Original subtitles

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

[Episode 15]

How weird.

This is no ordinary weapon.

Or rather,

this wasn't even caused

by a weapon at all.

What makes you say that?

Wasn't Wei Qi

murdered by someone?

If it wasn't done by a human,

m-maybe it was that ghost.

Shut up!

Huo You.

Lu Lingfeng.

Don't tell me you believe

that thief's supernatural nonsense!

She said, "That ghost."

There was "that" before "ghost,"

which means she was referring to something specific.

Answer me.

Did you see something

eerie or supernatural?

I did.

It was in the Bai Ze Temple.

Now that I think about it,

it was either a demon or a ghost.

That ghost was in white,

with horns on its head

and two large fangs sticking out.

It looked just like this clay statue.

You bold thief!

Show some respect in front of the statue of the deity!

Step back!

What was the size of that white figure?

I mean its height and build.

A-About the same as a human.

About the same as a human?

Have you ever seen the Bai Ze mask with horns on its head

and fangs that people wear to ward off

evil spirits?

Yes, I have.

Very similar.

They look very similar.

It seems that someone's been playing tricks

to pretend to be a ghost in the Bai Ze Temple.

If that's the case,

Chen He, who mysteriously disappeared,

has probably been murdered.

Hermit Baize!

Are there any places

in this temple that we don't know about,

like hidden rooms or secret passages?

No, there aren't.

May I take a look at the corpse?

This happened because he irritated Bai Ze,

and the great deity

bit off his head!

Is it you, Great Deity Bai Ze?

What did you say?

Impossible!

Your reasoning isn't

as good as your folk storytelling.

What do you mean?

Since Bai Ze is an auspicious beast,

how could it eat people?

That being said,

none of those who offend the deity

can make it out of here alive.

Didn't you also say

it didn't look like a weapon wound?

That must've been from Bai Ze's sharp teeth!

Nonsense!

Bai Ze doesn't exist in this world.

Stop talking rubbish.

You don't believe in gods?

Fine!

Then you can all wait

to have your heads bitten off!

You guys!

Officers,

please free my wife.

Don't leave her tied up here

to be bitten and killed by Bai Ze!

I confess.

I stole the treasures.

I was the prime culprit.

My wife has already

suffered a lot.

I beg you

to spare her life.

Shut up!

Su Wuming,

you are a master

of coroner skills.

Please take another careful look.

I think that hermit

has got a point.

It does look like his head was bitten off

by some giant beast.

Huo You!

He's scared out of his wits.

Your Imperial Guards are

indeed "strong and mighty."

How dare you!

I'll kill you!

Ding!

Don't lose your composure.

General Ding,

you'd better go quickly

to calm Huo You down.

This temple is so peculiar.

From this moment on,

we must be extremely cautious

and avoid acting rashly.

Officers,

I'm begging you.

Please release my wife.

I forced her to be my accomplice.

No,

don't listen to him.

Officers,

please free my husband.

I'm the real prime culprit.

Years ago, I was raped by a lustful man.

After that, I made a vow

to dedicate my life to punishing lecherous men.

I'd marry whoever was

willing to lend me a hand.

That was why I made him

my husband.

Therefore,

he was just following my lead.

What nonsense are you talking about?

You're pregnant now.

You should beg the officers

to spare your life!

You two as a couple are

quite loyal to each other,

both caring about each other.

You're doing much better than those

who call each other brothers

in the martial world.

Is this your first time in these mountains?

Yes,

we took a wrong turn

and committed the crime by the way.

Hey,

are you letting me have the chance to do a good deed?

What are you going to do?

If you'll kill someone, kill me.

My wife is pregnant!

You evil man, I'll fight you...

Although there was a reason why you did so,

you have still committed a crime.

So, you go down the mountain yourselves

and go to Yongzhou Prefecture

to confess your crimes.

Go down the mountain ourselves?

Aren't you afraid

that we'll run away?

As you can see,

this temple is weird and dangerous.

If we keep you tied up here,

you will lose your lives,

and that will be our fault.

As for whether you run away or not,

it's up to you.

-Thank you, sir. -Thank you, sir.

-We will definitely go turn ourselves in. -We will definitely go turn ourselves in.

No need to thank me.

That gentleman just now is

the Yongzhou Judicial Official,

Lu Lingfeng.

When you go to confess your crimes,

just say his name.

Jiao,

remember,

you must tell them that you're pregnant

for a lighter sentence.

Alright, get up.

Given that you two are so devoted to each other,

I don't think you're bad by nature.

After you're released,

you should behave well to live a good life

and raise your child

properly.

He said it was so weird and dangerous

that he feared we might lose our lives.

But why didn't they leave?

We

ran into good officials.

That's what

a good official should be like.

This is just an ordinary kitchen.

There's nothing suspicious about it.

What are you groping for?

The stove fire is already out,

but why is it so hot in here?

Is it hot?

Don't you feel it?

It does feel a bit hotter than outside.

The floor is hot.

That roar is very close.

Su Wuming,

hide well.

There should be...

b-be a secret chamber under here. I...

Whatever beast you are,

please don't eat me. I'm skinny and small.

I'm barely a mouthful for you.

Besides, I can't use martial arts.

I-I won't hurt you. I...

I need to find that secret chamber.

General Ding,

let's run.

If we don't leave now, we'll end up

like Wei Qi, killed by Bai Ze.

Why panic?

Can't you hear

that loud roaring?

You've followed me for years

and been through countless battles

without fear.

What's wrong with you today?

General,

we've only dealt with humans before.

B-But

this time, we don't even know

whether it's a beast or a ghost!

General Ding!

Let's just leave!

Look how messed up you are!

Don't bring shame on the Imperial Guards.

Stand up!

General Ding,

I have a big family to support.

I beg you, General Ding!

Please let me survive!

I really don't want

my head bitten off,

General!

You good-for-nothing!

General Ding.

Sorry for my incompetence!

Huo You!

Huo You, come back!

Where are you going?

It's you.

Chen He?

Come on.

Have you two ever left your room?

Have you seen

a weird masked person in white?

I haven't seen any weird person.

But ghosts are common to see here.

I, Lu Lingfeng, Yongzhou Judicial Official,

order you two to be interrogated in the courtyard.

Huo You!

Ding Heng?

[Bai Ze Temple]

[Bai Ze Temple]

Bro...

Ding,

what happened?

Wei Qi died a terrible death.

Chen He disappeared.

Huo You was so frightened

that he wanted to leave the temple and the mountain.

I scolded him, but I didn't stop him.

After a brief delay,

[Bai Ze Temple]

I was worried about his safety

and planned to escort him down the mountain secretly.

So I went after him.

But as soon as I came out...

Could it really be

that Bai Ze bit off his head?

Absolutely not.

Someone's been faking these supernatural things.

And there's

more than one person.

He's dead?

Nice. He got what he deserved.

What did you say?

Ding!

We must stay calm right now.

This woman is vicious, gloating

over others' misfortune.

Forget about Bai Ze.

Let's kill her

and return to Chang'an to report.

Commander Li isn't the murderer.

Are we letting the Princess's underling

bring this news back to Chang'an

so everyone

can mock our Imperial Guard?

That would utterly disgrace His Majesty!

Yet it still doesn't justify killing to silence her.

Our Imperial Guards

have already lost three members.

It's no big deal if the Princess's Mansion loses

a regimental commander!

But...

No buts!

Let me be frank with you.

His Majesty is testing your loyalty.

We both once served as the Right Imperial Guards.

The night we executed Deposed Queen Wei,

we fought that life-and-death battle together.

We're brothers in arms.

I don't want to see you

stand against His Majesty,

bringing utter disaster on yourself!

Will you help me or not?

Make your choice!

You...

Watch out for Commander Li!

Lu!

How dare you attempt to kill the Princess's son?

Lu Lingfeng,

didn't you call us out

to be interrogated?

Can you still interrogate anyone now?

Li Nai'er,

you...

Li Nai'er!

I found this in your room.

As the Commander of the Princess's Guards,

why are you playing supernatural tricks here?

I'm doing this to kill you!

How arrogant.

Although Lu Lingfeng is injured,

Ding Heng is the General of the Right Imperial Guards

with unmatched bravery and strength!

You think you

and this old man can kill us?

She's got a helper.

It's an archer.

Watch out, General Ding!

Huo Jing?

It's her?

You treacherous woman!

You fell off the cliff

and faked your death just to harm people in secret?

So what if I did?

Nai'er taught me

that all's fair in war.

Don't touch me,

you shameless scoundrel!

Huo Jing!

So that means

Huo You

and Wei Qi were

both killed by you?

That's right.

It was a joint effort from Huo Jing and me.

Together, we're invincible.

Nai'er was being way too cautious,

saying that you and Ding Heng were skilled fighters.

She wanted me to play dead while she pretended to be weak.

That's why you could carry her again and again.

The whole thing was just

to kill you one by one.

We once thought spreading news about Bai Ze

would lure the one on the throne

who most deserves to die.

But unexpectedly,

even the blind Lu Tong

didn't dare to come up the mountain.

Instead, he sent you minions to get killed.

You bold traitors!

Were you instructed by the Princess

to assassinate His Majesty here?

Confess the truth!

A mere Right Imperial Guard General dares to interrogate me?

Let me send you to hell!

You're no more than a lame fighter.

You think you can do it?

Lu Lingfeng,

you've served as an Imperial Guard for years,

rising to the rank of General,

but instead of serving your state loyally,

you helped these traitors

attack the Imperial Guards in secret!

I didn't!

General Ding,

it has come to this point!

What's the use of such a talk now?

Now, we should join hands to fight our common enemy!

Shut up!

I'm talking to Lu Lingfeng.

Who gave you the right to chip in?

Who do you think you are?

Lu Lingfeng,

the stab she gave you is neither too deep nor too shallow.

This girl has feelings for you.

You've repeatedly

saved her from my attacks.

You have feelings for her.

I'll remember all this.

After I

kill these traitors,

I will drag you back to Chang'an

to face His Majesty's judgment!

Girl!

What are you doing? Do you want to die?

Want to help? Watch my hidden weapon!

And one for you, too!

General Ding!

No!

Ding,

I'm so sorry.

Look, Nai'er.

They're on the same side.

Why show mercy?

Don't tell me

that you've fallen for that man.

Did you murder Official Wei Qi

and Official Huo You in the same way like this?

Killing an official of the Imperial Guards is

much easier

than hunting a leopard.

Is it you, Great Deity Bai Ze?

Where are you going?

It's you.

Judging from this murder weapon,

what's your relationship

with the guide Ling Ji?

Don't mention that useless man.

Commander Li,

when you saw that Ling Ji had hanged himself,

you shed tears

and even buried him properly.

You two were

quite close, weren't you?

I owed Senior Ling Ji a lot.

If I hadn't persuaded Senior Huo Jing

to help me seek revenge,

they would have been married already.

Perhaps

they'd even have children by now.

So the three of you are fellow disciples?

That's right.

I am the junior of Li Nai'er's master.

And he's also my father.

That's my mother.

Back then,

I gave birth to her

under a Huo Jing persimmon tree.

So I named her Huo Jing.

I was somewhat deranged before,

but after giving birth to her,

I surprisingly recovered.

Huo Jing has been fond of dolls since she was little.

So I'll make dolls for her my whole life.

Don't waste our breath on them.

The injured one has good fighting skills.

Don't let him get a chance to escape.

This scholar is

a powerless weakling.

Let me have him

smoked into jerky

to feed my mount!

Ding,

I will avenge you.

That's enough.

Don't be rash.

You're not lying to me, are you?

If you're fellow disciples,

you should be accomplices!

Then why did Ling Ji hang himself?

He was a coward.

I wanted to help Junior Nai'er get revenge,

but he didn't dare.

He wanted to be a loyal subject of the Li family's Tang Dynasty.

So I cut all ties with him.

I get it now.

You used him

to spread rumors that Bai Ze showed up.

But I still can't figure it out.

Wasn't he helping you all along?

Why would he kill himself?

I once promised Senior Ling Ji

to persuade Senior Huo Jing to reconcile with him.

I never said I wouldn't reconcile with him.

Taking the Heartbreak Cliff route was

just part of

our plan.

When planning it,

I just forgot how petty he was.

Wait.

You're the guide,

but have you never been deep into Mount Zhongnan?

I'm a hunter from this area.

Of course I have.

Then why don't you know

that taking the Heartbreak Cliff route

would save us four hours' climb?

Are you sure we're going this way?

We must go this way.

People familiar with Mount Zhongnan

should all know that there's

a lore about the Heartbreak Cliff.

Any couple who are in love

should not cross this cliff together.

If they do,

their relationship will end forever.

This petty man

thought that I...

Senior Huo Jing,

I didn't think things through and caused Senior Ling Ji's death.

Stop it.

Just the loss of a man.

Although we failed to lure

Emperor Li over with this plan,

killing several Imperial Guard generals

still got your revenge done to some extent.

The completion of this great deed

has made our lives meaningful.

Wait a minute!

He's already seriously wounded.

And I'm just

a helpless, weak scholar to be killed.

What's the hurry?

Li Nai'er,

let me ask you.

What deep grudge do you hold

against the Imperial Guards,

or rather, against His Majesty?

I'm not a Li.

My surname is Shangguan.

Shangguan Nai'er?

Lu Lingfeng，

[Li Nai'er]

on the night of the Tanglong era,

[Shangguan Nai'er]

you were also involved in killing my sister.

Therefore,

even if you're the Princess's son,

you must die.

Impossible.

The Shangguan family was prominent,

but during Emperor Gaozong's reign,

Empress Wu Zetian ordered

to execute their entire family.

Only the newborn Shangguan Wan'er

and her mother were

taken into the inner palace.

How could you possibly be

her younger sister?

My sister and I shared the same fate.

I was born into a family disaster.

What made me more miserable was

that even my nursing mother was

killed.

She took pity on me

and secretly took me in,

placing me in a Taoist temple on Mount Zhongnan.

She often came to see me.

At first,

I called her "mother."

But she didn't allow it,

saying that her identity was special.

If anyone found it out,

it would put me in fatal danger.

So

she only let me call her "sister."

She also gave me a beautiful name,

Nai'er.

She wanted me to take the surname Li,

but I preferred to be called Shangguan.

My sister was also my mother.

She was my everything.

And she gave me everything!

She was the "Red Plum Chancellor,"

virtuous, gifted, and wise as a great help!

Without her,

how could Wu Zhao have governed the state?

Her literary talent was unparalleled.

Her brilliance in literature, poetry,

and calligraphy was exceptional.

Without her,

how would Chang'an have

so many amazing poems?

She has no family,

no heir,

and no allies. She was all alone.

She devoted herself entirely to the Li family's Tang Dynasty.

Yet you

falsely accused her of being Deposed Queen Wei's ally.

On what grounds?

Her fate being dragged into the storm,

she passed away in haste.

Lady Shangguan's passing is

truly heartbreaking.

Also,

she was never part of Deposed Queen Wei's faction.

As far as I know,

in order to stop Deposed Queen Wei

and her daughter from usurping power,

she earnestly tried

to talk sense into Emperor Zhongzong over and over again.

She also requested to resign and shave her head to be a nun.

She even drank poisonous wine

to force the issue with her life.

To be fair,

her merit in protecting the Li family's Tang Dynasty

should be recorded

in history under Lady Shangguan's name.

Facing death,

you, Su Wuming,

have finally said something fair.

That's not true.

He's just afraid of death!

But you failed.

I'm not as soft-hearted as Nai'er.

Yes,

I am afraid of death.

But I'm more afraid

that if you kill Lu Lingfeng,

you will fail

Lady Shangguan.

What did you say?

The waters of Xiaoxiang have run dry;

the Wanwei Mountain has collapsed;

the pearl has sunk and broken;

the most precious jade is shattered.

Gaze at the pines

and quietly listen at the grave.

For thousands of years,

may your name be sung forever and ever.

This is the epitaph that the State-guarding Grand Princess

wrote for Lady Shangguan,

showing Her Highness's deep affection

for Lady Shangguan.

But now,

you've set a trap

to harm Her Highness's son.

Can you face

Lady Shangguan in heaven?

I've long heard that Master Di has two disciples

who solved some cases in Chang'an

and earned some fame.

Today I've finally seen them for myself.

One with a silver tongue.

And the other one

with a good-looking face.

Lu Lingfeng,

you know what?

If you were less handsome,

Nai'er would have stabbed all the way through

and twisted the blade,

and you would have been dead already.

Su Wuming,

stop wasting your breath on them.

I will kill these traitors

and avenge my fellow Imperial Guards!

Nai'er!

Pull yourself together!

Go help your Senior Huo Jing.

Li Nai'er!

Shangguan Nai'er!

Stop fighting.

He really is the Princess's son.

Stop making more mistakes!

You scholar, you are truly annoying.

If you say one more word,

I'll kill you first!

You jerk,

just try to come at me!

I, Su Wuming, am protected by divine power!