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[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty III:
To Chang'an]
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[Episode 19]
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Look at him.
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He's terrifying.
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Let's go. Stay away from him.
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[Jinxiu Textile]
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Let's go. Let's go.
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He's so scary.
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[Jinxiu Textile]
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What the hell?
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This way, please.
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Gosh.
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Please come back.
Collect it in three days.
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You
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are the owner of this shop?
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Yes, I am.
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Who are you anyway?
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How arrogant!
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You don't even look at me when speaking?
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I am the Empire's top assassin—
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[Hu Shentong, Assassin]
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Hu Shentong.
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The top assassin?
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But I heard
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the Empire's top assassin is called
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"Beacon Fire."
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He's nothing.
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I left out part of my title earlier.
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I'm the top assassin of Chang'an's
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Ghost Market in the Tang Empire:
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Hu Shentong!
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Since you're the owner of this shop,
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you must be Qian Zheng.
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I am he.
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So what?
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Since you're Qian Zheng,
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then... prepare to die!
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You really are an assassin?
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Who hired you?
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That's the rule in this business.
I can't say!
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Stop!
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Who...
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Who are you?
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I should be asking you that.
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Who are you?
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How dare you attempt murder
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in broad daylight?
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Why should I tell you?
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You!
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Why is he trying to kill you?
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Move.
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I don't know either!
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You!
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Why are you trying to kill him?
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Why?
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I can't say!
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It's the rule in this business!
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Why are you just standing there?
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Tie him up!
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Tie him up!
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Don't you dare!
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You.
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Come with me.
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Ma'am, where are we going?
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I still have business to take care of.
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Then don't tie him up yet.
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Well...
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Can you still stand, assassin?
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If you can, then continue
finishing your target.
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Ma'am,
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I'll go with you,
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but where are we going?
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The Yongzhou Prefecture Office.
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Hey, ouch! That hurts!
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Slow down!
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Kneel!
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[A Loyal Heart]
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It hurts! You...
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Official Lu,
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you can begin the interrogation.
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[A Loyal Heart]
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Which of you wants to speak first?
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I have nothing to say.
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Insolence!
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How dare you show such disrespect
in this court!
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Then let's start with you,
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the top assassin of the Ghost Market.
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Tell us,
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who hired you to commit murder?
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I absolutely won't tell!
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Do you know what place this is?
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I know.
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The Yongzhou Prefecture Office.
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But I can't tell you.
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I know the rules of the trade!
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Are you pretending to be sincere
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or truly playing dumb?
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I'm not dumb!
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I'm not dumb!
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I, Hu Shentong,
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must not disgrace the name
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of an assassin.
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I won't talk, no matter what!
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Su Wuming.
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If you encountered someone like him,
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how would you
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interrogate him?
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If I encountered someone like him,
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there's not much I could do.
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[A Loyal Heart]
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[Fair and Just]
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So you're the top assassin
of the Ghost Market?
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That's what he claims.
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[Fair and Just]
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I've heard
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that the court, to manage
the Ghost Market,
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has asked the long-retired
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Master Feng Tai to return to service
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as the Ghost Market Magistrate.
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That's right.
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The venerable Master Feng Tai
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is a dear friend of ours
despite the age difference.
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Now,
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we have no choice
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but to speak with him
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and have Hu Shentong
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expelled from the Ghost Market.
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No, no, no! Don't, don't, don't...
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Please don't!
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We're tied up together!
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If you expel me from the Ghost Market,
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I won't be able to get any jobs.
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I... I'll talk, okay?
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[Fair and Just]
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You still want to keep taking jobs?
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Of course.
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Although I failed again this time,
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nobody died, right?
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After a few days in jail,
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you'll have to release me.
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Seems like you fail quite often.
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What kind of assassin are you?
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I took the deposit,
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so I had to at least
make an attempt, right?
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Official Lu,
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do you hear that?
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He's just an assassin
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who specifically cheats people
out of deposits.
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Why do you have to put it so harshly?
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Stop wasting time.
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Tell us,
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who hired you?
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How was I supposed to ask for their name?
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I know the rules.
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[A Loyal Heart]
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Sir! Sir!
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Let me say something!
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He's an assassin!
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Someone hired him to kill me!
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I'm the target,
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and I haven't committed any crimes.
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Why did you tie me up too, right?
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Release me now.
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I need to get back to my business!
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Official Lu,
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Miss Pei is here.
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Just when I needed her.
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[A Loyal Heart]
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U-Untie me...
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What are you doing?
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The district head, Mr. Guang,
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has confirmed this portrait.
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Hongyao is truly beautiful, like a fairy.
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She is kind-hearted,
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and all the neighbors in Qinglong District
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like her very much.
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The portrait is very accurate.
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Have you seen her before?
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When I went to Qinglong District
to handle cases,
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I happened to see Hongyao
playing the pipa,
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so I remember her.
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Thank you for your help, Xijun.
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This will be useful.
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Do you recognize
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this woman?
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No.
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[With Mind and Heart Fully Devoted]
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Do you recognize her?
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I...
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don't.
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Today at the Meng Residence,
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this is what you asked me.
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Excuse me, sir,
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is the dead woman inside Hongyao?
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Yes.
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And I immediately said
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that I didn't know anything about
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the madam of the Meng family.
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I never said the woman in this portrait
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was Hongyao, Meng's wife.
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Official Lu,
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he's not being honest.
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That's easy.
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Leave him to me.
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No need to trouble you, ma'am.
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I'll tell the truth.
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I'll tell the truth.
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[With Mind and Heart Fully Devoted]
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Yes.
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I do know Hongyao,
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but I didn't kill that woman.
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Although I hired someone
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to investigate her new lover,
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I had no ill intentions.
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Besides,
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how could I bear to have her killed?
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Who did you hire to investigate Hongyao?
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Cat.
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An expert in spying on
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and tracking the secrets
of wealthy households.
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Cat?
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Do you know his real name?
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Of course not.
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When hiring people like him,
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I understand the rules.
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You can't ask for their real names.
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Rules?
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Who made all these rules?
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Some rules can get people killed.
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All right.
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While Xijun is here,
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have her sketch both Cat
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and
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the one who hired Hu Shentong.
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You are the Chief of Secret Agents.
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How do you think
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we should investigate these two people?
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These two people...
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00:11:00,030 --> 00:11:00,830
Wait a moment.
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00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:02,860
Wuming, Lu Lingfeng,
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what Qian Zheng and Hu Shentong described
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may seem vastly different,
243
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but it's actually quite similar.
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That can't be right.
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These two people look
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completely different,
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with different bearings too.
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And I think they're
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more than 10 years apart in age.
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Under different states of mind,
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the same person
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can present themselves differently.
253
00:11:20,550 --> 00:11:22,790
But the most essential part of a portrait
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is to capture the structure
around the eyes and brows.
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00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,120
Although I can't be completely certain,
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00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:26,910
I have a hunch
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that Qian Zheng and Hu Shentong
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00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:29,790
saw the same person.
259
00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:31,150
I suspect
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the full beard is a disguise.
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Xijun,
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can you remove the disguise?
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That's exactly what I was thinking.
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I'll try to draw another one.
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[Impartial] [Remonstrance]
266
00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:41,260
Excellent.
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Then, we'll trouble you, Xijun.
268
00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:43,860
How long will you need?
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Half an hour will do.
270
00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:47,650
But I need to be
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alone to draw quietly.
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[Remonstrance]
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Wuming, Lu Lingfeng.
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Xijun,
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you've met Secretary Meng?
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A secretary?
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00:12:20,270 --> 00:12:22,120
Which secretary are you talking about?
278
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The Sushan Shop is doing very well now.
279
00:12:25,030 --> 00:12:26,540
Xijun has been extremely busy,
280
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so of course, she hasn't met Meng Buyi.
281
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Meng Buyi?
282
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That's quite an interesting name.
283
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Official Lu!
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Official Lu, Mr. Su, Miss Xijun.
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00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:40,500
I'm useless.
286
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I lost Meng Buyi
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in the Ghost Market.
288
00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:49,880
Did Miss Xijun draw this?
289
00:12:49,990 --> 00:12:51,000
It's very accurate.
290
00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:52,390
Why don't we use this portrait
291
00:12:52,390 --> 00:12:53,320
to apprehend him?
292
00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:53,870
-No!
-No!
293
00:12:56,790 --> 00:13:00,210
[Remonstrance]
294
00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:58,910
Have everyone look at this portrait
295
00:12:58,910 --> 00:13:00,640
and secretly arrest Meng Buyi.
296
00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:05,750
Meng Buyi,
297
00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,390
you haven't come to my herb garden
for tea in a long time.
298
00:13:08,390 --> 00:13:09,590
What's kept you away?
299
00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:13,650
Zhang San, the man who sold lamb soup,
300
00:13:13,650 --> 00:13:15,110
was found dead in my house.
301
00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:16,460
Do you think...
302
00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:18,460
he had some connection
303
00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:19,790
with Hongyao?
304
00:13:21,870 --> 00:13:23,440
Well... Hongyao wouldn't be
305
00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,370
having an affair with Zhang San...
306
00:13:26,750 --> 00:13:29,120
He... He was just a scoundrel.
307
00:13:30,670 --> 00:13:32,390
If Hongyao were looking for a lover,
308
00:13:32,390 --> 00:13:34,720
shouldn't she at least be more selective?
309
00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,060
It's not right for you
to suspect Hongyao like this.
310
00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:39,640
You're right.
311
00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:42,950
I shouldn't have said that
in front of you.
312
00:13:42,950 --> 00:13:44,960
After all, you two were once
313
00:13:45,270 --> 00:13:46,510
a perfect match,
314
00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,000
destined for each other.
315
00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:50,240
Listen to how jealous you sound.
316
00:13:51,550 --> 00:13:52,960
Back then, why didn't you...
317
00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:53,360
You...
318
00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:55,750
Why what?
319
00:13:57,030 --> 00:13:59,240
When you received your appointment
back then,
320
00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:00,370
you left overnight.
321
00:14:00,550 --> 00:14:02,200
Why didn't you take Hongyao with you?
322
00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:02,550
I...
323
00:14:05,790 --> 00:14:06,920
was young back then,
324
00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:09,150
worried that being distracted by romance
325
00:14:09,150 --> 00:14:10,750
would affect my official career.
326
00:14:10,750 --> 00:14:12,210
Now I do have some regrets.
327
00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:13,960
She must have been
328
00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,040
very heartbroken back then.
329
00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:20,220
You regret it?
330
00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,320
No wonder after you took office
in the capital,
331
00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:23,150
Hongyao seemed like
332
00:14:23,150 --> 00:14:24,390
a completely different person.
333
00:14:24,390 --> 00:14:25,320
You two didn't
334
00:14:25,750 --> 00:14:27,440
get back together behind my back, right?
335
00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:28,040
Meng Buyi.
336
00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:30,530
I don't think you came here for tea.
337
00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:31,390
You suspect me, so you came here
338
00:14:31,390 --> 00:14:32,590
to try to trick me into talking,
didn't you?
339
00:14:32,590 --> 00:14:33,550
Not really.
340
00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,980
It's just that Hongyao
suddenly disappeared.
341
00:14:37,150 --> 00:14:38,280
I just wanted to know
342
00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,000
if you're hiding her somewhere.
343
00:14:42,750 --> 00:14:43,790
How could I possibly hide
344
00:14:43,790 --> 00:14:44,920
another man's wife?
345
00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:46,990
Besides, you and I are classmates.
346
00:14:46,990 --> 00:14:47,840
What kind of person
347
00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:49,640
do you take me, Yan Junxian, for?
348
00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:52,120
Alright, alright.
349
00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:53,080
It's good that you're not.
350
00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:54,540
It's good that you're not.
351
00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:55,600
It's my fault.
352
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:56,750
You're not just at fault—
353
00:14:56,750 --> 00:14:58,080
you're sick in the head!
354
00:14:58,200 --> 00:14:58,960
Yes, yes.
355
00:14:59,080 --> 00:14:59,610
I'm sick.
356
00:15:00,030 --> 00:15:00,480
I...
357
00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,440
I just have trouble sleeping.
358
00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:03,720
After taking your herbs,
359
00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:04,780
I feel much better.
360
00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:06,750
Meng Buyi, oh, Meng Buyi.
361
00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:08,390
No wonder Hongyao felt aggrieved
362
00:15:08,390 --> 00:15:09,850
about having to marry you.
363
00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,410
What... What did she say?
364
00:15:12,550 --> 00:15:14,120
She blames you for deceiving her.
365
00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:15,970
Your position as a secretary
366
00:15:16,030 --> 00:15:17,550
isn't a real official post at all.
367
00:15:17,550 --> 00:15:20,210
Why didn't you explain this clearly
to Hongyao?
368
00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:22,840
Then how did she find out?
369
00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,550
Secrets can't stay hidden forever.
370
00:15:25,550 --> 00:15:26,630
You're just stubborn.
371
00:15:26,630 --> 00:15:27,550
After passing the imperial examination
372
00:15:27,550 --> 00:15:29,630
and waiting for the Ministry
of Personnel's selection test,
373
00:15:29,630 --> 00:15:31,840
who doesn't give gifts
to the chief examiner?
374
00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:33,240
You just had to act morally superior.
375
00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:34,720
As a result, the chief examiner said
376
00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,840
that your "speech" component
in the four evaluation criteria
377
00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,030
didn't meet the requirements
for clear articulation,
378
00:15:39,030 --> 00:15:41,360
so they gave you
a mere secretary position.
379
00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:41,960
Yes.
380
00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:44,970
But there's still a chance.
381
00:15:45,870 --> 00:15:47,240
After His Majesty ascended the throne,
382
00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:48,520
he reorganized the Ministry of Personnel.
383
00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:49,850
You're being too naive.
384
00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:52,720
Your options now are either
385
00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:53,780
to attach yourself
386
00:15:53,790 --> 00:15:55,390
to a high-ranking official—
387
00:15:55,550 --> 00:15:57,030
ideally directly to the Princess,
388
00:15:57,030 --> 00:15:58,290
who can recommend you—
389
00:15:58,390 --> 00:15:58,870
or
390
00:15:59,150 --> 00:16:01,030
to take the corresponding examination.
391
00:16:01,030 --> 00:16:01,720
But this time,
392
00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:03,870
you must give gifts to the chief examiner
393
00:16:03,870 --> 00:16:06,070
to be promoted to an official position.
394
00:16:06,190 --> 00:16:06,850
Otherwise,
395
00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:08,600
you can remain a lowly clerk forever,
396
00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:09,550
and never expect Hongyao
397
00:16:09,550 --> 00:16:10,410
to respect you.
398
00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,320
Hongyao really isn't here with you?
399
00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:19,440
She's not!
400
00:16:37,150 --> 00:16:37,950
Keep running!
401
00:16:38,630 --> 00:16:39,980
W-Why should I run?
402
00:16:40,950 --> 00:16:42,080
In the Ghost Market,
403
00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:43,970
didn't you run pretty fast?
404
00:16:45,010 --> 00:16:46,630
That's because they were trying
to kill me.
405
00:16:46,630 --> 00:16:47,910
But after I saved you,
406
00:16:48,330 --> 00:16:49,460
you ran even faster.
407
00:16:51,790 --> 00:16:52,720
You're not a criminal.
408
00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:54,550
Y-You're from
the Yongzhou Prefecture Office.
409
00:16:54,550 --> 00:16:55,150
Seize him.
410
00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,060
Why are you treating me like this?
411
00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:02,250
Official Lu.
412
00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:04,440
Meng Buyi is here.
413
00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:29,600
He's the one who hired me!
414
00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:30,580
Well, well!
415
00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:31,200
Tell me,
416
00:17:31,550 --> 00:17:32,430
why did you hire this
417
00:17:32,430 --> 00:17:33,200
whatever-his-name-is
418
00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:34,260
to assassinate me?
419
00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,090
Because I want you dead!
420
00:17:36,270 --> 00:17:37,920
You seduced my wife, Hongyao.
421
00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:39,510
-Shouldn't I kill you?
-Wait, wait!
422
00:17:39,510 --> 00:17:40,030
How did you know
423
00:17:40,030 --> 00:17:41,230
about me and Hongyao?
424
00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:41,920
Qian Zheng,
425
00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:45,440
didn't you hire a household spy
426
00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:46,880
to investigate Hongyao?
427
00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:47,750
Yeah.
428
00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:50,790
Someone called Cat, right?
429
00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:51,510
Yeah.
430
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:55,400
Take a closer look
431
00:17:55,590 --> 00:17:57,970
at his face.
432
00:17:58,070 --> 00:17:58,670
Step back!
433
00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:06,240
Come here!
434
00:18:09,350 --> 00:18:10,600
You are Cat?
435
00:18:10,740 --> 00:18:11,440
It's me.
436
00:18:11,790 --> 00:18:12,790
Do you have proof?
437
00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:13,640
Tell me,
438
00:18:14,030 --> 00:18:15,110
w-w-where...
439
00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:16,590
does she live?
440
00:18:19,790 --> 00:18:20,770
It was you!
441
00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:21,790
You disguised yourself
442
00:18:21,790 --> 00:18:23,070
as that household spy!
443
00:18:23,590 --> 00:18:24,960
What rotten luck for me—
444
00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,270
I actually hired you to...
to snoop on Hongyao!
445
00:18:27,270 --> 00:18:28,790
Now you know you're unlucky?
446
00:18:28,790 --> 00:18:29,710
What about when you seduced my wife,
447
00:18:29,710 --> 00:18:30,570
Hongyao?
448
00:18:30,750 --> 00:18:33,480
You deserve your misfortune!
You deserve to die!
449
00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:34,550
What about your wife?
450
00:18:34,550 --> 00:18:36,640
Now I'm also a victim of Hongyao's...
451
00:18:38,310 --> 00:18:39,550
Hongyao's infidelity.
452
00:18:39,550 --> 00:18:41,070
I'm a victim too.
453
00:18:41,110 --> 00:18:42,270
Shut your mouth!
454
00:18:43,310 --> 00:18:44,310
You slap me!
455
00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:45,790
You don't reflect on yourself,
456
00:18:45,790 --> 00:18:46,790
yet you slap me?
457
00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:47,940
You married Hongyao,
458
00:18:47,940 --> 00:18:49,350
but have you ever cared about her?
459
00:18:49,350 --> 00:18:50,160
You've never even taken her
460
00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:51,560
around Chang'an.
461
00:18:52,050 --> 00:18:53,180
Meng Buyi, that man,
462
00:18:53,350 --> 00:18:55,510
doesn't even give Hongyao money to spend!
463
00:18:55,510 --> 00:18:57,420
She is so beautiful.
464
00:18:57,510 --> 00:18:58,110
Shouldn't she have
465
00:18:58,110 --> 00:18:59,790
the finest jewelry and clothes
466
00:18:59,790 --> 00:19:01,380
to match her beauty?
467
00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:03,030
Yet you slap me!
468
00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:05,040
Hu Shentong,
469
00:19:05,550 --> 00:19:06,440
don't you claim to be
470
00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:07,920
the top assassin of the Ghost Market?
471
00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:09,000
You took my deposit.
472
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,200
Why is he still alive?
473
00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,170
Let me be more specific.
474
00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:13,640
I, Hu Shentong,
475
00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:15,490
am Chang'an Ghost Market's
476
00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:17,770
top assassin at bargain prices!
477
00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:19,990
Nothing good comes cheap!
478
00:19:20,070 --> 00:19:21,070
You hired me,
479
00:19:21,550 --> 00:19:23,200
and that's just your bad luck!
480
00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:24,160
Bad luck indeed!
481
00:19:25,550 --> 00:19:27,640
Enough. Take them both away.
482
00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:28,880
Wait!
483
00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:30,440
-He just slapped me, and that's it?
-Move!
484
00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:30,830
Move!
485
00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:32,720
Why am I so unlucky?
486
00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,550
Meng Buyi, oh, Meng Buyi.
487
00:19:37,110 --> 00:19:39,480
You're a secretary
in the Ministry of Revenue,
488
00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,310
responsible for handling
household registrations, land allocation,
489
00:19:42,310 --> 00:19:43,880
and taxation matters.
490
00:19:44,590 --> 00:19:46,790
You also need to assist
your senior officials
491
00:19:46,790 --> 00:19:48,950
in making relevant decisions.
492
00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,060
Though not a formal official,
493
00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:52,750
you must be quite busy.
494
00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,310
I admire that you can still find time
495
00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,640
to write strange tales.
496
00:20:01,030 --> 00:20:03,960
And you even work as a household spy.
497
00:20:04,550 --> 00:20:05,920
Can you manage all that?
498
00:20:09,110 --> 00:20:10,270
Busy indeed,
499
00:20:10,510 --> 00:20:11,640
but I manage.
500
00:20:12,270 --> 00:20:13,750
Just need to sleep less.
501
00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:15,820
Meng Buyi.
502
00:20:16,110 --> 00:20:17,720
You, as a clerk of
the Ministry of Revenue,
503
00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:19,000
hired an assassin to kill someone—
504
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:20,330
do you admit your guilt?
505
00:20:22,510 --> 00:20:23,240
Official Lu,
506
00:20:23,790 --> 00:20:25,320
though I hired an assassin,
507
00:20:25,420 --> 00:20:26,920
the murder was unsuccessful.
508
00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:28,590
Surely, I deserve a lighter sentence.
509
00:20:28,590 --> 00:20:29,990
Besides, my wife is still
510
00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:31,650
nowhere to be found, dead or alive.
511
00:20:31,650 --> 00:20:32,980
And you brought me here.
512
00:20:33,030 --> 00:20:35,270
Why... Why are you interrogating me?
513
00:20:35,750 --> 00:20:36,680
Secretary Meng,
514
00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,250
just now in court,
515
00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:39,790
you brawled with a witness.
516
00:20:39,790 --> 00:20:42,650
I could have you beaten with rods
right now for that.
517
00:20:43,270 --> 00:20:43,870
Meng Buyi,
518
00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:45,070
since you might
519
00:20:45,070 --> 00:20:46,830
hire an assassin to kill Qian Zheng,
520
00:20:46,830 --> 00:20:48,550
you could also have hired other assassins
521
00:20:48,550 --> 00:20:49,480
to kill Hongyao.
522
00:20:49,790 --> 00:20:50,590
You might have
523
00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:52,000
even killed
524
00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:52,730
your own wife
525
00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:54,270
and hidden her body,
526
00:20:54,270 --> 00:20:55,800
claiming she disappeared!
527
00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:57,030
Is that true or not?
528
00:20:57,030 --> 00:20:58,230
Confess truthfully!
529
00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:05,540
Lu Lingfeng, Su Wuming,
530
00:21:06,170 --> 00:21:07,160
you two once
531
00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,400
solved the mysterious Cantian Tower case,
532
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:10,510
which was a remarkable achievement,
533
00:21:10,510 --> 00:21:12,160
and captured the Demon Lord
at Chengfo Temple,
534
00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:13,960
making you renowned throughout Chang'an.
535
00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,470
Is this... all you can do?
536
00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:18,350
Letting a mere boy
537
00:21:18,350 --> 00:21:19,350
ramble on without evidence
538
00:21:19,350 --> 00:21:21,480
in this court?
539
00:21:21,550 --> 00:21:23,100
This is ridiculous.
540
00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:24,120
You...
541
00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:25,080
Captain Xue,
542
00:21:25,550 --> 00:21:27,150
you're speaking out of turn.
543
00:21:30,270 --> 00:21:31,670
Secretary Meng, may I ask
544
00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:33,450
what you were doing last night?
545
00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:36,690
On night duty at the ministry office.
546
00:21:36,690 --> 00:21:37,790
But a house-squatter
547
00:21:37,790 --> 00:21:38,830
saw you return home,
548
00:21:38,830 --> 00:21:40,440
climbing over the wall.
549
00:21:42,780 --> 00:21:43,840
I did no such thing.
550
00:21:44,110 --> 00:21:47,240
Shall we summon the witness
to confront you here and now?
551
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:49,770
Bring them in.
552
00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:58,360
Is your witness
553
00:21:58,510 --> 00:21:59,480
this white-haired
554
00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:00,870
little thief?
555
00:22:01,310 --> 00:22:02,730
Was the hair on my bed
556
00:22:02,790 --> 00:22:03,820
also his?
557
00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,400
And what's this "house-squatter" nonsense?
558
00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:07,720
I think he's just a thief!
559
00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:09,380
You actually believe a thief?
560
00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:10,970
I'm not a thief.
561
00:22:11,310 --> 00:22:13,240
I really saw you jump over the wall.
562
00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:14,500
I was that close to you.
563
00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:16,340
You left through the door.
564
00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:18,550
You were carrying a stack of papers.
565
00:22:18,550 --> 00:22:19,160
Shut up!
566
00:22:20,550 --> 00:22:23,200
I was on night duty
at the Ministry of Revenue yesterday.
567
00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,060
I never left the ministry office.
568
00:22:25,500 --> 00:22:27,500
The senior clerk can testify for me.
569
00:22:27,590 --> 00:22:28,390
I, Meng Buyi,
570
00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:30,070
may be just a minor clerk at the ministry,
571
00:22:30,070 --> 00:22:32,110
but at least I'm
an upright gentleman, right?
572
00:22:32,110 --> 00:22:33,310
You don't believe me,
573
00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:34,680
but you believe
574
00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:36,270
this white-haired little thief?
575
00:22:36,270 --> 00:22:37,590
He's completely slandering me!
576
00:22:37,590 --> 00:22:37,990
You...
577
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:38,730
Official Lu,
578
00:22:38,750 --> 00:22:39,510
can your Yongzhou Prefecture Office
579
00:22:39,510 --> 00:22:41,110
do anything useful for once?
580
00:22:41,550 --> 00:22:42,590
My wife has been
581
00:22:42,590 --> 00:22:44,200
missing for quite some time now.
582
00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:45,720
If you're not going to look for her,
583
00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:46,160
fine—
584
00:22:46,510 --> 00:22:47,840
I'll go find her myself!
585
00:22:50,350 --> 00:22:50,960
Stop right there!
586
00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:51,690
Captain Xue!
587
00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:56,420
I'm telling the truth.
588
00:22:56,590 --> 00:22:58,120
I really saw him last night.
589
00:23:04,830 --> 00:23:05,360
Xue Huan.
590
00:23:06,250 --> 00:23:07,380
Keep following him.
591
00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:08,340
Don't lose him.
592
00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:09,310
Yes.
593
00:23:12,070 --> 00:23:12,480
Jiang,
594
00:23:12,710 --> 00:23:14,110
in your previous testimony,
595
00:23:14,110 --> 00:23:15,550
you said that after Secretary Meng left,
596
00:23:15,550 --> 00:23:16,720
Hongyao came out
597
00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:18,400
with another person, right?
598
00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:18,790
Yes.
599
00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:21,890
Do you remember
what that person looked like?
600
00:23:22,270 --> 00:23:22,830
I do.
601
00:23:23,270 --> 00:23:24,030
He looked roughly...
602
00:23:24,030 --> 00:23:24,490
Hold on.
603
00:23:24,750 --> 00:23:26,150
You don't need to tell me.
604
00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:27,650
Go tell Miss Xijun.
605
00:23:27,830 --> 00:23:28,430
Remember,
606
00:23:28,670 --> 00:23:30,310
the more detailed, the better.
607
00:23:30,310 --> 00:23:30,720
Yes.
608
00:23:31,250 --> 00:23:35,930
[Integrity and Humility]
609
00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:33,760
Su Wuming.
610
00:23:34,590 --> 00:23:35,450
Let's split up.
611
00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:39,920
You want me to go to
the Ministry of Revenue?
612
00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:41,380
Is that really necessary?
613
00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,180
I actually think Meng Buyi is trustworthy.
614
00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,920
I read his collection
615
00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:48,920
of strange tales.
616
00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:50,920
Someone who can write stories that well
617
00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:52,560
usually has good character.
618
00:23:52,750 --> 00:23:53,810
Like me, Su Wuming.
619
00:23:54,310 --> 00:23:55,370
Alright, alright.
620
00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:57,120
Stop praising yourself.
621
00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,530
We don't have any other leads
at the moment.
622
00:23:59,530 --> 00:24:01,460
So please, Chief of Secret Agents,
623
00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,080
take the trouble to go yourself.
624
00:24:04,510 --> 00:24:05,720
Don't be so formal. Please don't.
625
00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,030
After all, I'm still receiving
my monthly salary from you.
626
00:24:08,030 --> 00:24:09,290
It's no trouble at all.
627
00:24:09,550 --> 00:24:11,400
I-I-I'll go right away. Right away.
628
00:24:11,250 --> 00:24:12,230
[Remonstrance]
629
00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:16,580
[Remonstrance]
630
00:24:16,660 --> 00:24:18,690
[Strange Tales
from the Western Capital, by Meng Buyi]
631
00:24:17,670 --> 00:24:19,530
What Secretary Meng said is true.
632
00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,160
He's been assigned night duty for the entire month.
633
00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:23,160
These past three nights,
634
00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:23,920
I've been
635
00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:25,880
telling him stories about snake spirits.
636
00:24:24,430 --> 00:24:27,700
[Ministry of Revenue's Office]
637
00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:27,420
In the story,
638
00:24:27,590 --> 00:24:28,850
there is a green snake,
639
00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:29,840
a white snake,
640
00:24:30,110 --> 00:24:31,570
and a purple snake.
641
00:24:31,830 --> 00:24:33,270
My story is quite captivating.
642
00:24:33,270 --> 00:24:34,710
Secretary Meng praised me...
643
00:24:34,710 --> 00:24:37,440
saying he gained much inspiration
from my story.
644
00:24:37,550 --> 00:24:39,610
Here is the beginning of the story...
645
00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:41,730
No need to be this detailed.
646
00:24:42,170 --> 00:24:43,850
It's clearly written here.
647
00:24:43,420 --> 00:24:48,830
[Dutiful and Diligent]
648
00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,410
I'll read it slowly myself.
649
00:24:45,930 --> 00:24:46,790
Old sir,
650
00:24:47,270 --> 00:24:48,920
you're advanced in years,
651
00:24:49,030 --> 00:24:52,070
yet you can still stay up all night
on duty with Secretary Meng.
652
00:24:52,070 --> 00:24:54,420
You didn't... doze off in between?
653
00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:58,550
[Dutiful and Diligent]
654
00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:56,880
Though I'm old,
655
00:24:57,110 --> 00:24:58,640
I'm still very energetic.
656
00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,820
How could I possibly doze off
during night duty?
657
00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:03,360
I'm curious, though—
658
00:25:03,750 --> 00:25:05,270
how can a story about three snakes
659
00:25:05,270 --> 00:25:06,460
last three nights?
660
00:25:06,300 --> 00:25:12,350
[Dutiful and Diligent]
661
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:07,590
Miss,
662
00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:09,400
my story is very entertaining.
663
00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:10,480
Come on, let me tell you about it.
664
00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:11,310
Another day perhaps.
665
00:25:11,310 --> 00:25:12,510
I'm on official duty.
666
00:25:12,830 --> 00:25:14,960
Just the story about snake spirits?
667
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:17,270
Nothing else?
668
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:18,600
Oh, right,
669
00:25:19,030 --> 00:25:21,480
Secretary Meng also opened
a jar of fine wine
670
00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:22,530
for me to drink.
671
00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:24,790
You didn't drink too much
672
00:25:24,790 --> 00:25:25,880
and fall asleep, did you?
673
00:25:25,730 --> 00:25:33,280
[Dutiful and Diligent]
674
00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:28,010
What are you saying?
675
00:25:28,070 --> 00:25:29,750
Though I'm old,
676
00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:31,240
when it comes to drinking,
677
00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,350
I have no equal in Chang'an!
678
00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,350
No equal in Chang'an?
679
00:25:38,380 --> 00:25:46,480
[Dutiful and Diligent]
680
00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:40,010
What a coincidence.
681
00:25:40,590 --> 00:25:42,590
I also know an old gentleman
682
00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:43,950
who can drink a lot.
683
00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:45,160
He claims to be...
684
00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:46,720
What was it again?
685
00:25:47,310 --> 00:25:48,200
Anyway, I think
686
00:25:48,310 --> 00:25:49,880
you two should have a contest
687
00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:51,480
to see who can drink more.
688
00:25:51,750 --> 00:25:52,390
Alright.
689
00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:53,810
Where shall we compete?
690
00:25:54,070 --> 00:25:55,550
And who's paying for the drinks?
691
00:25:55,550 --> 00:25:56,750
He'll pay, of course.
692
00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:58,480
He's a business owner.
693
00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,040
He just opened the Sushan Shop recently.
694
00:26:01,350 --> 00:26:02,340
Sushan?
695
00:26:02,550 --> 00:26:03,480
I've heard of it.
696
00:26:03,590 --> 00:26:04,790
It's quite famous.
697
00:26:05,030 --> 00:26:06,560
Sushan goes well with wine.
698
00:26:06,590 --> 00:26:07,680
Let's go right now.
699
00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:08,600
Let's go.
700
00:26:08,370 --> 00:26:14,660
[Liuhe Sushan Shop]
701
00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:23,700
It's you?
702
00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:25,380
It's me.
703
00:26:26,510 --> 00:26:29,070
Although I'm getting on in years,
704
00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:32,310
I can still drink plenty.
705
00:26:33,070 --> 00:26:35,980
No one in Chang'an can match me!
706
00:26:36,750 --> 00:26:39,820
I, Fei Qiao, Fei Yingjun,
707
00:26:40,270 --> 00:26:42,670
have never gotten drunk
in the Tang Empire!
708
00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:45,880
Please!
709
00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:47,750
Please.
710
00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:49,740
[Liuhe Sushan Shop]
711
00:26:53,510 --> 00:26:56,370
Boss Fei is having a drinking contest
with that man.
712
00:26:56,860 --> 00:26:58,790
You and I should mind the business.
713
00:26:59,210 --> 00:26:59,920
Let's go. Let's go.
714
00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:03,330
[Liuhe Sushan Shop]
715
00:27:01,550 --> 00:27:02,150
Everyone,
716
00:27:02,310 --> 00:27:03,790
we appreciate your patience while waiting!
717
00:27:03,790 --> 00:27:05,550
We've added more staff
718
00:27:05,550 --> 00:27:06,550
to prepare sushan.
719
00:27:06,550 --> 00:27:08,090
Just be patient,
720
00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:09,950
and you'll all get to taste this delicacy!
721
00:27:09,860 --> 00:27:12,540
[Liuhe Sushan Shop]
722
00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:12,110
-Good!
-Yeah!
723
00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:15,500
How is it going?
724
00:27:16,030 --> 00:27:16,680
All done.
725
00:27:17,550 --> 00:27:19,160
Miss Xijun, you're truly amazing.
726
00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:20,620
It looks exactly like him!
727
00:27:22,350 --> 00:27:22,880
Let's go.
728
00:27:26,830 --> 00:27:29,160
Wearing a light crimson official robe...
729
00:27:30,030 --> 00:27:31,630
He's a fifth-rank official.
730
00:27:35,310 --> 00:27:37,510
But why do I have no recollection of him?
731
00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:39,510
There are so many officials
in the capital.
732
00:27:39,510 --> 00:27:41,550
Who could possibly remember them all?
733
00:27:41,550 --> 00:27:43,160
Then how should we find this person?
734
00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:44,720
We should go to
the Ministry of Personnel, of course.
735
00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:46,920
No need to ask
the Minister or Vice Minister—
736
00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:47,790
just talk to those minor officials
737
00:27:47,790 --> 00:27:49,200
who have worked in the ministry for years.
738
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:50,360
They know everyone.
739
00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:52,830
They know every official's hometown,
740
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,000
family background, talents, hobbies,
741
00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:56,240
which year they passed
the imperial examination,
742
00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:57,270
and who their mentors were—
743
00:27:57,270 --> 00:27:58,330
all crystal clear.
744
00:27:58,590 --> 00:27:59,390
You're right.
745
00:28:00,070 --> 00:28:02,110
Your father once served as
the Vice Minister there.
746
00:28:02,110 --> 00:28:05,160
Following your advice is
definitely the right choice.
747
00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:06,350
Would you accompany me,
748
00:28:06,350 --> 00:28:06,830
Xijun?
749
00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:08,000
Sure.
750
00:28:15,290 --> 00:28:15,980
Fei,
751
00:28:16,270 --> 00:28:17,200
what's going on?
752
00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:20,000
I used the Sobering Orb,
753
00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:22,350
but he passed out after just two bowls.
754
00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:22,960
If I had known,
755
00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,420
I wouldn't have needed
this treasure at all.
756
00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:30,390
Enough.
757
00:28:30,510 --> 00:28:31,480
There are so many customers outside.
758
00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:32,450
Go back to work.
759
00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:34,320
Su Wuming,
760
00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,400
you're just using me
and then tossing me aside.
761
00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,950
Being a boss is too restrictive.
762
00:28:39,110 --> 00:28:39,720
How about
763
00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:41,810
you manage the business for one day
764
00:28:41,830 --> 00:28:43,570
while I enjoy a good drink?
765
00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:45,160
Just... Just one day.
766
00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:45,780
No.
767
00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,730
You have time to read your book,
yet you won't help me!
768
00:28:51,300 --> 00:28:52,660
I have a feeling
769
00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,980
that the clues to
solve this mysterious case
770
00:28:56,270 --> 00:28:58,470
are hidden in the Strange Tales.
771
00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:00,590
Alright, go back to work.
772
00:29:00,590 --> 00:29:01,590
Don't disturb me.
773
00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,070
Unmatched in all of Chang'an...
774
00:29:06,070 --> 00:29:06,880
Alright, alright.
775
00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:08,240
You're unmatched, unmatched.
776
00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:08,880
Listen,
777
00:29:09,270 --> 00:29:11,800
if you find anyone else
who boasts like him,
778
00:29:12,010 --> 00:29:13,620
bring them to me.
779
00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:15,440
Even without the Sobering Orb,
780
00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,480
I've never gotten drunk
anywhere in the Tang Empire.
781
00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:21,680
Have you forgotten what happened
in Yunding County?
782
00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:22,580
You got drunk,
783
00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:23,720
were kidnapped,
784
00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:25,270
soaked in a pool of wine,
785
00:29:25,310 --> 00:29:26,440
and nearly drowned?
786
00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:28,440
That was because I was tricked
by those villains.
787
00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:30,700
That doesn't count. That doesn't count.
788
00:29:30,770 --> 00:29:31,590
Boss,
789
00:29:31,750 --> 00:29:34,210
another serving
of red bean sushan, please!
790
00:29:43,830 --> 00:29:45,360
Why is he so full of himself?
791
00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:49,830
Who does he think he is?
792
00:29:49,830 --> 00:29:50,590
Who knows?
793
00:29:56,590 --> 00:29:57,400
Mr. Yan
794
00:29:57,540 --> 00:29:59,380
sure treats that servant well.
795
00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:01,640
He gives him the same food
and drink as himself
796
00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:03,110
and never makes him work.
797
00:30:03,540 --> 00:30:04,870
Treats him like a lord.
798
00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:06,370
All day, he just sits in the sun,
799
00:30:06,370 --> 00:30:07,030
chewing mint leaves.
800
00:30:07,030 --> 00:30:08,130
I even saw Mr. Yan
801
00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:09,680
washing mint leaves for Ming Shi himself.
802
00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:10,740
If I had his master,
803
00:30:11,030 --> 00:30:12,510
I'd be happy to be a servant too.
804
00:30:12,510 --> 00:30:13,440
Who wouldn't?
805
00:30:26,170 --> 00:30:26,740
Hongyao?
806
00:30:29,070 --> 00:30:29,680
Hongyao!
807
00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:32,770
Hongyao!
808
00:30:50,350 --> 00:30:50,920
Master,
809
00:30:51,590 --> 00:30:52,540
did you
810
00:30:52,750 --> 00:30:53,810
take Hongyao away?
811
00:30:55,550 --> 00:30:57,680
You really can't let go of that woman.
812
00:30:57,750 --> 00:30:59,480
Have you forgotten—seven years ago,
813
00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:00,720
it was I who stopped you from
being with her
814
00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:02,330
all the time
815
00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,240
and forced you to study hard,
816
00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:06,830
and that's how you passed
the imperial examination?
817
00:31:06,830 --> 00:31:07,870
Otherwise,
818
00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:10,400
you'd still be in the mountains
of Lingnan,
819
00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:12,070
worth nothing.
820
00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:15,820
Even if I had married Hongyao,
821
00:31:15,830 --> 00:31:17,630
it wouldn't have affected my...
822
00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:19,820
your political career.
823
00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:20,590
Shut up.
824
00:31:21,590 --> 00:31:22,990
Forget about that woman.
825
00:31:25,070 --> 00:31:26,210
Now you need to
826
00:31:26,510 --> 00:31:29,090
focus on growing gastrodia for me.
827
00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:30,350
It's the Emperor's
828
00:31:30,350 --> 00:31:31,240
favorite tonic these days.
829
00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:32,000
And you...
830
00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:34,470
you're already lucky enough.
831
00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:36,480
As an eighth-rank official,
832
00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,110
you're allowed to wear the crimson robe
833
00:31:38,110 --> 00:31:39,350
and are treated as a fifth-rank official,
834
00:31:39,350 --> 00:31:40,640
even above your superior,
the Chief Imperial Physician
835
00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:42,070
of the Imperial Academy of Medicine.
836
00:31:42,070 --> 00:31:42,920
All of this is
837
00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:46,070
the result of my careful planning.
838
00:31:47,070 --> 00:31:49,190
Instead of being grateful...
839
00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:52,070
you come to question me?
840
00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:54,480
Master,
841
00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:55,930
I'm begging you.
842
00:31:56,070 --> 00:31:57,750
Hongyao won't hinder my career.
843
00:31:57,750 --> 00:31:59,280
I will do my utmost to become
844
00:31:59,310 --> 00:32:02,070
the Chief Minister
of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
845
00:32:02,070 --> 00:32:03,200
That won't suffice.
846
00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:06,270
I want you to climb
847
00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:07,550
step by step—
848
00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,270
until you reach the Chancellor position
for me.
849
00:32:10,270 --> 00:32:11,480
By then,
850
00:32:12,070 --> 00:32:13,070
I—
851
00:32:13,350 --> 00:32:15,270
a mere herbal merchant with no right
852
00:32:15,270 --> 00:32:16,800
to take the imperial exams—
853
00:32:16,830 --> 00:32:18,070
will become
854
00:32:18,270 --> 00:32:22,000
the shadow ruler of Chang'an.
855
00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:30,100
Okay, okay.
856
00:32:30,510 --> 00:32:32,040
You can be the shadow ruler,
857
00:32:32,260 --> 00:32:33,860
but tell me where Hongyao is.
858
00:32:34,270 --> 00:32:35,480
It must be that Meng Buyi came,
859
00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:36,640
and you feared being exposed,
860
00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:38,030
so you made her
move elsewhere, didn't you?
861
00:32:38,030 --> 00:32:39,690
This is none of your business.
862
00:32:40,070 --> 00:32:41,270
Forget about Hongyao
863
00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:43,410
and focus on your official duties.
864
00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:46,010
Don't let my painstaking efforts
go to waste.
865
00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:48,660
Ming Shi, you've gone too far!
866
00:32:48,860 --> 00:32:50,790
I, Yan Junxian, have my limits too!
867
00:32:50,820 --> 00:32:52,510
[Ming Shi, House Servant]
868
00:32:52,530 --> 00:32:54,780
[Ming Shi, Herbal Merchant]
869
00:32:56,510 --> 00:32:58,830
You dare to lose your temper with me?
870
00:33:00,750 --> 00:33:02,810
And you call yourself "Yan Junxian"?
871
00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:04,880
Have you forgotten
872
00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:06,070
your real name?
873
00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:10,030
Moorhen!
874
00:33:10,830 --> 00:33:11,890
What are you doing?
875
00:33:14,030 --> 00:33:14,590
Mr. Yan,
876
00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:15,830
this man dared to disrespect you.
877
00:33:15,830 --> 00:33:16,880
We'll teach him a lesson for you.
878
00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:18,210
Beat him! Beat him hard!
879
00:33:25,590 --> 00:33:27,050
Enough. Stop beating him.
880
00:33:28,070 --> 00:33:29,680
Don't think that being a house servant
881
00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:31,830
gives you the right to disrespect Mr. Yan.
882
00:33:31,830 --> 00:33:33,720
As a servant, if you forget
your place again,
883
00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:35,580
we'll teach you a lesson anytime!
884
00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:36,680
You may go now.
885
00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:37,580
Go back to work.
886
00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:38,830
Mr. Yan.
887
00:33:40,030 --> 00:33:40,890
-Go!
-Let's go.
888
00:33:47,590 --> 00:33:48,070
Master.
889
00:33:49,030 --> 00:33:50,640
I couldn't stop them just now.
890
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:52,900
-Otherwise, they would've...
-Shut up.
891
00:33:53,930 --> 00:33:55,000
Please calm down, Master.
892
00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:55,680
Lately,
893
00:33:55,700 --> 00:33:57,590
I keep thinking about our days in Lingnan.
894
00:33:57,590 --> 00:33:58,920
Before you told me to study
895
00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:00,300
[Yan Junxian, Deputy Chief
Imperial Physician]
896
00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:00,650
and prepare for the imperial examinations,
897
00:34:00,300 --> 00:34:01,690
[And Herb Garden Supervisor]
898
00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:02,440
although I was just your servant,
899
00:34:01,710 --> 00:34:04,890
[Original Name: Moorhen;
Ming Shi's House Servant]
900
00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:03,750
back then,
901
00:34:04,310 --> 00:34:05,840
life was truly carefree...
902
00:34:07,030 --> 00:34:08,030
You think I enjoy dealing with
903
00:34:08,030 --> 00:34:09,690
those arrogant northerners?
904
00:34:10,070 --> 00:34:12,070
I can't even get fresh lychees here.
905
00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:14,370
Why don't we go back?
906
00:34:15,110 --> 00:34:16,969
Like Zhang Han of the Western Jin,
907
00:34:17,230 --> 00:34:18,710
who longed for home delicacies
908
00:34:18,710 --> 00:34:20,239
when the autumn winds rose.
909
00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:21,880
Well, look at you,
910
00:34:22,550 --> 00:34:24,550
even knowing a literary reference.
911
00:34:24,670 --> 00:34:26,110
Next, you'll say
912
00:34:26,190 --> 00:34:28,480
you want me to let you marry Hongyao,
913
00:34:28,550 --> 00:34:29,360
then have children
914
00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:31,090
and enjoy family bliss, right?
915
00:34:31,190 --> 00:34:32,070
Dream on!
916
00:34:33,190 --> 00:34:33,760
Mr. Yan!
917
00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:37,710
Officials from
the Yongzhou Prefecture Office have come.
918
00:34:37,710 --> 00:34:39,570
The Yongzhou Prefecture Office?
919
00:34:39,670 --> 00:34:41,600
Why did they come to my herb garden?
920
00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:43,710
Secretary Meng, aren't you supposed to be
on night duty?
921
00:34:43,710 --> 00:34:44,550
It's still so early.
922
00:34:44,550 --> 00:34:45,880
Why are you here already?
923
00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:48,080
I had nowhere else to go, so I came early.
924
00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:52,219
Where's the senior clerk?
925
00:34:53,190 --> 00:34:54,000
In the afternoon,
926
00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,070
officials from
the Yongzhou Prefecture Office came.
927
00:34:56,070 --> 00:34:57,550
Officials from
the Yongzhou Prefecture Office came?
928
00:34:57,550 --> 00:34:58,320
For what?
929
00:34:59,110 --> 00:35:00,590
They invited the senior clerk for drinks.
930
00:35:00,590 --> 00:35:01,960
They were actually quite polite.
931
00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:02,670
I even overheard them
932
00:35:02,670 --> 00:35:03,960
saying something like,
933
00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:05,620
"Sushan goes well with wine."
934
00:35:18,030 --> 00:35:18,830
The one above.
935
00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:22,940
Finally, we bought it.
936
00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:27,860
I'll try it when I get back.
937
00:35:27,860 --> 00:35:28,530
Okay, okay.
938
00:35:34,260 --> 00:35:35,390
Lu, please sit.
939
00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:36,280
Have some tea.
940
00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:38,310
No need for tea.
941
00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:38,920
I'm here
942
00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:40,650
to show you a painting.
943
00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:42,140
A painting?
944
00:35:47,110 --> 00:35:48,480
Who painted this portrait of me?
945
00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:49,320
I did.
946
00:35:50,030 --> 00:35:52,010
But miss, we've never met before.
947
00:35:52,070 --> 00:35:53,670
I haven't seen you in person,
948
00:35:53,670 --> 00:35:54,870
but someone else has.
949
00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:55,500
I painted this based on
950
00:35:55,500 --> 00:35:56,920
that person's description.
951
00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:57,320
Who?
952
00:35:57,760 --> 00:35:59,220
As for that person's name,
953
00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:01,170
I'm not at liberty to reveal it.
954
00:36:01,190 --> 00:36:03,390
However, Official Lu certainly knows.
955
00:36:04,110 --> 00:36:05,760
This matter involves a murder case.
956
00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:06,960
I must ask you to cooperate
957
00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:08,360
and answer my questions truthfully,
958
00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:09,820
without any concealment.
959
00:36:17,630 --> 00:36:18,760
If you feel uncomfortable here
960
00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:19,960
or have any concerns,
961
00:36:20,030 --> 00:36:21,800
you can come with me to
the Yongzhou Prefecture Office.
962
00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:23,000
But before that,
963
00:36:23,070 --> 00:36:25,070
I'll need your men to cooperate with mine
964
00:36:25,070 --> 00:36:27,000
to thoroughly search the herb garden
965
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:28,230
and your residence.
966
00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:33,420
-Greetings, Deputy Chief Physician Yan!
-Greetings, Deputy Chief Physician Yan!
967
00:36:35,490 --> 00:36:42,340
[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]
968
00:36:41,630 --> 00:36:42,430
-Stop.
-Stop.
969
00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:43,580
Step aside.
970
00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:52,570
[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]
971
00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:53,170
Who's beating the drum?
972
00:37:01,420 --> 00:37:02,940
[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]
973
00:37:03,110 --> 00:37:03,840
Official Lu.
974
00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:19,280
What's your suggestion?
975
00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:21,360
You're asking me?
976
00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:22,760
You're a skilled artist,
977
00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:24,510
and you've been observing
978
00:37:24,510 --> 00:37:26,070
both Yan Junxian and Meng Buyi.
979
00:37:26,070 --> 00:37:27,710
You must have noticed quite a bit
980
00:37:27,710 --> 00:37:28,920
from their expressions.
981
00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:29,230
So,
982
00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:30,960
I'm asking for your advice.
983
00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:32,360
It's just my intuition.
984
00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:35,320
I think they both seem guilty
of something.
985
00:37:35,550 --> 00:37:37,760
Since they're old acquaintances
986
00:37:38,230 --> 00:37:40,230
and involved with the same woman...
987
00:37:41,230 --> 00:37:43,430
why not try questioning them together?
988
00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:45,590
We're thinking alike.
989
00:37:46,890 --> 00:37:48,690
You don't really need my advice.
990
00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:50,630
You saw I was exhausted at the shop
991
00:37:50,630 --> 00:37:51,550
and found an excuse
992
00:37:51,550 --> 00:37:53,010
to give me a day off, right?
993
00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:54,370
That's not true.
994
00:37:55,330 --> 00:37:56,710
Without your artistic skills,
995
00:37:56,710 --> 00:37:57,510
how could I have tracked down
996
00:37:57,510 --> 00:37:58,440
Yan Junxian?
997
00:38:05,030 --> 00:38:06,090
Xijun, you are
998
00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:07,280
crucial to me—
999
00:38:08,030 --> 00:38:11,160
not just in assisting me
with solving mysterious cases.
1000
00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:14,560
I admit it.
1001
00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:15,800
Last night...
1002
00:38:16,680 --> 00:38:17,340
I went home.
1003
00:38:20,230 --> 00:38:21,480
But we have
1004
00:38:21,550 --> 00:38:23,230
already sent people
to the Ministry of Revenue.
1005
00:38:23,230 --> 00:38:24,830
The senior clerk can testify
1006
00:38:25,100 --> 00:38:26,710
that you were on night duty all night
1007
00:38:26,710 --> 00:38:27,800
and never left.
1008
00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:29,800
He kept pestering me last night,
1009
00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:31,150
telling me some story about snake spirits.
1010
00:38:31,150 --> 00:38:32,470
It was complete nonsense
1011
00:38:32,470 --> 00:38:33,400
and extremely boring.
1012
00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:34,030
I didn't want to listen,
1013
00:38:34,030 --> 00:38:35,710
so I opened a jar of wine for him.
1014
00:38:35,710 --> 00:38:37,150
That senior clerk couldn't
hold his liquor.
1015
00:38:37,150 --> 00:38:39,030
He passed out after just two bowls
1016
00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:41,090
and slept for most of the night.
1017
00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:42,630
I took that opportunity
1018
00:38:42,630 --> 00:38:43,360
to go home.
1019
00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:45,280
Because I needed a lot of paper
1020
00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:47,280
to continue writing the strange tales,
1021
00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:48,590
and using the ministry's paper
1022
00:38:48,590 --> 00:38:50,050
wouldn't be appropriate.
1023
00:39:16,350 --> 00:39:17,610
Ever since Yan Junxian
1024
00:39:17,880 --> 00:39:18,920
returned to the capital for his post,
1025
00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:20,760
Hongyao and I haven't been getting along.
1026
00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:21,360
So,
1027
00:39:21,510 --> 00:39:23,040
I've always suspected him.
1028
00:39:23,150 --> 00:39:24,400
After I entered the courtyard,
1029
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:25,710
I saw candles lit in the room.
1030
00:39:25,710 --> 00:39:27,820
So I went up and pounded hard on the door.
1031
00:39:27,820 --> 00:39:29,680
I just wanted to give them a scare.
1032
00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:32,320
Hongyao,
1033
00:39:32,630 --> 00:39:33,430
open the door!
1034
00:39:33,550 --> 00:39:34,400
Who is it?
1035
00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:35,280
Me!
1036
00:39:35,670 --> 00:39:36,600
Open up quickly!
1037
00:39:37,230 --> 00:39:38,160
Coming, coming!
1038
00:39:40,110 --> 00:39:41,880
Weren't you supposed to be
on night duty tonight?
1039
00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:43,250
Why are you back so soon?
1040
00:39:47,510 --> 00:39:48,760
Why are you looking around?
1041
00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:50,890
Did you come back to catch me cheating?
1042
00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:53,590
Let...
1043
00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:55,280
Let me ask you!
1044
00:39:55,590 --> 00:39:57,250
I should be the one asking you!
1045
00:39:57,280 --> 00:39:59,590
You told me you held a position
at the Ministry of Revenue,
1046
00:39:59,590 --> 00:40:00,630
but a secretary is just
1047
00:40:00,630 --> 00:40:01,840
a minor clerk.
1048
00:40:02,710 --> 00:40:04,960
There are 50 or 60 of you
in the ministry alone!
1049
00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:05,880
Not only is the position lowly,
1050
00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:07,320
it doesn't even qualify
as a proper official rank!
1051
00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:09,070
How much longer do you plan to
keep lying to me?
1052
00:40:09,070 --> 00:40:10,130
Who's lying to you?
1053
00:40:11,220 --> 00:40:13,510
Though the secretary position is minor...
1054
00:40:13,510 --> 00:40:15,230
it carries significant responsibilities!
1055
00:40:15,230 --> 00:40:16,510
It's still a ninth-rank position!
1056
00:40:16,510 --> 00:40:17,280
Come on,
1057
00:40:17,710 --> 00:40:18,280
how can an unranked position
1058
00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:20,210
compare to a proper official rank?
1059
00:40:20,360 --> 00:40:20,670
I...
1060
00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:22,880
You've been in the secretary position
for seven years.
1061
00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:24,000
If you ever thought of me,
1062
00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:24,710
you wouldn't spend every day
1063
00:40:24,710 --> 00:40:25,590
writing those strange tales
1064
00:40:25,590 --> 00:40:26,920
instead of trying to advance yourself!
1065
00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:27,630
Divorce me!
1066
00:40:28,480 --> 00:40:29,410
What did you say?
1067
00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:30,440
Divorce me!
1068
00:40:32,590 --> 00:40:33,760
Divorce you
1069
00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:36,660
just so you can get back with Yan Junxian?
1070
00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:37,610
Not a chance!
1071
00:40:48,190 --> 00:40:50,450
Though I didn't confront them directly,
1072
00:40:51,110 --> 00:40:52,760
you, Yan Junxian,
1073
00:40:53,480 --> 00:40:55,480
were hiding in my house at that time.
1074
00:40:55,670 --> 00:40:57,750
Tell me, where exactly were you hiding?
1075
00:40:57,750 --> 00:40:58,280
I...
1076
00:40:58,800 --> 00:40:59,260
Well...
1077
00:40:59,840 --> 00:41:00,620
Meng Buyi,
1078
00:41:01,110 --> 00:41:03,070
you claim your wife has been unfaithful.
1079
00:41:03,070 --> 00:41:04,270
Do you have evidence?
1080
00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:05,640
Yes, I do.
1081
00:41:06,070 --> 00:41:07,400
When I entered the room,
1082
00:41:07,630 --> 00:41:08,440
I saw a pair of
1083
00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:09,370
brown boots
1084
00:41:09,390 --> 00:41:10,590
hidden under the bed!
1085
00:41:10,630 --> 00:41:12,030
I saw them as clear as day!
1086
00:41:12,630 --> 00:41:13,630
These very boots!
1087
00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:16,320
Official Lu, I...
1088
00:41:17,150 --> 00:41:17,800
Meng Buyi,
1089
00:41:18,110 --> 00:41:19,910
do you have anything else to say?
1090
00:41:21,360 --> 00:41:23,320
I... I...
1091
00:41:24,100 --> 00:41:25,030
Nothing for now.
1092
00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:29,860
Deputy Chief Physician Yan,
it's your turn.
1093
00:41:31,330 --> 00:41:32,470
Since someone drew my portrait...
1094
00:41:32,470 --> 00:41:33,070
Hold on!
1095
00:41:35,190 --> 00:41:35,920
Official Lu,
1096
00:41:36,550 --> 00:41:37,880
what do you mean by this?
1097
00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:40,360
You address him respectfully as
"Deputy Chief Physician Yan,"
1098
00:41:40,360 --> 00:41:41,960
but call me directly by name?
1099
00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:43,480
What are you two playing at?
1100
00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:45,480
Officials covering for each other?
1101
00:41:48,710 --> 00:41:49,480
I am
1102
00:41:49,630 --> 00:41:51,960
the current Yongzhou Judicial Official.
1103
00:41:52,550 --> 00:41:54,630
Although I can't wear
the light crimson official robes,
1104
00:41:54,630 --> 00:41:56,590
I have no need to curry favor with him.
1105
00:41:56,590 --> 00:41:57,190
After all,
1106
00:41:57,630 --> 00:41:58,960
I was
1107
00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:00,760
the former General
of the Right Imperial Guards
1108
00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:02,440
and former Vice Minister
of the Judicial Review Court...
1109
00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:02,840
But...
1110
00:42:02,840 --> 00:42:04,480
But you make a valid point.
1111
00:42:05,550 --> 00:42:07,230
I spoke inappropriately earlier.
1112
00:42:07,230 --> 00:42:08,440
From now on,
1113
00:42:08,670 --> 00:42:11,130
I shall address both of you directly
by name.
1114
00:42:11,710 --> 00:42:12,440
Yan Junxian,
1115
00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:13,360
Meng Buyi suspects
1116
00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:14,560
you were in his home last night.
1117
00:42:14,560 --> 00:42:15,420
What do you say?
1118
00:42:15,590 --> 00:42:17,180
Think carefully before you speak,
1119
00:42:17,180 --> 00:42:18,710
because everything you say
1120
00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:21,020
will be recorded in the court ledger.
1121
00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:27,510
Since someone drew my portrait,
1122
00:42:27,510 --> 00:42:28,800
someone must have seen me
1123
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:30,110
entering and leaving the Meng Residence.
1124
00:42:30,110 --> 00:42:30,670
Besides,
1125
00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:31,760
I didn't do anything
1126
00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:32,700
shameful.
1127
00:42:32,750 --> 00:42:34,150
Why shouldn't I admit it?
1128
00:42:35,070 --> 00:42:36,720
Curse you, Yan Junxian.
1129
00:42:37,070 --> 00:42:38,150
You met my wife secretly
1130
00:42:38,150 --> 00:42:39,590
while I was on night duty!
1131
00:42:39,710 --> 00:42:41,280
So what if I went to your house?
1132
00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:42,450
So what if I met with Hongyao?
1133
00:42:42,450 --> 00:42:43,910
She was mine to begin with!
1134
00:42:44,070 --> 00:42:45,190
How dare you act so disrespectfully
1135
00:42:45,190 --> 00:42:45,920
in court!
73693
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