A tribute ink scandal topples the Li family’s long-standing ink business, leaving their legacy in ruins. Years later, Li Zhen, the determined youngest daughter, sets out…
Drama • Series • 2026 • 1 season
Starring: Yang Zi, Elvis Han, Wu Mian
S1 E1 - Expulsion of the Eighth Branch from the Clan
Eight-year-old Li Zhen, the granddaughter from the eighth branch of the Li family, devises the Five-Color Ink Grading Test to distinguish superior ink from inferior, helping Li Ink earn the title of Imperial Ink Supplier. However, while the family is transporting the Imperial Ink to the capital, a fire breaks out and destroys the entire shipment. To quell the public outrage, Li Jin Shui steps forward on behalf of the eighth branch and voluntarily requests that they be expelled from the Li clan.
May 17, 2026 • 45m
S1 E2 - Arranged Marriage
Li Zhen grows into adulthood and has an arranged marriage with Tian Ben Chang, the eldest son of the Tian family. Unexpectedly, Tian Ben Chang's father makes the arrangement just to strengthen Tian Ink through the joining of the eighth branch.
May 17, 2026 • 45m
S1 E3 - Never Make Ink Again
Li Zhen’s brother, Li Zheng Liang, steals the ink formula manuscript and hides it among her dowry, but Li Jing Dong discovers it. To protect his grandson, Li Jin Shui publicly vows never to make ink again.
May 17, 2026 • 45m
S1 E4 - Identifying Pinewood
Li Zhen stumbles upon the Luo family's pinewood selection and makes a wager with Luo Wen Song. If she can identify the high-quality pinewood, she'll win a reward from the Luo family.
May 17, 2026 • 45m
S1 E5 - Disguised as a Man
Refusing to give up, Li Zhen disguises herself as a man and sneaks into various ink workshops to learn the craft. She is eventually exposed by the master craftsman at Luo Ink, who reports her to the Literary Society on the grounds that women are forbidden from learning ink-making.
May 18, 2026 • 45m
S1 E6 - Officially Begins Inkmaking Training
Li Zhen officially begins studying the art of inkmaking, but she is unable to live up to her grandfather's standards.
May 18, 2026 • 45m
S1 E7 - The Luo Family Falls
Driven by rage and humiliation, Tian Ben Chang sets the Luo family home on fire. Luo Wen Song and his family are killed in the blaze. Li Zhen witnesses the horrific tragedy, while Luo Wen Qian returns too late, forced to watch his family consumed by the flames.
May 19, 2026 • 45m
S1 E8 - Street Auction
Li Zhen manages to produce Superior-Grade ink soot, but people say that it's Low-Grade. To prove herself, Li Zhen auctions the Superior-Grade ink soot on the streets together with Wang Hua'er.
May 19, 2026 • 45m
S1 E9 - Revenge
Qi Jiu’s true identity is actually Luo Wen Qian. He returns to Huizhou under the guise of procuring military supplies, with the sole purpose of taking revenge on the Tian family.
May 20, 2026 • 45m
S1 E10 - The Power Behind the Tian Family
Qi Jiu sees Magistrate Zhao Shen visiting the Tian family and realizes they share close ties. He understands that to bring down the Tian family, he must first eliminate the powerful figure backing them.
May 20, 2026 • 45m
S1 E11 - Proving Her Innocence
Sun Bai Yi, resentful over Li Zhen’s auction of soot, falsely accuses her of breaking the rules and damaging the finished ink soot. Li Zhen uses detailed usage records to expose his lies and prove her innocence.
May 21, 2026 • 45m
S1 E12 - Preparing for the Ink Testing Event
The Li family intends to hold an ink testing event for their ancient lacquer soot ink. Tian Ben Chang deliberately holds the Tian family's ink testing event on the same day. Li Zhen suggests inviting famous painters and distinguished ink merchants to resolve the crisis.
May 21, 2026 • 45m
S1 E13 - Open-Air Ink Testing Event
Li Zhen takes an unconventional approach and organizes an open-air ink testing event. Qi Jiu arrives in time with Mr. Dong Tu, and the Li family’s ink testing event becomes a resounding success.
May 22, 2026 • 45m
S1 E14 - Expelled from Li Ink
Ge Lao Liu exposes that Sun Bai Yi is the mastermind behind this plot to frame and kick out Li Zhen. In the end, Seventh Grandmother expels both father and son of the Sun family from Li Ink.
May 22, 2026 • 45m
S1 E15 - Ancient Ink as Medicine
Eunuch Yan’s adopted daughter, Yan Xiang Lan, has suffered from a facial sore for many years but avoids seeking medical treatment out of fear and shame. Li Zhen decides to research the Nine Treasures Ink, a type of ancient ink believed to be capable of treating various sores and ailments.
May 23, 2026 • 45m
S1 E16 - Fujin Ink
Li Zhen successfully heals Yan Xiang Lan's malignant sores with the Nine Treasures Ink. Li Zhen then renames the Nine Treasures Ink as Fujin Ink after her parents.
May 23, 2026 • 45m
S1 E17 - Imperial Ink Contest
An imperial decree announces the selection of the imperial ink, stirring up tensions within the Huizhou ink industry. Qi Jiu knows that the only way to defeat the Tian family is to win the Imperial Ink Contest.
May 24, 2026 • 45m
S1 E18 - Pine Blight
Li Zhen discovers that the pine trees at the Li family’s pine yard have been infected with blight. As pine-soot ink has always been the cornerstone of the Li family business, the outbreak threatens to destroy everything they have built.
May 24, 2026 • 45m
S1 E19 - Acting Manager of Li Ink
Li Zhen temporarily takes charge of Li Ink. To boost morale, she improves the workshop’s promotion system and increases the rate of high-quality ink production.
May 25, 2026 • 45m
S1 E20 - Sixth Master Li Passes Away
Sixth Master Li falls into the water by accident and passes away. The Li family mourns his death. Sun Wan Yi takes out Wang's will, entrusting Li Zhen with the role of manager, putting her in charge of the family and the ink workshop.
May 25, 2026 • 45m
S1 E21 - Through Thick and Thin
A raging fire reduces the finished goods to ashes. Li Ink intends to compensate the ink merchants, but they don't have enough to cover it. Members of the Li family donate their dowries and pocket money to help the Li family get through the crisis.
May 26, 2026 • 45m
S1 E22 - The Imperial Ink Contest
The Imperial Ink Contest begins, but the Li family’s Yiyuan Ink loses to the Chen and Tian families in the first round and is awarded First-Grade status.
May 26, 2026 • 45m
S1 E23 - Regaining Their Trust
To regain the ink merchants’ trust, Li Zhen and Qi Jiu trick them into visiting the soot shed, where they demonstrate how Li Ink is produced and solemnly promise to deliver their orders on time.
May 27, 2026 • 45m
S1 E24 - A Deal
Li Zhen negotiates a deal with Tian Ben Chang. Her term of exchange is the ten-year right to use the Luo family's Linxi Pine Yard.
May 27, 2026 • 46m
S1 E25 - Growing Affection
During mid-autumn, Li Zhen holds a banquet for their ink masters. Li Zhen leaves the banquet in the middle of it. She and Qi Jiu admire the moon together. Under the full moon, their affection for each other grows.
May 28, 2026 • 45m
S1 E26 - Racing to Produce Shize Ink
To fulfil an urgent order for Shize Ink, Li Zhen purchases fish-bladder glue from a supplier. However, Li De Cai secretly conspires with the supplier and replaces the bottoms of the glue barrels, causing the glue to spoil in storage.
May 28, 2026 • 45m
S1 E27 - Severing Ties
The glue supplier reveals that Li De Cai was the mastermind. After he is arrested, Chun Hua finally sees the truth and produces a divorce letter, severing all ties with him.
May 29, 2026 • 45m
S1 E28 - Resolving The Crisis
Li Zhen shares the formula of Harmony Ink with the other ink workshops. In exchange, she wants to borrow their workshop and manpower. The ink workshops work together to meet the deadline. In the end, they manage to turn in their goods before the deadline, resolving the crisis.
May 29, 2026 • 45m
S1 E29 - Emotional Tug-of-War
Qi Jiu draws the line with Li Zhen coldly. Li Zhen is depressed about it. Yan Xiang Lan advises Li Zhen to deal with the business in Nanjing first, telling her that she needs to keep a distance from Qi Jiu to truly identify her feelings for him.
May 30, 2026 • 45m
S1 E30 - Feelings Too Strong to Suppress
Qi Jiu overhears that the Li family of Huizhou has incurred the princess’s wrath. Worried for Li Zhen’s safety, he rushes to help, only to encounter her after she has already defused the crisis. Overcome with emotion, Qi Jiu nevertheless keeps his feelings to himself.
May 30, 2026 • 45m
S1 E31 - Confessing Her True Feelings
Li Zhen and Qi Jiu coincidentally visit Sanshan Hall, which they once mentioned, to view the lantern displays. After wandering around, the two unexpectedly run into each other, and Li Zhen takes the initiative to bravely confess her true feelings.
May 31, 2026 • 45m
S1 E32 - Seventh Grandmother Passes Away
Seventh Grandmother passes away peacefully. Li Zhen conducts her funeral calmly. Li Zhen can only cry like a child in front of Qi Jiu.
May 31, 2026 • 45m
S1 E33 - Secret Ink Workshop
Tian Ben Chang uncovers Qi Jiu's true identity. At the same time, Qi Jiu gathers evidence of the Tian family's collusion with foreign powers and discovers that they have secretly established an illegal ink workshop in Huizhou.
Jun 1, 2026 • 45m
S1 E34 - Imprisoned
Qi Jiu investigates the contraband ink alone at night and runs into Tian Ben Chang at the ink workshop. Officer Zhang takes Tian Ben Chang's side as he has been bribed by Tian Ben Chang. Qi Jiu is helpless against many and ends up getting imprisoned.
Jun 1, 2026 • 45m
S1 E35 - Framing The Li Family
Wu Xin frames the Li family for smuggling contraband ink. Magistrate He agrees to give Li Zhen a seven-day deadline to prove the Li family's innocence.
Jun 2, 2026 • 45m
S1 E36 - Irrefutable Evidence of Smuggling
Li Zhen decides to take Tian Rong Hua’s place as the bride. During the wedding procession, she plans to publicly uncover contraband ink hidden among the dowry, catching the culprits red-handed and securing irrefutable evidence of Tian Ben Chang’s smuggling.
Jun 2, 2026 • 45m
S1 E37 - Capturing Tian Ben Chang
After Tian Ben Chang escapes from prison, Li Zhen enters the jail to persuade Tian Huai An to reveal the truth, telling him it is the Tian family’s only chance of survival.
Jun 3, 2026 • 45m
S1 E38 - Truth Behind The Imperial Ink Case
Tian Ben Chang exposes a shocking secret. It turns out that Luo Han Zhang, Luo Wen Qian's father, instructed Tian Kui An to jeopardize the Li family's Imperial Ink submission over ten years ago.
Jun 3, 2026 • 45m
S1 E39 - Return to Huizhou
The new emperor ascends the throne, granting amnesty to all. Luo Wen Qian returns to the Qi Army officially under his own name, protecting the country on the battlefield.
Jun 3, 2026 • 45m
S1 E40 - United in Making Ink
Li Zhen gathers Huizhou’s leading ink-making families at Sibao Restaurant and announces the Li family’s decision to create Six Harmony Ink, asking them to lend their full support.
Jun 3, 2026 • 45m
S1 E41 - Li Jin Shui’s Passing
Using blood as a vital ingredient, Li Jin Shui finally completes Six Harmony Ink. Nearing the end of his life, he returns to the Li Clan Ancestral Hall, bids farewell to Li Zhen, and passes away peacefully.
Jun 3, 2026 • 45m
S1 E42 - The World's Finest Ink
Li Ink and Kuroda Ink appear evenly matched. However, during the final ink test, cracks emerge on the surface of Kuroda Ink. The Li family ultimately triumphs and earns the title of “World's Finest Ink.”
Jun 3, 2026 • 45m
About This Show
The Heir
A tribute ink scandal topples the Li family’s long-standing ink business, leaving their legacy in ruins. Years later, Li Zhen, the determined youngest daughter, sets out to restore her family's name. As she rises in the industry, she joins forces with Luo Wenqian, heir to another fallen clan, to take on a rising rival and face new challenges from foreign markets, fighting to bring Huizhou ink back to its former glory.
Drama • TV Series • 2026
