Overlord Episode 19 Recap
> Overlord Recap
Following the successful completion of all thirty Nyuertu, Li Qingliu gathered with the members of Longzhu Gang for a celebratory feast. He extended his gratitude by offering a toast and showed a willingness to set aside his usual decorum by trying their unique dishes, earning the respect of the lower class. However, fueled by drink, Li Qingliu unfortunately remarked that Long Aoyi lacked femininity, which greatly displeased her.
In response, Long Aoyi suggested that their joint venture, Qinglong Firm, should dissolve. Li Qingliu, realizing his misstep, forcibly pulled Long Aoyi close and declared, "I, Li Qingliu, won’t let you, Long Aoyi, leave me." This sparked widespread gossip among those present. He then praised her quick grasp of business, asserting that he couldn't let her go and they should work together to eliminate dishonest merchants in Silver City. Long Aoyi, calling him drunk, agreed to remain.
She suggested naming their venture "Qinglong Firm" by combining "Qing" from his name and "Long" from hers, to combat "all the injustices and profiteers." Later that night, Li Qingliu, still appearing intoxicated, insisted on riding in a carriage with Long Aoyi. This resulted in him pulling Long Aoyi home in a handcart, with Xiaoqin and Yan Bin following. As Xiaoqin playfully speculated about Long Aoyi's relationship with Li Qingliu, Du Xiaoxian suddenly appeared.
She approached to assist Li Qingliu, but he brushed her aside and instead gripped Long Aoyi's wrist, making his preference clear to everyone. After Yan Bin helped Li Qingliu to his room, Second Master Lyu secretly entered, took an impression of Li Qingliu's birthmark, and then instructed a subordinate to remain in Silver City to observe developments and send messages via carrier pigeon.
Second Master Lyu himself departed for Chang’an, stating the matter was too important for anyone else to handle. The next day, Yan Bin delivered a letter from Du Xiaoxian to Li Qingliu. The letter informed him that she had left for Chang’an with her father, Du Changfeng, for his new appointment.
Du Xiaoxian expressed her high aspirations for Xinsilu and her intent to explore opportunities among the influential figures in the Chang’an court to further expand the firm, promising to return with good news. Li Qingliu, uncertain if she would come back to Silver City, instructed Yan Bin to send her a carriage full of high-quality cloth to Chang’an and inquire about any other needs. Meanwhile, Du Changfeng received a confidential letter from Mr. Pang, a Vice Minister of Revenue.
The letter revealed that someone had submitted a secret report to the court exposing Du Changfeng's extensive bribery of wealthy merchants in Silver City. Suspecting a connection to Xinsilu, Du Changfeng decided to eliminate the threat before his new appointment. He summoned Li Qingliu and presented him with an official document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ordering him to serve as a merchant envoy for the court, transporting the Nyuertu to Jiamu.
Li Qingliu initially declined, citing his status as a mere merchant. Du Changfeng insisted, highlighting that Nyuertu were Xinsilu's products and Li Qingliu was best suited to present them to the Princess of Jiamu. He also subtly leveraged Du Xiaoxian's contributions to Xinsilu and her sudden departure to Chang'an, effectively forcing Li Qingliu to accept the mission.
Given the long and perilous journey to Jiamu, a strategic and often conflict-ridden region, Li Qingliu decided to hire a reliable escort agency from the lower class. He approached Long Aoyi, who ran such a business.
After some playful banter, Long Aoyi agreed to act as the escort but imposed three strict conditions: she would be fully responsible for the goods once they set off, the escort would have ultimate authority without interference from the merchant, and she would be allowed to transport additional goods without question. Yan Bin grumbled about these "overlord clauses," but Li Qingliu readily accepted.
As preparations were made for the journey, the county magistrate, acting on Du Changfeng's orders, sealed the Nyuertu boxes with an official fire wax seal, preventing Li Qingliu from inspecting them. He claimed only border officials or the King of Jiamu could break the seal. Unbeknownst to Li Qingliu, Du Changfeng had already arranged an ambush at the border pass. Li Qingliu, Long Aoyi, Yan Bin, and Xiaoqin then set off.
Riding behind their masters in a carriage, Xiaoqin and Yan Bin observed Li Qingliu and Long Aoyi on horseback and commented on how well they matched. Along the way, they encountered a group of refugees who, mistaking Li Qingliu and Long Aoyi for a married couple, asked for directions to Silver City. While Long Aoyi hesitated, Li Qingliu simply confirmed the direction, implicitly accepting the misunderstanding. They later camped for the night.
Xiaoqin, continuing her playful teasing, asked Li Qingliu why he often recoiled from women and if rumors about him preferring men were true. Long Aoyi, listening intently, also seemed curious, but quickly dismissed her own interest. Meanwhile, Li Zhao, concerned for Long Aoyi's safety, wished to accompany her to Jiamu. Du Changfeng vehemently opposed this, presenting a secret letter from Concubine De, which commanded Li Zhao to return to the capital immediately.
Unwilling to disobey his mother, Li Zhao departed for the palace. Du Changfeng, now free of Li Zhao’s oversight, became more brazen, planning to eliminate both Long Aoyi and Li Qingliu in one swift move. Upon his return to the palace, Li Zhao greeted Concubine De and questioned her urgent summons, as well as her insistence on him ceasing the investigation into Du Changfeng's corruption. As Li Zhao pressed for answers, his uncle arrived.
Concubine De, visibly angry, ordered Li Zhao to his residence for reflection, stating she needed to speak with his uncle privately. Li Zhao, however, lingered outside and overheard a conversation confirming that items on a list had been inventoried and stored. His uncle reassured Concubine De that affairs in Silver City were under Du Changfeng's complete control and would be handled skillfully before his new appointment in Chang'an.
This revelation led Li Zhao to the unexpected discovery that Concubine De was the mastermind colluding with Du Changfeng. Continuing their journey, Li Qingliu, Long Aoyi, Yan Bin, and Xiaoqin reached the Tuojiang River Quay, noticing it was unusually bustling. A laborer explained that widespread famine was driving many refugees to Silver City, leading to increased river traffic. Li Qingliu immediately recognized a significant business opportunity.
He proposed to Long Aoyi that with imperial transportation shifting from land to water during the famine, they could secure shipping space at Silver City’s quay and exchange it for space along other waterways. This would allow them to control the entire water transport route and earn a substantial profit. Li Qingliu offered to handle the logistics of renting space and funding, while Long Aoyi agreed to manage the Water Gang, confirming her commitment to the ambitious venture.
