Resumen del episodio 37 de The Heir
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Prefect He announced the verdict inside the crowded courtroom. The evidence of the Tian family's involvement in illicit foreign trade was deemed conclusive, though the court still needed to determine the mastermind and exact charges. Except for Tian Ronghua, who was spared, the rest of the family—including Tian Benchang, Tian Huai'an, Tian Bensheng, Wang Xiu, and Wu Xin, along with three accomplices—were remanded in custody to await trial.
Conversely, the court found that the Li family had been completely framed by Wu Xin under the Tians' instigation, declaring them innocent and ordering their immediate release. Outside the prefecture office, Eighth Master Li and Li Zhen's grandfather were waiting anxiously. Li Zhen emerged to reassure them that the family's name was finally cleared and that their relatives would soon be freed. In the midst of the reunion, Li Zhen kindly invited Tian Ronghua to go home with them.
Still burdened by guilt, Ronghua declined but asked Li Zhen to accompany her to the Chen Ink Workshop, as she had something crucial to address. At the workshop, Ronghua knelt before Third Grandfather Chen and Uncle Junshan, tearfully confessing her past misdeeds. She took full responsibility for foolishly bringing Sage Qing He into the Tribute Ink selection to manipulate the process, which ultimately cost the Chen family their rightful contract.
Despite her shame, she promised that if Sage Qing He ever fell from power, she would testify to restore the Chens' reputation. To ensure the Huizhou ink industry would not be corrupted further, she vowed to write a record of the Tian family's crimes, disband their workshop, and leave the industry forever.
Touched by her sincerity and willingness to bear such a heavy responsibility, Third Grandfather Chen forgave her and offered her a cup of She County's Lotus Tea to welcome her back to her roots. As they walked later that evening, Ronghua felt a profound sense of relief. Sensing her friend's vulnerability, Li Zhen invited her to stay at the New Li Ink Workshop.
She reminded Ronghua of the employment letter she had given her in Nanjing, formally offering her the position of accountant. Ronghua then produced an abacus bead she had once entrusted to Li Zhen as a symbol of her unfulfilled dreams. Li Zhen returned the bead, urging Ronghua to join her so they could start anew together. Ronghua gratefully accepted the offer. Soon after, Li Zhen met with Wang Cuiqiao to discuss the political landscape.
Cuiqiao shared a letter from the Princess's Mansion confirming that the news of the Tian family's trade crimes had spread to Nanjing. Princess Shoushang had personally intervened and warned Garrison Commander Wu Ru, leaving him unable to protect the Tians. Furthermore, the Directorate of Ceremony had blocked the impeachment against Marshal Qi. With the military crisis resolved, Li Zhen suggested they seize the opportunity to completely bring down Tian Benchang by searching the Tian residence for any remaining evidence.
Meanwhile, in the dark prison cells, Tian Benchang questioned Officer Zhang about any word from Nanjing. When Zhang revealed that Commander Wu had remained completely silent, Benchang grew desperate. Using his past bribes as leverage, he forced Zhang to bring him writing materials. He penned a letter to Commander Wu, claiming he possessed an account book detailing their transactions.
He bribed Zhang with a receipt to withdraw silver deposited in Nanjing, promising him a lifetime of gratitude if he delivered the letter to the Commander personally. Unaware of the brewing plot, Li Zhen and Ronghua arrived at the deserted Tian residence. Though Li Zhen offered to search the house alone to spare her friend's feelings, Ronghua insisted on helping, wishing to confront the truest side of her past so she could say a proper goodbye.
Back at the prison, a suspicious accomplice sent by the Nanjing Garrison Commander managed to bypass security. After knocking out Officer Zhang and other guards, the accomplice confronted Benchang, demanding the account book. Benchang bargained for his life, insisting he would only hand over the book once he was successfully broken out of prison. Left with no choice, the accomplice agreed and escaped with Benchang, leaving a dazed Officer Zhang behind.
At the Tian residence, Ronghua noticed a framed scroll of a ritual poem written by Sage Qing He hanging in the study. Knowing that the previous search officers had been too intimidated by the Sage's status to touch his things, she pulled it down and tore it open. Inside, they discovered a travel permit issued under the alias Lu Wei, a merchant from Fujian.
Just as they realized Benchang had planned to flee alone all along, an officer rushed in to report that Benchang had escaped from prison. Li Zhen immediately went to see Prefect He, where Officer Zhang was being interrogated. Zhang confessed that he had delivered Benchang's letter to Nanjing, which prompted the Commander to send the accomplice to break Benchang out. He revealed that the jailbreak was driven by the Commander's desire to secure the incriminating account book.
When Prefect He questioned Tian Bensheng about the book, Bensheng wept in frustration, declaring he knew nothing and had always been treated like a fool by his family. Realizing time was running out, Li Zhen requested permission to speak with Tian Huai'an, believing he was the only one who might know the book's location. Deep in the forest, the Garrison accomplice dragged Benchang along to find the book.
Benchang feigned memory loss from his long absence, trying to stall for time. He attempted to barter for the accomplice's Garrison token so he could slip into another city unnoticed once he was free. However, the accomplice remained firm, refusing to discuss the future until the book was delivered. In the prison cells, Li Zhen confronted Tian Huai'an and Madam Tian, presenting the travel permit they had found.
She shattered their illusions by revealing that Benchang had escaped and left them behind with only a single permit for himself. Zhen argued that since Benchang was willing to sacrifice his own siblings, he would easily abandon his parents. She warned them that if the Garrison Commander secured the account book, he would destroy the Tian family to cover his own tracks, resulting in Bensheng's execution and their own severe punishment.
Heartbroken by her eldest son's betrayal, Madam Tian begged her husband to save their remaining children. Finally seeing through Benchang's lies, Tian Huai'an relented and agreed to guide Prefect He's men to the secret location. Benchang led the Garrison accomplice to a secluded house and pointed to a hidden space behind a curtain. Inside, they found a chest filled with silver and the account book.
As the accomplice's greed overtook him, Benchang crept up from behind and strangled him to death with a rope. Just as Benchang grabbed the book to flee, Tian Huai'an and Prefect He's officers burst into the room and apprehended him. Following the arrest, Luo Wenqian paid respects to his deceased family, grateful that the Tian family was finally brought to justice so the lost souls of his family could rest in peace.
Later, over a shared meal with Li Zhen and Master Qi, Wenqian toasted Zhen for her steadfast companionship and reflected on their journey from childhood friends to soulmates. He then revealed that he had left two thousand taels of silver with Cuiqiao to support Li Zhen during his impending exile, which he expected to last ten to twenty years. He even tried to return the rouge ink, wishing for her to lead a happy, unburdened life in his absence.
Li Zhen refused, declaring that she would never take back what she had given. Holding him tightly, she promised to stand by him and face whatever verdict awaited him the following day.
