Episode Summary
In episode 15 of "The Litchi Road," Li Shande launches the critical "city-circling run" to test his lychee transport method while also navigating a personal crisis with his daughter, Xiu'er. Simultaneously, a foreign merchants' assembly is thrown into chaos when Su Liang proposes investing in the lychee project, challenging the guild leader A Mi Ta's authority. As riders face exhaustion and injury, opposition forces led by Zhao Xinmin resort to sabotage, setting a tripwire that causes rider Yan Yazhuang to suffer a serious fall, leaving the experiment's future in jeopardy.
Spoiler Alert
"The Litchi Road" Episode 15 Recap: The Race Begins, and Sabotage Follows
As Li Shande's high-stakes lychee transport experiment officially kicks off, the pressures of his mission and his family life begin to collide. While riders push their limits in a grueling city-circling race against time, a new battle brews among the foreign merchants of Chang'an, threatening to cut off Li Shande's funding. The episode masterfully balances heartwarming family moments, the thrill of the race, and the looming threat of political sabotage, culminating in a shocking accident that leaves a key character's fate hanging in the balance.
A Father's White Lie
The episode opens on a tender note in the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era. Li Shande, ever the devoted father, prepares breakfast for his daughter, Xiu'er. Their quiet morning is filled with the simple intimacy of him braiding her hair, a task she playfully critiques along with his cooking. When Xiu'er asks to visit their old family home, Li Shande entrusts her with the key, telling her to wait for her uncle, Zheng Ping'an.
But Xiu'er's patience wears thin. On the way to school, she gets into a spat with her father, insisting on walking alone. In the bustling Chang'an streets, Li Shande loses sight of her, and panic sets in. He finally finds her at their old house, where she is quietly mourning her mother. Unwilling to reveal the heartbreaking truth of his wife's passing, Li Shande tells Xiu'er a gentle lie: her mother will return when the osmanthus tree in the courtyard blooms again. It's a promise he knows can't be kept, as the tree has been withered and dead since his wife's death.
The Trial and the Merchants' Gambit
With preparations complete, Li Shande launches the "city-circling run," a critical experiment to test the endurance of riders and the freshness of the lychees. As the crowd watches, he gives the signal, and his top riders, Lan Ge and Yan Yazhuang, burst from the gates, their horses carrying precious baskets of the fruit.
Simultaneously, the foreign merchants' assembly convenes. A Mi Ta, the guild leader, presides, intending to secure investment for a lucrative silk and porcelain trade route. However, the merchant Su Liang, with the subtle backing of the Right Chancellor's envoy, Zheng Ping'an, hijacks the meeting. He proposes a bold alternative: investing in Li Shande's lychee project, promising a staggering thirty percent return on their investment. He argues that if the Emperor is pleased, their fortunes are all but guaranteed. The proposal divides the assembly, forcing a conflicted A Mi Ta to postpone the vote until the results of Li Shande's experiment are clear.
Cracks Begin to Show
Back at the Little East Gate, Li Shande oversees the trial. The initial results are promising; after three days, the lychees remain fresh. However, the human cost is becoming apparent. The riders are exhausted, and two of Lan Ge's men are injured. Lan Ge confronts Li Shande, protesting that the men and horses are being pushed beyond their limits. A remorseful Li Shande apologizes but stresses the need for precise data, proposing a new system of three laps per rider followed by rest.
Meanwhile, forces conspire against him. A frustrated A Mi Ta complains to official He Youguang about Su Liang's disruption. Seeing an opportunity, He Youguang gathers the merchants to denounce Li Shande's experiment as an elaborate sham, with his crony Zhao Xinmin fanning the flames of doubt.
The episode's tension reaches its peak with a blatant act of sabotage. Upon learning that Yan Yazhuang is still riding, Zhao Xinmin dispatches Captain Yang to set a trap. As Yan Yazhuang gallops along a deserted stretch of road, his horse hits a tripwire stretched across the path. In a heart-stopping final shot, the horse tumbles violently, throwing an unsuspecting Yan Yazhuang to the ground.
Spoilers & Key Takeaways:
- A Father's Burden: Li Shande's relationship with his daughter, Xiu'er, is tested as he juggles his dangerous mission with his parental duties. His lie about the osmanthus tree is a poignant symbol of the emotional weight he carries.
- The Merchants are Divided: Su Liang's bold move to invest in the lychee project has created a schism in the foreign merchants' guild. This financial power struggle, instigated by the Right Chancellor's faction, adds a new layer of political intrigue and puts Li Shande's funding at risk.
- Sabotage: The opposition, led by He Youguang and Zhao Xinmin, has moved from verbal criticism to physical violence. By ordering Captain Yang to set a tripwire, they have directly attacked the experiment and endangered the life of a key rider.
- The Cliffhanger: The episode ends with Yan Yazhuang's brutal fall. His condition and whether he can continue the race are left unknown, creating a major obstacle for Li Shande's already perilous mission.
