Nothing Gold Can Stay

- Season 1

(2017)

It tells about the adventure of a legendary Chinese female merchant in the 19th century: Zhou Ying, after suffering from being sold as slaves, the death of her husband and the bankrupt of the family, how could she get the family out of the dilemma and deal with the dramatic social change of the Qing Empire?

While treating Shen Xingyi's wounds, Zhou Ying's outspokenness gets her into trouble, but also brings her closer to him. Xingyi is offended by her rejection of an offer to be promoted as his mistress - which would require her to give birth to a baby - and punishes her severely. Zhou Ying retaliates with an escape attempt by sneaking into Wu Pin's carriage.

Zhou Ying is granted shelter at Wu Pin's residence, where she quickly attracts trouble due to her clumsiness. Though most of the servants like to see her gone, she excels in school, where she convinces the teacher to allow her a position as an apprentice. She quickly impresses her classmates with her knowledge on math and business.

When the Shen family is invited over to the Wu residence to finalize a business deal, Shen Yuesheng is suddenly found murdered. Shen Sihai is convinced that the Wu family is responsible, but fails to deliver prove. Wu Pin thinks that Zhou Ying is not safe in the Wu residence anymore and decides to send her off.

Zhou Ying, having been ordered to leave for deceiving others, bids the Wu residence farewell. Wu Pin shocks the Shen family by attending Yuesheng's funeral, and is attacked after the ceremony. Shen Xiying is hold responsible and is arrested.

Wu Weiwen believes that marriage is the only way to wake Wu Pin up from his coma. Hu Zhicun agrees to marry out his daughter, until Du Mingli informs him on a dark family secret. Because Hu Yongmei does not show up at the altar, Zhou Ying steps in.

Now that Zhou Ying has married Wu Pin, she is expected by the Wu family to behave like a lady, but she has trouble adjusting to her new rank. Shen Sihai does all he can to convince Zhao Baishi to release Shen Xingyi, but has no luck. He is subsequently condemned by the matriarch of the Shen family.

In his plot against the Wu family, Du Mingli promises to Shen Sihai that he will arrange the release of Shen Xingyi. Xingyi is indeed released, but this is due to a direct order by Zhang Changqing, who works for general Li Hongzhang. Du and Zhang are working together, but Du is not aware that Zhang is secretly trying to frame Wu Weiwen.

Wu Pin grants Zhou Ying to spend an afternoon in town. She encounters an English missionary, with whom she interacts for a while. When the Wu family finds out, they further restrict her freedom. Meanwhile, Hu Yongmei tells Wu Pin that she is in love with him.

When Wu Pin faints, Zhou Ying uses the medicine given to her by the foreigner to help him recover. Wu Pin uses this situation to allow Zhou Ying to stay at the Wu residence. Zhou Ying and Hu Yongmei along with their servants Chun Xing and Yue Ru later get into a quarrel.

A natural disaster has swept the town. Shen Sihai wants to use this disaster to make a fortune on selling food, but Shen Xingyi wants to use food to help the poor. Wu Pin has a similar initiative, and is obstructed by his father, too. Zhou Ying comes up with a solution, but is discovered by Shen Xingyi.

Luck takes a fortunate turn when Zhou Ying is both granted to remain at the Wu residence, and is released by Zhao Baishi as Shen Xingyi's property, much to Xingyi's disdain. Meanwhile, Du Mingli's continues to scheme Shen Sihai, and Zhou Ying's father makes a reappearance at the Shen residence.

Shen Xingyi offers to buy Zhou Ying for three hundred taels, so Zhou Laosi goes to find her.

Hu Yongmei asks Wu Pin to marry her, but Wu Pin tells her that Zhou Ying will be his wife forever.

When Wu Pin is picking jujubes for Zhou Ying, he falls from the tree and is knocked unconscious.

Wu Pin dies of a previous illness. Zhou Ying is desolate but Du Mingli and Zha Kun feels relieved.

Wu Weiqian complains that Zhou Ying has brought bad luck to the Wu family with her arrival.

Wu Weiqian orders Zhou Ying to leave the eastern courtyard and receives the Hall of Styles clan seal.

Zhou Ying rushes back to the desolate eastern courtyard and receives the Hall of Styles clan seal.

Zhou Ying wants her shares in the Sanyuan Pawnshop back, but Wu Weishuang won't budge.

An autopsy shows that Wu Pin was killed by poison. Soon after, Zhou Ying has a miscarriage.

Zhou Laosi and Shen Xingyi save Zhou Ying, and she decides to take her revenge.

Zhou Ying scares Baolai into telling the truth, while Wang Shijun returns to reveal more truth.

Zhao Baishi hates opium and asks Zhou Ying to destroy her poppy fields.

Shopkeeper Sun flees to Fuping and is abducted by the Sanshou Gang. Luckily, Zhao Hongwu saves him.

Shen Sihai is impressed with Shen Xingyi's use of azalea leaves to make the poultice effective.

De kills himself after he comes out of the opium stupor, prompting Zhou Ying to burn her poppies.

Hu Zhicun hangs himself without telling the truth. Hu Yongmei blames Zhou Ying and vows to avenge.

Zhou Ying has a good price on the cotton, but Shen Xingyi sabotages her to make a profit.

The priest tells Wu Weiquan that he should befriend a jinx, so he starts listening to Zhou Ying.

Shen Xingyi and Zhou Ying prepare for the upcoming homespun war separately.

Inspired by the family's predecessors, Zhou Ying wants to sell homespun in faraway Dihua.

Zhou Ying and Shen Xingyi is recognized by Han Sanchun's new wife, Qianghong before they could leave.

Zhou Ying learns of Han Sanchun's past and tries to persuade him to surrender.

Zhou Ying sends Qianhong and Erhu back with Wang Shijun, before continuing to Dihua.

Zhou Ying discovers that there are people in Dihua selling fake Shenglongquan products.

It looks like Zhou Ying is about to be killed, but Shen Xingyi turns up and saves her.

Zhou Ying returns to Jingyang and everyone in the Wu family is delighted.

Zhou Ying asks for some of Shen Xingyi's shares but he responds with an unreasonable condition.

Wu Weiwu and Wu Weiquan oppose Zhou Ying's decision to buy shares in the Mechanical Textile Bureau.

Wu Weiwu wants Wu Ze to give up the exam and help him with his business.

Zhou Ying asks Tu'erdan to invest in the Bureau. He agrees but only if she marries him.

Tu'erdan tells Zhou Ying to open up. Shen Xingyi walks around in women's clothes to cheer her up.

Zhang Changqing asks Zhao Baishi to withdraw the memorial. Zhao finds Zhang involved in the case.

Shen Xingyi is injured because of Zhou Ying. While she is about to visit them, Old Madam Shen comes.

Westernization is on hold. Zhao Baishi knows Du Minglin is behind the weavers' upheaval.

Lady Zheng supports Zhou Ying's reform. In Shanghai, Shen Xingyi sends Zhou Ying a telegraph.

The textile bureau is rebuilt. Du Mingli is punished, while Zhao Baishi is promoted as Governor.

Wu Yi brings food to Zhao Baishi, who wakes up undressed and thinks he has slept with Wu.

Zhou Ying wins the traders over and People's Wealth Machine Textiles has spread its name.

Zhou Ying sees Laosi off. She says she will consider meeting Shen Xingyi, and he promises to return.

Du Mingli comes to Shanghai and ask to invest in the Xingyue Trading Company. Shen Xingyi refuses.

Hearing that Shen Xingyi can't deliver the silk to Claudie, Zhou Ying promises to sell him raw silk.

Shen Xingyi has returned to Jingyang to confront Shen Sihai about the military supply case.

The soaked tea bricks taste unexpectedly well and Zhou Ying has an idea to sell them.

Zhao Changqing asks Zhao Baishi to sow discord between the Shens and the princeling. Zhao obeys.

Zhou Ying tell her uncles about Zhang Changqing's request to take back the shares.

Zhou Ying's arrest has shocked everyone. Wu Yi regrets it but no one sees her panic.

Before Zhou Ying is released, the prince announces a re-trial of the case and puts her back in jail.

Zhao Baishi visits Zhou Ying in jail. The Wu family and Shen Sihai raise funds in the capital.

Mrs. Wu tells Zhou Ying about the two Courtyards fighting over the adoption. She suggests a match.

Zhou Ying and Lady Zheng hold a match for a son. Both Courtyards wishes to win, same as the kids.

Zhao Baishi wishes to forget Zhou Ying. Wu feels undeserving, but he says he has changed.

Zhou Ying is back to work. She predicts Shen Sihai's venture into banking earns well but is risky.

Reform begins; Wu Ze returns as Imperial Envoy. Zhou Ying wants to start their own textile factory.

Du Mingli learns Zhou Ying will open up a factory. He asks Zhao Baishi to kill her to avoid rivalry.

At the deathbed of Wu Weiwu, Zhou promises Wu Ze's safety. Du blackmails Shen for his reformist son.

The ill-managed Bureau struggles. Du forces Shen to send money over so his lord won't lose face.

Shen is at the brink of bankruptcy. Zhao tells Du the lord prefers the successful Zhou over Shen.

From Yuesheng's case, Zhao knows Wu was framed to hurt Lord Zhao. He shows Zhou Zha Kun's weapon.

Zhou Ying finally knows why Du Mingli killed Wu Pin. Wu had discovered Zha Kun's murder weapon.

Shen returns to bid farewell, but finds evidence Sihai hid. He swears revenge by overthrowing Qing.

Zhou knows she doesn't love Zhao, but is unable to reject him. Qianhong helps her redefine freedom.

Shen and Zhou reunite. He's come to assassinate Cixi. To save her, he stabs her and ties her up.