Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty]

[Episode 13]

It is said that the Nanzhou Four Scholars are like brothers.

Look at Zhong Boqi and Leng Ji.

They are in sync.

The tea was just ready,

and they arrived just on time.

Brother.

Brother.

Brother.

Long time no see.

How are you?

I miss you.

Brother,

you're already in poor health.

Why did you come to the mountain?

Brother,

we are like blood brothers

for 15 years.

If I did not come today,

Yuanfu's and Gongfu's souls

would blame me.

The tea is ready.

Follow me.

Come.

-Please, brother. -After you, brother.

Commander Su,

do people in the capital

drink tea?

In Chang'an,

most people who drink tea are scholar-officials,

it's rare for ordinary people to drink it.

I believe one day,

no matter where it is,

no matter who they are,

everyone will like tea.

That's my wish too,

because I heard that

tea is

the drink of gentleman.

Brother.

Mr. Zhong,

do you need a doctor?

No need.

I've suffered from it for a long time.

Since you've suffered from it for a long time,

you should find a doctor.

I have a guest named Chicken Fed.

He is a skillful doctor.

I'll ask him to check on you.

Where is the Chicken Fed?

Here.

I was sleeping soundly.

Why are you shouting at me?

Is there someone who's seeking for medical treatment?

Yes.

Chicken Fed,

Mr. Zhong coughed up blood just now.

After I came to Nanzhou,

I found many patients in Nanzhou

also coughed like this.

It must be the same disease.

You are a doctor?

What?

Doesn't I look like one?

Let me take your pulse.

No need.

You look

like a swindler.

I won't give you a hard time.

Just tell me

how long I will live.

Eighty years old. That's for sure.

Nonsense.

I've suffered from this illness for a long time,

no one can cure it,

and it can't be cured at all.

You said you were from Chang'an?

I think you were kicked out

for swindling people.

Who told you that it was incurable?

Many doctors said so.

That's because there are no good doctors in Nanzhou.

Just like the four of you, the Nanzhou Four Scholars,

are known as renowned scholars.

But I don't think the four of you are good enough.

How dare you!

You're not invited for the tea.

Back off.

Who wants your tea?

It's not as good as my wine!

Who cares about your tea?

Mr. Zhong,

this man likes to lie.

I've experienced it.

It doesn't matter.

Everyone,

please.

You appear in my mind over and over again,

rejoicing over lifetime achievement.

But I am still at a loss,

feeding on the loneliness in the wilderness.

How unfortunate is it

that Yuanfu and Gongfu

can't drink with us together.

Don't be sad.

Although we part in the mortal world,

the four of us

will meet in the underworld,

entering the bamboo forest together.

And we can drink as much as we want.

You are right.

After everyone dies,

we will still be reunited.

We'll still be the Nanzhou Four Scholars.

Listen to his laughter,

He's full of energy.

He doesn't sound like a dying man.

You...

Mr. Zhong asked me

to provide an explanation.

Okay.

Lu Lingfeng and I

will tell you

what has happened in Nanzhou recently.

To be honest,

I don't want to know

about the story.

I just want to know

when the murderer will be arrested.

Don't worry, Prefectural Governor.

After I finish my story,

the murderer will

show himself up

in the clouds of the Stone Bridge Mountain.

You're acting mysteriously.

Let's hear what you have to say.

Mr. Leng, do you still remember

the Black and White Guards of the underworld

when you were keeping vigil beside Lu Gongfu's body?

It was you that night?

Lu Lingfeng,

now you know

when I examined the body.

Leng Ji,

you tried your best to stop us from opening the coffin that day.

I was thinking of catching the murderer first

before forcing you to agree to the autopsy,

and we could eventually crack the case.

After arresting Lin Bao,

he admitted that he assassinated Lu Gongfu.

This misled me.

Luckily, Commander Su

examined the body carefully.

I found that

Lu Gongfu was strangled first

and then stabbed by a dagger.

So, Lin Bao is not the culprit.

At this time,

the most suspicious person

is Leng Ji.

Me?

You were the first who found the body.

You even tried your best to stop us from opening the coffin.

Shouldn't we suspect you?

If we didn't catch Tu Yanpi

when Lin Bao was arrested,

Leng,

I'm afraid that you were still not clear from suspicions for the time being.

My name is Tu Yanpi.

I was hired by Zhong Boqi and Lengji.

As long as I catch Lin Bao

and take him to Lu Gongfu's mourning hall

to both of them,

I'll get 4,000.

Next, Lu Li aroused the suspicions of

Minister Lu.

He wanted the Stone Bridge Painting very much,

so it was very likely

that he would kill everyone on the painting

to make Ouyang Quan think

that this painting was ominous,

and make him to sell it at a low price.

Besides,

Lu Gongfu's guqin

was indeed stolen by him,

but he didn't have the time to kill others.

He is now in the Nanzhou Prison.

I suspected Ouyang Quan, too.

He envied renowned scholars

and wanted to be the fifth of the Nanzhou Scholars.

But as a merchant,

he was often despised by the Nanzhou Four Scholars,

so it was possible

that he had resentment.

But after the investigation,

Ouyang Quan had no time to kill, too.

When I was at a loss,

Governor Xiong helped me.

Me?

If you didn't invite me

to the banquet at the Lake Pavilion,

and asked me to bring my sworn sister, Xijun, along,

this case might really be

a pending case.

Miss Pei?

My sworn sister, Xijun, has been learning painting since young.

She is especially good in human portraits.

She found that the sons of Mr. Xie

were the kids playing chess

on the Stone Bridge Painting 15 years ago,

while that old servant who committed the murder

was also on the painting.

The people on the painting died one by one.

That's why I suspected that

Yan Yuanfu was also murdered.

Thank you for your trust and allowing me to open the coffin.

During the autopsy, I found

there was a small hole on Yuanfu's head

Between his hair buns,

I found this.

This...

Mr. Zhong,

you'd been collecting and planting tea

on the Stone Bridge Mountain.

You know

what this is, right?

Let me remind you.

This is the shell of the Poison Bug.

"Ink Crazed"?

Could it be that Yuanfu was killed

by that poisonous bug?

This bug grew in the mountains.

Only those who collect herbs

to make exorbitant profits

might get hurt from the bug.

Yan Yuanfu always stayed at home.

This...

How is that possible?

That's because someone

bought this bug from

Mr. Huang who was collecting them

for the herbal shop.

At first, Huang thought

that he was a wandering monk.

But in fact...

Brother Zhong.

What?

Do you still need

Lu Lingfeng to help you?

Wait.

Brother.

You...

So the renowned scholar is actually bald.

Commander Su,

how did you know

I've lost my hair?

That's because

I saw your servant

at your place

driving a girl away

who sold combs.

These are homemade combs

made from the Mahogany woods,

great in repelling ghosts and demons.

No matter how good it is, I don't want it.

Go away.

Otherwise,

I'll be flogged.

Go!

Then, I invited that servant

to the Commander's residence.

Take your time. There are plenty of them.

Xue Huan, pour some wine.

He has never seen

his master in bald.

But in the last two years,

every time he cleans your bedroom,

he has often found

a lot of hair.

But no more hair was found for this half a year.

You were losing your hair

because you thought your illness was incurable,

and you were depressed.

Commander Su,

do you mean that

it is

Zhong Boqi who is behind all of these?

Yuanfu and I were old friends.

I've visited his wife, too.

My husband is friendly and kind.

He has no enemies.

A month before he died,

he had been compiling

his calligraphy,

and had never been out of the house.

Although he had stroke,

it was just mild.

Think about it.

Did you miss anything?

A few days before his death,

his brother, Zhong Boqi

came to visit him with tea.

Brother,

I will visit you and have tea with you

after I finish the composition.

Isn't it fine?

Why do you bother to come all the way here?

You're very meticulous.

I'm afraid that it will take a whole year

for you to get your composition done.

Brother,

do you feel bad for me?

That's why you don't want me to bring my tea set

to your place to make tea for you.

Thank you for your kindness.

To be honest,

I miss your tea

so much.

Mr. Zhong is really good at the tea ceremony.

You deserve your reputation.

Even these bottles

are so beautiful.

Excuse my poor skill, sister-in-law.

Although I don't know much about tea,

I still know that the tea set should be

simple and natural.

I've never heard of

people using such luxurious containers like glass bottles.

The shopkeeper told me something

at the herbal shop that day.

There's something you don't know.

The glaze of the glass is the best for restraining this bug.

It will feel dizzy after entering the glass bottle.

Otherwise,

once it crawls into our seven apertures,

we...

we'll die.

Yan Yuanfu is a master of calligraphy,

and of course he has scent of ink on him.

This poisonous bug is locally known as "Ink Crazed".

As long as Zhong Boqi sought a chance

to release it,

then the victim

must be Yan Yuanfu.

Brother,

I've never seen you

using a glass bottle

to make tea.

Is what they said true?

Someone witnessed Lu Gongfu's death.

It was a beggar

who often received help from him.

The beggar said

he only saw the back of the murderer.

Because of the cover,

what he saw

was a bald man.

The day when Lu Gongfu was mourning

in front of Yan Yuanfu's grave,

the strings of his guqin were even broke due to his sadness.

But when Lu Li stole the guqin,

the strings had been fixed.

If I'm not mistaken,

the strings came

from you, right?

But this time, the showing of your baldness

wasn't intentional.

I think you tried too hard when you were murdering,

and dropped your

nicely combed wig.

Zhong Boqi,

say something.

Brother,

look what I've brought to you.

These are some great guqin strings.

You are so considerate.

It won't ruin

your reputation as the Master of Guqin.

Okay.

Change the strings.

I'm tired of walking.

When you've changed the strings,

I would like you to play a song.

Sure.

[Lu's Residence]

Brother,

just tell me

that what they said is not true.

I will only trust you.

Brother,

I cared too much about you.

That's why I did that.

-Zhong Boqi. -Brother.

Are you really the one behind all of this?

Unbelievable.

Don't you Nanzhou Four Scholars

have strong bonds,

and are as close as blood brothers?

What was this all about?

He thinks that he's terminally ill.

So,

he wanted to take the other three

to the underworld together with him.

This relationship is toxic.

How selfish!

How arrogant!

How cruel!

Why did you have to kill

everyone on the Stone Bridge Painting,

from the woodcutter to the kids,

and even the old servant?

The woodcutter.

When we found the woodcutter,

he seemed like having a sudden illness

and fell off the cliff.

He was in severe pain.

What did you do to him?

I just gave him

a new clothing.

It was black,

and was soaked in ink.

In addition,

there was another poison bug on it.

Yes.

Let's talk about

the old servant of the Xie family.

He sought his own death.

Master Xie asked him to send me the invitation,

and I invited him in for a cup of tea.

But,

I ignited the anger to revenge

in his heart.

These people

seem insignificant.

It looks like they are just embellishment

on the painting.

But without them,

this painting would not be perfect.

Not perfect!

Zhong Boqi,

are you crazy?

You're crazy!

Aren't you afraid

that Yuanfu and Gongfu will take revenge on you

in the underworld?

Brother,

I'm terminally ill.

I can only live for three months at most.

After I die,

we'll be separated by life and death.

I can't stand it alone in the underworld,

and you can't stand losing me

in the mortal world too.

That is why I've decided

to take all of you

together with me.

We, Nanzhou Four Scholars

will be companions in the afterlife.

We can listen to the guqin together,

and have some tea.

Shut up!

You're so scary.

I...

I can grant your wish.

But I'm not dying

to follow you.

Instead, I hate myself for being blind

to befriend someone like you.

I'm too ashamed to live any longer.

Brother,

you don't have to act like this!

You and I are both renowned scholars.

Even if we die,

we should die gracefully.

I've made a plan for you.

I've already applied the chronic poison

on the bottom of the tea bowl

that you used just now.

Brother.

Brother.

You are the youngest among the Nanzhou Four Scholars.

I care for you the most,

so I won't make you suffer too much.

When you die later,

it will be like the dusk

falling gradually.

You will see

a beautiful scene.

Brother Su, I...

No need to worry.

He didn't mean to take you away.

That's right.

You don't deserve it.

You are just a Prefectural Governor and an Administrator.

Making friends with us, the Nanzhou Four Scholars,

is just to follow us and act like you were cultured.

But in my eyes,

you are not even on a par

with the grass or trees on the painting of the Stong Bridge.

Su Wuming.

Detective Di's disciple.

You deserve your reputation.

Lu Lingfeng,

you were once a member of the Imperial Guards,

who had protected His Majesty.

You are also well-trained.

But gentlemen,

I, Zhong Boqi,

have accomplished my task.

You can't do anything to me, can you?

The fairyland of the Stone Bridge is beautiful,

but people are too evil.

If I hadn't exchanged you two's tea bowl

when you

went to greet Leng Ji,

you would've really succeeded.

Brother Su...

I finally understand

why you did that.

You

saved my life.

I slept just now.

What are you talking about?

Zhong Boqi,

you're not terminally ill.

It's just because Nanzhou is remote,

and you are misdiagnosed by a quack.

To be honest,

I've been pretending to be a physician

in Nanzhou's largest medicine shop for several days.

I've seen more than ten patients

like you.

I promise I can cure

your hemoptysis.

The painting is done.

My lady has drawn

the scenery today.

Look.

So the murderer is Zhong Boqi.

He really killed so many people.

Is this a so-called renowned scholar?

It seems that there will be no scholar in Nanzhou anymore.

Yes. Who could expect that?

You can't judge a book by its cover.

Zhong Boqi

killed so many innocent people for no reason.

It is even a blessing for him

to be decapitated just for once.

But Ouyang Quan

tore the notice.

I suspect

that he has hysteria.

-What? -What?

Ouyang Quan tore the notice.

When did this happen?

Just now.

He yelled

that no one was allowed

to ruin the reputation of

the Nanzhou Four Scholars.

I've sent someone

to escort him home

and had his family watch him closely.

Oh no.

Let go of me!

Ouyang Quan.

Are you crazy, too?

Why do you stop me?

Why?

Shouldn't you

help me

form a new Four Scholars

with Zhong Boqi, Yan Yuanfu

and Lu Gongfu

in the underworld?

Do you think only by doing this

can you become a renowned scholar?

What else can I do?

I'm a businessman.

Even if I have a fortune of a trillion,

people will still look down on me.

Let go of me!

Ouyang Quan.

Have you ever thought

what a renowned scholar is?

All these years,

in Nanzhou

your kindness has been witnessed by all.

Many unsuccessful young men

have earned a living

in your restaurant or tavern.

Whether there's a crop failure or not,

you will open your own granary

at New Year's Eve

and distribute rice

to the poor in the city.

How did you know?

To investigate the case,

don't I need to listen to the public opinion?

Yes.

The people of Nanzhou

remember everything you did

in their heart.

And what you did

shows that you are indeed a person with nobility.

In my eyes,

you deserve the reputation of a scholar

more than those people on the painting of the Stone Bridge.

You...

You trick me!

Renowned scholars

are not interpreted by their behaviors,

but more importantly,

by their compassion.

In Nanzhou,

if you, Ouyang Quan, are not a noble man,

who dares to be called like this?

As for the Stone Bridge Painting,

Lu Li is willing to return it at the original price.

My sworn sister, Xi Jun, is willing to

add you on this painting.

Ouyang Quan,

there's so much more in the world

for you to do.

What worth pursuing

is not just fame.

Ouyang Quan,

Commander Su and I

are willing to be friends with you.

Later, we may enter the bamboo forest together,

and follow the Seven Sages

to drink your fill.

Isn't it OK?

Count Mr. Fed in.

He loves drinking the most,

and he appreciates you a lot too.

By the way,

the prescription for coughing he made

has been proved useful.

But

the herbs are a bit expensive.

Many poor people

in Nanzhou

can't afford it.

I'm willing to do my best to help.

You're a true renowned scholar.

I haven't seen you cough in a long time

since I came here.

After a few doses of medicine,

I really stopped coughing.

I've written a letter to Governor Xiong.

I'm willing to donate all my assets

to afford the medicine

for people who have the same disease in Nanzhou.

You want to atone

for your own life?

I don't dare to die,

nor do I dare to live.

I'm afraid

that Yuanfu, Gongfu

and other people

may come after me in the underworld.

Between the Heaven and the Earth,

and between the human and the ghost,

where is

my final destination?

You must pay attention to the details.

The details

are the key point.

What's wrong? Have you found a new clue?

No. Come out.

Gantang Post.

We missed too many clues there.

Something's wrong with Liu Shiba.

[Nanzhou]

Governor Xiong.

When I first arrived in Nanzhou,

I remember you told me

you would give me one month off

to have a good rest.

Does it still count?

Yes. I still remember that.

Brother Su and Brother Lu.

You must be tired these days.

You should take a good rest.

One month,

is it enough?

Yes.

But Commander Su and I

need to leave Nanzhou.

Is it because the capital city...

Governor Xiong has misunderstood.

It has nothing to do with the capital.

Here's the thing.

When we went to the south,

we passed by a place

called Gantang Post,

and we stayed there.

Something strange happened

during that period.

They haven't been solved yet.

We want to go back and find out the truth.

Gantang Post?

Is it

the post in Gantang County?

Yes.

Wang Nailing, the Magistrate of Gantang,

was my classmate.

He is upright and diligent.

People in Gantang put their faith in him.

I can write him a letter.

If anything happens,

he will help you.

-Thank you, Governor Xiong. -Thank you, Governor Xiong.

Xijun,

give me an idea.

Tell me how I can change my appearance

to make people who have seen me

unable to recognize me.

Shave your beard.

No.

I think it's good.

You're not old

but you pretend to be an old master all day.

Shave your beard,

then no one would

recognize you.

But I...

Miss Pei, what about me?

Wear a fake beard.

Where can I find it?

General Lu, just tell me

what kind of beard you like.

Come with me.

Freeze!

This one.

No problem. I promise

I will make one

same as that of Mr Xie.

What?

You don't need to know.

Is there no other way?

It's only been a month

since you had an adventurous journey in the Gantang Post.

If you don't shave your beard,

even if you have all your hair cut,

they'll recognize you.

And we don't know how to

disguise ourselves like Yin Shilang.

That makes sense.

We can't catch the ghost,

if I am reluctant to shave my beard.

I'll listen to you.

My sworn sister is skillful

in not only the painting,

but also disguising.

Amazing.

I'll enter the Gantang Post

alone first.

You shall enter in four hours.

No.

You're a scholar.

Four hours?

Your head would have been in the pot.

[Gantang Post]

Who are you?

You knocked on my door

but you asked me who I am.

Tell me your name.

I'm Liu Shiba.

I'm heading north to assume office.

Since it is going to rain heavily,

I would like to stay here for a night.

Not available.

Why?

There is "Gantang Post"

on the plaque.

It must be an official post.

This place has been abandoned.

The new post is ten miles away.

Why don't you stay there?

An abandoned post?

Then why do you live here?

Judging from your clothing,

you are undoubtedly a corvee working here.

Why are you refusing me?

Eight years ago,

I worked here as a corvee.

But it was abandoned three years ago.

I had nowhere to go.

So I take here as my home.

Can't I?

It's going to rain heavily soon,

and you don't let me in?

Whether it's abandoned or not,

it is the government's place.

I will cane you if you don't let me in.

Your Honor,

don't be angry.

There's another reason

that I can't let you in.

Because this place

is haunted.

Why is it haunted?

You Honor must be knowledgeable.

You must have understood

what I mean immediately.

It's going to rain heavily,

and it's getting dark soon.

Since you are living here,

you must have your ways

to avoid dangers.

It's not appropriate.

Don't be shy.

Liu Shiba.

Get me some wine,

and one chicken.

So sorry for that.

The weasels bit all the chicken

to death two days ago.

But I've cooked some meat.

It smells good.

Liu Shiba.

It is my personal habit

that I only like chicken since young.

If there's not,

I can only eat vegetables to satisfy my hunger.

Vegetables?

I wonder if wild vegetables are counted.

I'll cook some rice and wild vegetable balls for you.

Is that fine?

Fine.

I didn't cook it well.

I wonder if you like it.

It tastes good.

I'm glad that you like it.

Do you want to join me?

No.

I'm used to eating meat.

I still think the meat tastes better.

In such wilderness,

there's not even chicken here.

What meat are you eating?

Mountain monkeys.

What?

The mountain behind the Post

has a span of a hundred miles away.

There is a kind of beast in the mountain

called Mountain Monkey.

They often come to harass me.

So I set up some traps

at the foot of the mountain.

Once I catch one,

I'll cook it for meal.

Are the beasts in the shape of humans?

♫The storm rises with no reason♫

♫In the night of illusions♫

♫I go into the maze♫

♫In a world of prosperity♫

♫A heart burns with obsession♫

♫With the darkness rising♫

♫I can't stop wandering through the night♫

♫With light in my heart, I'm not afraid of the storm♫

♫It's because of justice♫

♫That I seek a truth for this long, lonely night♫

♫The heaven and earth are held together by a strong will♫

♫The people are in peace♫

♫Carving right and wrong into a clear heart♫

♫The truth♫

♫Will reinterpret this justice♫

♫Even if there is a fog♫

♫Even if there are invisible waves♫

♫I'll tell the story of the fate♫

♫Tell the love of the world♫

♫For the memory of grace♫

♫And the resentment is not yet over♫

♫The rivers and mountains are immortal, the clouds are overturned♫

♫To be consoled by the truth, even with thorns on my back♫

♫Only for justice♫

♫That I seek a truth for this long, lonely night♫

♫The heaven and earth are held together by a strong will♫

♫The people are in peace♫

♫Carving right and wrong into a clear heart♫

♫The truth♫

♫Will reinterpret this justice♫

♫Even if there are a thousand sails, it's not a waste of time♫

♫What I am afraid of is the unrighted wrong♫

♫What is the meaning of life and death?♫

♫I'll paint the sunshine into the landscape♫

♫The spirit of righteousness♫

♫Exists for the one I care♫