Original subtitles

Jin Liu!

Last time, he did it first. This time, you should go first

- No… - Hold on!

Since he went first last time, let's also start with him this time

Mr. Wang, I don't think that's fair

- Unfair! - Unfair…

This is my order!

Since you think it's unfair, let's stop trying this case!

Sir, I never lie

I always believe that God is seeing and protecting us

I'd like to wash first!

Good! Looks like you are honest about what you say. Then you go first

- Nice! - Nice!

Jin Liu, it's your turn now

Get up!

- I need two men to take him to the pot. - No! No…

Sir! No! Please don't!

I confess! Everything I said was a lie!

I was lying! Sir!

I confess! I confess, sir! I've been lying to you the whole time!

It's a lie! Sir!

You damn brat! Kneel!

You piss me off!

Tell me! How can I explain it to the Empress Dowager?

I thought the old guy and his daughter

were both killed!

I never expect them to be found and harbored by someone!

You… You! I don't even know how to scold you

They just played such a little trick

and you were easily deceived!

But I saw him rolling on the board full of embedded nails with my own eyes!

Jugglers all know how to play this trick

As Dongfang Shuo told me before

when the four sheet-pullers

tightened the sheet

people would be fine lying on it

But once they let go

the man would be lying directly on that board of nails

Of course, he would be stabbed and injured!

Then… Then that pot of boiling oil can't be fake!

That's even easier

Dongfang Shuo told me there was only a thin layer of oil on top

Underneath was all vinegar

The vinegar would boil with a little heat

In fact, the liquid in that pot was not hot at all!

Even the blind can tell what happened today

They just wanted to find a scapegoat to help Jin Wuzi escape!

If the Emperor doesn't kill Jin Wuzi this time

we'll still cut him into pieces to avenge Senior Li's death!

Master!

Master, Dongfang Shuo requested to meet you

Dongfang Shuo?

Why is he here at this point?

Master, Dongfang Shuo is the Emperor's most trusted sidekick

We can just take him hostage

and force the Emperor to kill Jin Wuzi!

Then we can avenge Senior Li's death!

- Yes! - Exactly! - Who dares to take Dongfang Shuo hostage?

Madam Luo

Darling, they were just venting their anger

Who told you that

Dongfang Shuo came here to speak up for Jin Wuzi?

- Invite him in. - Yes, Master

Listen, you guys. No one moves or talks nonsense

- until we figure things out. Got it? - Yes, Madam!

Sir, how are you doing lately?

Not dead yet

What's going on? What's with your long faces?

I'm just an ordinary civilian

who's no match for you, Mr. Dongfang, the Emperor's trusted sidekick

You're glowing and smiling all the time, of course

Sir, what on earth is going on?

As the saying goes, everyone who comes is a guest

Not to mention that we're old friends

Well, I came all the way here

while you didn't offer me either tea or a seat. Um, right?

- Set a seat for Mr. Dongfang. - Thank you, sir

Please

- Mr. Dongfang, please take your seat! - Thank you so much

Dongfang Shuo, you've condescended to visit my place

for the sake of the Emperor's nephew, right?

You mean Jin Wuzi? Zhang Tang will deal with him

Then what do you want from me here?

Sir, the Xiongnu launched an attack on our border recently

Wei Qing and Gan Fu have led the army to the battlefield

- Have you heard of this? - Sure

I received a secret letter from Wei Qing

saying that the Xiongnu cavalry was so fierce

and he was worried about our lack of military power

I'd like to ask you to go and help them in secret

Of course, this is not His Majesty's order

It's just my private request

Be it His Majesty's order or your private request, it means nothing to me

Why?

Because the Emperor is unfair

What do you mean?

If he were really a good and just emperor

he should have killed Jin Wuzi for Li Weihu's death

I see. What you're saying is that

you'll lead your disciples to the front

as long as His Majesty executes Jin Wuzi

Of course. But can he kill his nephew?

Anything can happen in this world

The Emperor is different from the civilians

He doesn't abide by the rules of the unwashed

What if His Majesty does it this time?

What if he also complies with the rules of the common people

and really kills that Jing Wui?

Then I'll do as you say and lead my men to the front

Good! Sir, so long as you cooperate with me

On that day

all you need to do is bring your disciples to the execution ground

- and cheer His Majesty on? - What do you mean?

His Majesty will come with the Empress Dowager for sure

On that day, you guys just make a fuss around the execution ground

Firstly, you can force the Empress Dowager this way

Secondly, it's to give His Majesty a way out

Once I give the order, a thousand men will be right there

Then it's a deal!

Madam Luo?

Madam Luo

Madam Luo!

Madam Luo

Do you want to leverage Jing Kui as a stone

to force the Emperor?

You're so insightful, Madam

I do want to utilize Mr. Jing to force His Majesty to kill Jing Wuzi

But this may put Jing Kui in danger

No, if we don't force His Majesty to kill Jin Wuzi

and just let Mr. Jing do it in his own way

that would really get him in big trouble

Jing Kui's in a different place than he used to be

He has a wife, and he will have children

He must take his family's safety into consideration

I know you're doing this for my sake. But he's Jing Kui

He once said the Emperor was not an ordinary man

and he, Jing Kui, was no average Joe either

You're trying so hard to make him loyal to the imperial court

But will he really be safe in that way?

A man's temper can change

Your teaching has made me

a different person than I used to be, right?

When I just came to Chang'an

I was so arrogant, looking down on everyone else

That's thanks to His Majesty and your wife

Do I mean something to you?

Yes! Madam Luo, in my heart, you are my mentor, my friend

And, to me…

To me, you're someone I can never, ever have…

Mother

You must order Zhang Tang to release Jin Wuzi! Now!

It's not an easy task. Uncle has made such a mess of it

How can I persuade Zhang Tang to do it?

Your Majesty! I beg you to save my son!

He's my only son!

Your Majesty, I kneel to you too

Your Majesty, so long as you save your nephew

we'll kowtow and pray for you every day from now on

We'll offer you a whole pig's head!

Your Majesty! Brother-in-law! Please do something to help us!

Get up. Stand up, you two

No! I won't stand up

until you agree to free my son

They all say the Emperor is the most powerful man in the world

Brother, please save Jin Wuzi!

Yi!

Yes, Your Majesty

Go and summon Dongfang Shuo right away

My lord, Mr. Dongfang wants to meet you

Invite him in

Mr. Dongfang, please come in

Mr. Zhang

Mr. Dongfang. This way, please

What can I do for you, Mr. Dongfang?

Mr. Zhang, I'm here just to ask you how you plan

- to deal with Jin Wuzi. - Behead him in public!

- When is the execution? - In the fall, with a few more death row inmates

In the fall? Aren't you afraid something may happen before then?

No one can overturn my verdict on this ironclad case

as long as I'm still working in this Minister of Justice

What if His Majesty promotes you

and makes you leave the Minister of Justice?

Then there's nothing I can do

- Why are you laughing? - Fine… Don't say anything…

Dongfang Shuo!

Mr. Zhang! Zhang Tang! You claim to defend the law with your life

However, you turn out to be more cunning than a fox!

Shut up! How dare you slander me?

You may be smart enough to hide it from others, but not from me

You're just trying to use Jin Wuzi as a bargaining chip

to force His Majesty to give you a promotion, aren't you?

Dongfang Shuo, you're belittling me!

Do you think

I'm the kind of profit-seeking traitor you say I am?

Why are you so mad? Huh?

Please bear with me. Then you'll find out if I'm right

You've put Jin Wuzi in jail, and you keep him alive for the time being

waiting for His Majesty to promote you

Then you'll be transferred out of the Ministry of Justice naturally

with another weak official taking your current place

At His Majesty's command, that timid official will just

release Jin Wuzi

In this way, you, Mr. Zhang, won't cover for anyone

You can also save your reputation for integrity

And Jin Wuzi will also be alive

Because he will be released by another Minister of Justice!

So His Majesty can reassure the Empress Dowager

And they can save their blood kin in this way. How brilliant!

It's perfect. Everyone's happy! Am I right?

A load of crap!

Be it crap or not

just go and play your lucrative game!

Anyway, I can see through it

and so can everyone else!

Then I'll behead Jin Wuzi in public right away! Right away!

- What a selfless and impartial official! Do you dare to do it? - You…

Mr. Dongfang! Mr. Dongfang! Where have you been? I've been looking for you!

Did His Majesty call me to play chess again?

Not chess! Hurry up! You are summoned to the Spring Palace!

Your Highness… Bad news, Your Highness!

What's all the fuss?

Zhang Tang has taken Jin Wuzi to the Western Market to be executed

Sir, it's noon

- Guards! Behead Jin Wuzi and report to me! - Yes, sir!

- By order of His Excellency, it's time! Execute the culprit! - Execute!

Stop!

Get out of the way!

Mr. Zhang, why did you give an order

to execute Jin Wuzi without authorization?

With the Great Han law, do I need to ask for authorization?

Even according to the law, criminals shall be executed in the fall

There are two types of executions

One is a stay of execution, which means a man shall be executed in the fall

The other is immediate execution

Jin Wuzi viciously murdered a man with a terrible impact

We must execute him to quell the public's anger

That's why I changed it to immediate execution

- Immediate execution! - Immediate execution!

Let the guards disperse these unruly people

Mr. Wang, if they're unruly people, then what is Jin Wuzi?

I don't care what he is

The Empress Dowager has decreed that no one shall execute Jin Wuzi

Jin Wuzi's sinned too much to be spared

How dare you, Zhang Tang? You want to disobey the Empress Dowager's order?

I'm an upholder of the national law. I have nothing to fear!

- Nice! Immediate execution! - Nice! Immediate execution!

Execute him!

Empress Dowager is here!

- My boy! - Mom! Dad!

Go away! That's my son!

Mom! Dad! Save me! Mom!

Greetings, Your Highness. Long live Your Highness

- Guards. - At your service, Your Highness

- Untie Jin Wuzi. - Yes, Your Highness

- Who dares to untie him? - Zhang Tang, how dare you? Do you want to rebel?

As the Minister of Justice

I will do anything to enforce the national law for the people!

- Take down that rebel now! - Wait a minute!

- Save me, Grandmother! - Zhang Tang!

Your Highness! Hurry…

Mom…

Wuzi

Zhang Tang, if you want to kill him today

just kill me too!

Mr. Zhang is helping the people destroy evil…

Please listen to me, Your Highness. If I hurt you

I promise I will kill myself to atone for it!

Sorry, Mr. Zhang

Dongfang Shuo, you!

Mom!

His Majesty is here!

- Rise. - Rise!

Your Highness! Wake up, Your Highness…

Mother

Duke Wang

how could you take Her Highness to this place?

Hurry up! Escort Her Highness back to the imperial palace

His Majesty will be in charge here

Your Highness? Your Highness! Let's go back

- Mother. - Your Majesty, you're here

Yes, Mother

Your Highness… Don't worry, Your Highness

His Majesty is here, and everything will be fine

Please return to the palace before your anxiety gets the better of you

Madam Xiuzhu, please accompany Her Highness back to the palace

Your Majesty, if anything happens to Jin Wuzi

I will hold you accountable

I see, Mother

Sir. Hurry up

Your Highness, let's set off

- Immediate execution! - Immediate execution!

- Dongfang Shuo. - Yes, Your Majesty

Look at this…

Your Majesty, we can't afford to lose people's hearts and minds

But you also heard what the Empress Dowager just said

Your Majesty, if you're afraid of offending the Empress Dowager

you'll surely offend the people

Now the threats posed by the Xiongnu and the feudal lords are looming large

The hearts and minds of the people are the last thing we can afford to lose

I know, but…

If you don't kill Jin Wuzi, the enemies you will face

are not only the Xiongnu and the feudal lords

but also the people of the capital

Li Weihu, the man killed by Jin Wuzi, was Jing Kui's first disciple

Jing rules thousands of disciples!

I'm sure they won't let Jin Wuzi go!

Your Majesty, sacrifice a useless Jin Wuzi

in exchange for the support of all the people here! Which matters more?

Your Majesty!

So you mean Jin Wuzi must die today?

Kill one person for national peace. Why not?

Then how can I explain it to the Empress Dowager?

Your Majesty, don't you have a scapegoat right now?

You can put all the blame on me

- Immediate execution! - Immediate execution!

Well, I guess that's the only way

Your Majesty, you can also head back to the imperial palace first

I'll have Zhang Tang execute him after your departure

Okay

Zifu, the reinforcements have arrived. I won!

Your Majesty

I'm not leaving

I want to see Jin Wuzi die with my own eyes

Are you sure?

If I stay here

tomorrow the whole kingdom will be praising me

as an emperor who loves his people

In fact, Your Majesty, even if you go

the people will still praise you, won't they?

No, if I go

they will only praise Zhang Tang

who's loyal and unafraid of power

As for the Empress Dowager and me

we will play the role of clowns, humiliating ourselves

I don't want Zhang Tang to earn fame

that will last through ages with my nephew's head

I want this allegiance earned with blood

all to myself

Your Majesty…

Zhang Tang

I, the sinful official, am at your service

You're a rigorous law enforcer with impartiality

Your post is renamed Judicial Commissioner of Jinwu

You will be responsible for the state penal security

I, Zhang Tang, the Judicial Commissioner of Jinwu, appreciate your grace

Listen up, all the civilians and warriors down there

Jin Wuzi committed a capital crime by harassing a woman and murdering a man

I will punish him with no mercy. Judicial Commissioner of Jinwu, listen

Yes, Your Majesty

I order you to decapitate Jin Wuzi right away to quell the people's anger!

Understood!

- Executioner, on my command! - Yes, sir!

Execute him!

- Bravo! - Bravo!

I, Jing Kui, bow to you, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty

Rise

So you are Jing Kui?

Your Majesty, I'd like to serve you

as best I can, no matter what you want me to do

Nice

Listen to me, folks!

I, Jing Kui, am willing to dedicate my life to our state!

I'll lead my disciples to the border

If you'd like to join me, we'll gather at the drill ground tomorrow

Defeat the Xiongnu! Defend the Great Han!

Jing Kui, I'm appointing you General of Guerrilla

And you will go to the front to fight the Xiongnu

Yes, Your Majesty!

Defeat the Xiongnu! Defend the Great Han!

Greetings, Your Majesty

What's the matter?

- Please read it, Your Majesty. - Let's go in first

What's it about?

I recorded your visit to the execution ground to put Jin Wuzi to death

You have written it down so quickly?

It's my duty to record historical facts promptly

The Emperor announced the immediate execution, and the crowd cheered

Sima Qian

you're doing even better than the last Grand Astrologer, Sima Yan

You outdo your father

I'm flattered, Your Majesty, Mr. Dongfang

Sima Qian, some of your recordings are a bit scary to read

I hope you'll save me some face

when I need you to be merciful

Your Majesty, you're wrong

I'm just a historian who records real events

and stays true to historical facts

There must be no mistakes

- You may leave now. - Yes, Your Majesty

I'm just afraid of cold-blooded animals like him and Zhang Tang

You are right, Your Majesty

Actually, Your Majesty

you should have more nice guys

around you

You? A nice guy?

Your Majesty, I'm your tactful follower who understands you with loyalty

Of course, I'm the nice guy who's the most loyal to you

Don't get complacent so early

Let's see how you'll get past the Empress Dowager

Your Majesty, if the Empress Dowager asks about me

just tell her that I've left the capital to reward the troops at the border

I won't let you get away with it so easily

If you run away, what about me?

Your Majesty, didn't we reach an agreement?

You can blame it all on me

Blame it all on you? If you escape, Mother will still take it out on me!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Mr. Li, how is the Empress Dowager doing?

When the Empress Dowager heard that Jin Wuzi had been executed

she fainted on the spot!

Then… Then call the imperial physician!

She woke up again, and now she's wailing

She said she wanted to avenge Jin Wuzi's death

and asked me to call Your Majesty and Mr. Dongfang over

It's screwed up. It's all screwed up

Mother

Mother

You are so cruel

Mother, please calm down. It's all Dongfang Shuo's fault

I was trying to save Jin Wuzi

But Dongfang Shuo said something

and further aggravate the situation. So Zhang Tang executed Jin Wuzo

Dongfang Shuo… I want to see him

Greetings, Your Highness

Servants!

Take Dongfang Shuo out and put him on death row!

- Mother… - Please hold on

Your Highness, I've done His Majesty a great favor this time

Why do you want to kill me instead of rewarding me? That doesn't make sense

What? What great favor did you do?

Your Highness, firstly

I've helped His Majesty strictly stick to the ancestral rules

So he didn't become an unfaithful, unfilial, unkind and unrighteous emperor

So His Majesty won people's hearts and minds

Secondly

I also helped His Majesty pacify the meritorious hero

Meritorious hero? Who are you talking about?

The last time Prince Liang revolted

it was Jing Kui who spoke up at the critical moment

leading his disciples and the people in the capital to fight the rebels

That Li Weihu

was the first to break into Dou Wangsun's house and capture him alive

So the rebels were soon destroyed

and His Majesty's kingdom was saved

Your Highness, Li Weihu was the meritorious contributor to our Great Han!

Did Li Weihu capture Dou Wangsun alive?

How come I've never heard of that?

That's because Li Weihu was Jing Kui's first disciple

So the credit went to Jing Kui

Is it true?

Jing Kui refused to take an official post

That's why his achievements haven't been officially reported

I also heard about it later

Who can testify that Li Weihu captured Dou Wangsun?

Your Highness, everyone in Chang'an knows about this

The folk artists in the tea houses and restaurants

have been singing about this story for a long time

If you don't believe me, you can go out there and listen for yourself

Mother, Dongfang Shuo's two merits can make up for his one mistake

Please spare him this time

Get out… Get out, all of you!

Jin Wuzi… My grandson…

Your Majesty, I was in a cold sweat just now

So what?

I knew you could get away with it by your glib tongue

Your Majesty, please stop being so sarcastic

I'm still trembling now

- Don't pretend in front of me! - Your Majesty

I've been having back pain and leg cramps

I used to think it was because of rheumatism and cold

Not until now did I realize

- it's osteoporosis, and I need some more nutrition. - Shut up

Tell me. Was Li Weihu really the meritorious hero who captured Dou Wangsun?

Be it Li Weihu or someone else

they're all Jing Kui's disciples

How dare you, Dongfang Shuo?

How dare you deceive my mother? Do you know what crime it is?

Your Majesty, I'd be in mortal danger whether I lied or not

I'd rather choose to lie. Maybe we could get through this

and I won't die

You have fooled the Empress Dowager. Do you want to fool me, too?

I wouldn't dare to fool you, Your Majesty

Besides, why would I do that?

I'm trying to trick the Empress Dowager together with you, right?

- Bravo! - Bravo!

Mr. Zhang, a guest in the opposite private room wants to hear you sing

- Please come with me. - OK

Excuse me, sirs. Excuse me

Take it slow, sir. This way, please

This is the guest I told you about. Please enjoy, sir

Mr. Zhang

Dad! It's our benefactor!

Sir, thank you for helping us out

Otherwise, those swordsmen

would have secretly killed us at home that day

Mr. Zhang, please get up

I didn't invite you here for your appreciation

- I'm begging you to save my life. - I…

I'm willing to save you

at the cost of my own life!

Mr. Zhang, why would I want you to cost your life?

Sir, what is this?

- Lyrics to a song. - L-lyrics?

You may not know

I've got into big trouble

for killing Jin Wuzi, with my life at stake

But as long as you and your daughter

remember the lyrics of this song right away

and pass them on to all your fellow buskers

and let each of them sing the song well

then my life will be saved

This can save your life?

It'll keep my head from being cut off!

Have you ever heard of Li Weihu's capturing Dou Wangsun alive?

No, never

Sister, who told you that?

Dongfang Shuo. He said the song about this story has been sung everywhere

Sister

Dongfang Shuo has always been a liar and a schemer

Haven't you learned your lesson from it this time?

I also suspect that

this is a lie made up by Dongfang Shuo to trick me

- I got it! - What do you mean?

How about I accompany you on a secret visit

to a tea house to hear them sing

If it's not true

let's sentence Dongfang Shuo to the felony of deceiving the Empress Dowager

and show him no mercy!

Hurry…

Stop…

Madam

Here, push it down

Welcome, madam

Get a clean table ready upstairs

Her Ladyship wants to dine there

I'll have someone prepare it right away. Madam, come in, please

Madam, shall we book a private room?

Just get a table right here. I'll hear this girl sing

Please, madam

- Make a pot of nice tea first. - Yes, sir!

Listen. Get that girl over here

Yes, madam

You, come here. Our madam is calling you over

Greetings, madam

Did you sing the song just now?

Yes, madam

Nice

I haven't heard this kind of music for a while

I'd like to hear some more

What do you want to hear, madam?

Do you know any of the songs that are popular right now?

Yes, the name of this song is

Gallant Li Weihu Captured Dou Wangsun