule peperomia, but listed the third as the mysterious "Matchmaker Herb." The next morning, they climbed the mountains in Yi County to gather various herbs. While searching, Li Zhen slipped and injured her foot.
Her mother applied a local herb to the wound, explaining that it was highly effective and prevented scarring. She shared a fond memory of how she had used the very same herb on Li Zhen's father when they first met in these mountains after he fell into one of her hunting traps. She explained how Seventh Grandmother had eventually convinced the clan elders to accept their marriage despite her Shanyue heritage.
When Li Zhen realized her foot was already healed and pain-free, her mother told her the plant was called Scarlet Phoenix Grass. Li Zhen realized that "Scarlet Phoenix Grass" was indeed the legendary "Matchmaker Herb." In Wuyuan, Li Jinshui was busy teaching Li Zhengliang the intricate details of inkstone patterns, from fish roe and water-ripple gold-star to the Luowen (thread) pattern, explaining Su Shi's concept of a melon-smooth surface with a silken grain.
During dinner, Qiu'e served grandfather's favorite dish, and Zhengliang read aloud a new letter from his mother. The letter conveyed that Li Zhen had established the workshop and was tirelessly working to recreate her father's dream, the Nine-Treasure Ink. The mother urged them to persuade Li Jinshui to forgive Li Zhen's harsh words, as she cared for her grandfather deeply. Hearing of the Nine-Treasure Ink, Li Jinshui's heart softened.
He quietly contributed his own experience on making the medicinal ink to be included in Li Zhengliang's reply letter. After successfully creating the medicinal ink, which emitted a soothing herbal scent, Li Zhen conducted clinical trials at various medical clinics. Having successfully cured dozens of patients suffering from incurable sores, she meticulously documented their names and cases in a booklet.
She returned to Lord Yan, who praised the balance of medicine and ink but still refused to help her with the Literary Association, stating that medicinal ink was too niche. Li Zhen then made her true request: she wanted to use the Nine-Treasure Ink to cure his daughter's facial sores. Lord Yan became furious, accusing her of using his daughter as a living advertisement to promote Little Li's Ink Workshop.
Despite Li Zhen's assurances and the documented successful trials, Lord Yan refused to let his daughter take the risk and ordered her to leave. Li Zhen politely bid him goodbye, leaving the booklet behind for him to read and verify at his own convenience.
