Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty III: To Chang'an]

[Episode 11]

[Great Buddha Hall]

I wonder if the Lu family of Fanyang's promise

can save Buddhist Guangxiao?

I actually think

Buddhist Guangxiao

would trust our mentor, Master Di, more.

Disciple of Master Di, Su Wuming.

Disciple of Master Di, Lu Lingfeng from Fanyang.

The two of us pledge in our mentor's name.

And I'm willing to attach

the reputation of the Lu family of Fanyang to this.

Concerning the case involving Chengfo Temple,

we'll make every effort to investigate and resolve it swiftly

and dispel the rumors.

We'll restore your innocence

as well as the temple's reputation.

Buddhist Guangxiao,

please have faith in us.

Amitabha.

[Great Buddha Hall]

Are we really going to

close the case hastily as Du Ming suggested?

Of course not.

Then why did you...

It was just a delaying tactic.

But now Wu Yang

is still nowhere to be found, dead or alive.

We don't have any leads.

I wouldn't put it that way.

I think we have plenty of leads.

Well, tell me then.

First,

if the Ever-changing Master wasn't lying,

then how did Wu Yang's clothes

end up

on the victim?

Perhaps

that Ever-changing Master's words

can't be trusted at all.

He could have rescued Wu Yang

from Qu River again

and then killed her.

What you said actually makes sense.

It's all my fault.

In that desperate moment,

I kicked too hard.

Now that the Ever-changing Master is dead,

it's impossible to tell whether his words were true or false.

Thinking about it now,

we can only

examine that female corpse again

to identify her.

Is this appropriate?

Don't you call yourself a warrior?

How come you're acting so timid?

I'm not being timid.

I mean as for examining the corpse,

shouldn't we tell

Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng about it first?

There's no time to worry about that now.

I must see it with my own eyes.

The body is not Wu Yang.

Definitely not.

What did you say?

You two went to examine the corpse?

I know

we shouldn't have gone to the morgue without permission.

It's just

I suddenly

remembered something.

That day...

Can I be friends with you two?

I

have no friends.

Of course.

That day, I saw on her hand

a very exquisite plum blossom brand.

I was thinking at the time

that when we went to visit Qu River together,

I would ask her how she got that brand.

But there was no brand on that corpse.

Xijun, you've really been a great help.

No, it's not Wu Yang.

This is not Wu Yang.

My daughter Wu Yang might still be alive.

There's no plum blossom brand on her hand.

She's not Wu Yang.

She's not.

Then that day, why did you...

I...

Since her clothes and build

both matched,

I just...

So how did she get that plum blossom brand?

When Wu Yang was 6 years old,

one day,

she was almost abducted.

I desperately chased after them

and managed to snatch her back.

I immediately asked that person,

"Why did you abduct my daughter?"

He said...

He said that Wu Yang

looked exactly like Empress Wu Zetian.

At that moment,

I was absolutely terrified.

I was worried something bad might happen to Wu Yang again,

so I went to consult a Taoist priest.

The priest instructed me

to have a plum blossom brand

burned into this spot

of Wu Yang's hand.

This way, Wu Yang would forever

be bound to my side.

Bound?

She's a living person.

How could she be bound to you?

Besides,

how could you have missed

such an important lead?

My mind has been in chaos these days.

As soon as I saw the body, I...

It was my fault.

Therefore,

a person

needs to stay calm at all times.

Right.

Indeed.

Let's go

talk in the west hall.

You want me to...

How can I possibly do that?

[Discipline and Service]

You must do it even if you think you can't.

Perhaps only by following my instructions

can we find new clues

about Wu Yang.

[Meixiu Skincare Shop]

Our shop's Fairy Beauty Powder

-has been restocked. -I heard her daughter died.

Right.

The one named Wu Yang.

The rumors have been spreading like wildfire.

[Meixiu Skincare Shop]

Really?

Yes.

Ladies.

Our cosmetics

are of the finest quality

at reasonable prices.

Have you ever heard of the Fairy Beauty Powder?

It's been restocked.

Why not come in and check it out?

Okay.

Let's go.

[Meixiu Skincare Shop]

Chi Ying.

I...

[Shengye District]

Auntie Chi Ying.

Woody.

I don't have any trash here.

I'm not here for that.

I've come to say goodbye.

I'm returning to my hometown in Hanzhou Prefecture.

I think

you should try to feel better.

Wu Yang's leaving

might be a good thing.

From now on,

you can both

find peace.

Find peace?

My daughter has gone missing.

How am I supposed to find peace?

Who do you think you are,

coming here to say such things to me?

This is just absurd.

Get lost!

Get out of my shop!

Auntie Chi Ying.

Woody bids you farewell.

Woody,

are you leaving Chang'an?

Well,

we've come to see you off.

Thank you all.

You're quite wealthy.

As a sanitation worker,

you're actually taking a carriage to go back to Hanzhou Prefecture?

Well,

I've indeed saved up some money.

What's in your carriage?

Anything you shouldn't be taking?

No.

There's nothing in my carriage.

My sworn brother Su Wuming

has always been remarkably perceptive.

He figured out that the person I've been thinking about day and night

would be returning to Hanzhou Prefecture with you,

so he invited me here to see you off.

Am I to be disappointed?

It's you.

I'm sorry, ladies.

To break free from your mother's control,

these two ladies you just happened to meet

have also become your pawns?

I had no choice.

I heard

the Fairy Beauty Powder

can remove spots and blemishes,

and also enhance the skin's radiance.

Is it really that miraculous?

It is.

Please wait, ladies.

If you're free tomorrow,

how about we go to Qu River together?

Sure.

I've never been to Qu River before.

It's a deal then.

At 9 AM,

let's meet at the entrance of the Chengfo Temple.

Don't be late.

No problem.

I had already planned to elope with Woody,

just waiting for the right moment.

The arrangement with you two

to go to Qu River together

was to disguise the fact

that I was betraying my mother,

to make her believe

that my disappearance was an accident.

Woody.

Wu Yang's escape through the back window

was done with your help, right?

If I had just left then,

none of the later events would have happened.

But I couldn't bear to leave my mother.

I wanted one last look

at her performing the lion dance.

So you knew all along

that Chi Ying is skilled at the lion dance?

Yes.

But Mother didn't want me to know,

so I pretended I didn't.

What a clever

little girl you are.

Bravo! Bravo!

My father

was once a supervisor at the Imperial Armory,

just a ninth-rank official.

Yet he was framed by ruthless officers

and wrongfully died in prison.

I became an orphan,

then fell into hardship,

ending up as a sanitation worker.

Wu Yang.

That wandering hermit

asked me to bring you another letter.

Do you want to hear it?

I'll read it to you.

No.

Do you want to reply?

Just tell me.

I'll write it down for you.

Do you think

I should keep trusting him?

That guy is definitely no good.

Then why do you still deliver letters for him?

Once you take someone's money,

you have to keep your word.

I have no choice.

Is that the only reason?

Yes, it is.

Then you may leave.

Wu Yang.

Don't be afraid.

If that villain tries to harm you,

I'll protect you with my life.

You've been delivering letters for him

because you want to use the chance to see me, right?

I chose to leave this way

because I wanted Mother to believe

that I was kidnapped by a villain.

This way,

she would only hate the villain

instead of me,

the daughter she raised with such care

and cherished like a treasure.

But unexpectedly,

there were actually villains,

and more than one.

As the saying goes,

"the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

But in your case,

after the oriole comes a natural enemy,

after the natural enemy comes a hunter,

and after the hunter...

There's Woody.

Luckily, there's Woody,

who's been secretly protecting me all along

and never gave up.

Woody,

do you admit your guilt?

I...

You rescued Wu Yang at Qu River

but didn't take her home afterwards.

That's considered abduction.

It was my choice not to go home.

It had nothing to do with Woody.

This...

Woody,

let me ask you.

How did Wu Yang's clothes

end up

on another woman?

Well...

You provided clues multiple times,

yet why didn't you report Physician Bai's crime?

I... I...

Woody,

that day, I asked you

where Physician Bai lived.

Do you know where he lives?

In Yongyang District,

right next to the Earth God Temple.

You answered without hesitation,

so I knew immediately

that you had been to his home.

That was my idea.

I didn't expect that Physician Bai was also a villain.

I heard him mention

he lives next to the Earth God Temple in Yongyang District.

While he's injured,

come with me

to kill him,

so he can't hurt anyone else.

Therefore, we followed him to the Ghost Market.

We were truly terrified, seeing that corpse.

Woody reminded me again to report to the authorities.

But when I calmed down, I thought

this was a perfect chance to escape,

to make my mother believe

I was truly dead.

So you personally

changed the corpse's clothes?

Yes.

I asked Woody to step away.

Therefore, he's innocent.

At that time,

I was truly trembling with fear.

So I could only

protect Wu Yang from a distance.

Wu Yang,

you've really got nerve.

To leave Auntie Chi Ying,

you've basically gone all‑in.

I'll ask you one more time—

Woody,

do you admit your guilt?

Wasn't everything just explained clearly?

But what did you do today?

According to the Tang Empire's law,

abduction is a serious crime.

I went with him of my own free will.

How can you call that abduction?

But if Chi Ying files a complaint,

it becomes abduction.

Officers.

Ladies.

Old man, buddy.

I, Wu Yang, am begging you.

Please let Woody and me go.

My mother

treats me very well,

and yet also very badly.

I really don't want to be chained to her

for my whole life.

I want to live according to my own wishes—

to dress as I like,

to marry, to have children,

and to live freely.

If I can't have that, I'd rather die.

I, Wu Yang, am begging you.

Refusing to accept your fate.

You're quite like me.

Lu Lingfeng.

Freedom

is everyone's right.

Though letting Wu Yang go

would be too cruel to Auntie Chi Ying.

But if I were her,

I might do the same.

You two!

Alright, alright.

Get up.

Let me ask you,

after you reach Hanzhou Prefecture,

how will you make a living?

I've secretly saved some money,

and I've written down my mother's

formula

for the Fairy Beauty Powder.

I plan to open a skincare shop in Hanzhou.

I'm sure business will be good.

Your mother's formula

is nothing special.

I've made a new version,

adding two ingredients

and removing one.

If you use this new formula,

I guarantee it will sell even better.

[3 qian of angelica, 1 qian of perilla, 3 qian of motherwort seed]

Trust Fei.

He's a miracle doctor. You can trust him.

Master.

Official Lu.

If you need Woody captured,

just give the order.

If not,

I'll be on my way.

Woody.

You need to write down

all the details of this matter

and read it to Wu Yang.

If she has no objections,

both of you must sign it and put your fingerprints on it.

[Woody] [Wu Yang]

[Woody] [Wu Yang]

[I, a sanitation worker in Tengye District, also named Woody]

As the Yongzhou Judicial Official,

I have the authority to take you back.

Since you withheld information,

the county office is supposed to hold you accountable.

But in the Tang Empire,

no one has the right to stop you

from pursuing freedom.

Therefore, when you arrive in Hanzhou Prefecture,

you must report to Judicial Official Ma Meng

and truthfully explain

your actions in Chang'an.

Whether punishment is necessary

will be decided by Official Ma.

Woody.

If you ever dare betray Wu Yang...

I never will.

Thanks a lot,

Official Lu.

Scholar Su.

Do you have any other...

I still have one thing I don't understand

and need to ask Wu Yang about.

These past few days,

where have you been staying?

This place is too shabby.

Maybe we should find another place.

No.

We'll just stay here.

[Meixiu Skincare Shop]

Secret agents of Chang'an have been searching

for your whereabouts in every district,

and yet you've been staying

right across from the skincare shop.

Why hide there?

I was worried about my...

My mother.

In the first couple of days,

Mother had no interest in business.

Whenever someone passed by the shop,

she would approach them

and ask if they had seen me.

Every night,

she seemed even more lonely.

Our Fairy Beauty Powder

has been restocked.

If anyone needs it...

But all of this will pass.

Recently, I've noticed

she's gradually adapting

to life without me.

I think

I can leave Chang'an now.

You want to leave Chang'an

and leave Chi Ying

not because of hatred,

but because

she loves you too much.

♪ Sorrow arises from love ♪

♪ Fear arises from love ♪

Copy my move

and show me.

Wu Yang has no friends.

♪ But one who is free from attachment ♪

Wu Yang doesn't need friends.

♪ Knows neither sorrow nor fear ♪

Have a plum blossom brand burned

into this spot on Wu Yang's hand.

This way,

Wu Yang will forever

be bound to my side.

Scholar Su.

Do you

have any other instructions?

The Tang Empire is vast,

with endless beautiful scenery.

The path ahead

has magnificent mountains and rivers

waiting for you to traverse.

Only by traveling through countless mountains and rivers

can one become a better version of oneself.

What?

You guys

let my daughter Wu Yang

go?

Buddha... Buddha be praised.

Buddha be praised!

My daughter isn't dead!

Mr. Qi!

[Meixiu Skincare Shop]

Mr. Qi.

Wu Yang isn't dead. She's still alive!

I was mistaken.

That wasn't her.

Madam Xiao!

My daughter isn't dead.

She's gone far away!

Yes, yes.

Buddha be praised!

Buddha be praised! Thank you, Buddha!

Thank you for keeping Wu Yang alive.

Tomorrow, Circuit Trials around the City will reach Chonghua District.

This district is adjacent to the West Market.

Therefore, we need to pay special attention to...

Lu Lingfeng!

Lu Lingfeng!

Sorry for the interruption.

What is it?

We just went to

Meixiu Skincare Shop.

It's closed.

We just found out that

Chi Ying has given up the shop.

She went to buy horses and a carriage early this morning,

and now she's left the city.

Auntie Chi Ying,

where are you going?

Where else would I go?

To Hanzhou Prefecture, of course,

to find my Wu Yang.

Wu Yang doesn't want you to know

she's gone to Hanzhou.

By doing this,

aren't you letting down

Official Lu's goodwill?

How will she survive if I don't go?

Wu Yang doesn't know how to do anything.

It's all my fault

for giving her a face like Empress Wu Zetian,

making her suffer from harassment all the time

that Wu Yang doesn't want to stay in Chang'an.

Hanzhou Prefecture is remote.

There shouldn't be many people

who recognize what the Empress looked like when she was young,

so Wu Yang won't be bothered

and will be safe.

I've brought all the ingredients

for making Fairy Beauty Powder.

When I get to Hanzhou,

I'll open another skincare shop

and keep earning money to support Wu Yang.

Wu Yang is an adult now.

She doesn't need you to support her anymore.

If I don't support Wu Yang,

how can I face her father?

I understand

your good intentions.

It was my fault in the past

for being too controlling.

After I get to Hanzhou,

I'll change.

Auntie Chi Ying,

have you considered

that perhaps waiting a year or so

before going there to see Wu Yang

might be better?

That's even worse.

That boy Woody,

don't be fooled by his honest appearance.

He might be pretending.

If I don't go,

what if he treats Wu Yang badly?

Lu Lingfeng, talk some sense into her.

Although I'm the Yongzhou Judicial Official,

I have no authority to stop

Wu Yang from going to Hanzhou,

nor am I authorized to stop

Chi Ying from following her daughter westward.

It's just that the journey will be rough.

Auntie Chi Ying,

if you go alone,

we'll be worried about you.

It's fine.

Years ago, I was pregnant

when I ventured alone to Chang'an.

It's getting late.

Everyone, please go back.

I'm off!

What are you smiling about?

Usually you're so quick-witted.

Why didn't you say anything just now?

Aren't you worried

Wu Yang will be confined again?

After these events,

Chi Ying should have changed.

Wu Yang

will also better understand her mother's difficulties.

Besides,

this is a family matter.

If Official Lu, a dignified court official,

doesn't interfere,

how could I, a mere scholar

with a pitiful monthly salary,

have any say in this?

Things definitely won't be peaceful in Hanzhou.

It's just part of human life.

Lu Lingfeng!

Scholar Su

made a good point.

[Jinguang Gate]

Fruits! Fresh fruits here!

Xia Sheng?

Official Lu, Scholar Su.

[Autumn Journey on Horseback]

You're... Leaving Chang'an?

Yes.

I heard early this morning that Chi Ying had left.

I'm going after her.

[Autumn Journey on Horseback]

With just your legs,

you won't be able to catch up with Chi Ying.

I'll travel more during the day

and sleep less at night.

If I chase her for a few more days,

sooner or later, I'll catch up.

What about your lion dance troupe?

I've already disbanded it.

Xia Sheng.

Once you leave Chang'an,

I'm afraid making a living with lion dance

will be even harder.

I'm aware of that.

I'm over 50 now.

I don't seek wealth or glory,

only to follow my heart

without hesitation.

What you just said

genuinely earned

my admiration.

Mr. Xia,

take my horse

and go after Chi Ying.

But...

I've distributed all my money

to the young members of my lion dance troupe.

I cannot afford a horse.

Who said anything about buying?

I'm giving it to you for free.

Ride fast,

and before sunset,

you'll surely catch up with Chi Ying.

She's alone right now.

This is exactly when she needs protection.

But...

Official Lu is being so kind.

Why don't you hurry up and get on the horse?

Alright.

Alright.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm grateful.

Truly amazing.

That horse was truly a fine gift.

I must say, Lu Lingfeng,

spending more time with Xijun

has made you more and more compassionate.

Hey, Fei.

Your cooking lately

has been getting more and more bland.

That can't be right.

Oh no.

I forgot to add salt to this dish.

This dish is way too salty.

I'm getting old.

However,

having a miracle doctor work as a cook

is truly a waste of talent.

How about this?

Tomorrow, the Circuit Trials

will enter Chonghua District.

You should go along.

By then, Official Lu will handle the Circuit Trials,

and Miracle Doctor Fei will enter the district for consultations.

How does that sound?

I don't think that's a good idea.

I'm used to being carefree.

If I have to follow the judicial office

into the district,

I wouldn't be able to bear

all those rules and protocols.

Official Lu,

since he doesn't want to go,

let's just forget about it then.

Fine, forget about it.

But tomorrow,

I happen to have an old friend

who's bringing me

a special recipe Gourd Chicken to Chonghua District.

I'm sure Fei wouldn't be interested.

Hold on!

I think Su Wuming's idea

is actually not bad.

Look,

you can solve mysterious cases,

while I can treat difficult illnesses.

This is just...

Let's go together.

I'll go with you.

Seems the Gourd Chicken did the trick.

Don't expose me.

Here.

[Physician]

Go get your medicine according to this prescription.

Thank you.

Take care.

Official Lu.

Look, this is how it is.

What do you mean this is how it is?

You're never home,

and I have to handle everything!

Have you ever taken care of the kid?

Have you ever looked after our parents?

I'm exhausted working outside all day.

How can you blame me?

Who isn't tired?

If I don't blame you, who should I blame?

You're my husband.

Who else should I blame if not you?

Continue.

Officer,

you must stand up for me!

He's never home.

How am I supposed to live on like this?

Who is that woman in military attire?

She seems to be from the Princess's Mansion.

[Ding Heng, General of Imperial Guards]

I heard Her Highness intends to promote her

as the new regimental commander.

A female commander?

Is there any precedent?

Of course not.

If you ask me,

the Grand Princess must be running out of capable people.

Entering the district to solve cases

and bringing Chicken Fei along.

[Crucial Nexus]

This man,

though strangely dressed,

is truly skilled in medicine.

In the Eastern Capital,

he once saved my life,

and I haven't properly thanked him yet.

He looks like a beggar to me,

yet Your Highness remembers him.

Such magnanimity almost rivals Empress Wu Zetian's.

How dare I compare to my mother?

Following in her footsteps is enough.

Your Highness's verve is no less than the Empress's.

Li Nai'er.

Your martial skills are exceptional,

and you're also strategic.

Chancellor Cui

recommended you for the position of Commander of the Princess's Guards.

What do you think?

[Li Nai'er, regimental commander of Grand Princess's guards]

I'll follow Your Highness to the death.

Just wait for the appointment.

Now that you've become a fifth-rank commander,

in the future,

you can surely be the Grand General of the Imperial Guards.

If you're willing,

you could command thousands of troops

to expand the borders of our Tang Empire

and achieve great accomplishments in the future!

I dare not hope for so much.

I only wish

to stay by Your Highness's side day and night.

There's one more thing.

Lu Tong also went to Chonghua District.

After that,

Official Lu followed him into the palace.

Your Highness,

[Crucial Nexus]

Su Wuming requests an audience.

Let him in.

His Majesty is hosting a banquet

for the meritorious officials who took part in

executing Deposed Queen Wei as well as those who opposed her.

He ordered me to draft the guest list,

so I went to Yongzhou Prefecture to find you.

Only then did I learn you had entered the district to solve cases,

so I followed you to Chonghua District.

Thank you for your trouble, Grand General.

I heard that at the banquet,

everyone will receive a reward.

If you want to return to the Imperial Guards,

don't miss this opportunity.

While His Majesty is in good spirits today,

make your request.

Got it.

[Rule Through the Music of the Zither]

Thank you, Your Majesty!

Lu Lingfeng.

It's your turn now.

Three years ago,

you always stayed my side protecting me.

That scene

feels like it was just yesterday.

Go ahead.

What reward do you want from me?

I earnestly request Your Majesty

to grace Chengfo Temple with your presence.

His Majesty asked what reward you want,

and yet you're asking His Majesty to go worship Buddha?

Have you had too much to drink?

Since I became

the Yongzhou Judicial Official,

the first case I've handled

involves Chengfo Temple.

You don't ask me for your own career advancement,

but for the religious worship of Chengfo Temple?

In my heart,

it's not just about religious worship.

It's about the very realm and state of our Tang Empire.

Now, rumors are spreading everywhere,

and people are in panic.

If this continues,

Chang'an will not be at peace!

How dare you!