Original subtitles

[Melody of Golden Age]

[The ad is aired at this period of time]

[Episode 1]

[The Cang Imperial Palace]

Worship

The fifth year of the Cang dynasty

Xiao Huan, the Emperor

and the Prince died of illness

Still in his infancy

Xiao Qi, Emperor's grandson, assumes the throne

changed the name of the year to Shengli

Empress Zhou assisting in governing for a long time

was honored as the Empress Dowager

to hold court behind a screen

as the sole ruler

Long live the Emperor!

[Six years later]

[Training Grounds of the Imperial Guard]

Head

Being scrutinized all night

the suspects have all confessed

But they won't tell us who's behind it

White...

White Impermanence!

White Impermanence!

[Shen Du, Head of the Imperial Guard]

I

I'll tell you

I just helped them transport people

There's a buyer in Jiannan

He wants to take a hundred children as slaves

Take him away

Next time

don't wait for me to do it myself

[Jing Lin]

Yes, sir

Enter the palace

Mother, I have heard that

you mourn for the Chaplain

so you're not well

So I copied the scriptures until dawn

to pray for your recovery, mother [Xiao Zhong, King Xian]

The King Xian is so filial

I'm glad[Xiao Qi, the young emperor]

Thanks for your good teaching as his teacher

PM Zhang

You flatter me [Zhang Xingwei, the Prime Minister]

His Highness has

filial piety, loyalty

and kindness

It's in his nature [Princess Yong'an, King Ying]

Mr. Shen didn't come to court today

Head Shen is busy with his official duties [Lai Luozhi]

repeatedly making unusual contributions

Probably he

is too busy to come to court

Shen Du, Head of the Imperial Guard, arrived

Empress Dowager Zhou

Mr. Shen, please stand up

Empress Dowager Zhou

At the Imperial Guard

I've just been busy for the case

of a hundred missing children

The suspects have all confessed

I'm too late

I beg your pardon, Empress Dowager Zhou

This case is a big deal

making everyone on edge in Xiang'an City

I appointed it to you

What a right choice!

Mr. Shen

What a coincidence!

Early in the morning, PM Zhang

asked for a reward for you

from me in advance

Head Shen

has always been saving the day

What a model for us all!

Thank you, PM Zhang, for remembering me

It's my duty

I need no reward

PM Zhang is always opposed

with the Imperial Guard

Now you've

turned hostility into friendship?

Yong'an

I know I was wrong, mother

The civil and military officials are so harmonious and united

It's my good fortune

Mr. Shen

today

I'm going to give you a marriage

OK?

The White Impermanence always goes his own way

Sir, how did you know

he'll say yes

to this marriage today?

Shen Du is known as the White Impermanence

He's a murderer and a killer

Facing Empress Dowager Zhou

he's nothing but a

minion with a desire to be promoted

He's afraid he'll lose the trust

of Empress Dowager Zhou

if he resisted the marriage?

Even if he's an evil

he has his selfish desires

-Miss Yan Xing! -Miss Yan Xing! -Miss Yan Xing!

-Morning, Miss Yan Xing -Miss Yan Xing -Morning

-Miss Yan Xing -Morning

-Morning, Miss Yan Xing -Miss Yan Xing

Morning

Lady Yan, so early

Be careful!

I just sunned the petals

Be careful!

[Yan Xing, a scribe of Ministry of Justice]

I'm sorry, Lady Yan

It's okay. It's okay

Morning, Yan Xing! Morning!

-Morning -Morning, Miss Yan Xing

-Morning -Morning

Since you're up in the morning

you haven't eaten, have you?

Come on!

Did you see that?

What can a woman do

in the Ministry of Justice?

If it's heard by Chief Xu, a courtier

of Empress Dowager Zhou

It'll be your fault for stopping her plan

to let women enter the civil service

Why are you talking so much today?

You got nothing to do, do you?

Go to work!

Archive them

Lord

Yan Xing

Tea

Lord

Today

Yi Liangren

sent us a

case of the Yanguishan Village

saying there was a girl

who hit a ghost

hanged herself

Lord

My men

has piles and piles

of these thin cases

Me and my men...

Not to mention sleep

I don't even have time

to eat

I'm applying for it

We need more people

Yes, sir

Two years ago

we finally recruited a scribe

but

a female

As for this one

after Yi Liangren

reports back

just record and achieve it

Don't make things complicated

Yes, sir

Yanguishan Village

Suicide

Xiang'an City is not very ceremonious

In my hometown

we daren't tie colored silk even when a magistrate died

It's only been a month

since the Chaplain is dead

So colorful there is!

There's no taboo?

What do you know?

The Chaplain is

a great god who knows our destiny

Even...

even that the Empress Dowager Zhou is in charge

was predicted by him

Really?

Where the Chaplain passed by is sacred

Today, all the officials are going to worship...

The Black Rakshasa is here! The Black Rakshasa is here!

Go!

Take cover!

What a guy?

Why do they

all look like they've seen a ghost

You don't even know Black Rakshasa?

He built the Imperial Court of Justice

specialized in whistle-blower torture

I heard about there are hundreds

of torture devices

Once committed

none is disobedient

Once disobedient

you can't live or die as you want

White Impermanence is here!

White Impermanence is here too!

This is White Impermanence

White Impermanence

He's Head Shen of the Imperial Guard

The Imperial Guard is so great

led by Empress Dowager Zhou

doing everything, like investigating, supervising

and assassinating

Don't cry

The White Impermanence is here!

Once hearing his name

the clouds disperse during the day

the children stop crying at night

The caravans of these two

appear at the same time

We're in for a treat

The road is so narrow

Who will go first?

Then who knows?

Let's see! Let's see!

Stop!

Head Shen is still here

I thought

you were busy preparing for your wedding

so you can't make it

My marriage

is less important than the country's affairs

Asked by PM Zhang

allowed by Empress Dowager Zhou

it's clear that Head Shen's marriage

is also a big deal

But it's a pity

the first few brides

are less blessed

No joking please, Minister Lai

So as not to miss the blessing time

let's be on the way!

This West Street is still too narrow

to allow

two caravans to move together

Tear down the two stuff

on my way!

The Imperial Court of Justice and Imperial Guard

can move side by side

Head

Go

Shen Du

You two have kept me waiting

PM Zhang

PM Zhang

Sorry for being late

You're not late

It's the auspicious time now

Let's

begin the worship!

It's an auspicious time!

Thank you, Lady Yan

If you hadn't come

we couldn't have identified the culprit [Jiang Langxing, Yi Liangren]

You're welcome

It's the duty

of the Ministry of Justice to investigate homicides

By the way

a couple days ago

you asked us to help investigate

for herbs that can detect poison

Now that I've found it

There's some in a mountain nearby

Why don't you come with us

to the mountain together for it?

No, thanks

Go back and resume your duties

I'll go up the mountain and pick it myself

Well

Then I'll take my leave

Farewell

Thanks to PM Zhang

for presiding over the ceremony

the blessing goes smoothly today

The next year, our dynasty

will be at peace

like the phoenix attracting the nine chicks

as the Chaplain prophesied!

Officials pray for blessings today

because His Majesty, King Xian

visited a folkloric godman

and then fixed this blessing day

to solve problems for Empress Dowager Zhou

I'm just following orders

for my duty as a subject

Our king is wise

and the subjects are virtuous

We have been born at this

age of peace and tranquility

It's a blessing in life!

Yeah

Yeah

There's an assassin!

Seal the mountain!

Sister

You're picking the leaves to make herbs?

No

I use them for autopsies

Yeah

they'll be used for herbs

How do you know that?

I can tell by the way you're dressed

You're a medical officer [Qi Yeyun]

Sort of

Here you are

I've had enough

Mrs. Zhang of the village is sick

I come to pick some for her

Last time, the doctor said

drinking this in water can cure her

Then I'll buy it

No money. No money

I picked it up on the fly

Well, thank you

Sister

My name is Qi Yeyun

What's your name, sister?

Are you going down the mountain?

I'll take you down the path

for a quick descent

Stop! Stop!

Today

no one is allowed to leave the mountain

What's going on?

I'm a scribe of the Ministry of Justice

Shut up!

Come with us!

-Go! -Go!

What are you doing?

Minister Lai

we've brought everyone

in the mountain at the time of the incident

We pray for blessings in the Ming Hall today

I can't believe someone here

dare assassinate a court official!

I'm lucky I didn't get hit by an arrow

But I have lost my favorite subordinate

Today

I will kill the assassin!

Assassin?

I don't know who the assassin is

The assassin is among you

I advise the assassin

confess now

I can make him

die more comfortably

If you daren't admit your guilt

you can't get away with it

Before an incense is burnt out

if no one confesses

all will be killed

Wait

Minister Lai

I'm Yan Xing, a scribe in Ministry of Justice

May I see the body?

Maybe I can find out

who the assassin is

OK

It is now about 5-7 pm

The sun is in the west

So the shooting position

How's it going, little scribe?

Can you tell me

who the assassin is now?

I haven't found out

who the assassin is yet

But

the assassin shot from far

The direct sunlight

can affect his aim

So he must be at

the dark side of at that time

Given that the arrow was shot

from that direction

the best lurking points

are in the trees

on the northwest peak

high up in the mountains

After the crime

the Imperial Guard quickly sealed the mountain

So the people in the other mountains

can't be the assassin

Minister Lai

I plead

to let those unsuspecting citizens

go first

I've made it

very clear

None can be released

before the assassin is found

You didn't do it

Kill them all

Minister Lai

I have a more interesting method

Just shooting the assassin

is not very intimidating

I have some fierce dogs

Their ability to tear down criminals

is very impressive

Why don't you let my dogs

come out for a try

It's a slow kill, though

But

that's interesting

You're the one to deserve

the name of the Black Rakshasa

Compared with Head Shen

I'm not that fierce

You're so great!

Jing Lin

Stay back! Stay back!

Stop

Stay back!

Go away!

Don't come over! Don't come over!

The assassin is among these men

The assassin must be

a man of great strength and speed

and he can climb

Minister Lai

You can straighten

these people out

Let's see

which way to die

is better for them

Minister Lai, please

wait for some time before you do it

Just give me a little more time

I'll find

the murderer

I'll put my life on the line

Head Shen

How many hours

do you think would be appropriate?

Six hours

Six hours later

if you can't find out

die with them

On the hands of those

using bows and arrows, three parts can be calloused

This man only has calluses on his palms

Not him

Head

Lai Luozhi is looking for the assassin

but leaves the man

and the case to our office

He said

They want our dogs to do the execution

Lord

could there be a trick in this?

There's no such thing as a trick

He concluded

the little scribe couldn't find out

He doesn't want to kill anyone from Ministry of Justice

otherwise, he'd be in trouble

He doesn't want to be in trouble

You're not afraid

to get into trouble?

I've been the son of a sinner

I'm not afraid to get into trouble

The assassin was

at the high northwestern peaks

And that forest in the mountain

is covered by lacquer trees

Once touching a branch of a lacquer tree

a man will get a rash all over his body

Among those suspects caught

by the guards during the day

none has a spotted rash

People with a severe rash

couldn't

have lurked in the lacquer forest

The dirt on the shoes

of this man in middle

is not from the lacquer forest

Not him

If the murder weapon is found

we'll know who the killer is

Why is it so bright?

Any last words?

Six hours are up

You still haven't found out the assassin

When the guards

find the murder weapon in the lacquer forest

a match

-can -You don't have to explain to me

You don't have time to wait

Even if they find the murder weapon

you're not so sure

are you?

If not sure

you won't do it?

Not sure

but betting your life on it

It's either that you're plain stupid

or you're just being cheap

I'll leave a suicide note when the time comes

please send it to

Doctor Yan's House in east

Take Lady Yan away

Get her prepared well

Yes, sir

Head Shen

You really don't recognize me?

Do I need to recognize you?

Head

The murder weapon has been found!

As Lady Yan suspected

it's buried under the fallen leaves of the lacquer forest

Looks like Lady Yan got lucky

the murder weapon

was found at the last minute

Compare the bow and arrow

with the callus marks on the suspect's hands

I will be able to determine the assassin

Looks like I'm in luck today

It's about time

Minister Lai, you come at the right time

I'm afraid it's not just by luck

The murder weapon

has been sent from Yanguishan Village to there

The message must

already be sent to the Imperial Court of Justice

Six hours are up

Lady Yan, hurry up

I would love to see

which one has the audacity

to kill me

You two

Please

hold the bow the way you normally would

hold a bow

I think I know who the assassin is

The callus marks of the two suspects holding the bow

are almost identical

But the callus marks cause by the arrows

are different

One

has a callus on the inside of the thumb

It means he's using

the inside of his thumb to hold the arrow

Anyone who's good with an arrow

knows this way of holding the bow

makes an angle for a low thrust

and insufficient archery accuracy

And the other

has a callus on the palm opening

for a high thrust

good for precision shooting

Therefore

The assassin is you

Don't move! Don't move!

Get back! Get back!

Don't come near me!

Let me go!

Or I'll kill her!

You don't even know what this place is?

You think you can get away with this?

Tell me who's behind this

I'll let you die with an intact body

Let her go!

Now that we've got the murder and evidence

a confession is not a must

Prepare to shoot

You?

Are you going to shoot her too?

She's not one of my Imperial Guard

A minor scribe that doesn't even have

a rank

It doesn't matter

if she died

Shen Du

You're a vicious White Impermanence

How can you kill people like that?

If you die with the suspect

I'll count you as loyal to our country

As far as I know

scribes are paid a pittance

But the Ministry of Justice always pays the most

in pensions in Six Ministries System

Your parents didn't raise you for nothing

Even if I'll be a ghost

I'd never let you go!

What a coincidence!

What I'm not afraid of most in my life

are the ghosts asking for my life

Don't move! Don't move!

Thank you!

Not so dumb

Since there's no way to live

then

Tell me

Who sent you to kill me?

It's

It's him

Head Shen

No wonder you're in a hurry to kill him

Awesome!

Minister Lai

You believe in this nonsense

of the dying evil criminal?

Won't you be laughed at?

You're nothing

How dare you talk to Minister Lai like that?

Please think twice, Minister Lai

If it's true that Head has assigned the killer

why did those

of the Imperial Guard catch suspects

and look for the murder weapon?

They can kill him earlier

I'm just kidding

I don't believe you're going to kill me

Don't take it seriously

I

never took it seriously

The murderer has been brought to justice

I'm relieved

And I won't stay in the Imperial Guard

Farewell

I've failed in their duty to guard the suspect

I'd like to ask for punishment, Head

No need as the criminal has died

You guys

send Lady Yan

and the rest of the suspects

out

Yes, sir

Head

I saw the little scribe just

staring at you

She's not afraid of you!

What's so unusual about that?

In Xiang'an City

are there not enough boring women?

Yes

Your appearance

still attracts some

horny and desperate women

No more nonsense!

Or I'll let you work in the Imperial Court of Justice

Don't

I want to work in the Imperial Guard

for the rest of my life

I know!

Miss Yan Caiwei you're going to marry

is a daughter of Doctor Yan

Miss Yan Xing

is your sister-in-law!

She looks

kinda wise

so she knew I did so

to save her

She'll be my sister-in-law

only if her third sister

gets the guts

to be my wife

This

Thank you, Lady Yan, for saving my life

Please stand up

I work for the Ministry of Justice

That's what I should do

If you haven't judged the case as if by God

We wouldn't be able

to meet our family alive

It's getting late

You'd better go home now

Thank you, Lady Yan

Let's go!

Sister

I saw your crime-solving skills today

You're very resourceful

and don't shy away from trouble

You saved my life

Come on

So I want to worship you as my master

Please don't refuse, sister

I'm still a

little scribe with no rank

How can I take on an apprentice?

Furthermore

your parents

wouldn't allow

you to worship a woman as your master

I have no father or mother

I ate food offered by many people

in Yanguishan Village

I regard you as my master

I must worship you

But you're not [Lu Chuichui, Record Official of Ministry of Justice]

an apprentice she wants

little guy

Sister

Do you really think so?

Get on, Yan Xing

Bye

By the way

How do you know

I'm at the Imperial Guard?

The little guy in my store

who knows everything

told me about it

He said

the cousin's cousin's sister-in-law

of his cousin's classmate

saw a few villagers

and a female scribe of Ministry of Justice

caught to the Imperial Guard

in Yanguishan Village

A scribe of Ministry of Justice

also a female

Who else but you?

So it seems

that little dude of yours is

better than you for the Ministry of Justice

As soon as I heard that

I was so anxious

Luckily, I heard

you're on a case

so I'm relieved

so much

In the world

is there a case

you can't solve, Yan Xing?

And

don't you have an acquaintance

in the Imperial Guard?

Really?

That Shen Du

haven't recognized you yet?

Is he blind?

Forget it

I think I'll take you home first

I'm not going home

Just send me to the Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice?

Yan Xing

I'll register for the female officials' test tomorrow

Women in Xiang'an City

all

want to be to be a lady

like your third sister

of honor and elegance known far and wide

I guess you're the only one

who wants to take the female official exam

You're already a female official

I can't be too far behind

Don't worry about it

I'm sure I'll be a female official

of Ministry of Justice this year

Turn right up ahead

Go to Ministry of Justice

Lord

The hired guns sent have already killed themselves

In this way

it's gonna be more interesting to watch

these two tigers fighting each other

As for the prophecy of the Chaplain

on his deathbed

did you find out what it said?

I'm told

besides that the world will be at peace

like the phoenix attracting the nine chicks

there is a second half

But no one can tell what it is

No one seems to know

The night of the Chaplain's death

This White Impermanence and Black Rakshasa

were both in the Ming Hall

Both of them

are so unpredictable!

What's going on?

I am the sixth lady of the Yan Family

Let me in

In the name of heaven and God

as I am commanded

Yan has a daughter

who is so talented

highly skilled in Calligraphy

excellent in embroidery

good both in character and scholarship

and versed in both ancient and modern lore

She's a virtuous lady

known as the best in Xiang'an -Mum

I'm glad to hear it

Shen Du, Head of the Imperial Guard

is at the age for marriage

I should choose a virtuous woman for him

As Miss Yan Caiwei is not married yet

she's perfect for Shen Du

To make the good deeds

a special grace for the two

to get married in three days

hereby decreed

Doctor Yan

Take the decree

Shen Du

Thank you, Empress Dowager Zhou [Yan Kuo, Yan's patriarch]

Thank you, Your Excellency

Congratulations, Doctor Yan

for raising a girl like Miss Yan Caiwei [Yan Caiwei, Yan's third daughter]

She's a talented and virtuous woman famous in Xiang'an

My Caiwei

Caiwei can't get married!

A girl's marriage

is always decided by her parents

and made by a matchmaker

Not to mention

It's Empress Dowager Zhou's grace

That's White Impermanence!

If our Caiwei married him

Will

there be a good life for her?

[Madam Jin, Yan Kuo's concubine]

The world's not what it used to be!

I can't believe it! I can't believe it at all!

Miserable

Mum

Why are you staring at me?

It's said

great intelligence is like stupidity

Your great intelligence is like stupidity, right?

I've always felt that I

have no power, no status

You're a concubine's daughter

being looked down upon

So I'm always trying to let you

learn from your third sister

learn to be a fair lady

So you'll marry into a good family

living a good life for the rest of your life

Mum

you know I don't like those

Yeah, I do

I used to get angry too

I always blamed it on your stupidity

and lack of education

But nowadays

I suddenly feel

it's good to be lack of education

lack of education

is really good!

Mum, I'm not lack of education

Look!

So many women in Xiang'an City

Why has Empress Dowager Zhou taken

a liking to your third sister only?

That's because

she's too talented

Since she was a child, the First Mistress has let her

learn everything a fair lady should learn

and she's excellent in all of them

But nowadays

she's married to White Impermanence

going to jump into his Hades!

Mum

Shen Du

is the Head of the Imperial Guard

not as bad as you said

So you think

the first lady and your third sister are

crying and fussing just for show?

Anyway

even if your third sister can marry him alive

she will be tortured

to live a worse life than death