Original subtitles

(Moonlit Reunion)

(Episode 10)

Boss, the protection array is ready.

The portal is open.

Get ready.

It's time.

Are you Xuan Hui?

That's me.

Kitty!

(In the seventh year of Ren'an's reign, on New Year's Eve,)

(a great fire fell from the heavens, consuming half of Chang'an.)

(The flames raged for three days and three nights.)

(Countless citizens of Chang'an were injured.)

(There were 1,069 casualties.)

(There are many dubious points about this case.)

(Firstly, a great fire suddenly fell onto Chang'an from the sky.)

(It couldn't be extinguished with water, and no one knew why.)

(Secondly, the fire lasted three days.)

(Although there were many casualties,)

(less than half of them died from the fire.)

(When the coroners inspected their bodies, there were no wounds at all.)

(Thirdly, after the yamen's inquiry,)

(they found out that a few villagers saw shadows of demons darting around.)

(When they asked them about the details, they dared not reply.)

(They later denied their testimony.)

(All these events are highly irregular.)

(It might be the work of demons.)

(It's said that Chang'an has had a Demon Market since ancient times.)

(I suppose it's their doing.)

Shu!

- Wu Zi Shu. - Wu Zi Shu.

What's wrong?

Shu!

Lady Liu actually likes demons?

That preference of hers is peculiar indeed.

But do demons actually exist in this world?

I guess so. After all, I saw one at the Liu Residence before.

White Serpent loves to make things up. He should show me the real deal.

Speak of the devil.

Is that another snake?

This...

- How is he? - He's fine now.

He was just too agitated. A few days of rest will do.

I suppose the scene was quite shocking. But Shu has always been composed.

Why would he be shocked by such an event?

Lord Shu's original form is a book after all.

Perhaps he was afraid that the lightning might set him on fire.

After all, it was the remains of a Sinister Fiend. It has a sinister aura.

Ling Xiao, is there anything unusual about him?

I've already given him a diagnosis. There's no sign of sinister corrosion.

Cat Lord summoned lightning today.

She has expended a lot of energy.

Luckily, this matter is over.

We can rest for a few days.

I'm afraid not.

Why not?

Boss, did you forget what day it is tomorrow?

You mean the Lantern Festival?

I'm not going.

Are you saying that there's a Demon Market in Chang'an?

I read that from the palace's secret records.

I'm sure it's not a baseless speculation.

From now on, we have to be extra cautious.

We'll have to find evidence to prove our speculation.

All right.

But Brother Mei, where are you going?

Today's the Lantern Festival.

Every clan member, together with the officials of the Six Departments,

will head to the Imperial City to release sky lanterns.

Are you leaving me alone?

I'm exhausted from all the work, yet you're just chilling.

It's pouring, you know? Why aren't you helping me out?

How dare you eat when you're not making a single cent?

Is it my fault that it's pouring out there?

Besides, it's not like I don't want to make money.

But I have no other way to make a living.

You!

Go and pour the bucket of water!

How dare you still eat? Put it down!

You...

Isn't this Little Fish's residence?

Fourth Master Mei.

Wen Hua, I heard that there's a master from Changxi Palace here.

That's not true.

Why are you here?

I heard that there's a master who can exorcise demons here.

Are you the master from Changxi Palace?

Indeed.

(Duke Wu's Residence)

Lady Wu Zhen.

Lady Wu Zhen?

Today's the Lantern Festival. You can't afford to sleep in.

It's time to wash up.

Lady Wu Zhen?

It's almost the hour of Shen.

No matter what, you should wake up and have some food.

Her Majesty has arrived.

Lady Wu Zhen?

Your Highness.

Zhen, where are you going in such a hurry?

As the second daughter of Duke Wu and my only sister,

you should set an example and act as a dignified lady.

But look at you right now.

You're too "dignified" for your own good.

Sister, don't be angry. It's good that Lady Wu Zhen is here.

The Lantern Festival is only held annually.

Naturally, you should come and make a wish.

Make a wish? That's just like scooping the moon's reflection in the water.

Such wishful thinking.

Wishful thinking?

You were in a coma for three months when you were young.

I made a wish to the heavens

for your recovery during the Lantern Festival.

That's how you're able to survive until now.

Sister, you're right.

Lady Wu Zhen, what's your wish?

I wish for world peace.

World peace?

I just hope that you can leave the world in peace.

Your Majesty.

Consort Mei.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Greetings, Consort Mei, Your Highness.

I heard that you managed to crack two long-standing cases recently.

You've brought honor to the Mei family indeed.

I was just fulfilling my duty.

Commissioner Mei, do you know about the Lantern Festival?

It is an auspicious day when people make wishes and pray for blessings.

Please don't worry. Little Fish and I did our research before coming.

So, Mei Yu, what wish do you have?

I hope for a prosperous state and world peace.

- World peace? - World peace?

Commissioner Mei, you're concerned about the world.

You're indeed a true gentleman.

Sister,

don't make your favoritism so obvious.

Even if you don’t worship the deities day to day,

you still ought to respect them when it matters.

Especially at your age, when it's great to find a partner.

You guys should pray to them sincerely.

Send your wishes to the sky with the sky lanterns.

If the heavens see them, they'll surely arrange

a good partner for you two.

Let's just hope that it'll work at the very last minute.

This...

I mean, I'll pray to them sincerely.

That's huge.

This looks amazing too.

This is made from cloth while this is made from paper.

It's just a lantern.

Aren't they devoting too much effort to it?

They want to pick the best-looking lanterns,

hoping that the heavens will notice them due to their appearance.

It's merely the playful nature of youngsters like them.

But Cat Lord, you're only in your twenties.

You should question yourself as to why you're not behaving like them.

Just like what you said, it's the playful nature of youngsters.

You're a snake demon who's over 100 years old. Stop butting in.

Do you think I'm doing this of my own accord?

Now, I'm the daughter of a minister, you know?

I have to play the part.

Lady Hu Zhu?

Master Shuang Jiang, aren't you celebrating the Lantern Festival?

I'm searching for demons.

Did you say that you were searching for demons?

Fourth Master Mei said he saw the silhouettes of demons today.

I'm making rounds just in case anything happens.

But I didn't notice anything unusual during my rounds.

- Did it prick your hand? - Lady Hu Zhu, be careful! There's a demon!

I'm sorry. Are you okay?

I'm fine.

I'll continue with my search, then.

Master Shuang Jiang, this is a rare occasion.

You should join us in making sky lanterns.

Master Shuang Jiang, come and join us.

Yeah. We've made plenty of them.

Let's go.

Come.

Commissioner Mei, may we speak in private?

Lady Xie, do you need anything?

I've been hearing your name quite often lately.

People say that you're one of the outstanding young talents.

The Arcane Appraisal Bureau has returned to the right track,

and it's all thanks to you.

They flatter me.

Commissioner Mei, you're upright and just.

I have something to tell you.

Do you have a case to report?

That's not it.

After hearing so much about you,

it's only natural for me to admire you, Commissioner Mei.

You may not know, but Father was strict with me.

It's difficult for me to encounter a stranger without any banquets.

Although he's your father, he shouldn't restrict your freedom.

However, this case isn't under the jurisdiction of my bureau.

That's not it.

Actually, Father is pretty nice.

He treats my family and younger members very well.

Father serves in the Ministry of Personnel, and he has many students.

His position also benefits their careers tremendously.

Commissioner Mei, are you willing to take Father as your mentor

and have a close relationship with him?

The Arcane Appraisal Bureau is independent of the Six Ministries.

If I get myself involved with them,

people will suspect me of forming a faction.

Moreover, the cases we take on are vastly different from what they handle.

Let's forget about the rest. What about me?

What should I say about that?

Commissioner Mei, you exude extraordinary elegance.

I took a liking to you since our first encounter.

I want to know if you have any feelings for me.

Thank you for the flattery. However, I have no such intentions.

Do you hate me?

Lady Liao, we only met a few times.

Why would I hate you?

My background is extraordinary. Why do you not intend to pursue me, then?

Sorry about this.

Commissioner Mei, are you not willing to explain yourself?

In my opinion, there's no need for external reasons

if one truly fancies another.

Lady Xie, I have no feelings for you.

Commissioner Mei, don't misunderstand me.

I grew up studying the rules of being a virtuous woman,

and my family was very strict.

I won't pester you.

I'm not as rude and unreasonable as Princess Qing He.

Even if one doesn't obey the rules and is defiant,

everyone has their own way of living.

Lady Wu has her own merits as well.

You have no feelings for me. Is it because you want to marry the princess?

Lady Xie, I merely disagreed with what you said.

Seems like the rumors were false.

You and Princess Qing He are close indeed.

Are you being arrogant just because

you got promoted to the rank of commissioner?

If I tell my father to criticize you, you'll...

Lady Xie, please mind your conduct.

Do not throw a tantrum here.

What are you doing here?

Are you guys here to mock me together?

Lady Xie, what's wrong?

Xie is very timid.

Your Highness, please spare her and stop scaring her.

I didn't do so.

She just...

Relay my message to your father.

He praised Commissioner Mei for having a bright future ahead.

I can tell why he's the Minister of Personnel.

At least he's more discerning than those mediocre folks.

Mr. Xie, care to join us for the Lantern Festival?

Sure.

Master Shuang Jiang, do you have a wish?

To slay demons and purge evil!

How do you write the character "slay?"

"Slay", as in to slay demons and purge evil.

Don't you know how to write it?

Don't you have any decent wishes?

Decent wishes?

(To make a fortune)

Coming.

How is it?

What did you wish for?

Of course it's to become a couple with Lady Liu.

Mei Si, what's with all the sky lanterns?

The journey is long and arduous.

I don't want any accidents to happen.

With all these sky lanterns, I'm sure the heavens will see them somehow.

I don't know if the heavens can see them or not.

But I know Lady Liu can see them for sure.

I wonder what wish Lady Liu has made.

- Si. - Miss Zhen.

That's Lady Liu's sky lantern.

You'll get used to it eventually.

Miss Zhen, at least she's thinking of me when she releases them.

Aren't you going to release one?

I'm not a kid. Why would I believe something like this?

It's not like you'll die from this.

Even a blockhead like Huang Yi has released two of them, you know?

He said he wanted to form a family.

A true gentleman doesn't resort to violence.

Huang, instead of making a wish to the heavens,

I think finding a matchmaker will be more effective.

The people of Chang'an said sky lanterns are most effective

when released on the Lantern Festival.

Lady Wu Zhen, do you want to make a wish?

Sure.

Miss Zhen, you actually agreed to it upon hearing his proposal?

I tried to persuade you to do the same every year,

yet you ignored me.

Hurry and make a wish.

Mr. Xie, since you brought the sky lantern here for me,

I wish you longevity.

Lady Wu Zhen, I wish you health.

May all your wishes come true.

May no disasters fall upon you.

May you have a bright future ahead.

May you go through an unobstructed journey.

- May... - Wait a minute.

Is this a poetry contest?

Can you guys make a decent wish for once?

You'd better write it properly.

(The world)

(Safe)

(Peaceful)

(May the Demon Market be safe and peaceful.)

(May the world be peaceful and prosperous.)

(Ruyi Pavilion)

Look!

Look! It's so high in the sky!

It's gorgeous!

- Look! - (Something's off about the lantern.)

(Wait, this is...)

(This must be sorcery.)

(A demon is controlling the lantern.)

Something feels off.

Lady Hu Zhu, what did you say?

I said, you were born to make sky lanterns.

Of course. People call me a master, you know?

Make another one, then.

Okay.

I never expected anyone here to release such a grand sky lantern.

Even I've never achieved such a feat.

Yeah. I've never seen such a gigantic sky lantern before.

I wonder who released it.

What's going on?

It's raining fire!

Run!

Run!

Lady Liu...

(Is that actually Xuan Hui?)

(How did he manage to escape from Demon Prison?)

Is he targeting me?

Wait. It's crowded here.

It'll be terrible if we hurt someone by accident.

I'll deal with the lantern.

All right.

The lantern is imbued with demonic power.

I assume Xuan Hui is nearby.

I'll look for him.

Be careful.

Okay.

- Huang Yi. - Lady Wu Zhen.

- Why are you... - Tell the Jinwu Guards to evacuate the people.

Tell them not to hide in the buildings.

Notify the Fire Supervision Bureau as well. Go now.

Yes, my lady. Let's go.

Do not panic. Head in that direction.

Hurry, over here.

Get down from here.

Hurry!

Help!

What's with the huge fire?

Yeah. Did you see the giant lantern as well?

Who released it?

It's too huge. It'll cause a fire easily.

It's so dangerous.

It ruined the Lantern Festival for us.

Your Majesty.

We've notified the Fire Supervision Bureau. They'll arrive soon.

There are many participants this year.

Relay my order. Have each family count their family members.

Nothing else must go wrong.

Besides that, make an announcement.

To prevent another fire,

no one else is allowed to release a sky lantern.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Over here!

Lady Liu?

Lady Liu!

Everyone, over here! Hurry!

Excuse me.

Have you seen Princess Qing He?

Have you seen Princess Qing He?

Her Highness is strong and decisive.

- I think she left long ago. - Let's hurry.

Lady Xie, have you seen Princess Qing He?

I have.

On the west side of the city gate tower. She pushed me down.

Where did she go after that?

I don't know.

The fire got worse when I turned around and looked.

Commissioner Mei!

Where are you going?

Lady Wu Zhen might still be up there.

I've known Lady Wu Zhen for many years.

She's not an ordinary lady.

With her skills, it's unlikely that she's trapped.

And, the firefighters will arrive soon. What's the use of heading up there?

Even so, I can't afford to let anything happen to her.

Come back!

Xuan Hui, where do you think you can escape to?

It's been six years since we met.

The Demon Prison is pitch black.

I can't even remember how long I've been there.

How did you manage to escape?

Why did you target Cat Lord?

You're pretty concerned about her, huh?

Stop beating around the bush.

You're still the same even after all these years, huh?

You didn't even bother to say hello.

Say hello, huh?

I'll grant you your wish.

That's not what I meant!

Listen! I'm more than a match for you!

Don't force me to do this!

You're the Serpent Lord! You can't torture me for no reason!

That's not it.

At most, I'm just lecturing my junior here.

Nonsense!

Why would a senior lecture a junior by sending him to Demon Prison?

That's already a light punishment for you.

You've harmed Cat Lord.

If you insist on resisting arrest, I may choose to end you here.

Are you truly trying to kill me?

You're actually trying to kill me for an outsider's sake?

Father!

Sister!

Sister!

Sister! Don't abandon me!

Wu Zhen!

Wu Zhen!

It's them!

Wu Zhen!

I've already administered the medicine.

It can soothe his nerves and relieve his pain temporarily.

However, he still needs to rest and recuperate for some time.

The city wall was already tall, and he jumped off the wall

while carrying Your Highness.

That's why his legs are seriously wounded.

It might cause a chronic problem later on.

Ming Zhuang.

I remember that Father has a collection of rare herbs.

Take the imperial physician there.

See if there's anything useful.

Was the culprit Xuan Hui?

It's him. He was supposed to be in Demon Prison.

How did he manage to escape?

Serpent Lord is dealing with the case. We'll know when she captures him.

Boss, you mustn't!