The Road to Splendor Episode 27

Striking deals to change Grand Empress dowager’s mind

This episode was how to get the appearance of a million for 100k allotted funds. Jin was so helpful with the merchants and they bragged loud and clear their progress in materials. This of course was scandalous compared to drought victims and Zhou Ling was reprimanded with loss of his position. TingYun was next because she had suggested all the plans. She got to spend the day kneeling. The end result was the emperor had the appearance of being the filial grandson with no renovations happening and the money donated properly to disaster relief. This was a sly way to make his gma understand how frivolous burial plans were compared to taking care of the people. Jin was given a letter to let him sell merchandise but he was left to deal with the angry merchants. He recognized he was the fall guy and with this I was disappointed that the Zhaos did all this at Jin’s expense. 😝 His crime was loyalty and they abused it. The emperor went on to make Zhao Ling responsible for the funds so out of one frying pan into another. Ms Wu was quite clever to have the sesame flatbread included with the meal. Ya Ke knew what it represented and immediately tossed it. JingXiu split one with Ms Wu which was a slap at Ya Ke. What Ms Wu noted was JingXiu had no idea what TingYun’s flatbread tasted like so she recognized obsession rather than love with him. She also noted the lovers that cared about each other only ate this for survival not because it was a chosen favorite between them. Once again she had a session of the tales of TingYun for him after her visit. I like that Ms Mo shut up the noble gossipers by reminding them that the military husbands were out giving life and limb for the country while the nobles stayed home sitting around gossiping.😝But at least the gma said the project was cancelled and the needs of the people more important than her grandson honoring her last wishes. And all I could think was poor Jin being the fall guy and those pretty lapis lazuli beads from the emperor telling Zhao Ling what an honorable man he was for the way he handled things.😝I wonder if Jin would agree?

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A risky plan with rich rewards

Oh, Zhao Ling gambling with his career, but it worked! Tingyun is so clever to think of that plan, and I had a feeling that the Emperor might be in on it. Love that I was right! And now they even have the Empress Dowager's favour! 👏🤗So satisfied that they walked out of the Yus' trap stronger, more respected, and more favoured than before. Everyone now wants to be friends with them! Merchants bringing gifts too... so abundant! 😅 Madam Wu is also planning something... Could she decide to look out for her own benefit eventually instead of aiding Madam Yu's plans all the time? I noticed she's planning to visit Lord Wang — is that the same person as Commander Wang? 😳But I am expecting the Yus' next plan to be even trickier to get out of. Zhao Ling's presence in court is like a thorn in Lord Yu's side, and for them to succeed with whatever they have been planning, they need to get rid of him. They might get desperate and that means — raising the stakes of the game and even considering killing him if nothing else works. 😬I still consider Miss Wu a potential ally to Tingyun, and she could help bring down the Yu family from the inside. With all the stories of the northwest and the other tricks she uses to get Jingxiu on her side, it seems to be working already, but we'll see how that continues. 🤨

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