Resumo do episódio 39 de The Heir
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As Luo Wenqian prepared to embark on his journey into exile, the escorting officer reminded him to turn around and take one last look at his home, warning him that he would not return for another twenty years. Looking back, Luo Wenqian saw his aunt, Luo Mengzhen, watching him with deep sorrow and affection. Suppressing the storm of emotions in his heart, he bowed deeply before turning around to stride away into the distance.
Meanwhile, the Li family was anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new life. Li Zhengliang and Qiu'e's child was about to be born, and the family members paced with anxiety as the hours ticked by. Finally, a crisp cry broke the silence, signaling the safe delivery of a healthy baby boy. Li Zhen eagerly cradled her new nephew, asking the exhausted but smiling Qiu'e what name they had chosen.
Qiu'e explained that after everything the family had endured, they were finally embracing a new beginning. She and Zhengliang decided to name the boy Li Tianxin, symbolizing a fresh start. That night, a heavy snow began to fall, blanketing the world in white. Standing in the courtyard, Li Jinshui looked out into the freezing night, deep in thought.
Li Zhen joined her grandfather and quietly reflected that the events of the past few days felt as though she had lived through an entire lifetime. When Li Jinshui asked what such a lifetime tasted like, she replied that it held every flavor—sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy—yet remained entirely unpredictable. Though she admitted to being afraid of the future, she declared her resolve to keep moving forward.
Deeply moved, Li Jinshui promised to do his best to live on and accompany her on the road ahead. Three years passed, bringing the first year of the Longqing Era. With the ascension of a new emperor and a general amnesty, a sense of renewal filled the air. In the Li family’s ancestral hall, Sun Wanyi knelt to pray, earnestly asking the ancestors to protect the family and guide Li Zhen to lead Li Ink to reclaim its past glory.
Her quiet prayers were interrupted by young Li Tianxin, who came running in to call her home for breakfast. At home, the women of the family gathered to prepare tofu pudding, chatting about how busy everyone had become. Li Jingdong, Li Zhengshen, Li Zhengliang, and Li Zhengyou were constantly at the workshop or the inkstone shop before dawn, and even Li Jinshui had thrown himself back into the craft now that his health had improved.
At the ink workshop, Li Zhen gathered the master craftsmen to make a major announcement. With the new Tribute Ink selection approaching, she declared that the Li family would attempt to recreate their ancestors' legendary Sihe Ink, a masterpiece that had been out of their hands for sixteen years, to restore their family's honor. Hearing this, an old master urged caution, pointing out that recreating the Sihe Ink would be incredibly time-consuming and might not be ready in time.
He suggested improving their ancient lacquer-soot ink instead, as it was a far safer option. However, Li Zhen countered that without breaking the old, nothing new could be established, and that true progress lay in innovation. Li Jinshui firmly supported her decision, reminding the craftsmen that the essence of Li Ink lay in the spirit that united people's hearts.
He explained that "Sihe" represented the blending of heaven, earth, and human hearts, and with the family more united than ever, there was no better time to restore the ancient ink. Li Jingdong also voiced his absolute faith in Li Zhen, urging the masters to pool their wisdom and efforts to guide future generations. Reassured by their leadership, the craftsmen enthusiastically agreed to give their all for the future of Li Ink.
In the days that followed, Li Zhen threw herself entirely into her work, often forgetting to eat or rest. While trying to figure out the exact proportions of horn glue, isinglass, and peach resin for the ink formula, she became so distracted that she accidentally rinsed her writing brush in her bowl of fresh tofu pudding.
A young worker quickly cautioned her to eat before it grew cold and reminded her of the family banquet scheduled for the first day of the eighth month. Realizing that the Literary Association meeting was also set for that very day, a panicked Li Zhen rushed out of the workshop. Meanwhile, in her room, Lord Yan's daughter, Lanxiang, sat admiring a rare wind orchid.
Her maid, Xiaoman, noted that Li Zhengshen had searched far and wide to secure the flower simply because Lanxiang had once mentioned her fondness for it. Lanxiang sighed as she counted the orchid's six leaves, reflecting that it had been three years since then, yet not a single moment of her quiet life could compare to the three short days they had shared in Nanjing. She grumbled about having to wait so long for Zhengshen to send his betrothal gifts.
Lord Yan entered and gently advised her to keep such thoughts private. He then shared some wonderful news: once the upcoming Tribute Ink selection concluded, he intended to retire and return home. By resigning as the Ink Affairs Official, there would be no suspicion of the Li family climbing the social ladder when they proposed, paving the way for a spring wedding.
Lanxiang was overjoyed, but their conversation was cut short when a servant arrived to report that Eunuch Zhao had reached Huizhou with an imperial edict, prompting Lord Yan to head to the prefectural office. At the prefectural office, President Hu welcomed the gathered ink makers, noting that the Chen family's name had been cleared after the downfall of Sage Qing He.
He expressed his excitement at seeing Li Ink and Chen Ink, the pillars of the Huizhou ink industry, compete once more. Soon after, Eunuch Zhao delivered the imperial decree. With the reopening of maritime trade, His Majesty had granted special permission for the Japanese Kuroda family to participate in the Tribute Ink selection. Furthermore, the winner of the competition would be bestowed the prestigious title of the "Finest Ink Under Heaven."
That evening, the Li family gathered for a banquet and discussed the sudden turn of events. While some family members expressed deep concern, fearing that the tragedies of the past might repeat themselves, Li Zhen remained optimistic. She argued that the lifting of maritime restrictions was a grand opportunity; if foreigners could bring their craft to China, then the Li family could also take their ink out into the world, eventually expanding their business across the globe.
Li Jinshui agreed, stating that in an ink competition, the focus must remain entirely on the ink itself. Inspired by their resolve, the family raised their glasses to a thrilling and determined competition. After dinner, Li Zhen's mother handed her some warm soup and a change of clothes to bring to Li Jinshui.
She noted that despite his quiet demeanor during the meal, the old man’s heart was still tethered to the ship that had delivered ink to the capital years ago, making him want to win this selection more than anyone. Li Zhen found her grandfather in the smoky workshop, coughing from the pungent fumes but stubbornly refusing to rest. She gently draped a coat over his shoulders and urged him to have some soup while he worked.
Later, Tian Ronghua brought the monthly account books to Li Zhen. While Zhen expressed her complete trust in Ronghua's work, Ronghua quietly submitted her resignation. She explained that her mother and second brother were returning due to the general amnesty, but they were too ashamed to return to Huizhou and had settled in Ningguo Prefecture instead.
Ronghua shared her own aspirations: with the maritime trade reopened, she wanted to learn the ways of commerce, see the sea, and discover a different side of her own life. Li Zhen understood her desires completely and promised to wait for her return. When Ronghua asked about Luo Wenqian, Li Zhen revealed that he had been pardoned and had rejoined General Yu's ranks under his real name, though she constantly prayed for his safety on the perilous battlefield.
As the deadline for the Tribute Ink selection neared, Li Jinshui, Li Jingdong, and Li Zhen worked tirelessly to perfect the Sihe Ink. Examining a fragment of their ancestral sample, Jinshui noticed that the pattern on the ancient ink differed significantly from their new creations. Because the fragment was too small to see the full design, he sent Li Zhen to the ink vault to retrieve the other piece of Sihe Ink for a closer comparison.
While inside the vault, Li Zhen caught an intruder in the middle of a theft. The thief attacked her, but a figure suddenly intervened, fighting off the assailant and forcing them to flee. To Li Zhen's astonishment, her savior was none other than Luo Wenqian. When Li Jinshui and Li Jingdong rushed in, Luo Wenqian explained his unexpected presence. He revealed that General Yu had ordered him to secretly monitor the Kuroda family due to their highly suspicious backgrounds.
He had spent the last several weeks tracking a rogue Japanese operative who had broken away from the group to gather intelligence on various Chinese ink-making families across Nanjing, Wuyuan, and Xiuning, eventually arriving in She County. Luo Wenqian had avoided confronting the spy to discover their ultimate objective, but he had been forced to reveal himself when the man attempted to kill Li Zhen. Not long after, Princess Shouyang arrived in Huizhou to oversee the tribute selection.
At the official gathering, the Kuroda family was formally presented. The Kuroda representatives offered custom-made inks as gifts to the local workshops. The Chen family was left speechless when they opened their gift, finding a replica of their own famous Scholar Ink crafted to a terrifyingly high standard. The Kuroda representative then presented a gift to the Li family, claiming its origins also traced back to the Southern Tang dynasty.
When Li Zhen opened the box, she was stunned to find their own ancestral Sihe Ink inside. With smug confidence, Renkichi challenged the local masters, asking which ink they would possibly use to compete against the Kuroda family's superior craft.
