Original subtitles

[Coroner's Diary]

[Episode 7]

[Imperial Edict]

Chi,

did you change your mind and join the Ministry of Justice

in order to investigate Prince Jin's case?

Exactly.

By returning to the capital,

you're already endangering yourself.

Besides, Prince Jin's case

is considered a taboo by the Emperor.

If word gets out,

have you thought of...

Uncle, don't try to persuade me.

I was raised by Grandmother.

Prince Jin was like a father and a brother to me in those years.

I must clear his name

with the enemy's blood.

But...

Uncle,

I have a favor to ask.

Speak up.

Miss Qin Wan has agreed

assist me in investigating cases in the capital.

But since she's the only daughter of the Qin family's second branch,

I’m afraid she’ll be constrained

by the Marquis of Zhongyong's influence.

So, Uncle, I'm wondering

if you can give her an extra identity

as a way to support her?

I'll be very grateful for that.

It's a good idea.

I was just wondering how to repay

Miss Qin Wan's favor.

It'll be my pleasure to help secure her safety with my title

as the Marquis of Anyang.

Thank you, Uncle.

My Lady!

My Lady, His Highness is here.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I told you to forgo the formalities.

Your Highness,

have you decided when to leave for Shuoxi?

If so...

I'm afraid I can't leave now.

As for you, Miss Qin,

you'll have to stay too.

Why?

I was given a new job yesterday.

The Emperor appointed me as the judicial surveillance commissioner

to inspect and supervise

all the local criminal cases.

Surveillance commissioner?

Does it mean you'll never return to Shuoxi?

That's right.

Now,

as the surveillance commissioner,

I'm officially inviting you, Miss Qin Wan, to join me in solving cases.

I'm officially invited?

Does it mean I can legally

perform autopsies?

Of course.

Will I still be allowed to do that back in the capital?

Wherever you are,

as long as I'm around,

you can do anything.

That's great.

I got a report before I came here.

A murder happened in the Qin Mansion.

Please go and perform an autopsy now.

On a girl named Lianye?

No.

The people there said

the victim was Concubine Liu.

Concubine Liu?

Please lead the way, Miss Qin.

Thank you.

Bai Feng,

she didn't address me as "Your Highness."

So?

So, it means she has put more trust in me now.

Congratulations...

to you, Master.

Why would this happen?

It's horrifying.

What are you looking at?

Don't you have chores to do?

Go away.

Scatter!

Let's go.

This is where Concubine Liu

used to live.

Her personal maids said

she felt sick in the previous days,

so she went to bed early last night.

They were shocked to find her dead in bed

this morning when they opened the door.

Your Highness.

Is the door unlocked?

Yes.

Where is Master Qin An?

My father is sick in bed.

Now, it is me

who assists Grandma in managing the household.

If Your Highness needs anything,

just let me know.

The victim was a concubine of Master Qin An's.

The third branch had better stay clear of this case.

If Prefect Huo and I have any questions,

we'll ask Miss Qin Wan.

Your Highness,

Wan is an unmarried lady after all.

Making too many public appearances

might damage her reputation.

What do you think, Miss Qin?

Although I'm a woman,

I also aspire to see justice served.

If Your Highness and Prefect Huo have faith in me,

I'm ready to do anything I can to help.

Wan,

you just reunited with the family not long ago.

You haven't learned about everyone in the mansion.

Why not let Chen...

Wan...

Miss Qin devotedly defends justice.

Prefect Huo and I both find it admirable.

This is an official investigation.

Only authorized personnel can stay.

Mr. Qin Chen,

Third Madam,

please leave.

-Yes. -Yes, as Your Highness commands.

The burden is on you now, Wan.

This matter concerns our family's reputation.

I'm obligated to protect it.

Let's take a look inside.

Open the door!

Go get your grandma here now.

Hurry!

Concubine Liu was indeed favored by Mr. Qin An.

Look at all these precious art works and decorations.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Prefect Huo, Miss Qin.

Are you sure she was strangled to death?

Your Highness, Miss Qin,

please come with me.

Look.

This ligature mark is fine, but deep.

At the back of the victim's neck,

there are red and small dots above and below the mark.

Her face looks bluish purple and swollen.

It proves that she was strangled to death.

Xu He has made much progress

since he started learning from Miss Qin.

Yes. Miss Qin has generously offered me much guidance.

Prefect Huo, when you brought people in,

did they touch anything here?

No. Despite all my inadequacies,

I still know to follow the rules.

Has Your Highness found anything wrong?

Since the victim was strangled to death,

she must've struggled a lot.

But why is her room so tidy and clean?

Even her personal maids

didn't hear a noise.

Maybe the victim was unconscious?

Any findings?

This is not where the murder happened.

The victim was moved here after she died.

The murderer must have connections with someone in this mansion.

But do you have any proof, Miss Qin?

This matter concerns the Qin family's reputation.

On a dead body's lower parts

and where forces were imposed,

there are usually blood stains.

In about two hours after death, the limbs begin turning stiff.

In six hours, the entire body becomes stiff.

Now, though the victim's limbs are stiff,

her torso is still soft.

It means she died within the past six hours.

The murder probably happened between 4 a.m. to 5 a.m..

That was when the night patrol in the Qin Mansion finished,

and the attendance check of servants started.

Only someone who knows the mansion

and the routines of the Qin family well

could manage to kill a woman,

flee and hide in one short hour.

Given how familiar the murderer is with the mansion,

he or she can't be an outsider.

Miss Qin,

what is it

about the body

that tells you it was moved?

Look.

Strip-shaped scratches on the victim's palms.

Wound contraction.

Broken nails,

with mud under them.

It means the victim was lying on somewhere muddy

when she struggled.

Besides,

if the victim died when she was lying on her back—

like the position her body is in now—

her legs wouldn't have curved this way.

The only possibility is,

she died when she was lying on her side with her legs curved.

Judging from the stiffness of the body,

the victim was moved here

two hours after she died,

when her limbs began turning stiff.

Therefore,

there are blood stains

behind her left shoulder from lying on her side.

Also, on her upper arms and the outside of her calfs

there are blood stains from being grabbed.

Most importantly,

the victim's shoes are not in the room.

Moving a stiff body from the outside

into here two hours after the victim died

couldn't be easy.

The murderer meticulously chose the perfect time slot for the killing.

It doesn't make sense that he'd wait two hours

before moving the body,

or that he'd simply place the body in the bed

without concealing the ligature mark.

The murderer

couldn't have been this sloppy.

I agree.

The sizes of the blood stains on the limbs

indicate that the body was moved here by someone else.

To be more specific, it took two people to move

the victim's stiff body into this room by dragging her limbs.

The purpose of moving the body was to create confusion

on where the murder truly happened.

There must be secrets

behind Concubine Liu's death.

Mother,

do you think the killer of Concubine Liu

is still in the mansion?

What if...

What if Xiang and her sisters run into

this...

Nonsense.

There are many officers in the mansion now.

Would the murderer stick around,

waiting to be caught?

I'm relieved to hear that.

What strikes me as strange

is that the officers came so soon,

though we didn't report the murder to the prefect's office.

Yeah.

They came in a group, looking scary.

What's more, the Heir of Prince Rui

insisted on taking Wan with him.

Is he interested in Wan?

Even if that's true,

they won't be a couple, given Wan's origins.

I just didn't expect

that this jinx managed to build

connections with a prince's heir so soon.

Since he already asked for Wan's company,

we'd better not defy or offend this ruthless man.

When he returns to the capital,

let's see how that hateful girl will live with this shame.

Your Highness.

Who first found Concubine Liu dead?

Her personal maids.

Summon them for inquiries.

Prefect Huo,

what does

His Highness mean?

Don't worry, Madam Qin.

His Highness just wants to ask some questions.

Wan,

just now in the room,

what did His Highness say?

His Highness was watching the coroner examine the body.

He didn't talk much.

Did you not notice anything odd?

His Highness is not a man of our family.

How could I keep gazing at him?

Oh, you...

Wan,

His Highness has put much trust in you.

Inform us if you hear

anything negative about the Qin family.

That way, we can take precautions in time.

After all, you and your two sisters are unmarried ladies.

A lady's reputation

is closely related

to her family's moral prestige.

Grandmother, rest assured.

I will do what little I can

to uphold the family's dignity.

That's good.

That's...

I'm Xiuqin.

I'm Xiushu.

-Greetings, officers. -Greetings, officers.

Which one of you

first found Concubine Liu dead in her room?

It was me.

Earlier this morning, I wanted

to see if Concubine Liu had got up.

Right after I entered the room,

I found her dead

horribly in bed.

Do you know

those who give false testimonies

would be treated as accomplices

and tier-two offenders according to the law?

I dare not lie to you, officers!

What about you?

I...

I just saw what she saw.

How dare you, lowly maids!

It's bold of you to lie to His Highness and me.

The law carries no weight in your eyes!

Take them away. Heavily flog them 30 times!

Please spare my life!

Prefect Huo, are you going to torture them for information?

Chen!

He's just an ignorant young man.

I beg for your forgiveness, officers.

The maids said

Concubine Liu didn't go out after she went to bed.

But there was heavy makeup on her face when she died.

Evidently, she did go out.

Her finger nails were badly broken.

She must've struggled madly before she died.

But there aren't any signs of a struggle in her room.

The maids' testimonies don't add up.

They must've lied, didn't they?

Your Highness is indeed wise.

To be perfectly candid,

I did instruct these maids

to lie.

I am the one

who should be punished.

Grandma!

Mother!

Grandma.

Your Highness, Prefect Huo,

my grandmother didn't mean to conceal the truth.

The fact is, Concubine Liu had a rendezvous at late night,

which caused her death.

My grandmother had no choice but to hide the truth

in order to protect our family's reputation.

If anyone is to be punished,

please let it be me.

You should've disclosed

that information sooner.

It was I who first found Concubine Liu dead.

When I saw her,

she was disheveled,

lying dead in the flower shed in the eastern court.

Eastern court?

Is it the flower shed near the Purple Bamboo Grove?

Master.

Why is this place in a mess?

According to the servants, this well is said to bring bad luck.

So, Madam Qin ordered it to be sealed overnight

after having a ritual performed.

Get them out of here!

Move. Hurry!

Any theories about this well being inauspicious before?

No, only the Purple Bamboo Grove has been considered that way.

But my sister, Shuang, did fall into this well once.

What a loving grandmother Madam Qin is.

This place is not exactly secluded.

Why would Concubine Liu have a rendezvous here?

Your hands are for saving lives.

I perform autopsies with these hands too.

It's okay.

A sage of criminal law once said,

Remedying injustices

is the same function as resurrection.

You've read that classic about criminal justice?

I didn't realize how ignorant I used to be

until I read that book.

I already learned a lot

after a rough reading.

I'd rather study harder

than give you another chance to lecture me—

the powerful surveillance commissioner.

Master, Prefect Huo has a report to make.

Got it.

Since Madam Qin intends to hide the facts,

she must've had all the trails here covered up.

Let's not waste our time on it.

Your Highness,

we've found the clothes Concubine Liu were in when she died.

This maid buried them in the backyard.

Where was the victim lying

when you saw her?

Right over there.

Tell me

the positions of her head and feet.

Bai Feng, demonstrate it with your body.

Yes.

Concubine Liu's feet were pointing that way,

while her head towards the left.

She was lying on her side.

Her feet were like this.

I can do it myself.

H-Her head touched the ground.

These vines were pulled and broken.

Concubine Liu must've held onto them when she struggled.

Has this place been cleaned up?

Madam Qin asked us

to move the concubine back to her room and change her clothes.

The dirt and fallen leaves here

were then swept away.

There was a drag mark on the ground.

It went from here

to there.

Master!

May I get up now?

Get up.

Thank you, Miss Qin.

Is this the victim's handkerchief?

Is this the way she sewed?

Judging from the stitches,

this might be an embroidery of Concubine Liu's.

But she considered white an inauspicious color,

so none of her most personal items were in white.

Then why did you bury this handkerchief

with the victim's clothes?

I found this handkerchief in her bosom

when I changed her clothes.

I just hurriedly

buried them together in a panic.

It's the smell of men's sweat.

It must've been used as a token to ask Concubine Liu out.

What a heavy smell of sweat.

It couldn't have been left by a noble man.

Could the victim die of a bad romance?

What's on your mind?

There was a time...

when I saw Liu Chun and Concubine Liu

both in the Purple Bamboo Grove.

Detain Liu Chun now!

I’ll interrogate him later.

Take this maid back to the prefect's office.

Yes.

Move.

The murderer

must've grabbed Concubine Liu from behind

and dragged her along this trail

to the broken vines, where she died.

The leaves here have turned black.

The murderer must've stood here for a long time,

given the way the leaves were trampled on.

Nobody could've

spotted him hiding here.

To grab Concubine Liu from behind...

That must be where she stood.

With the lush plants here,

the murderer could hardly avoid making a noise when he showed up.

Concubine Liu stood here.

When she heard a sound from behind,

she would definitely look back.

It would be difficult for the murderer to take her down at once.

Unless...

Unless Concubine Liu knew this person.

That's why she didn't scream.

Or...

she was frightened or shocked

by something the murderer said.

That gave the murderer

a chance to calmly pace to her back and attack.

Pardon me for that rude behavior,

Your Highness.

You already called me "you" once.

Just keep addressing me that way.

But...

that's against...

Your Highness!

Miss Qin.

I found something peculiar about the victim

when I conducted a preliminary check.

I dare not make a hasty judgment.

Miss Qin,

please come with me to take a look.

What's so strange?

I...

Your Highness,

the victim probably

contracted syphilis.

Xu He,

these symptoms are self-explanatory.

What held you back from determining it to be syphilis?

Miss Qin,

I thought...

S-She...

she was a concubine of the Qin family, wasn't she?

There was no way she'd have this disease.

So, I didn't dare to make a judgement.

As a coroner,

your only focus

should be what you see on a dead body.

The victim's social status

has nothing to do with your work.

Coroners shouldn't belittle themselves,

though this is not recognized as a decent occupation.

The yearning for justice

is what makes your eyes extra bright at work.

I'll remember that.

See you soon!

Concubine Liu had syphilis.

Could she still...

Her symptoms appeared two months ago.

The sores already extended to her torso.

Normally, she wouldn't have sex with anyone.

Then her...

Is it possible that her secret lover

is in a severer condition than her?

Not necessarily.

Some people are physically strong enough

to heal even if they are infected with this disease,

or to never exhibit symptoms in a lifetime.

The bruises on the victim suggest

that the murderer must be very strong

and in perfect health.

I've ordered a body search

on every male in the Qin Mansion.

Whether the murderer has shown symptoms or not,

new clues will definitely be found.

Why not wait till we find the owner

of the handkerchief?

The evidence we have now isn't enough

to conclude that the murderer is the victim's lover.

Ordering a body search now...

I ordered that exactly due to the lack of evidence.

The bigger the scene is,

the more agitated her lover will be.

Then he'll be more likely to give himself away.

This is a war strategy— scout and observe.

Criminal cases are different from military situations.

Making such a huge scene

will deeply impact the Qin family.

You could be accused of being an overbearing lord.

If the Qin family truly care about their reputation,

they wouldn't have treated you so badly.

How they treated me is irrelevant to this case.

Your Highness was appointed by the Emperor

as the surveillance commissioner.

If you act like this instantly after you took office,

there could be criticisms.

Victory is better obtained

sooner than later.

If I can catch the culprit sooner,

I don't mind being criticized.

Take a look!

Lord Yan...

Where has Lord Yan brought Wan to?

You're also at fault.

At this critical moment,

why did you have to quarrel with Chen?

What if you have

a miscarriage?

Stop nagging at her.

Wan has passed the second gate.

That's great!

Grandma,

Lord Yan ordered

a body search on all the males in the mansion,

including masters and servants,

strip naked.

What?

Why didn't Prefect Huo stop him?

Now, Lord Yan

is the surveillance commissioner working on the Emperor's behalf.

Prefect Huo wouldn't dare to go against him, would he?

The Qin family has never been humiliated like this!

Now,

let's go to the ancestral hall.

I must tell our ancestors

how the descendants of the late Marquis of Zhongyong

are being degraded and bullied!

-Let's go! -Mother, careful!

Moshu,

look after the young madam.

Yes.

Chen,

why is your wife feeling unwell again?

She overthinks everything.

I felt so anxious about the ongoing chaos in the mansion

that I bickered with her a bit.

Turn around.

Leave it here.

Everyone is here.

A careful search, isn't it?

Pause!

Take a pause!

Your Highness,

Madam Qin wouldn't listen to me.

She insisted on crying in the ancestral hall.

She is quite old now.

If anything happens to her,

we can’t explain to the Marquis of Zhongyong.

So, why don’t we

take a pause?

Prefect Huo,

if the marquis is to blame anyone,

I will take full responsibility.

However, as the prefect of Jingzhou,

if you give them preferential treatment and neglect your duties,

then I, the surveillance commissioner,

will have to punish you.

Please don't be mad,

Your Highness.

I won't do this again.

I'll fulfill my duties faithfully.

I'll be a responsive helper to Your Highness.

Go on with it!

Why did you stop?

Next.

I'm between a rock

and a hard place now.

Why is it so difficult to do an officer's job?

Your Highness.

It seems like the murderer will emerge

before the masters are searched.

You didn't take the medicine I prescribed on time, right?

Wan,

I would've taken the medicine

if it hadn't

been tampered with.

But Chen always says I'm just overthinking things.

I had no choice but to...

Why is there musk in the medicine?

Lady Wan,

I beg you to help the Young Madam!

We did cook the herbs in our own kitchen.

But since the Young Madam felt unwell after taking the medicine,

I secretly stashed some residue of it.

However, the Eldest Young Master wouldn't believe the Young Madam

or bother conduct an investigation,

so the Young Madam had to take the liberty to stop the medication.

Why didn't you tell the Third Madam about it?

The Young Madam wouldn't let me,

out of fear of making a fuss

to bring shame to the Eldest Young Master.

Don’t be silly.

You're too weak to receive a third acupuncture therapy.

You must take medicine,

or you and your baby will both be endangered.

I wish I were truly silly.

Wan,

do not marry

the man you love dearly.

If he can't treat you the same as you treat him,

you'll be in utter misery.

Is Chen having an affair?

No. Lady Wan,

the Eldest Young Master always

keeps a distance with women,

except Her Ladyship.

They treat each other with great respect.

Respect?

Even my own dowry maid thinks it that way.

It explains all.

It's no wonder that he always says I'm overthinking everything.

But I share a bed with him.

Whether he secretly loves someone else or not,

I'd know best.

If you do prioritize his love

over your life and your baby's life,

then I can't be of any help.

But I'm sure of one thing.

If you hurt yourself and your baby for that reason,

Chen won't value you more.

He'll even be more alienated from you.

Madam Qin and the Third Madam

will also resent you.

I can cure diseases,

but not a broken heart.

You must

get your thinking straight on certain matters.

There must be a mole here.

I'll make the herbs into pills and send them over.

Listen,

it's never easy to live as a woman.

You have to cherish yourself first

for others to cherish you, right?

Wan.

About Xinlan,

how is she now?

Where have you been, Chen?

Grandma went to the ancestral hall, crying.

I was really worried about her,

so I kept her company.

Xinlan and her baby nearly died.

Yet you were not with them.

What a caring grandson you are.

I couldn't be in two places at the same time.

Grandma has her sons, daughters-in-law

and grandchildren in this mansion.

Meanwhile, Xinlan

only has you, her husband.

If you keep neglecting your wife and baby,

I'm afraid I can't help with anything.

Did Xinlan

say something to you?

No.

Don't worry, Wan.

I'll spend more time with her from now on.

Lady Wan!

Lady Wan!

Bad news. Madam Qin fainted!

Grandma fainted because she was too emotional.

She is fine now.

All she needs is a few days' rest.

Grandma fainted. How could you say she is fine?

You're not even making a prescription.

Do you not care about Grandma at all?

Medicine is not always good for health.

Grandma, at this age,

you shouldn't take medicine unless necessary.

Wan,

has the murderer been caught yet?

No.

Wan,

you were with the officers the entire time.

What exactly have you found?

Why did every male in the mansion have to

receive a stripped search?

It'll make the Qin family lose all standing

in Jingzhou, won't it?

The coroner found Concubine Liu had contracted syphilis.

Lord Yan thinks

she was infected by her secret lover.

He plans to go on with the investigation following this lead.

Go on?

But...

All the males have received stripped searches.

What else is there to investigate?

Since I'm a member of the Qin family,

Lord Yan wouldn't tell me everything.

So you do know your position.

Xiang!

Grandma,

Mother,

don't worry.

Authorities follow certain rules at work.

They'll stay within bounds.

There's nothing we can do now.

Go be with your wife then.

Or she'll get upset again.

Wan, you've been busy all day.

Go get some rest now.

I'll visit you tomorrow then, Grandma.

She always looks holier-than-thou.

How annoying.

Grandma, are you feeling better now?

I was really afraid for you, Grandma.

Wan!

Let me walk you out.

No need, Chen.

You shouldn't keep Xinlan waiting.

It's getting dark.

How can I let you go back to your place alone?

Sir, don't worry.

I'll be escorting Lady Wan.

There has been

danger in the mansion lately.

You must be extra careful.

Tell me if anything comes up.

I'll help you.

Thank you, Chen.

Your wife matters most now.

I'd hate to distract your attention.

You're right.

It's time I went back.

Take care, Sir.

What are you watching, Lady Wan?

Nothing.

Who would know

Your Ladyship is the bravest

though you're the youngest?

You even had the courage to look at Concubine Liu's body.

I began studying medicine in childhood.

I've got accustomed to it.

Your Ladyship suffered so much.

Your sisters —carefully nurtured here—

would never have to be put through that.

After Lady Shuang accidentally fell into a well,

she had a three-day fever caused by fright.

Madam Qin,

out of constant fear of accidents related to wells,

immediately ordered all the wells

in the mansion to be sealed overnight.

Where does that fear come from?

Since I started working here,

I've always heard Madam Qin mumbling about this.

Whenever people mention about wells,

she'd be thrown into panic.

But I don't know

the exact reason.

You may stop here, Caihe.

I can walk the rest of the way alone.

Take care then, Your Ladyship.

Master Qin An.

Kill them all!

Kill each and every person

in that woman's abode!

The officers are investigating her death in the mansion.

Don't you think we've been humiliated enough, Father?

You defiant brat!

I'll kill you too!

Caihe!

Master. I…

Master!

You...

Enough!

Who are you to scold Chen now?

If you hadn't favored that woman so much,

how could all of this have happened?

Go away!

For us,

now is a critical moment.

We'd better lay low.

Caihe,

do as I say.

Go and send all the servants

in Concubine Liu's abode to the laundry division.

Laundry division?

I have to kill them all!

When this is all over,

get rid

of those gossipers.

Who would be so vicious to put musk

[Grace and Purity]

in a pregnant woman's medicine?

How heartless this person is!

It doesn't make sense if someone covets Xinlan's position

as Chen's legitimate wife, since he's not involved with other women.

Besides, who could possibly be able to plant a mole in his place?

Even if Chen is not deeply in love with his wife,

there's no reason he'd hurt his own baby.

Anyway, there are few good people in this mansion.

The herbs have run out.

We need to go to the pharmacy tomorrow.

Oh, right.

I told you to put purple bamboo in a box.

What happened afterwards?

You guessed it right, My Lady.

Wantang truly is a spy.

I placed the purple bamboo somewhere unnoticeable

and asked Wantang to tidy up the room.

Wantang,

go and tidy up Lady Wan's dressing table.

Okay.

Fuling,

it's done.

Go take a rest then.

Okay.

I followed her to the second gate

and saw her giving the item to an old woman

before she came back.

I thought highly of her.

But it turns out she's a spy.

My Lady,

why don't I probe into the background

of that old woman tomorrow?

That can wait.

We should first guard against Wantang.

My Lady,

could Lianye's death

be relevant to Concubine Liu?

I'm not sure of it yet.

But indeed, Lianye

and Concubine Liu were murdered in a similar way.

They both died of suffocation due to attacks on their necks.

They both visited the Purple Bamboo Grove.

Injuries left on Lianye's body when she tried to flee and fight.

It shows that the murderer had never killed anyone before,

so he had no experience as to how to control his preys.

There is only one fatal wound on Concubine Liu's body.

The murderer decisively and brutally took her life

with one strike only.

That couldn't be the first time he killed.

If my guess is correct,

when we find the killer of Concubine Liu,

we'll also figure out the truth of Lianye's death.

Think about it.

Only the murderer knows

Lianye went to the Purple Bamboo Grove.

Wantang's secret master

is very likely

the killer of Concubine Liu.

Wan!

Wan!

Wan, help!

-Wan! -Li,

calm down.

What happened?

Listen,

the Heir of Prince Rui

brought some people to my place.

They'll find out about my illness!

Why is His Highness searching the mansion again?

It's said that Liu Chun went missing,

so they're looking for him.

Could Liu Chun be...

Wan,

it'll be a real disaster

if they mistake me for Concubine Liu's lover

and arrest me!

Even rabbits don't eat the grass by their dens.

I would be worse than an animal

if I ever had an affair

with my father's women, wouldn't I?

Calm down, Li.

I will explain your illness to His Highness.

Really?

Really.

Thank you, Wan.

Wan, the mansion is not quite peaceful lately.

Madam Qin hates it most when there's trouble.

Listen,

do not go to the Purple Bamboo Grove.

Madam Qin,

out of constant fear of accidents related to wells,

immediately ordered all the wells

in the mansion to be sealed overnight.

Li,

do you know there is a well in the Purple Bamboo Grove?

How did you get to know that?

I need an answer from you.

Did Madam Qin lock down the grove

because of that well?

Yes.