Resumen del episodio 9 de The Heir
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Following her sensational public demonstration of blindfolded lampblack-making with thirty lamps, Li Zhen returned home to a celebration. Her family gathered for dinner, where her mother, still shaken by the sheer audacity of the feat, drank wine to calm her nerves. She admitted that her heart would have leaped out of her chest had she been there to witness it, and warned her daughter to avoid such risky endeavors in the future.
Li Zhen playfully reassured her that since Grandfather had personally trained her, nothing could have gone wrong. Li Zhen then turned to the rest of the family, explaining that demonstrating her skills in front of the local ink masters was actually a smart move. She hoped that other workshops would no longer make things difficult for her, allowing her to take on outsourced lampblack-making to support them.
Remembering how they had looked after her during her three years of training—her mother leaving hot meals outside the workshop, and her brother and sister-in-law scraping together every coin they could spare—she promised to buy them a large new house once she earned enough.
Speaking to her brother, Li Zhen calculated that a jar of supreme-grade lampblack fetched two taels of silver, pondering how many jars she would have to make to afford a house, though she admitted such a high yield was not guaranteed every time. Before the dream could go further, Li Jinshui abruptly stood up and scolded her, stating that he did not teach her the craft just so she could become a common laborer.
Later that evening, Li Zhen quietly brought tea to her grandfather’s room to apologize, admitting that her excitement over their future had made her carry away. Li Jinshui reminded her that ink-making required an undivided mind to walk a righteous path. When he asked her what the most essential part of the process was, she answered that it was the glue-blending. He dismissed this as mere technique, asking instead about the true Way of Ink.
He explained that the core of the craft lay in remaining true throughout, a principle of steadfast devotion that must never be shaken by external temptations. Although Li Zhen admitted she had yet to find her own true path, she promised to stay on track, though she cheekily added that taking an occasional detour to earn some money would make their lives easier. Li Jinshui could only sigh, wishing her ink-making skills were as sharp as her tongue.
Meanwhile, Luo Wenqian had returned to Huizhou with heavy responsibilities. Officially, he was tasked with raising military funds for Marshal Qi. Privately, he sought to reclaim his family’s legacy and exact revenge on the Tian family, who had usurped the Luo estate. Years prior, following the tragedy of the Luo family, he had traveled with Wang Cuiqiao to see General Yu.
To shield him from his status as a fugitive, the General had kept him in the army under the assumed name of Qi Jiu. Having developed a deep bond over the years, Luo Wenqian and Wang Cuiqiao became sworn siblings. Unable to safely reopen an ink workshop under his false identity, he established the Yihousheng pawnshop as a front. Meeting with Wang Cuiqiao, Luo Wenqian thanked her for looking after the pawnshop.
Knowing how highly prized Hui Ink was, he explained his plan to insert himself into the trade under his cover identity. Wang Cuiqiao warned him that he had signed a military pledge to raise ten thousand taels of silver within six months. If he failed, he would lose both the pawnshop and his military post. She urged him not to act rashly or do anything that might jeopardize General Yu, who had protected them for so long.
Luo Wenqian assured her that he knew what was at stake, but remained firm in his plan to bring down Tian Huai'an at the height of his success, aiming to exploit the upcoming Tribute Ink competition. When Wang Cuiqiao noted that the Tians were closely connected to Shexian Magistrate Zhao Shen, Luo Wenqian coldly remarked that his enemies simply needed to stay alive long enough to witness their own ruin. Luo Wenqian later visited the dilapidated Luo family ancestral hall.
Standing among the ruins on Tomb-Sweeping Day, he burned joss paper for his deceased father, aunt, and brother. He recalled the terrifying day his family was wiped out and remembered the life-saving grace of General Yu. Looking at the dusty tablets, he vowed that he would one day clear his family's name, bring their tablets back home, and make the Luo family rise once again.
Not long after, the newly appointed Ink Affairs Official, Official Yan, arrived in Shexian with his daughter, Lan'er. As they traveled, Official Yan admired the beautiful local scenery, but Lan'er remained bitter and homesick, reminding him that he had been demoted and that only heaven knew if they would ever return to the Capital.
Their carriage was suddenly blocked by Luo Wenqian, who introduced himself as Qi Jiu from Marshal Qi's army and presented the official with a lavish gift—the Huizhou Ink Industry Records. By the roadside, the major ink makers of Shexian gathered to welcome the new official, only to be met by his steward. The steward explained that Official Yan was exhausted from his travels but had arranged an evening banquet at Sibao Restaurant to meet the local craftsmen.
He distributed invitations to the heads of the Tian, Chen, Pan, and Li families, though the Li family notably received two invitations. When questioned about the extra invitation, the steward simply stated that the official had his reasons. At home, Li Jinshui realized the extra invitation had been sent through Seventh Grandmother because Official Yan knew of his solemn oath never to make ink again.
Worried about the pressure this would bring, Li Zhen volunteered to accompany him, reasoning that as a junior, any misstep she made would be easily overlooked by the official. At the Sibao Restaurant banquet, Official Yan delayed the start of the meal until Luo Wenqian arrived.
Introducing the young entrepreneur to the local masters, Official Yan toasted the crowd and spoke of the decline of Hui Ink, lamenting how the glory of Li Ink and Luo Ink had faded after successive misfortunes. To lift the mood, Luo Wenqian presented a piece of ancient lacquer-soot ink named "Purple Clouds from the East," explaining its legendary origin as a symbol of hope and new beginnings—a perfect match for the official's arrival.
Official Yan was delighted and challenged the ink makers to recreate this lost masterpiece to secure the Tribute Ink commission. While the Chen, Tian, and Pan families hesitantly agreed to try, Official Yan turned to Li Jinshui, urging him to take up the heavy responsibility. Li Jingdong quickly interrupted, claiming that Eighth Master had been expelled and had sworn an oath never to make ink again, though he confidently offered his own services instead.
Li Jinshui apologized, stating that ancestral rules could not be violated. When Official Yan pointedly asked if family rules stood above the Emperor's affairs, Li Zhen stepped forward. She declared that where there was a will, there was a way, and offered to try in her grandfather's stead. Deeply impressed by her courage, Official Yan toasted her. To sweeten the deal, Luo Wenqian pledged a reward of one hundred taels of silver for whoever successfully recreated the ink.
After the banquet, Li Zhen confronted Luo Wenqian outside the restaurant. She noted how his bold entrance, his carefully chosen gift, and his cash reward had effectively manipulated the entire local industry, even dragging her grandfather into his game. Luo Wenqian countered that even if it was a game of chess, the senior masters had willingly played their parts, adding that he admired her nerve and hoped they could be business partners in the future.
Li Zhen coolly rejected his offer of friendship, stating that mixing business and personal feelings only made it harder to stay professional. As they walked home, Li Jinshui chided Li Zhen for her reckless behavior. She argued that she had to step forward to save him and Seventh Grandmother from the official's trap.
She also admitted that recreating the ancient ink was a perfect chance to test her skills, and she certainly could not let Luo Wenqian's gleaming silver reward slip through her fingers. Soon after, Li Zhen’s search for raw lacquer hit a dead end. Luo Wenqian’s assistant reported that the Tian family had bought up the entire local supply of raw lacquer to prevent other workshops from recreating the ancient ink.
Recognizing that raw lacquer would make an excellent bargaining chip, Luo Wenqian instructed his assistant to have Wang Cuiqiao source a shipment from her connections in Fujian. When his assistant suggested they should also buy some for Li Zhen, Luo Wenqian declined, noting that she was resourceful enough to find her own way. With the Tian family making the first move, Luo Wenqian decided to pay them a visit at Changsheng Garden.
Inside the estate, Tian Huai'an was furious with his son, who had been neglecting his studies to associate with the eighth branch's daughter, Li Zhen. When the son argued that he had no interest in exams or returning to the Capital, proudly presenting a newly formulated inkstick instead, Tian Huai'an lost his temper and ordered him out of his sight.
