Original subtitles

EPISODE 24

Ah Zheng, the first time we met,

you wouldn't let go of me.

I know you've got a grievance, right?

Twice the case was retried.

You still wouldn't reveal the truth.

Is someone threatening you?

Or are they too powerful?

Afraid your family will suffer?

Do you have a theory, my lord?

You've thought of it too, right?

It must be a rich merchant

or a high-ranked official.

We must find the one who truly terrifies her.

Only then will we uncover the culprit.

Even if she can't speak,

she could've signaled somehow.

But she was too scared

to testify.

It was busy with people that day.

So many officers and workers passing by.

Why did she only plead to Haode?

And why stop once we showed up?

That's why I want Haode

to take another shot.

After you were taken,

Granny Zhang took her grandchild with her.

She did laundry jobs for neighbors,

barely earning 20 coins a day.

Now,

they've sold their countryside house and came here.

But they're living in temples or under bridges.

If you die,

they won't survive much longer.

Your last employer.

Did you sign a short-term contract?

Do you know where it was?

If not,

was there a plaque at the gate?

Even if you can't read,

you'd recognize the place, right?

Was it the Lu's House,

Wang's, or Li's?

Here,

point to the word

on this page for me.

Think carefully and show me.

FAMILY NAMES YU, REN, YUAN

FAMILY NAMES FEI, LIAN, CHEN

FAMILY NAMES XUE, LEI, HE

XUE

She's timid and from the countryside.

She only worked and didn't wander.

She's unfamiliar

with Bianjing's roads.

She only knows the gate had the word Xue.

XUE'S MANSION

XUE'S MANSION

XUE'S MANSION

My lord,

this is the last

Xue's house in Bianjing.

Let's head back.

No, it's not the last one.

- One more Xue family. - Haode.

The Grand Justice, Xue Guang.

Doesn't he count?

Brother, we've searched every house.

Why skip this one?

Don't tell me

you don't trust him.

Fine.

Let's go back to Kaifeng Court

and execute her.

Pretend this never happened.

- Qingshi. - I'm here.

Go to Xue's residence.

Sure.

Let's go.

Sit here.

Get off.

Is this really the Xue residence?

He visited Kaifeng Court that day.

The next day, I paid him a visit here.

Yes, it's this place.

Jingwei.

Jingwei.

Sir.

Sir.

Have a seat.

I've been an official for 40 years.

I'm used to a modest lifestyle.

My diet's simple, my clothes plain.

This house is all I own.

For years, I've only had

one disabled old servant.

My wife and young child

live frugally with me.

This is our life.

With only three of us,

we don't need maids or servants.

I also fear a court official living here

might attract gossip

and shame.

So, I've never hung a plaque.

Someone needs proof.

So, I had no choice.

Forgive me for the intrusion.

No need to apologize.

I have nothing to hide.

I've never done anything to feel guilty about.

So, I don't fear inspections.

Are you satisfied now?

Lord Xue, forgive my ignorance.

You're a sage.

No harm done.

Please, have some tea.

Try this.

I have duties to attend to.

I can't stay long to disturb you.

I'll visit another day

to apologize properly.

- Goodbye. - Take care.

She can't read.

What if she remembered wrong?

Which surnames look like "Xue"?

Which one?

Qingshi.

Sir.

Tell Officer Du

this case can't be delayed.

If there's no solid proof,

then uphold the verdict.

Murdering her husband deserves the death penalty.

Oh.

Keep investigating.

- Sure. - Go.

XUE

Dad.

Is it okay now?

You disgraceful child!

My years of good name are ruined by you.

I regret spoiling you.

Now, you murder and commit sins!

Why do I even need a son like you?

Others are officials. So are you.

Others live in luxury.

But I've lived in this hut for 20 years.

Why can't I enjoy myself?

A lowly farmer died. So what?

If you kill me for this,

you'll cut off your bloodline.

You!

Kaifeng already sentenced her.

She won't appeal again.

But have you cleaned out that private house yet?

Especially those who aided and abetted you.

Well,

it's okay with that house.

But don't worry.

I'll handle them.

I also told someone

to remove the plaque.

Fool!

There are not so many Xue houses here.

Taking down the plaque now? It's too suspicious!

Dad.

Dad. I'm your son.

Save me, please.

That Shen guy.

He's your student, right?

He'll listen to you!

And that magistrate.

He'll listen to you!

- Enough. - Dad.

Are you just going to watch your son die?

I beg you, Dad.

Help me!

I didn't want to come.

Granny had my bedding moved.

Leshan and Yinhong are sharing a bed.

I couldn't go there too.

Don't mind me. You go to sleep.

I said don't mind me,

and you really don't?

Brother.

She's innocent.

She's innocent.

You asked me to check Xue Sizu.

I found a private house.

Hurry!

Hurry up!

Be careful.

Who'd have thought Lord Xue lives so simply.

Yet his son owns houses and keeps women.

Apart from that, there's even a troupe.

Did Zheng Su'e confirm it?

Yes, sir.

We arrested the servants there.

They're being interrogated.

About that culprit, Xue Sizu,

should we arrest him now?

Leave it to me.

Sure.

Brother?

Why aren't you at Kaifeng Court today?

Ruining my embroidery here instead?

I'm done.

I'm never going there.

Shouhua, does Du always tell you

what he thinks?

Well, actually,

he carries the weight

and makes decisions on his own,

never letting me worry.

People say couples should be open with each other.

But how many truly are?

It's all guesswork.

Back and forth.

That guessing's part of the fun.

Otherwise, marriage would be dull.

Haode,

you're going to be Mrs. Shen now.

Just listen to your husband.

Zheng's life or death isn't your concern.

But I can't forget her.

They cut her tongue and broke her teeth.

She was so beautiful once.

Who could be so cruel?

You mean

someone tortured her to break her teeth?

Shouhua,

your ideas are genius.

Those scoundrels.

They all confessed.

Yangxi.

What's the occasion?

Everyone's here.

Greetings to you, Mr. Du.

You're back.

Yeah.

The Zheng Su'e case troubles them.

What case did you just say?

Why so excited?

It's not for young ladies to hear.

Don't listen to him.

It's just a love scandal.

Sit at Sifu House for a day,

you'll hear ten more.

Why can't you say?

That's just a ridiculous case.

A woman surnamed Gao

accused her neighbor of harassment.

But her evidence was hard to verify.

What evidence?

Ask your Shouhua.

I'm going to wash up.

Shouhua.

She said

Liusheng snuck into her house.

He harassed her when she was alone.

He even bit her left chest hard.

How can officers verify this?

So, how was the case solved?

Tell me what you did.

What do you think?

What?

Look,

checking a chest is tricky,

but bite marks on food aren't.

Match the teeth marks and it's clear.

That's brilliant.

You should become a magistrate.

No one will be framed then.

Where are you going?

Du,

what methods do courts use to coerce?

Would Zheng be forced into confession?

For women,

they use finger clamps or flogging.

But no more than 200 strikes by law.

If she endures,

they can't do anything.

Even if she falsely confesses, later, when the higher courts intervene

and find out that she got beaten

over 100 strikes, when the rightful punishment is only 20,

the magistrate will take the rest themselves.

They call it reverse penalty.

Would they pull teeth?

An oral confession. What's the good in that?

That would be a real false confession.

Thank you.

Haode.

Haode.

Haode.

Shouhua.

Are they…?

Let me.

Rare to see you resting today.

Instead of taking your wife out,

you came and visited me.

I don't have fine food for you,

but I made these preserves.

I made them with imperial fruits.

Here, have a taste.

You are a good teacher.

You care about me a lot.

Today, I'll take this tea

to show my respect.

We're teacher and student, like father and son.

Why can't you just speak plainly?

No need to be vague and evasive.

Pardon my boldness.

May I ask, Lord Xue?

If a nobleman in the city

abuses power and breaks laws under his father's authority,

shouldn't he be held accountable?

What exactly did he do?

He seized a maid named Ah Zheng,

killed her husband,

pinned the murder on another,

and ordered the county magistrate

to cut out Ah Zheng's tongue.

His actions are vile and cruel,

depraved, heinous,

beyond redemption.

Lord Shen,

do you know how many cases

I've handled?

Even I've lost count.

Can't my decades of merit

be exchanged for his life?

It's never hard to judge a case…

but people's hearts.

Last night,

I kept thinking about this.

The law was created based on human nature.

Then the exceptions by human emotions

are selfish desires.

Unchecked feelings lead to injustice.

Unchecked greed leads to chaos.

When facing these exceptions,

those who judge the cases

should never be compromised.

I hope you understand, Lord Xue.

Sir, the young master still insists on going.

He's testing my patience.

My lord,

you can protect him.

Yes, I can protect him.

But compared to a reputation I've built for decades,

an heir means little to me.

You've met that man,

haven't you?

That day, you weren't scared because Lord Shen arrived.

You were scared

because you saw Xue Guang.

You're afraid of him.

Perhaps you saw him at the manor,

knew he's a high-ranked official,

so you couldn't cry for justice.

Father, why are you here?

Who let you set up a private house here?

Father, let's talk inside.

Oh heavens.

I see now.

Your teeth

weren't pulled during interrogation.

They were knocked out

while resisting assault.

I know

you don't trust the officials.

But my husband isn't like them.

If you trust me,

trust him too.

Brother, I've found evidence against the killer.

I heard from Qingshi. Well done.

You really went to the Xue house?

And told him about it?

He's Lord Xue's only son.

If it were me, I'd let him escape.

But he's the Grand Justice.

He can't violate the law knowingly.

It's precisely because Lord Xue knows the law

that his crimes cause even more harm.

Sir, Lord Xue and his son are here

to turn themselves in.

Bring them to court.

Yang Zigao,

the magistrate summons you.

JUSTICE PREVAILS

Zheng Su'e,

look at these four men carefully.

Among them,

which one killed your husband?

SILENCE

Audacious woman.

You don't even know me,

yet you accuse me? Think it can clear your name?

The three of you, leave.

On March 16th last year,

you took Zheng into your manor as a maid.

You coveted her beauty,

constantly harassing her.

But Zheng was virtuous

and firmly refused.

On April 3rd,

to avoid your abuse,

Zheng fled back home alone.

Had you stopped then,

you might've redeemed yourself.

But instead,

you followed her.

On Buddha's birthday, April 8th,

when Granny Zhang left to pray at the temple,

you broke into her house again.

Zheng resisted your advances.

In anger, you struck her

and broke one of her teeth.

Her husband, Zhang Min, hearing her screams,

rushed in with a knife to save her.

You and two servants

killed him.

What Lord Shen claims

is baseless conjecture.

Where's the evidence?

Bring in Han Neng and Wang Hong.

Han Neng, Wang Hong, both are your servants.

They've confessed everything.

Don't tell me you don't know them.

These two are indeed my servants.

But days ago,

I drove them out

for stealing silverware.

They hold a grudge

and made this up.

What are you talking about?

We had no quarrel with Zhang.

Why would we kill him?

My lord,

the silverware was his bribe to us.

It was hush money, I swear.

That silverware was my mother's treasure.

How could I just give it away?

If you don't believe me, search their homes.

You'll see.

I even reported the theft back then.

It was too trivial

to trouble you with.

So,

they framed you for firing them?

Why would the magistrate

cut her tongue?

Bring in Yang Zigao.

My lord.

Yang Zigao died in custody.

Lord Shen, apart from these two servants,

if there's no other proof,

I must leave for a lecture at the academy.

I'll take my leave.

SILENCE

- Let go! - You husband-killing wretch!

I'll cut you to pieces!

Pull her back.

Stop!

Pull them back.

Zheng said she bit

the killer's left shoulder.

Guards.

Check his shoulder.

Shen Huizhao!

My father treated you as family.

How dare you betray him?

You heartless snake.

Do it.

SILENCE

My lord,

the old and new bite marks match.

Even the broken tooth aligns perfectly.

Xue Sizu, how dare you!

You deny knowing Zheng Su'e,

so how did she know about your bite mark?

Confess, or you'll be flogged to death here.

Brother,

did Lord Xue truly know nothing

of his son's actions?

My lifesaver!

Please, no need for this. Get up.

No, no, take it back.

Take it.

Go home and live a good life.

Escort them safely home, then report back.

Understood.

You saved them.

Why are you crying?

I don't know.

All those wronged will be compensated. They'll be given coins and cloths.

Once they're home,

life will better.

But I just feel like crying.

Then cry for a bit.

Cover your eyes with some soaked packs later.

We came for hiking,

not for tears.

Granny might think I upset you.

Okay,

let's go back.

Brother.

That's it?

I need more consolation.

Didn't you promise Granny

you'd take me to hike?

I gave you the choice.

You chose to see them off.

But brother…

Then have tea with me before we leave, right?

If not, buy me some lamb skewers.

That works too! Please?

Brother, I'm starving.

I'm begging you.

This looks nice, so fresh!

Smells amazing.

Miss, take a look.

Homegrown.

Stop the cart.

Stop.

- All good! - Pick some fresh ones for me.

This is good, right?

Take your time.

I like this one.

Sir,

take your pick.

Try this one for me. Looks nice.

- Okay. - Is it good?

- Sure. - How about this one on me?

Here, try it.

Let me see.

Nice taste, sir.

This jade ring is finely crafted.

The paired ducks symbolize love.

A perfect gift for your wife.

Everyone loves it.

This one suits you well too.

This bracelet's lovely.

I'll take this one.

Wrap this up.

Of course, right away.

No need for that.

Snap out of it.

Haode, yesterday,

did something nice happen?

Nothing special.

Then, tell me

why you're giggling like this.

I'm not giggling.

My lady, the old lady sent a gift.

Some fine bird's nest

and fresh porridge.

It's just been cooked.

- Leave it here. - Sure.

Did she hear everything?

She's already suspicious.

Always probing for answers.

Now she has proof.

What is she going to do?

She's going to tell them!

Just now,

outside her room, I heard them.

She said that's her sister.

Jinming Pool is bustling today.

Boats and performances are everywhere.

Those swinging on water swings.

They look like they're flying in the wind.

It's even livelier than previous years.

You have a day off.

Take your new wife out for a stroll.

Don't let

your young bride feel bored.

You're right, Granny.

My grandson,

you always agree but never act on it.

Every time I ask you to go out,

you sulk and look so gloomy.

It's hard to tell if it's an outing or a funeral.

With this attitude,

when will I see my great-grandkids?

Granny, I'm here to greet you.

Come in.

Best wishes, Granny.

Oh, you're here too?

And this is?

I must apologize, Granny.

When I visited my family,

I told them

how kind you are to me.

You treat me like family.

But my sister didn't believe me.

She said no in-laws could be so lenient.

She thought it wasn't real.

I invited her here, but she hesitated.

She said she needed to disguise herself

as a maid to test it.

Now, she finally believes me.

That such kind,

understanding elders exist.

She changed clothes to greet you.

Please forgive her boldness, Granny.

She wanted to report this earlier,

but I told her to wait and observe longer.

Since you spoke so highly of Granny,

our family must live up to your words.

Invite someone to test us,

so the truth can be spread.

You make it sound like I seek praise.

That's why

I thought this girl resembled you,

and now I know she's family.

Granny,

I followed my sister's carriage here.

She was shocked and wanted to send me back.

I insisted on staying, no matter what.

Please don't blame her for hiding this.

You all kept this from me so well.

Who says I'm not upset?

Come here quickly.

I love cheerful, flower-like girls.

You should

stay here longer.

Keep your sister company

and amuse me.

Consider it making up for your offense.

Another day,

we'll go out together.

Granny,

I still have work at the office.

I can't be with you.

I'm sorry.

Who's asking you to come along?

You're such a buzzkill every day.

Haode, accompany me instead.

Sure.

This way.

Liu, a word with you.

Sure.

Anything happening in her room, small or big,

will be learned by Granny

within an hour.

You've had a bias against my wife.

You often spoke ill of her before Granny.

Did you think I wouldn't notice?

Master,

I only did it for you

and this family.

I have no selfish intent.

You claim to serve Granny loyally,

but instead,

you stir trouble and gossip.

You spy on your masters yet call yourself a devoted servant?

She's my wife.

Whether she's good or bad,

she is not someone for you to judge.

There's no place for you.

Find a reason and resign.

I'm sorry, Master. I won't do it again.

Please help me, my lady.

My lord,

if Liu leaves,

Granny may be upset.

Why not let her stay,

serve Granny more loyally,

and make amends?

- Thank you, sir. - Not me.

If you want to thank someone,

thank my wife, the mistress of the Family Shen.

I've been foolish and offensive.

It's generous for you to forgive me.

I will improve

and serve faithfully,

never speaking out of turn again.

That's okay. Go.

Brother.

You finally admit I'm your wife?

Make up for the one you gave away.

Don't overthink it.

Don't think too much. Don't.

Who's that?

A new ministry officer.

He's solved several big cases.

He is a sharp young man, highly regarded by the lord.

Skilled and talented.

Is he married yet?

Master Qiao,

every Dragon Boat Festival,

we place zongzi outside to honor the gods.

It always draws a crowd.

Red date, pine nut, chestnut.

Walnut, ginger, persimmon, ginkgo.

Round, pointed, pagoda-shaped, nine-layered.

Name it, she makes it.

Of all our sisters,

only Qiongnu can do such work.

No one else can compare.

And this, five-colored rice cakes.

If you don't try one, how do you know?

If you don't try one,

how do you know?

Take it slow.

Have some tea.

Don't choke.

My lord,

I'm here to report a case.

I bumped into Master Qiao

and asked him over.

It didn't delay the matter.

Don't be upset, brother.

How's the case going?

Sir, Deng and Ji had a betrothal agreement.

The Ji was wealthy but fell into poverty.

Three years ago,

the Deng's tried to annul the marriage.

The Ji's sued and took it to Kaifeng.

The court ruled against the Deng's.

They were ordered to marry as planned.

They lived harmoniously afterward.

But last month,

Madam Ji died suddenly during childbirth.

After the funeral, the Deng's buried her quickly.

The Ji's, living far away,

arrived too late.

She was already buried.

She had a maid with her named Ah Tao.

She claimed that Deng killed her mistress.

The hasty burial was to cover it up.

The case caused quite a stir.

So many are talking about it.

But there's been no resolution.

Then, open the coffin for inspection.

Sir, exhuming a body is a grave matter.

If we find nothing,

the Deng's might retaliate,

harming your reputation.

The living can tell a hundred lies.

But the dead can only tell the truth.

If the Deng's protest,

I'll take full responsibility.

Just go.

Understood.

Master Qiao.

Master Qiao.

Why do you run faster when I call you?

I'm not done talking.

Isn't he acting strange?

Are you done?

Then go back.

Just go back.

Subtitle Translation by: Yi Yang