Episode Summary
Gu Pingyuan stages his own arrest with Ruilin to trick foreign competitors and break their trade monopoly. The plan succeeds, allowing Gu to fake his death and retire in peace with Chang Yuer. Years later, he secretly funds the revolution against the Qing dynasty.
Spoiler Alert
The Merchant Goes Rogue
Gu Pingyuan has finally had enough. He sees the Qing government for what it really is. They are weak. They are incompetent. He decides to stop relying on them. He wants to fight the foreigners on his own terms. His plan is bold. He wants to bypass the East India Company entirely. He plans to sell tea, medicine, and silk directly to the world market.
He makes his moves quickly. He secures the spring tea harvest from the Anhui chamber. He grabs silk from Wu Caishen. He gets medicine from the Old Eight Families of Shanxi. The only thing missing is transport. He borrows warships from Su Zixuan to move the cargo. Wu Caishen backs him up but warns him. This path is dangerous. He tells Gu Pingyuan to quit while he is ahead. Gu ignores him.
A Staged Downfall
Su Zixuan loves the idea. He agrees to the partnership immediately. But just as things look good, disaster strikes. Or so it seems. Gu Pingyuan rushes home to see Chang Yuer. Ruilin’s men show up. They drag Gu away in the pouring rain.
Ruilin plays the villain perfectly. He tortures Gu Pingyuan. He demands to know the source of the twenty million taels used for the goods. He accuses Gu of hiding the Chuang Wang Treasure. Gu spits at him. Ruilin claims he is just following orders from the Empress Dowager. He throws Gu in a dark cell. He orders his men to raid Gu’s house. They take everything. Heizi, Chang Yuer, and Chang Si watch helplessly. They pack up to leave for Anhui.
The Foreigners Panic
Richard is losing his mind. He hears about the warships carrying trade goods. This destroys his control over the market. He grabs Li Qin and storms into Ruilin’s office. He demands action. Ruilin acts confused. He claims he knows nothing. He says Gu is already in jail.
Richard doesn't buy it. He goes to the jail himself. Li Qin tags along to mock his brother. Richard demands Gu stop the ships. Gu refuses. Richard is desperate. He goes to Hart for help. Hart shuts him down. He refuses to support Richard’s accusations.
The Twist Revealed
Ruilin visits the jail again. The act drops. The torture and the arrest were a "bitter flesh" trick. They planned it together. They wanted to blindside the foreigners. It worked. Gu Pingyuan just wants to retire to Anhui now. Ruilin is still curious about the money, though. He asks again. Gu stays silent.
Richard gives up. He drops the charges. Li Qin is furious, but he can't do anything. Hart steps in and sells Gu’s cargo to the East India Company. Richard is forced to return Li Qin’s assets to Ruilin. Ruilin brings the good news to Gu. He has one last favor. He has to transport Gu to Beijing. But on the way, he writes a fake report. He tells the capital Gu Pingyuan died of a sudden illness and was cremated. Gu Pingyuan is legally dead.
A Quiet Goodbye
Ruilin hands Gu over to Su Zixuan. Gu is free. Before he leaves, Li Qin shows up. He looks defeated. He is done with the Qing dynasty. He wants to travel the world. The brothers finally bury the hatchet. They shake hands.
Gu Pingyuan rushes back to his hometown. Chang Yuer is waiting on the bridge. She has been waiting a long time. They look at each other. They don't say a word. They just smile.
We jump forward to 1903. Su Xiaohu is running the show now. He receives a letter and a check. It is from Gu Pingyuan. The old merchant is still watching. He is sending money to support the revolution.
