Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty]

[Episode 27]

What do you mean?

The Prefectural Governor of Luozhou, Gao Zhongyi,

is the confidant of the Princess, Her Highness.

Since he dares to summon you to Luoyang

in the name of the imperial court,

it must be the order from Her Highness.

Besides, Luoyang

is Her Highness's home.

Many of her trusted subordinates

are there.

So this time we go to Luoyang,

we will definitely be involved in the conflict

between the Princess and the Crown Prince.

I heard that

His Majesty wants to be the Taishang Huang, a retired emperor.

It seems

that we have to side with the Crown Prince.

Only if the Crown Prince ascends the throne successfully

can our dynasty be safe.

You are good at investigating cases,

but you may not understand the affairs of the court.

If the Emperor abdicates,

the fight between the Crown Prince and the Princess

can only be more intense.

Sacrificing for the country

is what I want,

but not your dream.

So,

you need to think carefully.

Only when the country is stable

can the people have a happy life.

Dongdu.

No matter how dangerous it is,

as long as it's for the country

and for the people of Tang,

I will meet the challenge with no regrets.

Great.

Since you've made up your mind,

I'll have no choice but to be with you forever.

My disciple.

Yes.

Would you like to ride with me?

Sure.

Sworn Brother,

why didn't you ask Yingtao to stay

when she bid farewell to us last night?

Why should I?

Do I have to take her to Luoyang?

Is it because you think she's wild

and doesn't deserve to

be with you, the disciple of Detective Di?

What do you mean?

It's off the track.

Her father entrusted her to you

before he died.

It's not off the track.

How did you know?

Yingtao told me herself.

I can see

she has affection for you.

It was just her excuse to leave.

But you didn't ask her to stay.

She was very sad.

Really?

Why are you laughing?

But she has left.

So you mean

if Yingtao was still here,

you would take her to Luoyang, right?

If Yingtao spends her life

by wandering around the world,

it would be a pity.

Sworn Brother,

please tell me.

If Yingtao was here,

would you take her to north?

Sworn Brother, look.

Is that Yingtao?

Xijun, is it you who...

Miss Yingtao is still here.

Mr. Su just said

if Miss Yingtao didn't leave,

he would take you with him

to Luoyang.

Xijun.

Sworn Brother,

you said it yourself.

Don't think

that I'm waiting here

because I want to go with you.

It's just because there's one thing

that I forgot to ask you last night.

You have found out the fact that

my father pretended to be the prefectural governor,

but you kept it a secret.

Aren't you afraid

to be killed for it?

I will take the responsibility

of hiding it

no matter what happens.

The Records of Worshippers of Tuo God your father writes

helps Ninghu shake off

the oppression of the Shrine.

He deserves to be

the Great Prefectural Governor of Tang.

Thank you, Mr. Su.

Farewell.

Yingtao.

Sworn Brother.

Yingtao.

My horse is a bit old.

It can't lift me.

I wonder

whether I can ride your horse?

Will you agree?

Change the horse?

You are the one who have saved my life.

Well,

I'll give it to you.

He is too shy to invite you personally,

and even comes up with an idea to change the horse.

Now you have to agree.

Well,

his embarrassment

makes me more convinced

that he is unique.

Luoyang in May

is bright with sunshine

and beautiful as a dream.

But since ancient times, May has been known as an ominous month,

especially today, the fifth day of May,

which is also called Double Fifth.

There are many taboos.

Don't act recklessly.

What ominous month?

It's just a bluff.

Dongdu, located by the foot of Mangshan

and the coast of Luoshui,

is the root of our country.

Every time I come to Luoyang,

I feel uneasy.

I would think of the time I spent with Master Di.

Maybe that was the happiest time

in my life.

Lu Lingfeng.

What are you thinking about?

You must be familiar with Luoyang, too.

Be it the Tianjin Bridge by the riverside of Luoshui,

or the cherry blossom

and pomegranates in Dingding Street,

I will always remember.

Weren't you born in Luoyang, were you?

I left when I was five.

Then tell me

about your childhood.

All I can remember is pain.

Happiness is too light

to be blown away by wind.

[Paradise Inn, Lady Hu Shisi]

What a handsome young man.

Xue Huan,

someone has bad intentions towards your master.

Don't look at my master.

You scared me.

Xue Huan.

What are you doing?

I'm protecting you.

Protect me?

All right.

Let's go.

Look at you, just like a beggar.

Do you have money?

Will you just wipe your mouth and leave after drinking my wine

and pay nothing?

Watch your mouth!

Do I look poor?

Yes.

I...

You...

You pissed me off.

Do you know who I am?

Who are you?

I'm the vanguard

of Su Wuming, who is going to

be a high-rank official in Dongdu.

I don't care who you are.

Guards!

See if he has any money.

Don't touch me.

Don't touch there.

You're really not a beggar.

Put me down!

Go.

Serve me with wine.

Yes, sir.

Serve good wine and dishes.

Go to hell!

This fan is so beautiful.

Isn't it?

Someone gave it to me.

Let me see.

What do you think of my rouge?

Nice. Where did you buy it?

It's a secret.

Look, I've guessed the answer.

Ladies in Luoyang

are so beautiful.

Stop guessing.

What?

It must be the best rouge.

What's wrong?

What happened?

What happened?

I don't know.

How is it?

It's so scary.

Yeah.

What happened?

It's all rotten.

Yes.

It's completely rotten.

This is so scary.

What's going on?

[Prefectural Governor's Residence]

Please report for me.

Su Wuming, Commander of Ninghu,

is here to visit Prefectural Governor Gao.

The prefectural governor knows

that Your Honor, Administor Su, will be here in two days.

So he asked me

to wait you here for a long time.

Administrator?

Who is the administrator?

It seems you haven't got the information.

You have been appointed

the Administrator of Luozhou.

Just as I expected.

Wait for me here.

Brother Su.

You're finally here.

Greetings, Governor Gao.

Have a seat.

This is Mr. Li, Resident Regent of Dongdu.

Nice to meet you.

[Li Yue, Resident Regent of Dongdu]

Li Yue, Resident Regent of Dongdu.

Resident Regent Li is extraordinary.

His ancestors were loyal to Tang.

So they were appointed as imperial officials by Emperor Taizong

in Luoyang.

The Family of Li has taken root in Luoyang.

I'm already a local in Luoyang.

Su Wuming, Commander of Ninghu.

Greetings, Resident Regent Li.

Commander?

Governor Gao and I

are here to welcome the new administrator of Luozhou.

Governor Gao, I don't understand.

Why did prefectural governor write a letter

to me and ask me to go north

in the name of the imperial court?

And why do you all call me

administrator?

Brother Su,

don't you think

I tricked you to come to Luoyang, do you?

To transfer you to Luoyang

and promote you as the Administrator of Luozhou.

are all orders from the Princess, Her Highness.

Have a seat.

Please.

Princess and Crown Prince came to Dongdu

with His Majesty.

His Majesty returned to Chang'an

a month ago.

The Crown Prince left yesterday.

The Princess is sick,

so she stays here temporarily.

Just be frank.

A hundred days ago,

Face Flower suddenly appeared in Luoyang.

It's used by women for beautifying.

It is said

that once you soak it and apply it on your face,

the flower will melt into the skin.

After 81 days,

your skin will be as tender as a girl.

Although it is expensive,

rich ladies in Dongdu

still scramble for it.

But the users did't expect

that after 81 days,

they didn't return to their youth;

rather, their faces turned into skulls.

After entering the city,

I saw such a scary thing with my own eye.

Again?

The reason why the Princess dispatch you here so urgently

is to ask you to supervise the investigation of the case.

Does it mean that the Princess also use the Face Flower?

Days counted,

her time is almost up.

If we can catch the culprit

and get the antidote before that,

there is still a chance of survival.

Where is Her Highness now?

Blessing Temple.

By the way,

don't tell anyone

that Her Highness was poisoned by the Face Flower.

Otherwise, Luo Yang, Chang'an,

and even the whole Tang

will be in chaos.

Speaking of the Face Flower,

according to encyclopedia,

it is originated in the southwest of the Arab Empire.

It is as thin as cicada wings.

It looks like a person with a smile.

There are red marks on the corner of the mouth.

I don't expect

that this flower

is poisonous like this.

Is there any clue about the person who sold this flower?

Governor.

Resident Regent Li.

The suspect is a woman

from Tokhara.

She is in the Paradise Inn.

Great.

Administrator Su.

He's talking about the flower seller.

But after Minister Xing rushed there with his subordinates,

the suspect had committed suicide.

Incompetent! Useless! You...

It seems that it is wise for Her Highness

to dispatch you to Dongdu.

Greet

the new administrator, Mr. Su.

[Xin Huaishen, Minister of Supervision]

Xin Huaishen, Minister of Supervision.

Greetings.

Wait.

Governor.

Although it is an emergency,

I still need the official document

of my appointment.

Here it is,

but it doesn't matter.

Because the oral order of Her Highness

is much more powerful than this.

An informal official?

By giving such an order,

the imperial court hurts its own authority.

This...

You may leave.

Yes.

Brother Su,

the current situation is very serious.

Her Highness appoints you directly

because she trusts you.

Although my rank is not high,

I consider myself upright.

With an informal appointment,

it's hard for me to take office.

You didn't bribe others to get promoted.

If there is anything you want,

let people in Chang'an

make it up for you.

All right.

Brother Su, you come all the way here.

From the manor outside the city,

I bring you

Persian wine preserved for years.

Let's treat you to a meal on arriving.

Leave the rest aside for the time being.

Brother Su,

we want to welcome you.

If you wouldn't like to come for my sake,

you should at least come for the sake of Resident Regent Li.

Yingtao.

Have a look at my sworn brother's new official robe.

Doesn't it fit?

The color

looks nice.

The Administrator of Luozhou is a fifth-rank official.

Su Wuming

can make a fortune from now.

Where am I?

This is the Administrator's Residence.

Administrator's Residence?

Let me think.

Yes, it's the Administrator's Residence.

Not far from

the back door

is the Memorial Temple of Master Di.

You can go there quite often

to visit your master.

Yes.

Yes.

I have to pay respects to my master.

I have to.

Why am I wearing

this official robe?

You're the Administrator of Luozhou now.

You should wear this.

Who put it on me?

It was me.

What's wrong?

[Administrator's Residence]

Administrator's Residence.

Lu Lingfeng.

Are you trying to ruin my reputation?

It was sent by someone

from Governor Gao.

You drank too much,

and vomited on your own clothes.

I kindly

changed it for you,

but you aren't even grateful to me.

Shut up!

The position of the Administrator of Luozhou

is not formally appointed by the imperial court.

It is an informal official.

If I accept it,

I'll go against my conscience

and break the rules of being a real man.

Su Wuming.

Don't pretend to be pure and lofty.

You are not sober.

Don't talk nonsense.

Isn't it just an informal position?

I've heard about it.

So what?

An informal position

is still a position.

Besides, no one dares to look down on you

if you are appointed directly by Her Highness.

Nonsense.

I know you care about dignity.

Take things as they come.

I came a few days earlier than you.

I've figured out the situation.

This case

is really strange.

Su Wuming,

aren't you obsessed with

investigating cases like this?

Wearing this official robe

that I despise to investigate the case

is no different from self-destruction.

Su Wuming.

There are victims dying every day

because of the Face Flower.

At this time,

what do you think is more important,

your face or people's life?

Sworn Brother,

I think Lu Lingfeng is right.

In my opinion,

those greedy noble women

deserve it.

Why do you ruin your reputation

for them?

Yingtao, you're wrong.

Even if they are delusional,

it's a matter of life and death.

Xijun.

I know you're from a noble family.

Of course you speak for them.

But I, a wandering woman,

can't feel sorry for them at all.

Sir.

Sir.

A man called Xing Ying, Minister of Justice,

wants to meet the administrator.

No.

Tell him there's no administrator here.

I, Su Wuming, will not serve as an informal official.

No administrator?

Yes.

That's what my master said.

[Xing Ying, Minister of Justice of Luozhou]

An informal administrator

dares to put on an act.

If it isn't for business,

how would I come to see him?

Let's go.

Stop!

My master is not putting on airs.

And he said

he wouldn't be an informal official.

You can look down upon anyone,

but not Mr. Su.

He is a tremendous person.

He won't be an informal official but he lives in the Administrator's Residence.

Who are you lying to?

It has been said over the past few years

that Su Wuming is good at investigating strange cases

and he's virtuous.

Maybe I misunderstood him.

Ask someone to keep an eye on him. If there's any movement,

report to me at any time.

Yes, sir.

Xing Ying.

You know him?

When I was in the Imperial Guards,

a subordinate named Xing Ying

was transferred to Dongdu as an official.

I don't expect that

he is the Minister of Justice now.

Why don't you go out and meet him?

If he asks me what official I am,

what should I say?

That's right.

General Lu

is just a commoner now.

But what's wrong with that?

You are free.

Much better than when you were the General.

You're really good at comforting people.

Are you two done?

Su Wuming is so angry.

Don't you care about him?

Leave him alone.

He must have gone to the Memorial Temple of Master Di.

[Memorial Temple of Master Di]

[Memorial Temple of Master Di]

My master,

your unfilial disciple, Su Wuming,

[Punish the evil and promote the good]

came here to see you.

When you were alive,

you taught me many times

to be a stainless man

and an upright official.

I've been keeping

your teachings in mind

for all these years.

Therefore, this time I came to Luoyang,

I would never accept an informal official.

Who's there?

Come out!

Who are you?

How dare you break into my mansion?

How does this place

become your mansion?

I'm the last disciple of Detective Di,

Niu Su.

Who are you?

[Little Beggar, Niu Su]

I heard you say

that you were also Detective Di's disciple.

I don't believe it.

I see.

You usually live here,

right?

Come here.

The money

is for you.

I can't take your money,

or Detective Di will beat me up.

It's okay.

I've already

told Detective Di in my heart.

Take it.

Okay.

But,

are you really

Detective Di's disciple?

What's your name?

I'm Su Wuming.

Su Wuming?

You're really not famous.

I've never heard of you.

But you must be able to investigate strange cases,

right?

Can you teach me?

I will kowtow to you.

Why do you want to investigate cases?

I want to solve the case of Face Flowers.

Why?

Many people

came to worship Detective Di these days.

They prayed that Detective Di

would arrest the culprit

and get the antidote

to save their family.

[Memorial Temple of Master Di]

How did you know I was here?

Lu Lingfeng is really your confidant.

He knew you were here.

Yingtao.

I lost my temper today.

Do you also think

I'm a little pedantic?

Do my ideas

really matter to you?

Of course.

I thought you were right at that time.

But just now...

My daughter. My daughter!

I thought

My daughter!

those who used Face Flowers

were all noble women in Luoyang.

But I didn't expect

that woman was similar to my age.

Her family was not wealthy.

I went to ask.

Her father said

his daughter thought she was too ungly

and afraid her in-laws would dislike her.

So they spent all their money

to buy the Face Flower.

In the end...

Su Wuming.

If you really think

my opinion is important,

please

investigate the case first.

[Administrator's Residence]

Su Wuming, stop beating around the bush.

Tell me.

Will you live in such a good Administator's Residence

or not?

I won't live here.

You...

Didn't you promise me?

I promised you to investigate this case.

But I didn't agree to be the Administrator.

But...

Sir.

Where are we moving to?

It's good here.

Right!

Xue Huan may be young,

but he's a sensible man.

I won't live here.

Then where do you live?

I'll live in an inn.

After all he's a scholar.

Although he is upright,

he's also pretentious.

You can stay here temporarily,

but not Lu Lingfeng.

Do you have a problem with that?

You're my personal staff.

Follow me to the inn.

You wanted me to protect you,

but you didn't say it directly.

Miss Yingtao is right.

So pretentious.

Su Wuming.

We have wondered almost half of Luoyang.

Where on earth do we live?

[Gale Inn]

Gale Inn.

It's an ambitious name.

Let's live here.

A gale has risen and is sweeping the clouds across the sky.

It is ambitious.

But I'm afraid the wind

in the middle of the night will blow the roof away.

Su...

[Rosefinch Inn]

Su Wuming.

Rosefinch Inn?

It looks good.

Rosefinch means south.

We just came from the south.

How can we go back?

Don't go back.

You're back.

Are you talking to me?

Yes! We met before.

Don't you remember?

Your disciple was really fierce.

He wouldn't let me take a look.

Wait for me, my guest.

I'll pick you up.

Let's go.

Paradise Inn.

[Paradise Inn]

What a good name!

What?

It's inauspicious.

Let's go to another one.

Paradise represents both the Heaven

and longevity.

Combined, it means

you may live a long life naturally.

Let's go! Hurry!

I didn't expect your servant

was so knowledgeable.

Then aren't you

even more knowledgeable?

You have a point.

Landlady, you have a good taste.

Master,

it's getting late.

How about

living here for one night?

Alright.

Please.

Sir, you can drink downstairs

and sleep well upstairs

in my restaurant.

If you think those dancing girls are good,

you can also...

What can I do?

You can also take them to the guest room to dance with them.

You can also...

But I

won't do that,

unless

your master wants to do that.

Let's take a look at

the guest rooms upstairs first.

Guys!

Take the respected guests upstairs.

Please.

So?

You like him?

Think about your age.

What do you think? This grande room

is enough for both of you.

How can I

live with my servant?

You're right.

How can I live with my master?

We need two rooms.

But there's no more room.

Is someone

living in this room?

How is it?

I'm not lying, am I?

There are guests inside.

There's only one room left

upstairs.

You mean

there are guest rooms downstairs?

There is a tavern downstairs.

There are a few rooms in the backyard

occupied by long-term tenants.

So there is no room left, either.

There's one more room.

But you can't live there.

Why?

Because someone died there.

I knew it was ominous here.

You insisted on living here.

Master, calm down.

Who died?

Did the deceased

die in this inn?

Yes.

Haven't there been rumors

about Face Flowers killing people?

A lot of officials

suddenly came here today.

They said the Face Flower seller

was the Tocharian woman

living in our inn.

How can you let

such a principal criminal

live here?

I didn't know

she was a bad person at that time.

Until today,

the government officials

surrounded the inn.

When Minister Xing

rushed into the room with his men,

that Tocharian woman

had committed suicide by taking poison.

My servant

has strong Yangqi.

He's not afraid of a room in which someone died.

But the body is still there.

Why didn't you take the body away?

I see.

Isn't today the fifth day of the fifth lunar month?

There is a saying among the people

that they can't see blood

or move the body today.

Yes.

Minister Xing also said so.

So they'll take the body away

tomorrow.

How could you believe such nonsense?

I'll pay twice as much.

My servant

will defenitely live in that room.

This...

Pay out.

Listen.

My master has a bad temper.

If you make him angry, you'll be in big trouble.

Besides, we'll just stay here for one night.

How would Minister Xing know if you don't tell him?

And we will give you money. Here.

No.

The body is still in bed.

I'm not afraid.

No way.

She is a key criminal.

Minister Xing has locked the door.

Brother.

Stop!

This is the only room.

Live or leave.

So you got the news early

and deliberately found the Paradise Inn.

I wanted to search

the inn to see

if there would be any unexpected gains.

I didn't expect

the body of that Tocharian woman

was still in this inn.

By the way,

someone followed us

along the way.

He didn't seem to be malicious.

He didn't look like a bad person, either.

It seemed that

they might be sent by the local government.

Did Xing Ying send them?

Follow us?

The body of the Tocharian woman

is still in this inn.

He didn't send his men to guard the body

but follow us.

What does Xing Ying mean?

Who knows?

When it gets dark, find a rope

to put me down from here.

You want to do an autopsy?

Not only that.

Didn't that big guy

say

the Tocharian woman lived here often.

We should be able to find something in her room.

After you put me down,

go find the woman shopkeeper

and drink with her.

What?

I'm not going.

I'm not asking for your opinion.

You really take yourself as my master?

I order you to go.

Forget it.

Anyway, the woman shopkeeper

doesn't like you.

You...

Minister,

Su Wuming left the Administrator's Residence

with a subordinate.

It seems that Su Wuming

refused to be the administrator.

So he took his man to look for an inn to live.

In that case,

he has integrity.

But

they went to the Paradise Inn.

What?

Let's go.

Sir,

I've heard about the delicious food and wine

of the Paradise Inn for a long time.

And the Persian beauties

are also very charming.

It's my treat tonight. Let's get drunk.

Okay.

Fill it up.

Good wine. Come on.

Come on. Drink!

Yes.

Look at this dish.

I've tried it.

Cheers.

What do you want?

Go away.

Couldn't you sleep?

Young lady.

You didn't drink with us just now,

but now you're pouring wine for others.

Why?

Yes.

He's quite lucky.

I took a fancy to him

when he passed by in the daytime.

What's wrong?

Your husband

is here.

My husband loves me.

He doesn't care

if I have someone I like.

W...

What?

Don't be afraid. He's short.

He can't see anything.

This is the best wine.

The pure Gaochang wine.

Play another piece! Play another piece!

Great!

Nice! Nice!

Yeah.

This song should only be played in Heaven.

How should I address you?

Lady Hu...

Cheers! Cheers!

Shisi.

Why do your customers

look

so strange?

Why do you say so?

Drink it.

The yinqi in your inn is too heavy.

Play another piece!

Great!

Nice! Nice!

I think

you are full of yangqi.

I can't help

taking a breath to get your yangqi.

♫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 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♫