Resumen del episodio 40 (final) de The Heir
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Li Zhen stood before the assembled guests and the visiting Japanese delegation, her gaze steady as she inspected the ink presented by Kuroda. She politely acknowledged the exquisite craftsmanship of the Kuroda family's restored version of the Li family's legendary Sihe Ink, admitting it was indeed comparable to the creations of her ancestors.
However, she calmly pointed out that while they had masterfully copied the techniques used by the Li family hundreds of years ago during the Southern Tang Dynasty, Li Ink had continuously evolved and innovated over the generations. Since their ancestors' time, their ink-making techniques had progressed immensely, leaving a significant gap between their modern innovations and the ancient formula Kuroda had brought. Her confident response left Kuroda speechless.
Seeing the tension, Princess Shoushang broke the silence with a satisfied smile and ordered her attendants to escort the guests to the post house to rest. Shortly after, Li Zhen went to pay her respects to the Princess. When asked if she had the confidence to defeat the Kuroda family in the upcoming ink contest, Li Zhen honestly admitted that the challenge was immense, but she pledged to spare no effort to secure a victory.
The Princess was pleased by her resolve, noting that such courage was exactly what the head of the foremost ink workshop in Huizhou should possess. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Luo Wenqian, who delivered a secret letter from General Qi. Wenqian explained that since the state had lifted the maritime trade ban, merchant ships had brought great prosperity, though Japan had been excluded from this trade.
General Qi’s investigation revealed that the Kuroda family was using the cultural exchange of ink-making as a front to participate in the Tribute Ink selection. Should they win, they intended to demand trading rights at Yue Port in Zhangzhou, directly threatening national policy. Additionally, because of the Kuroda family's known collusion with Japanese pirates, the General had sent Wenqian to support local defenses and guard against any potential unrest.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Princess issued a strict command to Li Zhen: for both her family and the state, Li Ink had to emerge victorious, as failure was not an option. After leaving the Princess, Wenqian and Li Zhen walked together. Li Zhen warmly congratulated him on returning to General Qi's command, noting they had barely been able to speak during their chaotic encounter the other night.
Wenqian replied that his mission was to protect the selection process from pirate interference and protect her. He urged her to let him know if she needed any assistance and warned her to stay safe. Wenqian then returned to Yihousheng, where he was warmly reunited with his sister, Wang Cuiqiao. Delighted by his return, she remarked that he had matured and carried far less of a battlefield aura than he did three years ago.
When she offered to hand the management of the workshop back to him, Wenqian gently declined, insisting she continue running it. He shared his plans to complete his duties for General Qi before repairing the Luo family ancestral hall to properly honor their family's memorial tablets. When Cuiqiao asked if he had seen his aunt, Luo Mengzhen, Wenqian sighed, recounting how she insisted Luo Mengzhen had died in the fire years ago and only Ugly Granny Li remained.
Cuiqiao urged him to speak his heart to Li Zhen now that his name was cleared, but Wenqian admitted that despite preparing so much to say, he found himself speechless when they met. Given the complicated past between their families, he confessed his only wish now was to quietly protect her from afar.
Meanwhile, at the Li Ink Workshop, Eighth Master Li Jinshui and Li Jingdong were struggling to master the precise method of burning pine timber for the Sihe Ink’s lampblack. Seeing their frustration, Li Zhen joined them and pointed out a curious detail: the Kuroda family's ink was incredibly similar in luster and oiliness to their own ancestral ink. However, while their own Sihe Ink was centuries old, the Kurodas' ink was clearly newly made.
She realized that because Japan produced very little ink, it was much easier for them to acquire ancient, thousand-year-old pine timber, whereas Huizhou's forests had been depleted over centuries of prosperous ink-making, leaving them with wood that was barely a hundred years old. To overcome this material disadvantage, Li Zhen proposed creating the legendary, long-lost Liuhe Ink—aiming to surpass their rivals through superior recipe and craftsmanship.
At the same time, Chen Jiru was also in his workshop, deeply frustrated by his own lack of progress. His worries were interrupted when a servant arrived with an invitation from Li Zhen to meet at the Sibao Restaurant. At the restaurant, Li Zhen announced her plan to create Liuhe Ink to challenge the Kuroda family, calling for local ink masters to unite so that foreign merchants would not monopolize the tribute ink industry.
Most artisans were deeply moved and pledged their full support, offering to share resources and materials. Li Zhen then asked to borrow Chen Jiru's son, Junshan, for his exceptional glue-blending skills. Though Chen Jiru jokingly questioned if she feared the Chen family would steal her secrets, Li Zhen graciously replied that the Liuhe Ink stood for the harmony of heaven, earth, and people, requiring their collective unity.
Inspired by her spirit, other workshop owners stepped forward; the Pan family offered their ancestral manuscripts, and the Xi family lent their heirloom stone mortar and pestle. Together, they successfully burned the perfect lampblack. With the workshop busy, Wenqian focused on restoring the Luo family ancestral hall. Standing before the memorial tablets of his father and brother, he offered his deepest respect, expressing his profound regret over how his family’s past actions had ruined the reputation of Luo Ink.
He vowed to spend his life atoning for their sins. His aunt, Luo Mengzhen, stood at the doorway but refused to enter, stating that she was now Ugly Granny Li and no longer belonged there. When Wenqian expressed his desire to quietly study ink-making under her, she gently declined, stating that their family's legacy had run its course.
However, she believed that as long as the craft was being practiced and innovated, the techniques of Luo Ink would never truly die. To aid the Li family, she handed him her carefully compiled manuscripts and ink recipes to give to Li Zhen, stating that integrating their craft into Li Ink was the truest form of atonement.
Wenqian brought the recipes to the workshop, where he found Li Zhen so deeply absorbed in her work that she nearly burned herself on a sudden flare of fire. Rushing forward, Wenqian shielded her, injuring his own arm. Though Li Zhen was anxious and wanted to fetch medicine, Wenqian pulled out a piece of rouge ink he had carried for years, urging her to apply it.
Li Zhen noted that she had successfully restored the recipe for the rouge ink over the past three years, and told him he could get new pieces from the workshop whenever he ran out. Wenqian softly replied that he could never bear to use any other piece, as the one he carried was the only one capable of healing his heart as well as his physical wounds.
Wenqian then handed her the Luo family ink recipes, explaining his aunt's wish to help Li Ink succeed. Li Zhen was deeply moved, and from the manuscripts, she gained valuable inspiration to improve her recipes and techniques. She asked him to convey her gratitude, and Wenqian added that his aunt was deeply thankful for the money and supplies Li Zhen had secretly sent her over the years.
Li Zhen gently replied that her family had long put the past behind them. When she asked about his difficult years in the southwest, Wenqian assured her he was doing well under General Qi and praised her impressive expansion of Li Ink. He admitted he had kept in touch with Cuiqiao just to ask about her, and Li Zhen realized his quiet protection had always been present.
However, she quietly steered the conversation back to the task at hand, stating she was currently entirely focused on the Liuhe Ink. Soon, the exceptional glue was ready. Li Jinshui was delighted by its quality and instructed them to gather the other ink masters to begin the final blending process. Li Zhen suggested inviting Ugly Granny Li as well, explaining that her study of the Luo family manuscripts revealed her brilliant ink-blending skills.
Li Jingdong readily agreed to put aside old grievances for the sake of the craft. Once Li Zhen left to rest, Li Jinshui stopped Wenqian and asked him to stay behind, leading him to a quiet corner to solemnly discuss his relationship with Li Zhen.
