Original subtitles

Timing and subtitles brought to you by ⚖Defenders of the Law ⚖ Team @ Viki

["Water and Flame" by Shu Linzuo]

♫ The boundless world is pitch-dark as the night ♫

♫ Your appearance is like a lightning bolt that tore through the night ♫

♫ My birth is neither impure nor pure, neither born nor destroyed ♫

♫ Perseverance is in my heart behaving atrociously, who can comprehend? ♫

♫ The sharp sword that penetrates desire is stained with blood ♫

♫ The season tainted with the hypocrisy of the world is prosperous yet withering ♫

♫ Give me some time, I can change everything ♫

♫ The courageous moth can also extinguish a sea of flames ♫

♫ Sorrow and delight are interweaving with colors ♫

♫ Layers upon layers covered by a dense fog ♫

♫ Numerous obstacles cannot stop me ♫

♫ To uncover the truth ♫

♫ A region of burning fire and deep waters ♫

♫ Calm and blazing both existing ♫

♫ Who will indulge the wicked flames ♫

♫ To boil the deep sea ♫

♫ This is the era of survival of the fittest ♫

♫ Even if it is a proud and aloof predestination ♫

♫ Even if completely incompatible, I’m still here ♫

[🔎👁‍🗨The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty👁‍🗨🔍]

[Episode 14]

That Well-doer-Zhu knows you?

Most of the nobilities in the capital know each other.

I saw him once in a royal banquet when I was little.

How is he in your opinion?

Is there anything out of place with what he said today?

I can't find anything wrong.

But he has always been like this.

My family member once told me when I was little that

he was called the beacon of hope among the royal members in the capital.

He has been doing good deeds unchangeably for decades.

And no one could find anything to criticize him.

How about you? Did you find anything suspicious?

No.

But as a duke, he only enjoys a ration of two thousand dan of grains per year.

Yet he uses pretty much all of them to do charity.

It's a bit too showy.

It almost seems too good to be true.

Is it wrong to do good deeds?

There is nothing wrong with doing good deeds. But I want to know why he does them.

Do people need a reason to do good deeds?

Of course. There are two types of people who do good deeds.

One is out of compassion. It hurts them to see other people suffer.

What about the other kind?

The other kind of people did something bad

so they hope to make up for it with good deeds

and therefore salve their conscience.

Noodles.

I'll pass.

Don't feel like eating it.

Wait for me.

Why didn't you eat the noodles?

Nothing wrong with them.

Step back.

There are troops in front who block our way.

We are telling them to make way.

Please wait for a moment.

Back off!

Do you know who is in the carriage?

I don't know.

But I do know we walked into this path before you did.

First come first served.

No matter who is in the carriage, he has to make way for us.

How dare you!

Commander Wang of Western Depot is in the carriage.

Do you all want to be killed?

Wait. Wait.

Brother. What are you doing?

You just returned to the capital from the borders.

Why did you… Come home with me. Come home with me.

Do you know who is in the carriage?

It's Wang Zhi.

Step aside!

- Move!- Brother.

Mother is still waiting for you at home.

Move away!

According to the patrolmen,

this is where Wuyun fell off the cliff.

According to Pei,

this crate fell from above.

This is a piece of clothing Wuyun was wearing that day.

It hasn't rained for the past days.

The trace of the murderer should still be there.

Let's go up and take a look.

The murderer packed Wuyun in a crate and then

pushed it off the cliff from here.

That's strange.

A lame person again?

There were also footprints of a lame person at the last female body's scene.

Are there any similarities between the footprints of both times?

Same pace,

and same posture.

They should be left by the same person.

Sir!

Sir! There are wheel ruts here.

Damn.

Dora was taken by the heart taking serial killer.

There is a good news and a bad news.

Say good news first.

The good news is that during your time in prison,

the murderer committed a crime again.

So it can be considered as evidence of your innocence.

So I can go home now.

Open the door for me.

The bad news is that you can't leave yet.

And I had someone to spread out the news that

you are the serial murderer.

Me?

Yes.

Open the door!

Tang Fan!

Tang Fan!

What wicked plan is in your mind? You want to use me to solve the case?

I usually don't care what you did to me. But this time,

I won't allow you to discredit me!

The murderer got Dora this time.

So I have to do this.

When the murderer hears that you have taken the blame for him,

he wouldn't dare to kill again in the near future otherwise he will expose himself.

This is the only way we can buy time

and keep Dora alive for the time being.

- Pei. I really have no other options.- Braised tofu.

Rice wine. Roasted duck.

Boiled pak choi.

Let Dong go to my house to bring some books to prison.

When she enters the door,

she'll see them on the left hand.

Off you go.

Thanks.

Your Majesty.

Zhou, you don't have to be some formal with me.

Get up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Mr. Yu of the Ministry of Punishments died of an unjust charge.

It's all because of Noble Consort Wan's calumny which clouded His Majesty's judgment.

The dead is already gone.

But his wife and children are still alive and suffering.

After Minister Yu died, Mrs. Yu was seriously ill.

Their eldest son was guarding the borders.

But I heard he was transferred back to the capital.

He will arrive soon.

Their second son was also an official outside the capital

but now he has come back to be in mourning for his father's death.

Zhou, how old are you now?

I am almost 30.

Your family didn't arrange a marriage for you since you're already this age?

I've been busy with the Imperial Guards' work.

I never thought about my marriage.

No matter how busy you are, you still need to get married.

Getting married and having children are natural parts of life.

I don't believe your parents are not looking forward to it.

They are.

The youngest daughter of Minister Yu came to the palace to see me once when she was young.

I thought she was a beautiful little girl.

Now she's grown up.

I sent someone to see her a few days ago.

She has become an elegant lady now.

Zhou, what do you think?

Your Majesty, I shall do as you please.

Good. Then go to meet the Yu family.

Minister Yu just died and Mrs. Yu is seriously ill.

Now the eldest son is acting as the patriarch.

You should meet him first.

Come on, let's drink it up!

General Yu, you have to come visiting us more often.

I even lost weight because I missed you so much.

Which part has lost weight? Let me see.

Cheers.

Well, why haven't I seen you before?

General Yu. Baihu Sui.

Here. Please take a seat.

You, pour some wine for Sui.

Yes.

You guys can leave now.

I'll come to see you another time.

Here, Baihu Sui.

Let me make a toast to you.

Your father just passed away.

Your brother is at home mourning.

But General Yu, how come you behave so…

So what?

I just came back from the mission of garrisoning borders.

I am entitled to enjoy life, right?

You used to serve in the army, too.

You know life is the most important thing in the battlefield.

General Yu, you are drunk.

If I don't get drunk,

how am I supposed to do what I am going to do?

What's wrong with him?

What is this man doing?

Get lost!

Go!

General Yu, what are you doing?

Can't you tell?

Making troubles.

Do you know whose property Huanyi Brothel is?

I know, that's why I am here.

Wang Zhi!

Where are you?

Don't hide!

Come on out!

General Yu.

Your Excellency. I'm calling the security guards.

Let General Yu have fun.

Just be happy.

Everyone, you have to excuse him.

It's rare to be so happy in one's lifetime.

Ms. Cui. Put everyone's expenses tonight on the Brothel's account.

It's on the house.

Step aside!

Who are you? Don't touch me!

Get him inside! Hurry up!

Hurry up!

Bro, you came just in time.

- Drink with me. - Go in there!

Look how drunk you are! Go inside.

Drink with me. I'll be waiting for you inside.

Just go in there.

Keep drinking!

Baihu Sui.

Sorry, my brother forgot himself in his cups.

Don't worry about it.

Your brother must be overwhelmed by the sorrow of losing your father.

I am sorry for your loss.

It's getting late now. I shall bid goodbye to you.

Wait.

Can I speak with you inside?

Please.

That was embarrassing to let you see him like that.

But my brother has his reasons to misbehave.

Actually, the tragedies that happened in my home recently

were all my fault.

My father was forced to commit suicide.

My mother is seriously ill because of grief.

My brother was transferred back to the capital and laid off at home.

And I even had to resign to be in mourning for my father's death.

It all started with my fake experiences on my resume.

Sorry, I have been verbose without getting to the point.

We received a message from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.

We have no objection with her arrangement of my little sister's engagement with you.

And the reason I said so much

is I hope you don't look down upon our family

and that you can treat my sister well once you get married.

But your father just passed away.

Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to get married at this time?

Her Majesty is so kind to take care of our Yu family

by giving us such a good in-law.

At the same time, the joyful event can expel the gloomy atmosphere in the family.

Sir, you must have drunk a lot with First Young Master.

Have some noodle soup to warm up your stomach.

This is our cook

who has been working for my family for more than ten years.

After the death of my father, many servants left.

But Chef Zhang stayed and has always been loyal to us.

Thank you, Second Young Master. I was only doing my job.

Your Excellency Sui. Please.

All right. You can go now.

How does he look like?

His looks? Not bad.

I heard people say he's extremely handsome. Is that true?

Well, he's…just alright.

Why?

This person is my fiancé designated by Her Majesty.

But I can't see his face clearly.

What are you doing standing? Commander Shang of the Eastern Depot is here.

Go notify Governor Pan!

What?

Shang Ming is here?

Commander Shang.

Governor Pan. Where are you going in such a hurry

I was going outside to greet you.

No need. I let myself in.

Sure, sure.

Please.

Go serve tea.

Please, have some tea.

To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?

Didn't you already know?

Is it because of…that matter?

Exactly.

What's your opinion on it?

It must be dealt with severely!

But Commander! It's not like what you have heard…

Besides, I am also a first offender.

Governor Pan, are you admitting you're making a mistake?

Of course. I'll never lie to Your Excellency.

Please cut me some slack since I am a first-time offender.

I promise I'll never do it again!

No way.

This is a major crime.

The Ministry of Punishments, the Imperial Guards,

both Eastern and Western Depots have jointly Investigated.

I can't just cut you some slack on my own.

I just played some mahjong. Has it become such a high profile case?

What are you talking about?

Aren't you here because you guys caught me gambling with mahjong?

Are you kidding me here?

Governor Pan, you think I would see to your gambling thing personally?

I mean the serial murder of missing hearts.

Oh, I misunderstood.

Commander Shang, that case has nothing to do with me!

Ok, Governor Pan.

Stop all the joking.

I came here this time to ask you,

this heart-taking case is very similar with

the one I handled years ago.

Could it be the same person?

Do we need to review my old case by combining it with the new one?

Of course there's no need to combine the cases!

Your Excellency.

At that time, you solved the case clearly and thoroughly. Right?

It was a closed case already!

Besides… Besides, the suspect was executed already.

This case is a new case and

has nothing to do with the case you handled!

At best it's done by a copycat!

Who is handling this case?

Tang Fan.

Oh, him.

These are your favorite food. Eat as much as you like.

Don't you like reading case files the most?

Read them while eating. Eat while reading.

Tang. I was wrong.

I don't want to read the files anymore.

No, no, no. You did nothing wrong. It was me

You did well last time.

You memorized all the files in such a short time

and you gave very good insights.

But I didn't listen to your opinion. It was my fault.

This time I really need your help.

I'll listen to whatever you have to say.

Exactly. Have fun eating.

Then you have to review all these files in the shortest time possible.

These are files of all missing cases in the last two decades.

You need to find out the cases that are possibly related to the heart-taking case.

Sir. I work out the list you asked me to find about the carriage.

This kind of short wheelbase carriages are specially made for mountain roads.

The manufacturers only sell few of them every year.

And this kind of carriage needs to be maintained every year.

So you can get all the records from the manufacturers.

Look. All the people who have this kind of carriage are on this list.

[List of Mountain carriage]

Why does his mansion have it?

I read them all. These are the files you are looking for.

So fast?

Actually, not all of them.

I just picked out the ones you were looking for.

Dong! This is not a child's play.

Dora's life depends on us.

What is this?

This is the file of a victim of the heart-taking case.

I am talking about this character. [Foreign]

Foreign?

Look at the files on your table.

Why do they all have this "foreign" label?

Not all files have this label.

At least most of them on my table don't have it.

I asked the court official.

He said this "foreign" represents cases involving foreign people.

So I singled out all files with this character "foreign".

Then I read the thirty-six files here.

Victim were all women between 15 to 25 years old.

Based on this feature I cross checked with the files I singled out.

In the end, only these left.

So the women who were killed are all foreigners.

This is the earliest case related.

It was reported as a missing case. The case was never solved.

The victim was a Tatar maid the Tatars paid as a tribute to the Ming.

Her master reported this case.

When did it happen?

The seventh year of the Jingtai reign.

That will be… Twenty-two years ago.

Dong. The ones you found plus thirty-six victims we have known,

how many are they in total?

A total of 61 victims from twenty-two years ago to seven years ago.

Plus the one that recently happened, sixty-two victims.

Zhou, just the right timing! We have a lead!

Me too.

There is such a carriage in Zhu Jianmou's mansion.

His carter Tuo San is a lame man.

He limps.

Where are you going?

Stop!

We have no evidence yet.

And it involves a servant of the nobility!

If we are wrong, the consequences will be disastrous.

At this stage, if the news goes out and the murderer is spooked,

it'll be Dora's life that's in danger.

Now with the clues Dong found,

we can roughly piece back together the murderer's tracks of killing.

I just need to know Tuo San's life during these twenty-two years.

If his can match the murderer's, then he is the murderer.

Find the evidence first.

Anyone home?

Mr. Tang, you can't go in there! Please!

I want to check the records of Zhu Jianmou's servants

in the last twenty-five years.

You can leave.

Yes.

Twenty five years?

You do know that I wasn't even born 25 years ago.

Western Depot was just established two years ago.

Besides, do you realize who Zhu Jianmou is?

He is a hereditary duke bestowed by the royal court.

People call him the beacon of hope among the royal members.

You think you can just check his servants easy like that?

I know you Western Depot has been monitoring every move of various ministers, nobilities,

and the royal family members.

You must have your way.

Even if you don't keep records, you

you can definitely help me get them.

You are getting smarter.

But

why should I help you?

We are not really friends.

Besides, I never act without proper benefit.

I don't do anything for free.

You want me to beg you or you won't do it.

Friends should help each other.

You just said we are not friends.

Being a good friend is not shown through here, but here.

but here.

Your Excellency.

Isn't he from the Eastern Depot?

Why would he help you?

I used to help him.

So when I need help, he will help me.

What if Shang Ming finds out?

Don't think it's just Shang Ming who is monitored by a spy.

He also planted spies among my people.

If something goes wrong this time,

you should say you didn't get it from me.

As for other things, you're on your own.

Dong, as for the 62 cases we sorted out,

read them to me from the beginning in chronological order.

In summer of the seventh year of the Jingtai reign, at the back lane of Nanfangli,

Amu Roujia, a servant at Liao's Fur Shop…

No. That's too slow. Faster.

In summer of the seventh year of the Jingtai reign, at the back lane of Nanfangli,

Amu Roujia, a servant at Liao's Fur Studio was found dead and the body was ditched at a trench.

Multiple wounds with the heart missing.

In the autumn of the seventh year of the Jingtai reign,

the body of a Japanese maid of Lord Li's Mansion

was found with her heart missing.

In the spring of the first year of the Tianshun reign, at northern suburb,

an unknown woman from a northern minority

was found dead with limbs tied up and heart missing.

In the summer of the first year of the Tianshun reign, at Iron Market,

the youngest daughter of Jiryar Carpet Shop, Jiryar Ring…

I see his patterns.

Your Highness. Your carter Tuo San is the one who kidnapped Dora.

But it's more than that.

During the past 22 years, he killed more than 60 foreign women.

Mr. Tang, do you have any evidence?

I compared Tuo San's life movements with the murderer's tracks when he committed crimes,

it's a perfect match!

Over the past years,

I sometimes thought Tuo San seemed suspicious.

But he has been working hard and loyal to me during the past decades.

So I never really suspected there was anything wrong with him.

Mr. Tang, don't worry.

If he did kill those women, I will never cover up for him.

I will hand him over to the court

where he will be charged impartially.

Thank you, Your Highness, for your righteousness.

I know Tuo San bought a house outside the city few years ago.

He might be there now.

Let me get people to take you there.

OK.

Time is ticking, let's go now.

But don't you want to inform your office?

Isn't it safer for you to bring your men together to arrest him?

Your Highness, I know this is related to your reputation.

That's why I came alone.

We can discuss about what to do with Tuo San after we catch him.

But right now Dora's life is in danger.

I am afraid it'll be too late when I gather the team.

You have a point.

Also a lot of people might alert Tuo San and therefore put Dora in danger.

Let's go then.

Be careful.

This is the shortcut to the backdoor.

From there we can go to Tuo San's house faster.

What's that place?

I think I heard something.

You're too careless.

For the past years I have never

interfered in your "hobbies" for the sake of our family.

But I hope you can bear in mind the interest of others.

Don't go too far or you will disgrace the royal family.

Tang Fan!

Wake up! Tang Fan!

I'll pay my rent later.

What rent?

Who am I?

Wake up!

Dora?

Are you OK? Are you hurt?

What is this place?

I am not OK. They caught me.

And they caught you.

I was caught off guard.

I was here looking for you.

But I was caught by that Tuo San's trap.

I wonder if the Duke is alright.

That duke caught me!

The duke surnamed Zhu!

Duke Zhu caught you?

Why would he do that?

You are a foreigner. A foreign woman.

You fit his standards for prey.

What is a prey?

This is the first time

the Imperial Guards come to my house asking to see me.

Can I help you, Baihu Sui?

Your Highness.

I have an urgent matter that I need to speak to Tang Fan, magistrate of the Shuntian Prefecture.

I don't understand.

Why are you looking for a magistrate in my house?

Aren't they all at the Shuntian Prefecture's office?

Your Highness is humorous.

Tang Fan told me a couple of hours ago that he was going to your mansion to investigate a case.

But I didn't file a case to him.

Besides, nobility doesn't have to file their case to the Shuntian Prefecture.

I'm telling you, there are no outsiders in or out of my mansion today.

I am afraid you have to look for him elsewhere.

Could you let me go in and take a look?

Take a look?

Do you think it's appropriate for you to do that?

I am sorry to offend you, but this is an emergency.

I am a hereditary duke bestowed by the royal court!

The nobility!

I won't allow you, a humble Imperial Guard to

humiliate me by searching my mansion.

Sir!

What?

I just saw a suspect climbed through the wall and went into His Highness's mansion.

Suspect? What suspect?

I saw it with my own eyes. It's definitely him!

The Class A wanted criminal who has been on the run in the capital.

Dugu Buning.

Dugu Buning?

This officer, can't you make up with a more real fake name?

[Wanted]

He is a habitual rapist that has been wanted by the Sanhe areas for years.

This man has a very distinct facial feature of an obvious birth mark at his eye.

I am 100% sure it was him.

Summon all the manpower of all units of the Imperial Guards

to search every corner of the mansion.

We need to keep all the women in the mansion safe!

Yes, Sir!

Hurry up!

Unit one!

Unit two, over here!

Yes!

Unit Three!

Unit four! Take a look over there!

Yes sir!

Move, move!

On your knees.

Bodhisattva, please bless us.

Bless His Excellency Sui to get promoted and take Commander Wan's office soon.

What are you talking about?

Don't you feel something's strange when you were praying?

Sir. This shrine is too high.

I have to struggle to look up to see it.

Anyone! Help us!

Anyone!

We are here.

Come on!

Sir. Commander Wan is here.

Someone has come to save us!

Anyone?

Come save us!

Someone is coming!

Don't come any closer, or we'll kick your ass.

Timing and subtitles brought to you by ⚖Defenders of the Law ⚖ Team @ Viki