Glory Episode 1 Recap
> Glory Recaps
Legend has it that in the ancient lands of Linji, the Rong family rose to power as the self-proclaimed descendants of the Kingdom of Women. For over four hundred years, they cultivated vast tea plantations and opened maritime trade routes, amassing wealth and influence that rivaled feudal lords. In this matriarchal society, talented men from across the realm sought to marry into the clan, but it was the eldest daughter, Rong Shanbao, who truly embodied the family’s formidable legacy.
Diligent and decisive, she managed the sprawling business with a focus that surpassed most men. One late night, Shanbao’s carriage rushed back to the estate after she received word of a scandal. She discovered her favorite male companion, Mr. Wang, in a tryst with a recently hired tea farmer named A-yi. Caught red-handed, the panicked Mr. Wang knelt before Shanbao, weeping and claiming he had been seduced.
He hoped their past affection would earn him mercy, but Shanbao recognized his low character and deceit. Ignoring his pleas, she ordered him expelled from the Rong residence immediately. Rather than punishing A-yi, Shanbao led her to a rugged, barren mountain. She explained that while the family owned hundreds of thriving plantations, this particular site was cursed; every precious tea plant moved here withered within three months.
Knowing A-yi was a master of her craft from Yunnan, Shanbao revealed she had hired her specifically to conquer this land. Shanbao promised to grant A-yi any treasure or companion she desired, provided she could transform these desolate peaks into a verdant sea of tea within three years. Three years later, the prosperity of the region was threatened by the mysterious disappearances of tea-picking girls and the theft of rare wild tea seeds.
Determined to uncover the truth, Shanbao disguised herself as a humble tea farmer and allowed herself to be abducted. She was eventually taken to a hidden dungeon by masked men. Meanwhile, a young, ambitious official named Lu Jianglai was conducting his own secret investigation. Disguised as an elderly woman and accompanied by a young girl, Lu sought shelter at Zhang’s Tea Shop during a fierce snowstorm. The proprietress, feigning kindness, offered them hot tea laced with drugs.
Once Lu and his companion appeared to fall unconscious, they were dragged into a hidden kitchen where the staff was processing human remains. Just as a butcher raised his blade, Lu Jianglai sprang into action, revealing his martial prowess. He and his companion neutralized the criminals and signaled the local authorities. Upon searching the premises, Lu’s men discovered a horrific corpse pit filled with "corpse mud" and rescued the surviving captives from the dungeon, including Shanbao.
Constable Liu Ben, who had long profited from his connections to Prefect Xu Song, tried to intimidate Lu. He boasted that his sister was the Prefect’s favorite concubine and suggested that Lu should release him to ensure his own future. However, Lu remained steadfast. When the desperate Liu Ben attempted to assassinate him, Lu’s men executed the corrupt constable on the spot. Lu ordered the body to be displayed publicly for three days as a grim warning.
Before leaving, Shanbao gave Lu a look of deep appreciation for his pursuit of justice. Shanbao returned home to a cold welcome. She discovered that her brother, Rong Shanchang, had tampered with her carriage wheels to delay her return, hoping to hide his embezzlement of family funds before a scheduled audit. Shanbao showed no mercy, sentencing him to kneel outside the ancestral hall for seven days without food. Her homecoming was further soured by the petty bickering of her sisters.
During a gathering with the Old Madam, her second sister acted virtuous while making sharp, veiled criticisms of Shanbao for returning "empty-handed" after the bandit attack. Quietly, Shanbao revealed a packet of the finest wild Zisun tea she had hidden against her body, proving she had not failed and successfully silencing her rivals. In the political arena, Lu Jianglai faced a tense meeting with the Governor and a vengeful Prefect Xu Song.
Lu cleverly handled the situation by detailing the "slanders" Liu Ben had supposedly made about the Prefect’s corruption—including bribes of cricket pots, expensive wine, and cash—effectively threatening Xu Song into silence under the guise of protecting his reputation. Impressed by Lu’s cunning, the Governor assigned him the "Wei family case," an infamous and dangerous mystery involving a man named Wei Kejian accused of murdering his wife, Madam Yang.
As Lu delved into the files, he realized the case was a political minefield. The investigation pointed toward the Rong family, as Madam Yang was last seen attending a birthday banquet at their estate before vanishing.
Recognizing that the powerful "Tea King" family would not easily submit to a common summons, Lu prepared a dual strategy: he sent for a legendary veteran coroner to examine the remaining bone fragments and issued a formal invitation to the Old Madam of the Rong family, resolved to use force if the matriarch refused to cooperate.
