Original subtitles

The eunuch faction pointed Donglin as the culprit.

[North Investigation Bureau]

Using the name of purifying the emperor's side to eliminate dissenters.

Wei Zhongxian's minions are all out.

Those who submit, betray Donglin and join the eunuch faction;

Those who resist, are killed.

Uphold the righteous path, seek peace for the nation through the ages.

Chaos caused by treacherous officials is the root of disaster, spreading turmoil.

Dear, don't worry too much. The heavens have their cycles.

Here, cheers.

When the Eastern Depot is strong, the Imperial Guards attach it.

The Imperial Guards who were supposed to be under His Majesty's order

turned into servile followers of the eunuch faction.

The Xiuchun Sword, meant to cut down the treacherous for the court,

has become a sharp blade hanging on the head of Donglin Party.

You...

What do you want?

For a while, the court is in an uproar.

Everyone is in fear.

Sun Yuan'an, Vice Minister of Personnel,

is guilty of selling official positions for money and shall be punished by death.

You servile followers of the eunuch faction!

I've been dedicated to the Great Ming. What's wrong with that?

This purge of the court

envelops the entire capital like dark clouds,

[I, Royal Censor, Li Nanchen, failed in supervision, against imperial orders and court discipline, pay with my life for my crime.]

blocking the daylight.

Royal Censor, Li Nanchen,

committed suicide to escape punishment due to lack of supervision.

Inside the Forbidden City, there is music and peace.

Yet outside the palace walls,

it has turned into a bloody battlefield.

General Wei,

The North Investigation Bureau is ordered to arrest you.

I advise you not to resist.

I've been waiting for you!

Come on!

You, the running dogs of the eunuch faction!

Either you die or I die today!

Rebel!

[BROTHERHOOD OF BLADES: KILL EVIL]

What a heavenly delight it is to have

the company of Miss Yao Zhi today.

My Lord, if you're interested,

let me

play a minor from Hangzhou for you.

What do you think?

You know what I want.

Lord Fang, you're the new Director of the Ministry of Revenue

and a popular man in front of His Majesty.

Since you're here,

let's drink first.

My lord, please.

Another stab in the chest,

and a thrust into the Yutang acupoint below the ribs.

Exactly the same as in Wang Xing's case.

First, they killed Wang Xing,

then Fang Maozhi,

Could it be that the Donglin Party is starting to strike back?

Let's investigate all the Donglin members

that Wang Xing and Fang Maozhi

had offended.

This is not a case we can investigate.

I'll find an excuse to ask Lord Xu to send someone else.

Don't, Chu Mo.

This is a big case that can solidify our position

in the North Investigation Bureau.

If we succeed, we'll be recognized by the Eastern Depot.

If we mess up,

we'll never be able to hold our heads up again.

Both the Donglin Party and the eunuch factions

don't want to offend the higher-ups.

That's why they're passing the case to us.

Do you think they really want you to get promoted and get rich?

Wake up.

Let me ask you,

who is the most powerful one under the emperor?

Wei Zhongxian.

The Archive have been checked.

No documents are missing for now.

I see.

Don't worry about the parties and conflicts.

We follow the rules of whoever is powerful.

Find out

who Wang Xing Fang Maozhi has contacted recently.

Yes.

Recently, His Majesty's health is deteriorating.

And it's at times like these

that the Donglin rebels caused trouble.

They even killed the important officials of the court.

Those people

really think they can survive for a few days.

How long do we have to wait?

I've been waiting for three days.

Just wait.

Look at him.

Eunuch,

dog meat from Pei County, Jiangsu, sent quickly by horse,

to serve His Excellency.

Thank you, Lord Xu. Go.

The Donglin Party causing trouble

is not dissatisfaction with me.

It's clearly dissatisfaction with His Majesty.

Your Excellency.

Isn't this Captain Xu? Why?

Is the North Investigation Bureau so idle?

Your Excellency,

I haven't served you for a long time.

I feel very ashamed, so,

I specially sent someone to bring dog meat from Pei County, Jiangsu,

so that you can have a taste while it's fresh.

Now that His Majesty is ill,

Wang Xing and Fang Maozhi died tragically,

and there's such a big mess happen in the court,

I feel guilty to His Majesty.

How can I have the mood to eat?

You're right, Your Excellency.

Please don't worry.

People from the North Bureau have been dispatched.

I will do my best to supervise it.

The Donglin rebels say that I interfere with politics

and broke the Great Ming's rules,

and they even want to harm me.

You're in charge of the North Investigation Bureau.

You must alleviate my worries.

Please rest assured, Your Excellency.

The North Investigation Bureau

will do our best to capture the Donglin rebels.

Lord Wang is an important official

and also Godfather's right-hand man.

It seems someone is breaking Godfather's rules.

Please rest assured, Your Excellency,

and Lord Han.

In the capital,

such a serious case has occurred.

The North Investigation Bureau will clarify the case as soon as possible.

Lord Xu, we've been colleagues for so many years.

I know the pressure you're under.

But this case

cannot afford the slightest negligence.

My lord, please let me take on Wang Xing's case.

Wen Lianggong,

you've arrested so many Donglin rebels recently.

Let us have this small merit.

Chu Mo.

Du Ziqi.

I'll leave this case to you two.

My lord.

Currently,

do you have any idea?

Not yet.

Wang Xing, as the Grand Secretariat,

has no real power in the court,

but he is related to the Empress

and can speak directly to His Majesty. His words carry great weight.

Besides,

he's a right-hand man of His Excellency.

The Eastern Depot

has been watching this case closely.

Please leave it to us.

How many days?

Five days.

The North Investigation Bureau is working. Get out of the way!

[Tea]

Nowadays, the Eastern Depot is powerful.

We, the Imperial Guards, have to work for them.

But it's also good.

If it weren't for these Donglin rebels,

when would we ever have a chance to rise?

Caught in the party struggle,

you and I are just in the middle.

What if one day the Donglin faction becomes strong?

What should we do then?

Forget about that.

We're just arresting people and earning merits now.

The more people we arrest,

let alone the corporal,

maybe when the higher-ups are pleased,

we'll be able to become a sergeant or captain.

Now there are endless disputes.

The Great Ming is not the same as before.

I've heard that she's as beautiful as a fairy.

So beautiful.

Yes.

She is indeed the most beautiful woman in the capital.

As beautiful as the rumors say.

Don't just stand there. Let's go.

Hey.

Lord Du,

what brings you here today?

It's quite rare.

There are many high-ranking officials and nobles here every day.

I'm just a small banneret.

Lord Du, you're too humble.

Let me ask you,

what did Fang Maozhi do yesterday?

Who served him?

Tell me everything.

Well...

My lord,

why are you sitting here

without saying a word?

I may not be able to come for a while.

My lord.

The song is not over, and I'm still here.

Whenever you have time,

I'll play music and drink with you.

Waiting for you.

Fang Maozhi did come here,

but nothing unusual was found.

[Wait for me to solve the case and get the reward to redeem you]

Fool.

[North Investigation Bureau]

Mr. Xu,

we've been colleagues for so many years.

I know your capability.

We're all here to alleviate the worries of His Excellency.

But how is

the case going?

Over the years,

it's not easy going step by step to the position of

the captain, right?

If anything goes wrong

in handling this case,

all these years would be in vain.

Please give me more time, Lord Han.

These Donglin rebels

are making trouble.

I can wait,

but my Godfather can't.

If the North Investigation Bureau can't find out,

and hand it over to the Eastern Depot,

how will you survive in the future?

I also came from the North Bureau.

I can't bear to see you fall here.

[Zhang Huairen, Yu Xizhao, Lu Dongxing]

Check the people

one by one.

You'll definitely find a lot of clues.

Lord Han,

these are all big officials in the court.

Without an warrant...

Warrant?

Does the North Investigation Bureau

need a warrant to arrest someone?

[Fang Maozhi]

Yao Zhi,

your actions in the future need to be more careful.

My father was killed by these eunuch factions.

I won't let them go.

Now, all places are building Life-Time Temples for Wei Zhongxian.

The Hangzhou Prefecture took the lead.

They dare to use local taxes to build

and even allocate 500,000 taels.

It's really audacious.

The eunuch faction's power is deeply rooted.

It's not something that can be accomplished in a day or two.

We need to obtain more evidence.

I have already found out.

The Life-Time Temple of Hangzhou Prefecture

is managed by Cui Si from the Ministry of Works

and overseen by Xu Yuan.

To get the Construction Book,

we have to start with them.

My lord, you can't barge in.

Let me report first.

My lord!

Lord Lu, please come with us.

What brings you North Bureau here?

It's about Wang Xing and Fang Maozhi's case.

I'm just a small officer

in the Ministry of War's Carriage and Horses Department.

A minor job.

Those are big shots.

What does this case have to do with me?

This is just an interview.

Besides, you're not the only one we're looking for.

Don't worry.

Once we've investigated,

we will return you safely.

Warrant.

It's an urgent case. I didn't get a warrant.

We hope you understand.

What?

You Imperial Guards don't even need

a warrant when arresting people?

Has the rule set by His Majesty

become void with you?

I have my order.

Please forgive my rudeness.

Wait!

I know the methods

of your Imperial Guards.

You want to send me to the prison?

No way!

Let go of me!

Running dogs of the eunuch fraction!

Go!

Running dogs!

Let go of me!

Running dogs!

Rouge.

These old men are really tough.

Dozens of whips have been broken on them,

and they still say

they don't know anything.

How are we supposed to investigate this case?

It doesn't matter who the murderer is.

They're just using the excuse of catching the culprit

to eliminate dissenters.

Hey.

You two gentlemen still have time to chat here.

It seems the case is almost solved.

Any useful clues to share?

Maybe I can make use of them too.

We have urgent matters to attend to,

excuse us.

Then I should address you as Corporals, shouldn't I?

I'll wait for your good news.

About the supervision of the Life-Time Temple in Hangzhou Prefecture,

thank you for your help, Mr. Xu.

I will definitely speak well of you in front of His Excellency.

Mr. Xu, please.

You're welcome, Lord Cui.

It's my duty to establish the Life-Time Temple for His Excellency.

The position of the Director of the Water Department

in the Ministry of Works is still vacant.

This is a lucrative job.

Many eyes are on it.

If your temple is well built,

I'll put in good words in front of

His Excellency for you.

Right on time.

Miss Yao Zhi is quite

famous in the capital,

and has never been off her boat.

Lord Cui must have spent a lot of money.

Money alone is not enough,

you also need prestige.

Tonight,

we'll have both.

Miss Yao Zhi.

-Lord Cui. -Come on.

Since you invited me here,

I'll take the liberty to set the rules tonight.

What do you think?

Oh?

Interesting.

Tell me.

I'm sure you two have some good news.

Yao Zhi

feels even more fortunate to accompany

both of you tonight.

Since we're friends,

let's talk while drinking wine, shall we?

Okay.

[North Investigation Bureau]

Wang Xing and Fang Maozhi's case hasn't been clarified,

and now Cui Si died.

What's the use of the North Investigation Bureau raising you?

Even a dog can bark.

What about you?

Can you do it or not?

If you can't, take off your uniforms and get out!

Lord Han of the Eastern Depot gave us the list,

and asked you to investigate one by one.

But what's the result?

Nothing at all!

Now the whole court

is watching the North Investigation Bureau.

How do you want me explain? Tell me!

You can't even handle a gift on your doorstep.

You're putting me

on the spot.

Three days.

You only have three days.

If you still can't catch the real culprit,

then all of you will go to the prison!

Chu Mo from the North Investigation Bureau is here to investigate.

I have some questions for you.

My lord, this is the first time you've come in uniform.

I'm on duty.

Were you at Cui Si's residence that night?

What?

Are you here to arrest me?

How could she be so gentle?

That's right.

What have you done?

Cui Si is dead.

This can't be hidden.

The Imperial Guards will find you soon.

Aren't you here to arrest me?

Humph.

I thought you were different from them.

I will use my connections

to help you leave the city as soon as possible.

In today's world,

it's the same everywhere.

The Imperial Guards have plenty of ways to arrest me.

Please go back, my lord.

[Eastern Depoty]

Let me ask you.

Yes.

Why did Wang Xing, Fang Maozhi, and Cui Si die?

Well,

I dare not speak recklessly.

Life-Time Temple.

The Life-Time Temple of Hangzhou Prefecture.

The Ministry of Revenue allocates silver, and the Ministry of Works is in charge.

What does it matter to me

if someone builds a temple for me?

This is His Majesty's favor.

Those people are just jealous.

Besides, your contributions to Great Ming

deserve a temple.

In their eyes,

only they are loyal and virtuous officials.

And I, Wei Zhongxian,

is a scourge.

Please don't say that.

In His Majesty's eyes,

you are the pillar of Great Ming.

Let me ask you,

back then, when the Donglin Party member Zhao Nanxing

used the name of rectifying the court to suppress

officials from Zhe, Chu, and Qi factions,

why did those officials all side with me?

Because you are wise.

You can help them.

No.

His Majesty is the wise one.

His Majesty needs both the members of the Donglin Party

and me, Wei Zhongxian.

That's the rule His Majesty has set for the reign of Tianqi.

But these people tried every means

to destroy me and break this rule.

Goodness.

Son.

Who supervised the construction of the Life-Time Temple in Hangzhou Prefecture?

Xu Yuan.

[Xu's Mansion]

[I'm such a disgrace to the Xu Clan. Only by committing suicide can I apologize to my ancestors.]

[They are all the pillars of the imperial court. Only I, Xu Yuan, have done evil things for the eunuch faction.]

[The Xu Clan has been loyal to the imperial court for generations and is very upright.]

The Xu Clan

has been loyal to the imperial court for generations

and is very upright.

They are all the pillars of the imperial court.

Only I, Xu Yuan, have done evil things for the eunuch faction.

I'm such a disgrace to the Xu Clan.

Only by committing suicide

can I apologize to my ancestors.

You want to leave?

Come back!

The Xiuchun Sword?

Little thief.

Are you from the North Bureau?

So you're from the South Bureau?

Your martial arts skills are so bad.

Do you know who I am?

How dare you assassinate an imperial official?

Who sent you here?

Little thief.

Come on.

The Construction Book! The Construction Book! The Construction Book!

Little thief!

Lord Xu.

I dare not.

His Majesty's health

has got a bit better recently.

He asked me about the affairs of the imperial court.

I said there were no serious matters in the imperial court.

It's just that the serial cases have been quite tricky recently.

The North Investigation Bureau is doing the best to investigate.

Please ask His Majesty to rest assured.

Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency.

I wanted to share your burden,

but I made you worry.

It's all my fault.

What's the use of you two?

Godfather,

I've ordered the South Investigation Bureau to intervene

and thoroughly investigate the case of the Imperial Guards' internal thief.

We will definitely find him.

He must have

the Construction Book.

A little thief even stole something in our house?

I wonder whether your Imperial Guards

are hiding something from me

or there is really an intelligent man behind him.

I was negligent!

I deserve to die!

I deserve to die.

Don't worry, Your Excellency.

I will cooperate with the South Bureau to investigate this matter.

It's time to replace the Imperial Guards' captains

and sergeants with new ones.

Han Yao.

I'm here.

If someone handles this task well,

leave the position of deputy captain

to him.

Yes, Godfather.

Alright.

[Zuixian Restaurant]

Come on.

Today, regardless of the official ranks,

we're just going to talk about the old days.

Have a seat! Sit!

After I was transferred to the Eastern Depot from the North Bureau,

many people scolded me behind my back.

They called me a lackey or a henchman.

You must have heard a lot about that, right?

The scholar-officials of the Donglin Party

always talk about knowledge and morality.

Do they know how to deal with court affairs?

In the fifth year during the reign of Tianqi,

the grain tax was 3 million taels.

In the sixth year during the reign of Tianqi,

after His Excellency took charge of the court affairs,

the grain tax was 4 million taels.

There was extra one million taels.

If the Donglin Party had been the one to handle this,

would they be able to achieve that?

Tell me.

I'm just a warrior.

I can only see the surface of things.

I usually do my job under orders.

I dare not talk about court affairs.

In the sixth year during the reign of Tianqi,

if His Excellency hadn't strongly recommended Yuan Chonghuan,

there wouldn't have been a great victory in Ningyuan.

The Nuzhen Tribe would have arrived here to attack us.

If the Donglin Party had been the one to handle it,

would they know how to use the people?

Tell me.

His Excellency is indeed very discerning and good at using people.

So do you still think that

it's right to associate with the Donglin Party?

I can't manipulate others' thoughts.

As an Imperial Guard,

I only listen to His Majesty's orders.

We're sidetracked from the main topic.

When did you go to Xu Yuan's Mansion last night?

At 10 o'clock.

What did you find?

There were signs of fighting in the mansion.

Xu Yuan's body was stabbed with a blade.

Who do you think is the murderer?

We haven't conducted the autopsy yet.

We're not sure whether it was suicide or homicide.

What's your opinion?

What else did you find?

The scene was searched.

What was the searcher looking for?

I don't know.

Who ordered the person to do that?

I believe that you can find the murderer.

[Cuihua Pavilion]

Wen, you've solved the cases you were handling.

Why did you ask me to meet you here?

I just want to tell you something from the bottom of my heart.

Go ahead.

I guess you still don't know the current situation, right?

Who is the most suspicious one in Cui Si's case?

Yao Zhi.

But Yao Zhi and Chu Mo are quite close. Do you think...

we can still figure out the truth of this case?

We can't be used by others foolishly.

Sometimes,

the one who has dragged you into trouble is someone around you.

As long as we find Yao Zhi and figure out who is the mastermind,

not to mention the North Investigation Bureau,

even the Eastern Depot will promote us.

Think about it carefully.

Du,

we have a common goal.

Now the chance is right in front of us.

If we can seize it,

we'll be promoted to a very high position.

But if we miss it,

I don't know how long we will have to wait.

You are a sensible person.

My Lords.

You went to Xu Yuan's Mansion that night, right?

Now that you're still in our North Bureau,

if there's anything, just tell me at once.

When the Eastern Depot finds out about it,

you won't be able to explain it no matter how hard you try.

Cui Si had contact with Xu Yuan before he died.

I wanted to find out about the truth from him.

When I arrived there that night,

he was already dead.

He committed suicide.

This was left by Xu Yuan that night.

Wang Xing, Fang Maozhi and Cui Si.

The only connection among these three men

was building the Life-Time Temple for Wei Zhongxian in Hangzhou Prefecture.

And Xu Yuan was the supervisor.

This was definitely not a coincidence.

Maybe that Construction Book

was the real target of the murderer.

Wasn't there another person at the banquet

in Cui Si's Mansion that night?

Have you guys forgotten that?

How did you do your job?

Where is Du Ziqi?

Lord Xue.

Come with me.

Miss Yao Zhi asked me to deliver a message yesterday.

She asked you to go to the forest in the south of the city tonight.

She's not here, My Lord.

She's not here, My Lord.

Where is she?

Oh.

I don't know, My Lord.

Yao Zhi has been missing since this morning.

I dare not lie, My Lord.

Inform the guards of all city gates

to strictly check the people who are going out of the city.

Yes!

I've told you

the whole city is looking for you.

Why did you still go out?

To fight against the eunuch faction,

one careless move

will lead to failure of the whole game.

I went out to see whether the city gate was heavily guarded.

I want to leave the city and go to Hangzhou.

Going to Hangzhou?

Why?

I suspect that the Construction Book is in Hangzhou.

Xu.

You have to give the Construction Book of the Life-Time Temple to His Excellency.

But

I haven't finished editing the Construction Book yet.

When I return to Hangzhou Prefecture,

in less than a few days,

I will send it to Lord Cui with a fast post-horse.

Okay.

Okay.

Now all the Imperial Guards in the capital are looking for you.

You have to leave tonight.

Ziqi?

Where's Yao Zhi?

Do you have the Construction Book or not?

Why are you asking that?

So Yao Zhi has it?

Tell me.

Where did you hide Yao Zhi?

Hand her over to them.

It'll be good for both of us.

What on earth do you want to do?

Catching Yao Zhi,

finding the Construction Book

and giving it to Wei Zhongxian

are such great contributions!

Don't you want the position of deputy captain?

If we miss this chance,

we might be just like this all our lives, Chu Mo.

I'll say it again.

I don't have the Construction Book.

Yao Zhi isn't the murderer, either.

We only need to handle the case, report the situation

and get rewards.

If you go on defending her,

you're going against the North Bureau!

Du Ziqi!

If you leave now,

I can pretend that nothing has happened.

Alright.

Alright.

In that case,

don't blame me for doing this!

Ziqi, wake up!

Don't be used by others.

It's none of your business!

Chu Mo, the little banner official of the Imperial Guards,

colluded with Yao Zhi, a prostitute in the pleasure boat,

to murder Wang Xing, Fang Maozhi,

Cui Si, Xu Yuan and many other important ministers of the imperial courts.

They are rebels of the Donglin Party.

What a wonderful story.

For these two brothers,

one of them was for power,

while the other was for lust.

What a wonderful story.

Du.

You are really a loser.

You can't even catch the wealth that is given to you.

Wen Lianggong, shut up!

Ziqi, stop!

But since you could lure him out,

you're still a bit useful.

You used me!

I gave you a way out, but you refused it. I think you just want to die!

Ziqi!

Yao Zhi.

Yao Zhi!

Chu Mo.

You're so bold.

How dare you collude with the rebels of the Donglin Party

to murder court officials.

You hid your conspiracy so well.

Lord Xu.

What you said

might lead to the punishment of being beheaded.

Do you know that Yao Zhi

is a member of the Donglin Party?

You know that clearly.

But you still dare to associate with her privately.

Aren't you afraid of being beheaded?

Humph.

So, now the Imperial Guards

can only act the same as the shameless eunuch faction?

In order to eliminate dissidents,

you can frame others arbitrarily?

If you don't hand over Yao Zhi to me,

you won't be able to take a step out.

Are you so sure that

I work for the eunuch faction?

I've transferred Yao Zhi to another place.

She's safe.

Now,

you just need to do one thing for her.

Then the problem will be solved.

Who on earth are you?

I know you don't trust me.

However,

don't forget about Wen Lianggong.

He's already

on his way to the Eastern Depot.

Don't worry.

I've blocked

his route of retreat thoroughly.

Humph. They want to kill me.

It looks like there is a mastermind

behind Chu Mo.

Banneret Wen, where are you going?

You're summoned to the North Bureau urgently.

Go back with us now!

[Baoya Hall]

Everyone has been sent to arrest the suspect tonight.

How would I be summoned urgently?

If you want to kill me, just say it.

I have nothing to do with your conflict among the factions.

Now I just want to see Yao Zhi.

Now

she's just safe for the time being.

So what if you see her?

When the eunuch faction

killed her father, Gao Bingzhong,

you were there, too.

But you didn't do it.

Why?

Because

you saw injustice in your eyes.

You also felt that it was unfair.

Therefore,

I always believe that you're

a man with righteousness in your mind.

If I hadn't been there back then,

such conflict wouldn't have

existed between Yao Zhi and me.

Gao Bingzhong!

His Majesty issued an edict to build a Life-Time Temple for His Excellency.

None of the officials objected to it.

You were the nosy one.

Why do you want to run away now?

Running away? What a joke!

That eunuch handled political affairs improperly, and we have to build a temple for him?

This is against the law of Heaven!

That bastard, Eunuch Wei, will suffer from his own evil deeds eventually!

You call him a bastard when you've lost your power.

As expected, the Donglin Party only knows to scold others.

For the Great Ming, our Donglin Party

is ashamed to associate with that lowly bastard.

Shut up if you can't defeat His Excellency.

It's a pity that our Great Ming's century-old foundation,

which was built by several generations' wise men,

has been destroyed by a eunuch!

That's the resentment of our Great Ming

and the shame of the world!

Lord Gao.

The Great Ming's situation changed a long time ago.

Go take a look.

Yao Zhi

has never resented you.

Because she knows that

you didn't kill her father.

The enemy that killed her father is the eunuch faction.

In order to fight against the eunuch faction,

she's not as weak as she seems.

You want to protect her, don't you?

I've asked someone to take her out of the city.

She has gone to Hangzhou.

She will find the Construction Book.

Then you can bring it back.

As for the rest,

I'll handle it.

Wen Lianggong has left the city.

He is a smart man.

He must have guessed it.

If that Construction Book

falls into the hands of the Eastern Depot,

Eunuch Wei's crime

will never be revealed.

Make a choice yourself.

Steady.

Sir, your wine.

Alright, drink up!

Waiter!

Coming!

All served. Please enjoy.

Sir, a superior room, please.

With so many guests coming and going,

the superior rooms are all taken.

Money's not an issue.

No problem.

One first-class room, ready for you!

The swallow returns to the mountain forest. Bring a pot of wine.

Right away.

Here you go, enjoy.

Godfather.

I've received news.

The informant will arrive in Hangzhou soon.

And when they do?

If we obtain the Construction Book,

all will be well.

And if you don't?

I'll set out immediately.

You are my trusted aide

and the head of the Eastern Depot.

Every move you make is under scrutiny.

If you leave the city,

it will signal something major.

The Donglin members will act swiftly.

Whoever obtains the Construction Book

will inevitably return to the capital.

I understand.

They're inside!

The eunuch faction is in the room!

Catch them! Quick!

[Tea]

Lord Han.

Sergeant Xue,

I summoned you tonight to verify some information.

Who is the spy

in your North Investigation Bureau?

Is it under your orders?

Lord Han,

I have no involvement in this matter.

Please investigate thoroughly.

I recall you saying

the arrest of Donglin members was orchestrated by the Eastern Depot.

I remember those words.

As a Donglin member yourself,

you've already killed Wang Xing and Fang Maozhi.

Are you planning to strike against His Excellency next?

Speak!

Lord,

I swear I am not with the Donglin Party.

In the fourth year of Tianqi,

Donglin member Zuo Si led a group of rebels in a secret meeting at the theater.

I discovered them

and arrested them all.

In the fifth year of Tianqi,

rebels ambushed His Excellency's entourage,

attempting assassination. I thwarted it

and was thus promoted to Sergeant.

I have always been loyal

to His Excellency and to you, Lord Han,

with no hidden agenda.

I think those are baseless rumors.

I trust you

would never associate

with the Donglin Party.

Didn't His Excellency say

there's a vacancy for a deputy captain?

If you remain loyal to him,

I believe that position is yours.

I await your orders.

The night Fang Maozhi died,

the Archive must have left some traces.

Investigate thoroughly.

Also,

keep a close eye on the North Bureau.

The moment Chu Mo returns,

report immediately.

Understood!

[Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple Construction Book]

[Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple Construction Book]

Father,

to resist the construction of the Life-Time Temple,

and stop the eunuch faction from seizing land and harming the people,

you were murdered.

Now I've obtained the Construction Book.

This is the evidence.

The eunuch faction will pay the price.

[Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple Construction Book]

[The Archive]

[North Investigation Bureau Registry]

Xu Panxing inherited his father Xu Shuhua's position as a sergeant.

Xu Shuhua?

Xu Shuhua...

Gao Bingzhong...

Donglin Academy...

Yao Zhi.

I didn't expect you to come after all.

Lord Xu has already spoken to me.

I will never let you face danger alone.

The identity of a Donglin descendant

means I am destined to walk a path of no return.

Therefore,

I have never dared to hope for much.

But ever since the moment you saved me,

everything seems to have changed.

After my father's death,

I was left all alone.

Life has long lost its meaning to me.

But the last thing I want

is for you to get involved in this.

The Flying Fish Robe and the Xiuchun Sword

were meant to eliminate traitors and villains.

Yet in this world,

everything has changed.

Xu Panxing was right.

It is time to make a choice.

To stand against the eunuch faction

is to face near-certain death.

But if I am with you,

there's nothing to fear.

Chu Mo,

thank you.

I never thought Xu Yuan

would actually hide the Construction Book in the Life-Time Temple.

Wait. Don't go outside.

Stay here and wait for me.

Take a look,

little trinkets for sale!

Take a look.

Lord Han.

What have you found?

Do you remember

Gao Bingzhong, Sergeant of the North Bureau?

Gao Bingzhong?

Last year, when we constructed the Life-Time Temple for His Excellency,

he was the loudest in opposition.

I've discovered that he had a daughter,

who vanished

after his death.

And coincidentally,

Xu Panxing's father, Xu Shuhua,

was a classmate of Gao Bingzhong

at Donglin Academy.

Years ago, Xu Shuhua even tried to overturn the charges against Gao Bingzhong.

I suspect

that the prostitute is none other than Gao Bingzhong's daughter.

Oh?

The prime suspect in the case of Cui Si is that prostitute.

Yet, when we tried to arrest her, she vanished.

I suspect Xu Panxing secretly helped her escape.

Wen Lianggong, you can't escape.

For public or personal reasons,

you must die today.

Who dies today is yet to be seen!

Let go!

Let go!

[Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple Construction Book]

I will take the Construction Book back to the capital

and hand it to Lord Xu.

Yao Zhi.

I wish to leave the Imperial Guard

retreat into the common world with you,

and stay away from all the factional disputes.

As long as the eunuch faction stands,

there will never be peace.

Only when justice is restored to the Ming Dynasty

can we live peacefully.

This journey is bound to be perilous.

Promise me.

You must come back.

Wait for me.

Okay.

Your Excellency.

Xu Panxing.

Present.

This case has turned into a tangled mess under your watch.

I hear another Imperial Guard has died.

How will you explain this to His Majesty?

Your Excellency,

the case has been clarified.

A Junior Banneret named Wen Lianggong within the Imperial Guard

was confirmed to be a member of the Donglin Party.

The cases of Wang Xing, Fang Maozhi, and others

were all his doing.

Currently, he is resisting arrest and has fled.

I have already sent people out of the capital to capture him.

When will you bring him back to the capital?

Within three days.

Good.

I have always thought you

have great potential.

Serve His Majesty well.

Be loyal to the court.

Only then can you have a bright future in your career.

I will remember Your Excellency's guidance.

Go now.

I await your good news.

Yes, Your Excellency.

Lord Xu.

This is the Construction Book the Eastern Depot has been searching for.

[Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple Construction Book]

Although I've already found a scapegoat for you,

I cannot guarantee

that all suspicion against you will be completely cleared.

I'll handle the rest from here.

You must leave the city immediately.

Remember, protect Yao Zhi.

Even if this Construction Book reaches His Majesty,

the eunuch faction may easily suppress it.

I fear it will all be in vain.

Although His Majesty currently favors the eunuch faction,

don't forget,

there is still one person.

You mean,

Prince Xin?

Tonight, not even a fly is to leave this place.

I'll leave it to you, Captain Xue.

[North Investigation Bureau]

The eunuch faction wields immense power.

Toppling them won't be easy.

Only Prince Xin

might succeed.

Ah.

Lord Han.

I was about to finish up my work

and report to you,

but you've come so quickly.

Cut the nonsense.

Do you think the crimes your people commit

can escape the eyes of His Excellency?

Hand over the Construction Book.

Perhaps you might still save your lives.

I'll hold them off.

My lord.

You go first.

Xu Panxing.

His Excellency trusts you so much,

and yet you refuse a bright future,

choosing instead to collude with the Donglin Party members.

How foolish.

You expect me to become a lapdog for that eunuch?

Ridiculous!

Still talking big on the brink of death?

Bring it on!

Spare me, my lord!

Spare me!

Silence!

Bring it on!

Han Yao!

The thing you want is with me.

[Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple Construction Book]

Kill him!

Fight me?

You'll die for it!

[Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple Construction Book]

Your Excellency,

the Ministry of Works seal

and the Overseer Xu Yuan's stamp are here,

all confirmed to be authentic.

Lord Xu, you've done well.

Your Excellency.

I thought I had captured the true culprit,

but it turned out the mastermind was someone else.

These Donglin Party rebels are cunning

and dangerous,

and even led to Lord Han Yao's death.

Understood.

But the dead cannot be brought back.

It was my oversight.

I humbly ask for your punishment.

Han Yao's death

leaves me feeling quite hollow inside.

From now on, you will come to the Eastern Depot

and take his place as Captain.

Thank you for Your Excellency's grace.

I knew I wasn't wrong about you.

[A month later]

Before his death, Xu Yuan

left two versions of the Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple

Construction Book.

The fake version,

used to falsify facts

and deceive the court.

The true version,

recorded the silver the eunuch faction embezzled,

the lands they seized,

and the innocent lives they took.

Please present this to Prince Xin.

[Hangzhou Prefecture Life-Time Temple Construction Book]

In the autumn of the 7th year of Tianqi,

the Tianqi Emperor passed away.

The Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, ascended to the throne,

taking the era name Chongzhen.

He enumerated ten major crimes of Wei Zhongxian

and exiled him to Fengyang.

[Guihang Inn]

Chu Mo.

The eunuch faction has finally collapsed.

The world is at peace now.

It's all in the past.

But...

Where have you been?

Yao Zhi.

Yao Zhi.