Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty]

[Episode 30]

Such a Crown Prince

should be

worthy of

becoming the new emperor of Tang.

It's a great luck for our Tang

to have such a generous Crown Prince.

Although I'm incompetent,

I will try my best to solve this case,

catch the murderer

and get the antidote

to save Her Highness.

Lu Lingfeng,

as the Crown Prince's most trusted person,

you should do your best too.

It is not only for

the Crown Prince's trust.

More importantly,

it is to clear the Crown Prince's name.

Yes.

If Her Highness is dead,

the biggest beneficiary

will be the Crown Prince.

If that's the case,

think about

what will the world think of His Highness?

Su Wuming.

Thank you for reminding me.

To clear the Crown Prince's name,

I will do anything to help you

solve this case.

Brother, look.

I seem to have seen him before.

Why does he look so familiar?

Lady Hu Shisi also said

that this person stammers slightly,

but it's not very obvious.

Stammer?

Fed, what are you doing?

The burning smoke is everywhere,

and I can even smell

the medicine in my study room.

Do you remember the Face Flower

Xing Ying sent last time?

With it,

it won't be difficult

to develop the antidote ourselves.

But...

But what?

This poison is very strange.

After thinking about it,

I'm afraid I can only counter it with another poison.

So in this antidote,

the most important thing will be

Baohuang.

If you can

get me some Baohuang,

maybe the antidote will work

after a few tries.

Baohuang?

[Hall of Medicine]

Hall of Medicine.

What a grand name.

But why is this place so small?

It sounds like

you are not from Dongdu.

My Hall of Medicine might be small,

but it's a place where you can find the most nostrum

in Luoyang.

The medicine and herbs are sourced from places such as Byzantine, Persia, Farghana,

Annan, Silla, and Japan.

You can buy all kinds of

strange herbs here.

How arrogant.

My master has had inner heat lately.

What should he take?

Chrysanthemum, Chinese Goldthread, Swertia Punicea,

Dwarf Lilyturf, Cape Jasmine Fruit, or Indigowoad Leaf.

Depends on what you want.

These are too ordinary.

Any stronger one?

For example,

Baohuang.

This is a medicine shop!

Isn't Baohuang just an ordinary herbal medicine?

You...

Persian Baohuang.

It was introduced during the Sui Dynasty.

But this thing

is too strange in terms of its effects.

It has been forbidden to sell

[The owner of the Hall of Medicine]

since the reign of Emperor Gaozong.

Lady Hu Shisi from the Paradise Inn has

recommended me.

How much do you need?

He asked me how much do I need.

Government investigation.

If you dare to lie,

you will be sent to the jail.

The Baohuang here

were all sent by the Resident Regent's old servant

for us to sell.

I'm just selling them on behalf on him.

Resident Regent?

Which one?

Resident Regent of Dongdu, Li Yue.

Li Yue?

I didn't know

he is someone from the Resident Regent's Residence.

I only thought about

where he got the Baohuang,

so I asked my men to follow him.

I didn't expect that he's from the Resident Regent's Residence.

How much do you have now?

I want all of them.

This old servant

only sells once a few days.

And every time he comes,

he only brings one or two pieces of it.

It would be sold out in no time.

We have to wait.

I remember now.

According to our previous promise,

he...

he will come tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

The Baohuang from the old servant

was obtained illegally.

You mean

he stole it?

I guessed it.

Brother Wei,

Her Highness has been chanting all day.

I'm afraid that Her Highness is not in the mood to see you.

Wei,

you've always been with Her Highness.

I have something

to ask you.

This matter will affect

the safety of Her Highness.

Please tell me the truth.

It is about

the Resident Regent of Dongdu, Li Yue.

I want to ask

if he is closer to

Her Highness

or His Highness?

Resident Regent Li?

Since the Heavenly Empress became in power,

he has been close to Her Highness.

They have been close all these years.

That's all I can say.

Thank you, Wei.

Also,

after taking in charge of the case,

I didn't dare to ask.

When will be the specific date of death of Her Highness?

If it's the eighty-first day,

that's tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Yes.

The day Her Highness

used the Face Flower for the first time,

I remember it clearly.

After tomorrow night,

Her Highness might be...

So,

please crack the case as soon as possible

and get the antidote.

Sure.

What a beautiful horse!

This should not be from an ordinary family.

You must be the hostler

for the nobles, right?

Who are you?

I'm a Juren staying

in the temple.

You have a good eye for noticing that.

Let me tell you.

I'm the hostler of the Princess's Palace.

Nice to meet you.

[Hall of Medicine]

You're here.

[Old Servant of Resident Regent's Residence]

The shopkeeper is waiting for you.

I've been waiting for you.

Who are you?

The shopkeeper of the Hall of Medicine.

Nonsense!

Where is Shopkeeper Meng?

Anyway, you're just bringing us the Baohuang

for us to sell on behalf of you.

Does is matter who the shopkeeper is?

Government investigation.

Take out everything

on you.

Who are you?

How dare you stop me?

I know you're from the Resident Regent's Residence.

So what?

Xue Huan,

search him!

Yes, master!

Don't touch it.

Wrap it up.

Take it back and give it to Chicken Fed immediately.

Turn around.

I'm the new Administrator of Luozhou,

Su Wuming.

Tell me.

Where is the Baohuang planted at?

This...

I...

I know.

I know the Baohuang is forbidden goods.

I will accept the punishment.

I won't punish you.

I'll even reward you

if you tell me where it is planted at.

I...

I don't know.

You don't know?

I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Lu.

Let's go.

Where are you taking me?

The Resident Regent's Residence, of course.

You will take out some

Baohuang to sell

once in a while.

I guess it

must be planted in the Resident Regent's Residence.

I did steal the Baohuang,

but I just want to make some extra money.

I...

I've been a servant all my life.

Please don't send me

back to the Resident Regent's Residence.

I beg you!

Why?

He doesn't dare to take us

to the place where the Baohuang is planted at.

By doing so,

he might die even worse.

Run!

Who are they?

Why aren't you running,

and got here instead?

Run?

Where should I run to?

I couldn't run fast since I was young.

Besides,

even if I can run fast,

who knows if they are any killers

behind us?

This is a great hiding spot.

And I've figured out that

this funeral team

is heading towards the east gate.

So what?

Isn't Resident Regent Li

living outside the upper east gate?

Enough. You've been fighting for a long time.

Take a rest.

[Upper East Gate]

Go!

Hurry up!

Something is wrong.

They saw us jumping into the cart,

but no one stopped us.

This funeral team

is strange.

It's been so hot

this whole trip.

Hurry.

Open it.

Come on. Grab your weapons.

Come on.

Here.

Take it.

Brother,

it was so risky.

I thought

we were exposed.

I've nearly lost control of myself just now.

Later, I saw that

those people were also covering their faces.

I thought about it,

they are not righteous people too.

One should care his own business,

that's good.

Big brother,

second brother.

Two people have jumped into our car.

Get your weapons.

Guys,

what do you mean?

Brother,

I guess these two

are the wanted ones by those men in black.

Thank you

for the ride.

Well,

we have things to do

and shall leave now.

Give me a hand.

-Stop! -Stop!

Did you still want to leave?

Didn't you see that

the coffin is empty?

If you run away,

it will be a waste.

You can't have us lying

in the same coffin.

Su Wuming.

At a time like this,

you still have the mood

to fool these bandits?

They are outnumbered,

there's no need for direct confrontation.

Besides,

I still have important things to do,

and nothing can afford to go wrong.

What are you mumbling about?

Cut the crap.

Let's kill them with our knives together,

and throw them in the coffin for burial!

Yes.

Wait!

How much money can you bandits

make by robbery?

Do you want to follow me

and make a fortune?

Make a fortune?

What do you mean?

Do you know what is

the most expensive thing

in Luoyang City now?

Face Flower.

Almost all of the girls

from rich family

are using the Face Flower.

But they don't know that

the Face Flower is deadly poisonous.

Without the antidote,

they will soon

turn into skeletons.

What does it have to do with us?

I...

I have the recipe of the antidote.

I only need

one last medicine for the antidote.

Think about it.

When we bring the antidote

back to Luoyang City,

we can simply earn

mountains of gold and silver.

Are you trying to fool us?

He's just fooling you.

You...

Shut up!

My attendant

is petty.

He's afraid that you'll share the money with him.

I've heard of the Face Flower,

but do you really have the recipe?

If I don't,

why did those killers

chase us?

You just said that

you're finding the last medicine.

How?

I know where to find it.

I'm just short of hands now,

but I don't need so many people.

How about this?

Pick four good fighters

and come with me.

You two, come with us.

The rest of you shall bring back the goods.

-Okay. -Let's go.

Hurry up.

-Yes. -Hurry!

-Hurry! -Hurry.

Come on!

I thought there would be a battle,

but you managed to resolve it

by your eloquence.

How was it possible?

[Resident Regent's Residence]

It's here.

Isn't this the back door of the Resident Regent's Residence?

How did you know?

We've been here before.

Have you been to the yard?

Yes.

Aren't they all saying that Li Yue is rich?

There were just

flowers and plants in the yard.

You've got it wrong.

Those flowers and plants

are the most valuable.

Remember that,

the thing we're looking

for today

is Baohuang.

I don't know what its leaves look like.

Its root is like the palm of a baby，

with leopard print on it.

Are you sure it can be found

in the the Resident Regent's Residence?

Brother,

I think

we were fooled by them.

To be honest,

Her Highness sent me

to find this.

Her...

Highness?

You listen to me tonight.

After this,

Her Highness will definitely

reward you greatly.

Remember,

It's called Baohuang.

It's very valuable.

Which one is the thing you mentioned?

If I knew,

I wouldn't need your help.

Let's go over there.

Let's split up and search.

I didn't understand when

you said you needed manpower just now,

but now I know.

Su Wuming,

you're so bad.

Hurry up.

Win or lose, it all ends here.

In order to save Her Highness,

you're willing to be a thief.

Administrator Su,

I really admire you.

According to Wei Fenghua,

the end of Her Highness's life will be tonight.

But what I am thinking about now

isn't Her Highness,

but those women from Luoyang

who were affected by the Face Flower.

That's not right.

According to your personality, you would say

even if Her Highness is domineering,

she's still a living person.

Cut the crap. There's no time left for us.

Go now.

Don't you want to be rich?

It's late at night,

but luckily the moon is bright today.

Otherwise,

we can't see anything.

Meteorite Bear.

Don't go over there.

Lie down and play dead!

Hurry.

Administrator Su,

how's your day been so far?

Resident Regent Li,

aren't you going to

untie us?

Isn't it too early to untie you now?

The assassins we sent today

failed,

but you came to me yourself instead.

It must be fate.

Li Yue,

as an imperial official,

you are involving in

these sordid businesses secretly.

Do you know what will be your punishment?

Aren't you just

a personal staff?

You have no right to speak here.

You!

Su Wuming. Su Wuming.

You're indeed Di Renjie's disciple.

After my greedy servant died,

I knew

you would find my manor.

But I didn't expect that you would come so soon.

Luckily,

I had brought the Meteorite Bear from the Sky Garden

to this place.

How was it?

That is a strange beast

that is rare in the world

and no ordinary person get to see it.

You've opened your eyes today, right?

But I would rather see

your Human-faced flower tree

and Baohuang.

Since you're here,

not letting you see them

is not the way to treat guests.

The things you're looking for

are all here.

I didn't expect that

you would actually plant these evil things

in your secret room.

It is also a coincidence.

My manor

was originally a villa of Yang Su,

Duke of Yue, from the previous Sui Dynasty.

Empress Wu Zetian rewarded me with it when she was in politics.

Accidentally,

I found this secret room.

It was stacked

with rusty weapons back then.

It's obvious that Yang Su

wanted to rebel.

This is his armory.

But I think

to achieve great things,

no sword nor spear is as good as a plant.

It so happens that

the Baohuang can only grow

in the dark,

just like me.

My homeland is broken.

I am thousands of miles away from my home

and was living under someone else's roof.

As for the Human-faced flower tree,

I bought it

from the wandering royal descendants of Persia.

Now, dozens of them have been reproduced.

After many years of cultivation,

they are already used to

grow in the dark.

As long as you plant the Baohuang around them,

they will have

enough nutrients.

After decades,

they can no longer survive

without each other.

You also killed

that Tocharian woman?

She is just a slave

I found at the South Market

who knows

some escaping methods.

She is nothing.

Li Yue,

you've benefited from the Tang for years,

especially the Empress Wu Zetian.

She has treated you well.

But you actually cooked up

the poisonous Face Flower

to kill people.

Where's your conscience?

Su Wuming.

Why are you using those superfacial words

in front of me?

You can find this place

in such a short time,

which is indeed

beyond my expectations.

I'm a man who loves talents.

I'll let you live

for a few more hours.

Didn't you come here

for the Face Flower and Baohuang?

You can go in and have a look.

Move!

In the room!

Stop your useless efforts!

If we could get out easily,

Li Yue wouldn't have locked us

in here.

Just now, Li Yue said

this was Yang Su's arsenal.

Yes.

In that case,

there must be an exit.

How can you be so sure?

If one wants to rebel,

the soldiers will need to rush out all at once.

All soldiers leaving through that secret door together.

Is that possible?

That makes sense.

Keep searching then.

He has planted so many evil things to poison the princess.

He's really scheming.

Li Yue and the Crown Prince

are very close.

Don't talk nonsense.

His Highness is righteous.

He wouldn't have

such evil people around him.

Then there must be something else behind

the so-called crime of poisoning the princess.

Su Wuming.

You didn't find some clues

and hide them from me, right?

[Resident Regent's Residence]

Your Highness.

Please.

Bring them all here.

Bring them in.

Yes!

Don't move.

Look, what is that?

It looks like

a map.

A map?

You just assumed that

there's another exit in the secret room.

If there is,

the exit should be hidden in this map.

The three old books

you lent me

contain the landscape and buildings

of the city of Luoyang.

I just read it

a few days ago.

That's great.

Take a good look.

It depends on you

whether we are going out.

Yang Su wanted to rebel.

It's natural that he wants to become the emperor.

For him,

this place is the most important place.

[Longmen Mountain]

It's not moving.

The westernmost mountain of Luoyang is called Longmen Mountain.

The easternmost is the Fragrant Hill.

This...

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Isn't it still too early to call me that?

No at all.

Although the current emperor is benevolent and kind,

he lacks of courage

and can't control the imperial court.

You have the same style as the Heavenly Empress.

Only you can

rebuild the glory of the Tang.

You're indeed from the other region.

You're so straightforward.

However, you still have to address me as "Your Highness" for now.

Yes,

Your Highness.

Su Wuming is in my hand.

What happened?

He's here to steal the Baohuang,

and was caught by me.

Baohuang?

The herb is used to make the antidote

to cure the poison of the Face Flower.

I knew it.

Su Wuming

is loyal to me.

In order to solve the case and get the antidote,

he spares no effort.

He even took the risk

of coming here this time.

I didn't test him in vain.

I can use him.

I can use him!

He has another attendant

called Lu Lingfeng.

He's here too.

Lu Lingfeng.

He seems to work for the Crown Prince.

I know Lu Lingfeng.

He is indeed close to the Crown Prince.

Then I know

what to do now.

I have

many beasts here,

including the Meteorite Bear,

which can fight back a lion and kill an elephant.

I can see that Lu Lingfeng

seems to know some martial arts.

How about letting him to have a fight

with my bear?

We can enjoy the fight together.

I'm not in the mood.

I'll think about

what should we do with Lu Lingfeng.

But Gao Zhongyi and others I've brought here

are

all disloyal to me.

They are perfect to feed your bear.

Yes, I'll do it right away.

Wait.

They thought

my face

would turn into a skull tonight.

That's why they betrayed me.

How about letting them have a taste

of their faces being corroded.

That's easy.

Just make a special kind of Face Flower.

Once it was applied,

the effect should be seen immediately.

Please wait for a moment.

I'll send someone to make the poison.

This one is big.

Lu Lingfeng.

You have been standing there

for almost an hour.

Is there any mechanism on this map?

Can we get out?

What I'm doing now

is more meaningful than you.

What's the use of getting the Baohuang

if we can't get out?

It will only make Li Yue

want to kill us more desperately.

The Yishui River flows through the two mountains,

which look like a gate,

so that place is called Yi Gate.

After Emperor Yang ascended the throne,

he changed the capital to Luoyang.

The gate of the royal palace

was facing here,

so it was also known as the Long Gate.

If Yang Su wants to rebel,

he must first break through the Long Gate of the Sui.

Lu Lingfeng.

Good for you.

Thanks to your three old books.

What are you waiting for?

I can't leave.

Your Highness.

Please.

Invite Su Wuming over

to have a drink together.

Yes.

How was your flower viewing?

Not bad.

Where's Lu Lingfeng?

Who?

Lu Lingfeng, he...

He was here just now.

I don't know

where he is now.

My lord, no one is here.

You!

You have let Lu Lingfeng go!

Resident Regent,

this is your secret room.

He's a living person.

How can I

let him go?

As far as I know,

Lu Lingfeng

know the Earth escaping method.

He might have gone into the ground

and gone somewhere.

I asked you to invite Su Wuming

to have a drink with us.

Why did you send him here under escort?

Your Highness,

he let Lu Lingfeng go.

Although Lu Lingfeng has ran away,

he stayed.

What does this mean?

All the more reason for his loyalty to me.

Su Wuming.

Here.

I'll propose a toast to you myself.

Administrator Su,

I've offended you just now.

Your Highness,

let the drinks aside.

At this moment,

I'm more worried about your safety.

What happened tonight

had nothing to do with you.

But I didn't expect

that you came here.

Let me ask you.

How is your investigation going?

Four hours later,

after midnight,

my face will turn into a skull.

What I'm worried about is your safety,

not about your face

turning into a skull.

You know everything?

Even if you used the Face Flower,

you would still be fine.

Tell me.

Why?

The horses eat a lot.

For a long journey,

you have to feed them more in the first two days.

Long journey?

Where are you going?

Back to Chang'an.

To be honest,

Her Highness wants to eat cherries in Chang'an.

It's only been a couple of days.

Everyone in Chang'an knows

Her Highness likes to eat

the King's cherry from the Leyou Plain.

So I think

the hostler's words are true.

These talkative people

should be killed.

Since he said

Her Highness' schedule was set,

I has ruled out

the fact that Her Highness had used the poisonous Face Flower.

Because if you were really in danger,

Your Highness,

I don't think you would have the mood to go back.

You're right.

I did use the Face Flower,

but that flower wasn't

soaked in poison.

It's different from what the commoners have used.

Li Yue,

the Face Flower

you specially made for me alone

indeed has the skin tendering and moisturizing effect.

I like various flowers in my life.

Ten years ago,

when I went to the South Market,

I bought the seed of the tree

from a down and out

royal descendent of Persia.

That's why I can grow this strange flower

in the east captital, Luoyang.

So,

Gao Zhongyi and the others

are so stupid.

They thought I was dying,

so they saw the wind and set the helm

and betrayed me to join the Crown Prince.

How foolish!

How despicable!

Your Highness,

my plan

works, right?

Yes.

Very effective.

Xin Huaishen.

Yes.

After all,

you were once Gao Zhongyi's man.

He seems to have something to say.

Go and help him.

Your Highness.

Spare my life, Your Highness.

Administrator Su,

please say something nice for me.

Gao Zhongyi.

How dare you call for help?

Your Highness,

I just had one wrong thought.

Just a wrong thought.

Prefectural Governor Gao,

you didn't just have a momentary slip.

You were acting

very resolutely

in front of me.

Are you worthy of

Her Highness's trust all these years?

♫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♫

♫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 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♫