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{\an8}ADAPTED FROM A SHUQI.COM NOVEL
ORIGINAL AUTHOR: SENLIN LU

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Where is Li Peiyi?

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Tell me. I can give you the antidote.

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What are you saying?

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You think I'll lean in close

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and give you a chance to kill me?

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Inspector Du, try whatever you want.

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I see right through it.

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I know your blade is poisoned.

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But I added one more herb.

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Now, it's already reached your eyes.

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If you don't take the antidote in time,

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you and I will walk the road

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to the underworld together!

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I stopped Peiyi

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from reopening that old case 15 years ago,

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not because I don't want to.

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It's because you hid too well.

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If we don't find who's behind this,

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she'll never be safe.

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Let me see

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which old acquaintance this is.

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Old man?

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Old man, wake up!

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Where's the antidote?

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Where is it?

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Old man? Where's the antidote?

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Where is it?

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Don't scare me.

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Don't fall asleep.

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Don't scare me. Old man?

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Don't leave me…

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Don't leave me…

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Don't leave me…

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Don't leave me…

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Why?

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Why…

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the one still alive…

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is…

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me?

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Peiyi?

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Peiyi?

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Peiyi?

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Old man…

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It was you.

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You remember now?

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Yes.

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Good.

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Fifteen years ago…

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behind the rockery… you saw it all?

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No.

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Don't think I won't kill you!

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You can kill me…

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but I didn't lie to you.

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I also wish I'd seen it.

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My lord. It's time.

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Clean this place up.

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Understood.

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What about after that?

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How did you get me out alone?

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Who took me into the palace?

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I carried you on my back

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and climbed the wall
out of the Prince of Duan's manor.

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Huaijin!

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Huaijin. Huaijin.

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Huaijin. What's wrong?

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Give her to me.

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Hurry! Hurry!

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Let's enter the palace.

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After that, I passed out.

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But I truly cannot recall

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what happened after that.

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Peiyi!

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You can't forget.

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How can you forget?

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I'm sorry.

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Mr. Xiao,

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think again… Think again.

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Did the man who killed my father
say anything?

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What did he sound like?

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Was he tall or short? Fat or thin?

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Any birthmark? Any scars?

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You never forget a face.

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There's no way you don't remember!

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I'm sorry.

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What I saw and remember

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isn't any more than you do.

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Peiyi, I'm sorry.

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Don't say sorry…

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Don't say sorry…

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Think again. Tell me something else.

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Anything you can remember.

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Anything. I'm begging you!

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Please, leave me alone.

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Old man…

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Look…

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I'm a cursed lone star.

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I couldn't find the killer.

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And I got you killed.

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Your Ladyship.

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Should we send Inspector Du's body
back to Western Capital?

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He didn't like the capital.

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He'd hate being worshiped too.

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He lived free and easy.

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He used to swing a spear and drink.

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Then it was chess and pitch-pot.

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Find a high place with a view.

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Bury him facing the capital.

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So he can see how I'll avenge him.

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Understood.

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I know you didn't like the capital.

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It's quiet here.

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No more of me bothering you.

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I'm going back for revenge.

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The trail is cold, so what?

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I've got time and patience.

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If you still have a conscience,

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watch over me, will you?

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Father.

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Go home and see your mother.

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I have something to tell Her Ladyship.

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Mr. Xiao, please leave.

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Don't worry.

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In rank, in skill, and in words,

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I won't humiliate Her Ladyship.

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Your Ladyship, please.

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You've always kept quiet

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about that tragedy
at the Prince of Duan's manor.

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And you don't want Deputy Director Xiao
to be deeply involved with me.

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But I know

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you were not the killer.

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So you'd better tell me something
I don't know yet.

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Otherwise, there's no deal
left to talk about.

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I'm not trying to make you agree

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to any conditions.

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I'll tell you everything I know.

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As for the rest,
Your Ladyship, you decide.

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That night,

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I heard something happened
at the Prince of Duan's manor,

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so I summoned the Crown Prince's guards.

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But it wasn't the Prince of Duan
going mad and hurting someone.

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It was said

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when he campaigned in Jianning,

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his Jianning Iron Army

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left their post
and slipped into Western Capital

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on Lantern Festival night.

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So you thought my father

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going mad and hurting people
wasn't enough,

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and you had to pin treason on him too?

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I know the Prince of Duan
was always loyal.

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He came back
to the capital early that year

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to return his command tally.

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But that night,

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more than a dozen Jianning Iron Army men

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did enter the capital without orders.

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This matter couldn't be faked.

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Do you think someone plotting rebellion

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would make lanterns with his daughter

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and watch the moon
with his wife on the very night?

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If I didn't find it suspicious,

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why would I go
to the Prince of Duan's manor that night?

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But when you arrived…

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The tragedy had already happened.

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The Prince of Duan's manor
was surrounded by the Imperial Guards.

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No one could come or go.

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I knew it was serious.

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The Crown Prince's guards

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must not be seen.

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So I had them split up
and leave by another route.

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I meant to go to the manor
to check the situation.

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However,

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I ran into Huaijin and you.

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So, you sent me into the palace?

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No. It wasn't me.

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- Let's enter the palace.
- Right now?

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That's too risky.

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If the Imperial Guards stop us,
what do we do?

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If not the palace,
where else can I take her?

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After that, how will
you explain to His Majesty?

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No matter what, you shouldn't have
shown up here tonight

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and, even less, saved her.

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Take her back to my manor first,

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or find somewhere to settle her for now.

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Sir, no one knows what's happening
inside Prince of Duan's manor,

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nor how His Majesty will rule on this.

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If you get tied to this,

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it'll ruin the Xiao family

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and the Crown Prince too…

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Then what?

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Leave her here?

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Will she even live to wake up?

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Everyone has their fate.

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Young Master got her out.

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That's already a slim chance.

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What comes next isn't for you to decide.

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Sir, look.

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This is the only way.

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I know. I shouldn't drag you
into this, Inspector Du.

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But she is the only child
of the Prince of Duan and his consort.

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Only by sending her into the palace
could we keep her safe.

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But the one who takes her in can't be me.

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Her Ladyship is fated for a hard road.

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If you're willing, escort her partway.

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If you're not…

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Then what?

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Leave her here to die?

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Well, leave her here.

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Me?

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I don't have much virtue.

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Benevolence, righteousness,
rites, wisdom, faith…

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I can live without any of it.

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Mr. Du, you can't just watch her die!

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Hypocritical scholar.

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Well said, Mr. Du.

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I can take her into the palace.

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00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:12,240
But after tonight,

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you and I are strangers.

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This child's life
was saved by you and your son.

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00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:24,880
However, from now on,
you may never hear her thank-you.

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I'm deeply ashamed. I'm not worthy.

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Mr. Du, I'll leave her to you.

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Keeping her alive

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shouldn't be hard. Come.

224
00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,480
Won't you ask why I came tonight?

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00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,360
I've seen all kinds of people.

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00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:48,600
I've never misjudged one.

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00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:51,280
Mr. Du, you're a man of honor!

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00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,120
<i>Inspector Du reported to His Majesty</i>

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that he had found you in a corner
of the Prince of Duan's manor.

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He suggested
you had fainted from the shock

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of the sudden chaos in the manor.

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00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:06,360
His Majesty and the entire court

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00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:07,760
were waiting for you to wake up,

234
00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,640
each harboring their own intentions,
waiting to hear from you

235
00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:13,320
what happened that night

236
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,160
at the Prince of Duan's manor.

237
00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,080
But I didn't remember anything.

238
00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:23,040
I only remembered Father
making lanterns with me before bed.

239
00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:25,480
I woke up an orphan.

240
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,040
Even that alone

241
00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,040
was enough to get you killed.

242
00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,320
Inspector Du and I were always on guard.

243
00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,760
Your fall into Moonlit Pond
was no accident.

244
00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,640
But the scariest part

245
00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:44,960
wasn't that they dared to hurt you.

246
00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:47,880
It was that

247
00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,800
they did it on purpose right in front
of you and Deputy Director Xiao.

248
00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:53,840
They knew you'd saved me.

249
00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,840
I was not sure, and I couldn't prove it.

250
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Whether they knew or not,

251
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to me, that was a warning.

252
00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:05,400
They were warning you

253
00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:10,120
not to get involved with me and never
dig into the Prince of Duan's case.

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00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,640
All I could hope was you'd never remember.

255
00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,800
At least then, you'd be safe.

256
00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,920
And Huaijin and I would be safe too.

257
00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,320
I just never expected

258
00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:25,960
you'd remember anyway.

259
00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:29,520
I dragged down your family

260
00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:31,880
and got my master killed.

261
00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:35,240
I can't change the past.

262
00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,680
From now on, I will sever all ties

263
00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,720
with your family and Deputy Director Xiao.

264
00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:44,400
I came to you

265
00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:46,400
not to protect my family.

266
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,800
Huaijin is gentle, kind-hearted,

267
00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:52,440
but as stubborn as you.

268
00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:54,640
He's made up his mind to investigate.

269
00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:59,120
Even if you cut ties with him,
he'll keep digging.

270
00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:02,720
Let fate take its course

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00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:05,720
for my family.

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00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:08,960
But all this started because of me.

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I can't do nothing.

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00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:13,600
Then please trust him.

275
00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:15,720
Huaijin never meant to hide it.

276
00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,800
Back then, he was only a teenager.

277
00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:22,320
These past 15 years,

278
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,760
he's tried desperately
to forget that night

279
00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:28,280
and hoped you would too.

280
00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:30,560
Because he knows the pain

281
00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:32,800
of waking from nightmares
night after night.

282
00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:37,120
But upon learning
your resolve to uncover the truth,

283
00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:38,720
he forced himself

284
00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,440
to relive that night, over and over.

285
00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,120
He'd throw himself back

286
00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,440
into that nightmare repeatedly,

287
00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,160
if only to remember the smallest detail.

288
00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,800
I admit I had my own motives.

289
00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:57,480
For my family, for the Crown Prince,

290
00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:01,080
for the situation at court,
I might hold things back.

291
00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,240
But Huaijin never did.

292
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:05,760
From start to finish,

293
00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:08,280
he only wanted to keep you safe,

294
00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:10,560
just as he did that night.

295
00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:56,800
You bought this sachet
for your sweetheart, right?

296
00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,840
What sweetheart? Stop talking nonsense.

297
00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,360
She's been tailing us all day.

298
00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:22,280
JIN NIANG

299
00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:24,160
You're really heartless.

300
00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:26,040
Hey…

301
00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:27,440
Peiyi.

302
00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:33,040
Pardon my rudeness.

303
00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:35,400
I'm the one being rude,

304
00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:37,440
calling you by name like that.

305
00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,720
Your master used to call you "that girl"

306
00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:46,440
all the time,

307
00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:48,720
in a tone that was half annoyed,

308
00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:50,160
half proud,

309
00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,680
like you were his own daughter.

310
00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:56,680
Old man never said a kind word about me?

311
00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:01,120
He was a good man,
just with a sharp tongue.

312
00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:03,800
So I picked up his bad habits.

313
00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,160
When I first met him,

314
00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:11,560
he was a general's son,

315
00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:13,720
and I was just a merchant's daughter.

316
00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:16,880
He always looked after me,

317
00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:18,920
and I…

318
00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:21,400
I had feelings for him too.

319
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:23,160
But later,

320
00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:24,960
his father was convicted.

321
00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:28,400
As a traitor's son, he entered the palace

322
00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:30,560
and joined
the Palace Investigation Bureau.

323
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,240
Your Ladyship, you should know

324
00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,120
women like me have to survive somehow.

325
00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:41,320
That's enough.

326
00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:44,880
I understand. I was out of line.

327
00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,960
Truth is, after he entered the palace,
we never lost touch.

328
00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,640
He still took care of me.

329
00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:57,080
But…

330
00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:02,000
But I knew

331
00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,120
we could never be.

332
00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:08,120
He told me

333
00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:10,960
he wasn't alone anymore.

334
00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:12,560
Now there was someone

335
00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:16,520
he was wholly devoted to protecting.

336
00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,240
He was barely able

337
00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:26,640
to save himself,

338
00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,040
yet still tried to shield others.

339
00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:38,040
This sachet

340
00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,040
was his gift to you.

341
00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:44,520
Now that he's gone,

342
00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:47,200
I'm giving it back.

343
00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:49,240
Keep it as a memory.

344
00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:52,760
No, you keep it.

345
00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:54,920
It's all he left you.

346
00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:58,480
But my skills, my nasty temper,

347
00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,400
and this sharp mouth of mine
all came from him.

348
00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:21,280
If you're avenging him, count me in, okay?

349
00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:24,320
Don't get involved.

350
00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:27,800
You may look down on me,

351
00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:31,160
but people like me have our own channels.

352
00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:35,560
You don't know me,
but you know the old man, don't you?

353
00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:37,240
I'm the same as him.

354
00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:39,080
If I looked down on you,

355
00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,160
I wouldn't waste one more word.

356
00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:43,360
This is truly dangerous.

357
00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,200
If you need anything later,
this sachet will be your pass to see me.

358
00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,880
I heard someone is asking
about sudden eye trouble.

359
00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:53,800
Is it you

360
00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,160
who are hunting Mr. Du's killer?

361
00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:04,920
Don't worry. You haven't been exposed.

362
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,600
I pieced it together
after I knew Mr. Du's death.

363
00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:13,360
My ways of getting news
aren't exactly clean,

364
00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,600
but they can still be useful.

365
00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:19,560
Then I'll leave it to you.

366
00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:22,360
Please, stay safe.

367
00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:23,720
You must take greater care.

368
00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,200
He worried about you the most.

369
00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:36,640
I failed.

370
00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:41,160
Du Zhixing showed up out of nowhere
and let Li Peiyi get away.

371
00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:43,480
But since Du Zhixing is dead,

372
00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:45,960
it will be hard for Li Peiyi to trace us.

373
00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:50,120
What's wrong with your eye?

374
00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:52,520
It was hurt by Du Zhixing.

375
00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:54,520
I haven't treated it yet.

376
00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:58,680
If it can't be cured,

377
00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:01,200
won't it be easy to track you down?

378
00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:04,400
I'll do everything I can to treat it!

379
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,000
Until it's cured,
I won't show my face again!

380
00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:14,160
Before you disappear,
make sure everything is settled.

381
00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:16,400
No more mistakes.

382
00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,880
Before Li Peiyi
returned to the Western Capital,

383
00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:23,880
she met someone.

384
00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:27,600
You couldn't find out who?

385
00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,920
No. But… besides us,

386
00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:34,560
someone else is watching her.

387
00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:37,600
I'll look into it.

388
00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:46,320
Tell me,

389
00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:48,440
if you die,

390
00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:52,240
Li Peiyi will have no way
to trace us, right?

391
00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:57,480
PALACE INVESTIGATION BUREAU

392
00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:00,520
Boss.

393
00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:06,240
What are you doing?

394
00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:08,280
Stacking grapes?

395
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:10,800
Yeah. Look.

396
00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:14,080
This second grape can barely stay on.

397
00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:17,000
But the moment I add a third,
the whole thing collapses.

398
00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:19,080
Sounds like me, doesn't it?

399
00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:24,680
Boss, just put the third one on.

400
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:32,440
Now even the second won't hold.

401
00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:36,880
What case has dragged on this long?

402
00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:40,280
Boss, you won't believe it.

403
00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:42,120
The plants by Penglai Pool

404
00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,040
have been dying lately
with the season change.

405
00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:46,920
Even the magnolias His Majesty
gave Brilliant Lady Dou have lost a few.

406
00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:50,360
But she insists someone sabotaged them,

407
00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:52,320
using dead magnolias to curse her.

408
00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:53,400
She demanded I get to the bottom of it.

409
00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,120
I worked day and night for three days,

410
00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:59,480
and no one went near those plants.

411
00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:01,400
Then I asked the chief gardener
at the Bureau of Gardens.

412
00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:04,480
She said this season,
plants dying is normal.

413
00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:07,920
I was about to close the case, but then…

414
00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:15,280
But then a magnolia
fell over right in front of me.

415
00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:17,920
The soil around the tree
was clearly disturbed.

416
00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:21,800
I've had men guarding
near Penglai Pool. It can't be.

417
00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:25,600
What are you doing?

418
00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:28,280
Helping you fix your problems.

419
00:34:34,199 --> 00:34:37,960
Boss, help me fix mine too.

420
00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:39,960
This is really creepy.

421
00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:42,719
What if one day I die too?

422
00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:44,120
You'll still have to solve cases yourself.

423
00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:45,719
Boss!

424
00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:49,679
Can you stop saying that?

425
00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:51,560
It's been a month.

426
00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,719
If Inspector Du knew
you were like this every day,

427
00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:56,040
he'd crawl out and curse you out.

428
00:34:57,600 --> 00:34:58,720
I'd love that.

429
00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:03,600
Boss, I really don't know what to do.

430
00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:07,040
I can't say what happened before.

431
00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:08,680
But these three days, me and the guards

432
00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:09,880
have been watching day and night.

433
00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:12,960
And that tree still toppled straight over!

434
00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:17,400
Brilliant Lady Dou is arrogant.

435
00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:18,720
If someone set her up,

436
00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:20,640
that's not exactly shocking.

437
00:35:21,240 --> 00:35:24,600
But His Majesty gave her nine magnolias,
meant to last long.

438
00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:28,760
This past month, four have already died.

439
00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:31,960
Now, only five are left.

440
00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,200
What's wrong with five? Isn't five good?

441
00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:37,000
Five reads the same as none.

442
00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:38,400
Brilliant Lady Dou is furious.

443
00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:39,760
She insists we drag that person out.

444
00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:41,880
And if we can't find them?

445
00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:43,880
If we can't,

446
00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:46,760
then I'm done for too.

447
00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,480
Then our bureau is done for.

448
00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:52,960
Where's your county princess?

449
00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:54,360
Have her come out and see me!

450
00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:55,400
My lady,

451
00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:57,440
Her Ladyship is resting.

452
00:35:58,040 --> 00:35:59,200
At a time like this?

453
00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:01,760
Something this big happened,
and she can still rest?

454
00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:03,000
Peiyi?

455
00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:05,040
Li Peiyi? Get out here!

456
00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,040
- What are you doing?
- She came for you. Where are you going?

457
00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:10,120
None of your business.

458
00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:13,240
Fine, I won't meddle.

459
00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:16,000
We were partners,
and now you're selling me out?

460
00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:18,000
We were partners,
and now you're ditching me?

461
00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:23,880
My lady, you're here.

462
00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,560
Peiyi, I know what you're like.

463
00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:28,080
No one in the capital

464
00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,240
can make you do anything.

465
00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:31,680
So…

466
00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:35,840
My lady, what are you trying to do?

467
00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:39,640
Today I'll show you exactly what I'm like.

468
00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:43,680
Are you trying to see

469
00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:45,320
how long I can camp here?

470
00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,480
Are you thinking,
"Fine, I'll just walk away?"

471
00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:50,880
Back when I made a mistake,

472
00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:53,760
His Majesty swore never to see me again.

473
00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,680
I was just a helpless woman,
with no family backing

474
00:36:57,760 --> 00:36:59,400
and no special talents.

475
00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:01,080
I had only one thing left,

476
00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:06,080
persistence.
Even the hardest heart can be moved.

477
00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:08,720
His Majesty isn't made of stone.

478
00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,040
And I can tell you aren't either.

479
00:37:13,160 --> 00:37:14,520
No worries.

480
00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:16,360
I can wait.

481
00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:19,880
In all of Xingqing Palace,
only you can find who harmed me.

482
00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:21,400
If you won't help me,

483
00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:23,160
I'll ask help from His Majesty.

484
00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:25,720
Someone dares stir up trouble
in the inner palace?

485
00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:27,600
I'll fight them to the end!

486
00:37:29,640 --> 00:37:31,440
You're using Consort Shu to threaten me?

487
00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:34,880
Peiyi, what are you saying?

488
00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:38,440
From start to finish,
when did I ever mention Consort Shu?

489
00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:42,640
If I don't help you investigate,
you'll take it to His Majesty.

490
00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:44,960
If someone's cursing in the inner palace,

491
00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:46,640
the blame will naturally fall
on Consort Shu.

492
00:37:46,720 --> 00:37:48,000
How could it?

493
00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:51,200
Everyone knows the one His Majesty
favors most is Consort Shu.

494
00:37:53,920 --> 00:37:55,920
I've seen how you are.

495
00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:57,920
Fine. I'll take the case.

496
00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:00,880
That easy?

497
00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:04,760
Then I'll wait for your news.

498
00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:13,320
Anything wrong on Consort Shu's side?

499
00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:16,120
The Right Chancellor messed up.

500
00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:19,160
No idea what it was,
but it made His Majesty furious.

501
00:38:19,240 --> 00:38:21,680
Lately, His Majesty
hasn't visited Consort Shu at all.

502
00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:25,920
Even Brilliant Lady Dou dares use her.

503
00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:27,240
It can't be small.

504
00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:28,680
Then what do we do?

505
00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:33,560
Tomorrow, take men to fertilize
the plants by Penglai Pool.

506
00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:35,240
Don't miss an inch of soil.

507
00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:37,320
If anyone asks,

508
00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:40,200
tell them you'll do whatever it takes
to save Brilliant Lady Dou's magnolias.

509
00:38:41,240 --> 00:38:42,760
I meant the Right Chancellor.

510
00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:44,120
Want me to go sniff around?

511
00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:46,400
You can even dig into court matters?

512
00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:48,240
What's so hard about that?

513
00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:51,480
Unless it's something only His Majesty
and the Right Chancellor know.

514
00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:54,120
As long as a third person knows,
I can find out.

515
00:38:55,240 --> 00:38:56,960
Everyone knows you're my man.

516
00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:59,400
And I was raised by Consort Shu. So…

517
00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:00,440
So…

518
00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:03,200
It's not me prying into court secrets.

519
00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:04,360
It's Consort Shu.

520
00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:06,960
I was wrong, Your Ladyship.

521
00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:09,000
I'll have people fertilize right away.

522
00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:17,320
All of you, eyes open.

523
00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:19,120
Don't miss a single flower or tree.

524
00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:20,280
- Understood.
- Understood.

525
00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:44,440
Boss, you don't have
to camp here every day.

526
00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:46,120
That person hasn't shown up lately.

527
00:39:46,720 --> 00:39:48,080
They probably know you're on it

528
00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:50,760
- and don't dare make a move.
- Sweet talker.

529
00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:53,560
Because your grapes are sweet.

530
00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:57,960
One more gross line,
and you will solve it yourself.

531
00:39:58,800 --> 00:39:59,720
Okay. I'll stop.

532
00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:02,800
I just don't want you waiting here.

533
00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:05,480
Before, when Brilliant Lady Dou
had you investigate,

534
00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:06,800
they still kept doing it.

535
00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:10,360
So either they were sure
they wouldn't get caught

536
00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:13,680
or they had to come, no matter what.

537
00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:17,680
After all this tight guarding,
they should be itching to act.

538
00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:19,520
So they'll come tonight?

539
00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:22,480
Not sure, but we can try our luck.

540
00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:24,960
Ma Xiaoran,

541
00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:27,880
have everyone look around.
See anything unusual.

542
00:40:28,480 --> 00:40:29,520
Understood.

543
00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:33,480
Your Ladyship, right here.

544
00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:37,040
This is insane.

545
00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:38,640
No way.

546
00:40:38,720 --> 00:40:40,480
We've been guarding nearby.

547
00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:41,600
There's only one path here.

548
00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:42,680
How is this possible?

549
00:40:43,360 --> 00:40:45,680
Once we catch them, we'll ask and know.

550
00:40:49,160 --> 00:40:50,240
Don't go in.

551
00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:58,800
These are… footprints!

552
00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:00,520
Where'd they come from?

553
00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:02,920
From someone

554
00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:05,400
slipping in under your nose,
leaving tracks behind.

555
00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:11,760
We caught them!

556
00:41:12,560 --> 00:41:13,720
Where are they?

557
00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:14,920
You'll see in a second.

558
00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:17,880
CHENXIANG PAVILION

559
00:41:17,960 --> 00:41:20,720
It's cold. Warm your feet, everyone.

560
00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:25,800
Go on, warm up!

561
00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:44,240
- What?
- Secretary Pan, so it was you.

562
00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:46,280
Hold him down!

563
00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:48,640
What's going on?

564
00:41:48,720 --> 00:41:51,200
The flowerbeds
were just heavily fertilized.

565
00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:53,280
The fertilizer was mixed
with actinolite and alum clay.

566
00:41:53,360 --> 00:41:56,400
Anyone who dug in the beds
would get them on their soles.

567
00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:58,080
Heat those two together,

568
00:41:58,160 --> 00:41:59,440
and they'll pop like fireworks.

569
00:41:59,520 --> 00:42:01,400
But the beds were all fertilized.

570
00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:02,560
I patrolled here all night.

571
00:42:03,160 --> 00:42:04,000
I stepped on it by accident.

572
00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:05,120
That's normal!

573
00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:06,520
Fair point.

574
00:42:07,480 --> 00:42:09,080
Soles alone prove nothing.

575
00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:12,120
But if you dug, you used your hands.

576
00:42:14,240 --> 00:42:15,320
A little heat will tell.

577
00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:20,600
Heat them.

578
00:42:26,240 --> 00:42:28,280
It was me!

579
00:42:32,880 --> 00:42:34,080
It was me…

580
00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:37,880
Talk.

581
00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:39,840
What are these?

582
00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:45,160
If you won't say, then I will.

583
00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:47,760
This is no common fruit.

584
00:42:47,840 --> 00:42:48,840
They're ginseng seeds.

585
00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:51,240
The Imperial Medical Office
supplies them only to His Majesty.

586
00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:54,480
Few in the entire palace
have access to such medicine.

587
00:42:54,560 --> 00:42:55,640
Where did you obtain them?

588
00:42:56,240 --> 00:42:57,120
I…

589
00:42:58,840 --> 00:42:59,720
I dug them up under the tree.

590
00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:02,840
Why were ginseng seeds
buried under a magnolia tree?

591
00:43:05,360 --> 00:43:07,760
What's the charge
for stealing royal property?

592
00:43:07,840 --> 00:43:08,960
High treason.

593
00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:11,080
- And the sentence?
- Strangling.

594
00:43:11,160 --> 00:43:13,440
Steal something valuable
or serious enough,

595
00:43:13,520 --> 00:43:15,400
and your clan gets dragged in.

596
00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:19,280
- How many clans?
- At least three.

597
00:43:19,360 --> 00:43:21,640
If it's worse, nine.