Episode Summary
In Episode 10, corruption within the Governor's Residence leads to the accidental poisoning of He Youguang's prized fighting cock, causing him to unjustly punish the mute servant, Lin Yinu. Meanwhile, Li Shande successfully tests a litchi preservation method using a double-walled urn. Desperate for horses to transport the fruit, he strikes a deal with the merchant Su Liang, promising four official travel permits in exchange for the animals. Li confronts the officials, leveraging his imperial authority to secure the permits and is forced to take the scapegoated servant, whom he renames A-Li, under his care.
Spoiler Alert
The Litchi Road: Episode 10 Recap & Spoilers
A poisoned prize, a treacherous banquet, and a desperate bargain mark a turning point in the high-stakes litchi mission, as alliances fray and the true cost of corruption comes to light.
The suffocating heat in Lingnan mirrors the rising tensions as He Youguang's insomnia worsens, making him dangerously volatile. Meanwhile, Li Shande makes a critical breakthrough, but his success only pushes him deeper into a web of political intrigue and moral compromise.
A Chain of Corruption Ends in Tragedy
The episode ignites with a conflict sparked by greed. To soothe the irritable He Youguang, his subordinate Zhao Xinmin is tasked with building a cooling shed for He's most prized possession: a fighting cock named "Ji Bao" (Chicken Treasure). However, the project is plagued by corruption from the start. Zhao and his nephew embezzle the construction funds, leaving them with only enough money for cheap, potent rat poison to deal with a sudden infestation at the Governor's Residence.
The shoddy work and delayed schedule infuriate Zhao. While berating his nephew, a mute servant named Lin Yinu is quietly mixing the poison in a corner. Harassed by the nephew, she is forced to abandon her task, leaving the bowl of poison unattended.
Later, as Zhao Xinmin proudly presents the completed shed, He Youguang is overjoyed. Spotting the nearby bowl, he impulsively decides to feed his beloved roosters. Despite Lin Yinu's frantic, silent attempts to stop him and Zhao's belated intervention, it's too late. The prized cocks consume the poison and die violently. Enraged and grief-stricken, He Youguang brutally whips the servant, while Zhao, desperate to deflect blame, falsely accuses her of deliberate sabotage.
A Feast of Deception
In a parallel storyline, the court entertainer Zheng Ping'an navigates a different kind of danger. He stumbles out of a banquet arm-in-arm with He Youguang, the picture of drunken camaraderie. But the moment He is out of sight, Zheng's demeanor sharpens. An expert in courtly affairs from the capital, Chang'an, he instantly recognized that the supposed "litchi wine" was, in fact, a potent liquor called Bing Yu Shao. Understanding he was in a "Hongmen Banquet"—a feast designed as a trap—he feigned intoxication to survive the ordeal. He Youguang is not entirely fooled; he drunkenly climbs to a rooftop, screaming into the stormy night that he believes Zheng is a spy sent to monitor his military authority.
A Breakthrough and a Desperate Deal
Back at the post station, Li Shande is frantically working on the logistics of his seemingly impossible task. He has made a crucial discovery: using a double-walled urn for storage, a method taught to him by A-Tong, he has managed to keep litchis fresh for four days.
This technical success, however, highlights his financial failure. Li has mapped out four potential transport routes, but they require significant horsepower.Su Liang estimates the cost at a staggering three thousand guan; Li has less than a thousand. Seeing his desperation, and with some encouragement from A-Tong, Su Liang agrees to help secure the horses. But his assistance comes at a steep price: four official travel permits from the Governor's Residence.
A High-Stakes Confrontation
Dressed in his official robes as "Litchi Envoy," Li Shande arrives at the Governor's Residence to demand the permits, walking directly into the chaos of He Youguang's mourning. Zhao Xinmin attempts to fob him off, but Li asserts the authority of his imperial commission. When Zhao consults the distraught He Youguang, he is rebuffed. Thinking strategically, Zhao advises He to give Li the permits for now and "settle the score after autumn"—a clear threat of future retribution. Immersed in his grief, He Youguang agrees.
Li finally obtains the four precious documents. As a twisted part of the bargain, he is also given the scapegoated mute servant, Lin Yinu. In an act of compassion that starkly contrasts with the cruelty he has just witnessed, Li renames her "A-Li" (a nod to the litchi fruit).
The episode closes on a poignant note. At a wonton stall, the starving A-Li devours several bowls while Li Shande, his own funds nearly depleted, drinks only the broth. He buys her new clothes, a small gesture of humanity amidst the brutal politics of his mission. With the permits now in hand, he delivers them to a delighted Su Liang, who promises to arrange for the horses. Li Shande, for his part, prepares to acquire the "March Red" litchis from A-Tong, one step closer to fulfilling his deadly duty.
