Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty]

[Episode 16]

That's true.

I saw it.

And I also heard it.

Do you feel better?

Barely able to stand.

But the wound still hurts when I walk.

My retainer is proficient in medicine.

I got some medicine from him.

You can recover faster

by putting it on your wound.

Thank you. Your Honor.

I knew there was something wrong

with Dugu Xiashu.

We should have arrested him long time ago.

Minister Lu, Commander Su.

Dugu Xiashu is running away.

What?

He drank all night

last night.

He didn't go home this morning

and wanted to leave the city.

I had to stop him.

But he ran away

and insisted on going out.

What happened then?

I had to arrest him.

Headman Xie.

Lock him up first.

Yes.

Are you officers in the city?

[Dugu's Neighbor, Old Man]

What happened,

sir?

Did you

find Qinghong's body?

Her body?

What did you say?

She's dead?

Dugu came back at 5 p.m,

and killed his wife at night.

Sir, you have a good memory

that you can remember the exact hour.

Because

the lanterns of Zixia Building will be lit

at 5.pm everyday.

It can't be wrong.

Did you see him kill his wife?

No， I didn't.

But I heard him

sharpen knife in the middle of the night.

Although it was raining that night,

and I am hard of hearing,

I still heard clearly

he was

sharpening the knife.

As far as I know,

Qinghong went back to her maiden home.

That's impossible.

She did go back to maiden home

over the years

she was married to Dugu Xiashu,

but only for a day or two at most.

I haven't seen her for a long time.

What a pity

for such a good woman.

Sharpen the knife?

And her brother who lived in He County

didn't see his sister back.

How could it be？

Did she meet bandits on the way?

How dare you lie to us!

Tell me！

Is she alive or dead?

That night I found

she did something shameful.

I was angry.

I s-s-strangled

her neck.

And then?

T-T-Then, I thought

I didn't take good care of her

these years.

I felt guilty,

so I went to the kitchen...

I went to the kitchen…

and made her a bowl of wonton.

I remember now.

I must have found that the knife was too dull

to cut the meat,

so I sharpened it again.

Were you cutting meat

or Qinghong?

You're playing dumb with evil intentions.

It seems you want me to torture you.

I really can't remember

that I killed Qinghong.

I remember.

I can only remember...

We were back together again.

Back together?

Yes.

Why did you fight before?

I...

can't tell you.

Did you suspect that Qinghong and Liu Youqiu...

How did you know?

You have also threatened

to kill Liu Youqiu.

Yes.

But I didn't kill him.

I wanted to interrogate Qinghong

first.

She got angry

and hit me.

It's normal

for a couple.

And then

she said she was hungry.

So I went to the kitchen

to make her a bowl of wonton.

It was delicious.

Did she eat?

She...

Did she eat?

Honey,

guess what I made for you.

Your favorite food.

Honey?

I remember now!

She's gone.

I searched her everywhere,

but couldn't find her.

I thought

she must have gone back to her maiden home

because she was angry with me

So I...

You're lying.

I told you

she left early in the morning.

Here's what I think.

She won't choose the mountain road at night.

Besides, it's raining.

She must have found a place

to hide.

She waited until dawn

before she went back to her maiden home.

You didn't study

to pass the exam,

but to lie, right?

Wait.

Commander just said

Qinghong didn't go home.

Did she really

took a mountain road at night

and was robbed by bandits?

It's too late for you

to check her safety

now.

Dudu Xiashu.

Are you really not going

tell us the truth?

I really didn't kill her.

The rain must

make your brain moldy.

Think carefully about

if you did it or not.

I killed someone.

I killed someone.

I was about to

investigate it.

Don't bother.

I've checked everything.

But I didn't move the pot

last time.

Why?

Didn't you tell me

the masked man

jumped in from the window

and went straight to this pot?

Likewise,

I thought there was something

in this pot.

But

just now it occurred to me that

maybe he opened the pot

not because

there was something in it.

Rather, it was to make it easier for him

to move the pot.

Why didn't I think of this?

You just recovered.

Don't do it.

Dugu Xiashu, come here.

Let's go.

You...

Move this pot away.

Me?

Is there anyone else here?

They...

are stronger than me.

What a loser!

Let me do it.

I command you to

move the pot.

Fine.

Just do it now!

Sword.

Bring the hoe.

Yes.

Here, Commander.

Take it.

W-W-What are you doing?

Take it.

Dig.

Find what's buried below.

OK, I'll dig it.

Commander，you can wait and see

what I will do to you

when I pass the imperial examination.

Okay.

I'll wait.

It's hidden here by Qinghong.

Is this yours?

Even the officials in Chang'an

don't have sliver ingots.

Where did you get it?

This is from my ancestors.

Commander Su,

you can be my witness.

He is holding my silver ingot

now.

What are you digging?

The silver ingots have been dug out.

There are another 6 silver ingots.

Six?

Yes.

My surname is Dugu

that you can know

my ancestors came here

from the north

My ancestors were officials.

Although my family was no longer famous.

I still got 7 silver ingots

from my ancestors

when I got married.

But my mother gave these silver ingots to Qinghong

to prevent

me spend it out.

She also told her

that I can only use it

when I pass the exam.

After my mother dead,

I kept asking her

where she hid these silver ingots .

She just wouldn't tell me.

It was right here.

Where are other

six silver ingots?

Did a thief

steal it

and only left one for me.

These are my ancestral silver ingots.

My ancestral silver.

My silver ingot!

Where is it?

It seems that this masked man knows

there are silver ingots here.

Six more.

Six more.

Commander Su,Minister Lu,

T-T-The Temple of Land God

behind the mountain.

Must be hidden below.

Definitely.

[The Temple of Land God]

This place

called Minor Stone Bridge Mountain.

Over this hill,

that is the Confucian temple.

The locals

called this place like back mountain.

Here.

Your honor,

why are you here?

Please help me.

I...

I didn't kill anyone.

It's only four hours

after I used your medicine.

I felt my butt

doesn't hurt so much.

I could walk .

I just want to pay my respects to Land God.

Land God?

I've been so unlucky recently.

I finally made a fortune,

but it brought bad luck.

Land God,

please bless me to make another fortune

undetected

and safely.

I'll rebuild your golden body.

Last time,

I found gold and silver jewelry

from the walls of Wen Temple.

There must have more jewelry

in Land God's body.

I was going to drag the body out.

But I'm afraid of

that will make the Land God angry.

So I found a hammer and smashed it.

Smashed it?

L-L-Let's get the body out of here?

Fine.

Cut the crap.

Smash from inside to outside.

Be careful.

Don't destroy the body.

Yes.

D... Dugu's wife.

Bring Dugu Xiashu to here identify the body.

Yes.

Qinghong.

Qinghong.

Qinghong Qinghong Qinghong..

What else do you have to say?

Did you sharpen the knife to mince meat

or kill someone?

Do you remember?

Qinghong.

You and Liu Youqiu study together.

Your wife occasionally

brought you clean clothes

to the Wen temple

You finally found out

they fornicateed

while you were away.

It was raining heavily that day.

You said you went to the bookstore to buy books.

In fact,

You sneaked home and killed Qinghong.

And dragged her body to the back mountain

You hid it in the colored sculpture

and said she went back to her maiden home

of He County alone.

You wanted to create a illusion

which she has an accident on the mountain road.

The so-called exam preparation in Chang'an

is your pretext for escape.

I-I-It's all my fault.

How painful

when I chopped you.

Qinghong, I'd kill you.

I'm not human.

Qing Hong, I'm not human.

Qinghong.

I'm not human.

I remember now.

Liu Youqiu

also must be killed by me.

I killed Qinghong

and Liu Youqiu.

They deserve to die.

They deserve to die.

They all deserve to die.

Such a good woman

be killed.

Who is sharpening the knife again?

Qinghong,

guess what I made for you.

Your favorite food.

Qinghong.

I'm so sorry for

that I've neglected you all these years.

I thought that

everything was for you.

I don't even know

take care of you.

I'm not good either.

I have a bad temper

and I always get mad at you.

You are not.

My wife is gentle.

But my bad temper...

All right.

Stop it.

Honey,

Why are you still crying?

I'm older than you.

Mother asked me to take good care of you

before she dead.

I didn't make it.

No, you did well.

Let's stop crying.

Promise me,

let bygones

be bygones.

From now on,

don't live in the Wen Temple anymore.

I will

stay by your side.

I'll listen to you.

I will Move back.

No.

I hope

you go to Chang'an to prepare for the exam.

Chang'an?

You can

meet many people there.

Maybe

you will be recognized by the proctors

there.

You've been studying hard for three years

since you failed the exam last time.

I believe you can pass it

next year.

I heard

there is a Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Chang'an.

Those who were promoted

can engrave their names there.

And they'll be remembered forever.

Engrave name on the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda?

I want take our children to here

to see your name

someday.

Our children?

Yes.

We have been married for many years.

Did you remember

what mother told you

when she was dying?

Of course not.

But I...

I've been studying.

Nerd.

Having our children is important

as studying.

How about I accompany you to Chang'an?

We would never come back

If you can pass the exam.

I'll bring

all the silver ingots

if you agree that.

That's great.

We're back together.

I didn't kill anyone.

I didn't.

No.

I killed them.

Not only did I kill Qinghong,

but also Liu Youqiu.

Su Wuming

Since we got back from the autopsy at the Temple of the Land God,

you didn't say a word.

What's wrong?

Did I offend you?

Don't say it like that.

It makes feel overwhelmed.

Why are you suddenly being so polite?

If I did anything wrong,

you can tell me directly.

Don't be so sarcastic.

I dare not.

Su Wuming.

Commander Su.

Please don't tell me that

you feel uncomfortable

because I pointed out directly that

Dugu Xiashu is the murderer.

Who said that the murderer is Dugu?

He has confessed.

We didn't torture him.

We definitely didn't make him confess by torture.

Although there are still some suspicions,

the murderer's confession

could not be totally fake, right?

Dugu's confession

can't count.

Why?

First,

he was in a trance.

The confession was contradictory.

Second,

every murderer

has a sense of

unspeakable hostility,

but he doesn't have a bit.

Third,

Dugu has a very weak body.

When he moved the pot earlier today,

he was panting and sweating.

He was nearly collapsed.

How can he effortlessly

move Qinghong's dead body

to the Temple of Land Lord behind the mountain?

The three points you listed

are unconvincing.

First,

it is because he killed someone that

he was in a trance.

Second,

You said that the murderer must have a sense of hostility,

but it is just your own experience.

However, in my opinion,

every criminal

has their own characteristics.

Third,

even if Dugu Xiashu has no strength,

can't he find help?

The masked man that day

might just be his accomplice.

Lu Lingfeng, ah, Lu Lingfeng.

It's so comforting for me that

you can analyze the case

so calmly.

Cut it out.

I think

we should interrogate Dugu Xiashu immediately

and ask him to confess the accomplice.

The kitchen knife that killed Qinghong

is not that one.

When I examined the body earlier today,

the knife wound on her neck

indeed can be fatal.

But if she was dead because of the knife wound,

the skin around the wound would be tight and curled,

and there would be marks of bleeding.

Qinghong's wound is just the opposite.

Why didn't you tell me during the autopsy?

More importantly,

I found an imperceptible pinhole

behind Qinghong's neck.

It was black purple around the pinhole.

It's a symptom of poisoning.

If I'm not mistaken,

that would be the cause of her death.

A pinhole?

Could it be...

The masked man

who sneaked into Dugu's house that night

actually knows

where the silver ingot is hiding.

It's very likely that

he is close to Qinghong.

And the hidden weapon he used

is just the poisonous needle.

Of course,

we can't completely rule out

Dugu.

Even if he didn't kill Qinghong,

it doesn’t mean

he didn't kill Liu Youqiu.

As for the poisonous needle,

I've checked the homicidal dossiers over the years

in Nanzhou,

but it's not recorded.

Then I asked the nearby states

to assist our investigation.

We'll find out soon.

Lu Lingfeng hereby

thank you for the inculcation.

By the way,

when I was in Chang'an,

I lent you some old books.

Do you still remember?

Of course.

Unfortunately,

I was expelled

before I could read it carefully.

And the books were left behind.

It's not your fault.

My analysis just now

and the techiniques about autopsy

are more or less recorded

on those books.

If we have the chance to get back to Chang'an,

I hope

you can find those books and read carefully.

It will be good for you.

What about the case now?

Before another new clue shows up,

we can only start with Dugu.

I always feel that

he himself didn't know

if the things he said were true or not.

He seems comfused

about reality and dreams.

Let me ask you.

Are you sleeping or not?

I'm concerned that you can't sleep on the floor,

so I got you a bed.

But it's been days.

You just sit there until dawn.

If you don't sleep,

I'm afraid you'll find a way to kill yourself,

so I dare not close my eyes, either.

I will have nightmares as soon as I close my eyes.

Well...

Don't bother the nightmares.

You're going to die.

There's no difference.

Minister Lu,

I killed them all.

Please chop my head.

I don't want to have nightmares anymore.

Please stop making me suffer.

I don't want to have nightmares anymore.

Stop making me suffer.

Fed! Fed!

Fed!

Fed!

Fed, wake up.

Wake up.

I have something important to discuss with you.

Fed.

Take Chicken Fed to Nanzhou Prison.

Lu Lingfeng!

You bastard!

Go!

Behave yourself.

You can't do this to me.

I saved your life.

Lu Lingfeng!

Lu Lingfeng!

Lu Lingfeng!

I have no choice.

I'm just following orders.

Su Wuming?

I'll have a word with him.

He's just being petty.

He's afraid that I'll spend all his salary on drinking.

Commander Su is busy in investigating the case.

He has no time to see you.

Just stay here.

After you drain the alcohol

out of your body,

I'll pick you up.

Lu Lingfeng.

Lu Lingfeng!

You can't leave.

You can't do this to your lifesaver.

Lu Lingfeng, come back!

Lu Lingfeng!

If you want me to quit drinking,

I'd rather die.

You are...

I'm a murderer.

A convict sentenced to death

You don't look like one.

You look like a scholar.

You are underestimating me.

Well...

I'd better stay away from you.

Hey, scholar,

why don't you give me the bed?

Why should I?

You're being unreasonable.

You take the bed but don't sleep on it,

and you don't allow others to sleep on it.

I'm not a pushover, either.

They bullied me in Commander's residence.

Now that I'm here,

I am still bullied by an inferior.

Let me ask you again.

Are you sleeping or not?

No.

Get down if you don't.

Don't touch me!

Don't touch me.

He's really fierce.

You really are a murderer.

I thought you lied to me just now.

Are you having a headache?

I have nightmares when I close my eyes.

If you can stop me from having nightmares,

I'll give you the bed.

You are giving me a hard time on purpose.

Sure I am. So what?

The place is originally for my captivity.

It's mine.

You think

you are a guest of Commander's residence,

so you can take over the place?

Is that what you think?

Interesting.

Right.

This is a prison of death row.

Even if they want me to quit drinking,

they don't need to

lock me up here.

I have no choice.

I'm just following orders.

Scholar.

Here's the thing.

You heard it just now.

I,

a distinguished guest of Commander's residence,

if I don't have certain talents,

I can't fool them to give me food and drinks

in Commander's residence.

Well, not fool them,

persuade them.

To stop you from having nightmares,

is a difficult task

for others.

For me,

it's a piece of cake.

W-what do you mean?

Try me if you don't believe it.

Tell me.

Why are you having a nightmare?

It's useless to tell you.

You are drunk and sloppy.

I'm sure you can't cure it.

You judge people by their looks.

How did you read the books of sages?

I...

Forget it.

Don't say anything.

I won't argue with you for the bed any more.

You try to get some sleep.

I'll stand by and watch you closely.

I'll help you find out

why you have nightmares. How's that?

I...

Watch me while I sleep.

You would scare me to death.

You are not afraid to kill someone.

Why are you afraid that I watch you sleep?

You said you killed someone.

It's a lie, right?

Are you making up the murder thing

just for the bed

because you have nowhere to go?

Are you?

Don't underestimate me.

Fine, I'll sleep.

Minister Lu，

Chicken Fed

ask for his silver needles for acupuncture.

Great.

I know where he put them.

I'll get them.

Minister Lu, your idea is so brilliant.

It can not only make Chicken Fed

drink less for a few days but also...

It looks like

the case will be solved soon.

If it is what I have expected,

next,

I will have to trouble you，my sworn sister.

What can I do for you?

[Nanzhou Prison]

W-what are you doing?

To cure your nightmares.

Having nightmares

is a disease for real?

It's up to you whether it is a disease or not.

It's also up to you

whether to cure it or not.

But you have to know,

dreams are like shadow.

Not only the people alive,

but even the dead,

are said to have dreams

You...

Don't scare me.

Have you ever heard of Boqi?

It's also called Dream-eater.

The dream of the dead is its favorite.

If the dreams of the dead

are all eaten by Boqi,

the body will rot immediately.

What you have said is heterodoxy.

Fine.

Let's talk about people alive then.

Among the dreams of people alive,

there are three kinds which are the most strange.

The first one is

someone's experience

appears in another person's dream.

Second,

the dreams of two people

are connected.

Third,

one person

break into another person's dream.

Why?

Have you experienced this before?

You can go on.

Buddhism believes that

dreams are thoughts,

memories.

They are experiences of the past,

and signs of the future.

But the theory of the Taoism

is more mysterious.

It believes the dreams are the evil spirits.

What does it mean?

It means

a person's soul becomes an evil spirit.

That is a dream.

Of course,

I believe

the sentence more

that you dream of what you think.

Dream

is the deepest desire in someone's heart.

The deepest desire?

I agree.

People with deficiency of Qi and blood,

or people lack of spiritual energy,

or people with Liver-qi Stagnation,

are likely to have nightmares.

Your case should be the last kind.

You really master medical skill.

Minus eleven years out of my age.

That's how long I have practised medicine.

And this skill of acupuncture.

I learnt it at seven.

Come on.

Don't worry.

I have learnt acupuncture

from the practices

on my grandfather and mother.

It won't kill you.

It doesn't even hurt.

As long as it's done,

I guarantee you a good sleep.

No matter it is a Boqi

or a nightmare,

will never come to you.

Re...

Really?

In the eight-time acupuncture treatments,

I used more than 100 needles

on his acupoints all over his body.

You can speak

as loudly as you want.

You can never wake him up.

Dugu Xiashu is still young,

and he's not fat or swollen.

How come he become a light sleeper

and have nightmares frequently

because of respiratory obstruction?

That's why you are Commander Su.

You're knowledgeable.

But Dugu Xiashu's nightmares

are not simply

because of respiratory obstruction.

Then...

Is there any other reasons?

Well...

I'm not sure.

Maybe he was frightened

or he's had hysteria since childhood.

Or worse,

if some bad guy used the incense on him,

it could also affect his sleep.

Incense?

Dugu Xiashu has some distant relatives

in Nanzhou.

According to them,

he never had hysteria before.

He was kind

and talkative.

It has never been heard

that he could't sleep well.

Commander Su,

Dugu Xiashu

slept for 24 hours.

He didn't have any dreams

during this whole day.

I underestimated Fed before.

He is really something.

If I'm not mistaken,

after Dugu Xiashu woke up,

he couldn't believe that Qinghong was dead,

nor would he admit that

he killed his wife and Liu Youqiu.

Commander has a wonderful foresight.

He completely overturned

the confession he made before.

♫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♫