Original subtitles

Wash the bodies.

The bodies are badly composed with water we can wash away the dirt and maggots.

Strange...

Remove their clothing.

They've all been through the Zhe torture!

The "Zhe" torture is dismemberment of the 4 limbs.

This kind of torture method is extremely cruel.

These 4 bodies have undergone this.

What kind of hatred does the killer have towards them?

Turn them all over.

The wound at the back of the neck is long.

About 2 inch in depth.

It looks like it was created by an axe.

Strange.

How is it strange?

Are these four individuals related?

No.

These 4 people, one of them is embroider Hua Xuwan

midwife Wei Siniang,

eatery owner Bu Zixiao,

manager of the goldsmiths, Zhuang Bifan.

are the joints of their hands are so much bigger than a normal person.

These 4 bodies...

whether male or female

the bones in their palms, are bigger than a normal person's.

It seems like...

they all do hard manual labor.

the four of them..

were they acquainted when alive?

Your Lordship the four of them resided in the four different corners of the Suzhou City when alive.

They were not acquainted when alive

and there was no interaction.

They did not interact?

Yet they share such similar physical traits.

Why is that?

Help me turn Hua Xuwan's body over again.

Tweezer.

It's a decomposed tip of a finger.

It looks like it’s from the smallest finger of the right hand.

Perhaps this Hua Xuwan managed to bite the killer before,she died.

Bai Yi, Zhu Qi.

Search the city.

Anyone who has a broken little finger, investigate them immediately.

-Yes. -Yes.

[Bu Zixiao, Hua...]

My Lord.

Put them all in the box. Take back them.

Yes

I cannot work out what the weapon is.

But...something is strange.

A normal body cannot decompose in one day.

Could these four bodies belong to those 4 people?

My Master Lao Wu does not have any interest.

Except for keeping a body,

or collect a weapon.

These knives, swords, spades, are just a small part of his collection.

As long as you try them out one by one, we should be able to discover the weapon that killed them.

I try it?

Apart from you, the only people here are the elderly,

and a little girl like me.

The contract says that you're responsible for examining the body and finding the truth,

I'm responsible for paying you.

I believe that....discovering the truth....

includes the weapon that caused the death.

So I feel that you should be the one to carry out this experiment.

Xiao fish, how dare you bully

Don't want the money?

That's a threat!

I must go and take my meal now.

Oh yes, I must trouble fox you,

inform me of the outcome after I finish my meal.

That dratted fish!

I'll cook you up one day.

It looks that girl is pretending that slab of pork as a certain someone.

I am quite curious.

Uncle Wu how can you tolerate that girl’s bad temper.

I will tell you something from the bottom of my heart.

This girl...

she is even harder to shake off than a vengeful ghost.

In these dozen years, i have been tortured by her

so much that I would rather die.

Although I am the Master, and she is my disciple,

but I keep having to endure what she's done to me.

I drank some wine, she snatched my wine cup.

I went to collect a potential body that was on their deathbed

what does she do, run over decides to practise her medical skills and saved their life!

I finally found a real body,

she found them pitiful and examined the body for free!

After I met this girl, it's easier to go to Heaven than

to make some money!

Although it sounds like you're scolding her,

but when you think carefully, it sounds as if you're praising her.

So what if I'm praising her?

My girl is quite intelligent.

I remember when she was little and how she asked me to be her Master and teach her how to examine bodies.

Her courage and her persistence,

is not something a child can do.

I want to hear

how she persisted in learning this trade.

That is predestined.

At the time she was only six.

That girl stumbled around the mass graves

to find her Mother's grave.

When I saw her,

she had already collapsed in exhaustion.

Yan 'er.

Yan 'er.

Yan'er!

I felt pity towards her and took her home to treat her.

She has a fever!

Hurry and go!

I thought she could not be saved but I did not expect she would be so strong

and managed to survive.

Uncle drink water.

This girl seemed weak

but she had the courage of a man.

This is a toad.

You can use it as a medicine.

What about this?

To my surprise she was very curious about the dead.

She insisted on staying and examine bodies with me.

I didn't want to take her as my disciple,

Who knew....

Come here.

Let's go.

How could a little girl have so much determination?

That is why I took her in as my disciple

but she never let me down.

She was naturally talented.

She only used 3 years before she became as good as I was!

My skill cannot be compared to hers.

She has an elder brother?

It’s her elder male cousin, called Ran Yun Sheng.

He has helped me look after her, it's a shame..

he went to Chang'an city with his Father later on.

But he would always send someone to deliver something to that girl.

They are very close.

Even if it was just to discover the truth,

but as the Di daughter of the Ran clan,

and is a girl from a rich family in Suzhou.

Why did she insist on learning about examining bodies?

It was all because her Mother passed away.

Have you washed your hands?

L-L-Look, look at this, it is an embarrassment.

I've spoiled this girl.

It is alright, I am used to it.

My Lord, you eat something.

D-Don't drink! Y-You cannot drink alcohol!

No, no, no.

N-No, y-you...

Is your Master ill?

You move over.

What are you doing?

Move over a bit.

Why can't I find the murder weapon?

What was the murder weapon, why can't I find it?

Why did I...

What are you doing?!

Compounds of vomit?

I want to do a dissection.

I want to kill someone.

I need to dissect the body, that way I can know how they died!

You wish to use the food

remaining in their stomachs

to prove that the four of them,

were not Zhuang Bifan,

but 4 different people.

Lord Xiao.

The development of one's body is a gift from one's parents.

Even when you become a wandering ghost,

is it not inappropriate if you destroy a body?

I believe the Governor is very right.

The family of the 4 victims are not present,

if you dissect their body without their permission, whether it is for sentiment or for reason...

it is not appropriate.

Where are their family?

Your Lordship, we have not been able to find their family yet.

And no-one has come to collect the body.

And the person who lost his finger?

Your Excellency, we have not found him yet.

Ran Yan, your turn.

In the 3rd year of his reign as the acting Emperor,

Emperor Wang Mang of Han ordered the Imperial Physicians, apothecarist and butchers

to dissect Wang Sunqing together dug out his organs, studied their function and condition, then sharp bamboo sticks into the vessels

to understand the meridians.

To cure Cao Cao's migraine,

the great physician Huo Tuo suggested for him to undergo anesthetic broth

and then cut up his skull with an axe to take out the bad humor there

and he will be cured.

The two examples I made proves that our ancestors have performed a dissection.

I suggested a dissection today to remove the contents of their stomachs

in order to determine the time of death.

My purpose was only to find the truth

and find justice for the victims.

I believe if the four victims are watching us from Heaven,

they will defintiely support my suggestion.

Unless someone does not wish to find the truth,

and wish to close the case quickly and deceive me!

How could I dare?

As it is to investigate the truth,

I am willing to support your decision.

I have always followed every order Lord Xiao has made.

As Lord Xiao ordered for a dissection, I do not dare to stop you.

I like how you say you'will follow my every order.

Want to push all responsibility on me?!

That puts me in a panic.

My Lord, I did not mean that!

Enough.

Ran Yan.

You may begin the dissection now.

But...you must know

if you cannot determine the time of death even after the dissection,

then...

I will definitely bear that responsibility.

Alright, start then.

What is the outcome.

My Lord, the food in the stomachs of all four bodies have been decomposed.

You can decompose a body using ointments on the skin.

But how can you decompose food inside the stomach in one night?

Unless...

Unless....

They did not die last night.

But died ay least half a year ago.

How is that possible?

These four individuals were clearly alive yesterday!

May people can prove that!

They’ve been replaced.

It seems...we must visit the homes of these 4 victims.

Investigating the case is none of my business.

If...you pay me,

I will consider it.

I will repay you at the very end. You must come too.

Why?

We are short of people.

Why did the embroider have to sit on a high stool?

Is it comfortable having your legs hanging in the air?

So strange,

Bi Zixiao was very short why did he place the brush such a long way away?

Zhuang Bifan was a large man.

Why is this robe is small and short?

Wei Siniang is 5 feet 6 inches in height,

why is she using such a long duvet?

Those four bodies do not belong to those four people!

Someone used 4 bodies that have died at least half a year ago

to replace those 4 victims.

But apart from those four bodies at the scene,

there is no-one else.

Besides if the killer replaced those 4 people with

with 4 decomposing bodies,

But apart from the wheel tracks caused by the carriage wheels

there are no other traces.

How did the killer take them away?

Look at how how chaotic these horseshoe prints are,

it's impossible to tell how many horses had passed by or left.

Zhu Qi.

Did anyone pass through the scene after the crime was committed?

My Lord, after the crime was discovered, the District Governor Li sealed off the area

no-one passed by.

Do you have any paintings of the wheels of the 4 carriages?

Yes.

These are the marks Zhuang Bifan's carriage wheels made.

But compared to the marks produced by the wheels here compared to the ones in the record,

the two are not a match.

It seems like... the wheels of the different carriages traveling on the same patch.

Could the wheels of the killer's carriage,

was as wide as Zhuang Bifan's carriage?

And he followed the track that Zhuang Bifan’s carriage took and took the bodies away like that?

We should be able to find the killer by following this route.

Perhaps the four people are still alive.

The killer is ruthless.

It's safer for you to remain.

Zhu Qi.

Leave your subordinates here, protect examiner Ran.

Everyone else, follow me.

My Lord, these tracks head to different directions.

How can we follow them then?

Look at this trace, it is fresh.

It should be this direction.

Go.

Go!

Zhu Qi! Zhu Qi!

Zhu Qi! Hurry and wake up! Zhu Qi! Zhu Qi!

My Lord, there are no traces at all on the ground.

My Lord. My Lord....

What's wrong?

That sound..

Sound?

There is no sound My Lord.

My Lord!

My Lord!

This won’t work, you need to go get treated.

Let's not continue My Lord.

No! I must go and find it!

Find that sound!

Where is this place?

It's so dark.

Why can't I breathe?

I’m inside Suzhou city right now?

Who wishes to kidnap me?

My Lord.

Why is this carriage so strange?

My Lord, something happened!

Examiner Ran has been captured!

This young master, why don't you buy a hairpin,

to give to your wife.

Give me two pancakes!

No need.

Young Master take another look.

It's him?

That's not necessary.

Excuse us.

You were only administrated some sleeping medicine, you'll be fine in an hour.

Why did those people try to capture you?

Zhuang Bifan.

Liu Can...

I do not know either.

I'll carry you back.

I am her husband Su Fu.

My Lord, you allow him to take Examiner Ran like that?

Master.

Drink some hot broth, you have not consumed anything the entire day.

I am in no mood to drink broth.

Why is there no news of Ran’er even now?

Open the gate!

Hurry and tell the Master and Mistress, we found the Miss!

Understood!

Miss, we found Mis.

Where?

Yan'er...

T-T-This how disgraceful.

Guards.

Hurry and carry your Miss inside.

What is your relationship with Yan'er?

It is growing late.

Farewell.

W-Who is this? He does not even inform us of his identity.

Does Ran'er have some sort of relationship with this man? She...

Shut up! You...

Awake?

I have a headache!

I have such a bad headache, Wan Lv!

Do you think I will not ask you where you went if you pretend to have a headache?

It was Lord Xiao from the Ministry of Justice who asked me to examine a body.

What?

Not only do you collect bodies, you examine them now too?

That is unacceptable.

Ran'er you are the Eldest Miss of the Ran family,

what do medical examiners do?

That is inferior work! Are you not lowering your status by doing that?!

Examining a dead body is to find the truth of how they died,

to help them find innocence.

How is it inferior work?

Nonsense!

Hurry and quit your work as a medical examiner and marry into the Su family!

Hasn't Su Fu gone missing?

How can you call your husband by his name?

How can you be so rude?

I did not teach my daughter properly.

Master.

You have to manage such a big family by yourself,

how do you have the time to manage Yan’er?

It is my fault for not guiding her properly.

Yan'er.

The Su family sent a letter informing us that Su Fu fell ill

on his way back from a task.

When he recovers, he will marry you.

Just finding an excuse to conceal the truth.

What did you say? Who are you saying concealed the truth?

How can you have the face to talk about others?

Look at your behavior!

The daughters of other families stay at home and work on their embroidery.

What about you? You touch knives and play around with a corpse!

If your Mother was alive, she would forbid you from doing this!

I thought you forgot about my Mother.

Yan'er, even if Master forgot about your Mother

that is a natural way of things.

After all I am your Mother.

This is a matter between my Father and I what has it got to do with you?

You!

Master, look.

Look how rude Yan'er is to me.

Father.

If you wish to talk to me about my Mother,

tell her to leave.

Master!

Wife,

more conveniently discussed with you away.

You leave first.

Yan'er...

I know that you still blame me over your Mother's death.

But...no-one wishes for that to happen.

Like back then, when I left in the ancillary building,

i-it was because I had no choice!

No choice?

Because you had no choice,

so you sent me, who was only six years of age to the ancillary building?

Because you had no coice,

I had to face a life without a Father and Mother in childhood!

Because you had no choice,

I lost everything!

And Ran Mei Yu got everything that should have been mine!

Yan’er!

This...

You must understand the hard position I was in!

I only did that because I had no other choice!

Besides,

I did not abandon you entirely I would come and visit you here often.

Look.

Is everything in this building not the same as back then?

No difference?

As a Father,

you only come here a mere five times per year.

If it was not my wedding day today,

my dear Father,

I fear you would not come and visit me today.

I do not care whether you resent ot hate me,

only hope that you will resign as a medical examiner

and in the future please do not hang around with disreputable men

alright?

What do you mean disreputable?

And when did I hang around with someone like that?

How can you say that?

Is the person who brought you back someone disreputable?

He did not even inform me of his identity when he saw me!

Incredibly rude!

So the only thing you care about was that man?

Ever since I woke up until now,

did you ask me why I was unconscious and what happened to me?

Did you ask whether I am well,

or whether I, your daughter suffered any hardships?

You did not.

Because you're selfish!

You only care about good appearances

you only care about the good conduct and appearance of the Ran family

Shut up!

Why should I shut up?

So what if that man carried me back?!

Why can you not see if from the good side? Why do you have to think so lowly of me?!

You!

Why are you like this?!

Is it because ever since Mother died, your daughter I

no longer exists?!

Shut up!

What is that?

Give it to me!

You've never given up this time all this time?

You've been searching your biological Mother's grave?

It follows nature’s course for a daughter to find her Mother's grave!

By searching for your Mother's grave, you are stirring up trouble

Your Mother committed suicide, it has nothing to do with anyone!

Whether Mother committed suicide or not

it is not up to you!

I do not want to argue with you.

Your Mother’s affair ends here and now!

But this marriage is already arranged,

you cannot change it!

Even if your Mother was alive,

If My mother was alive?

Do you still hope for my Mother to be alive?

AS soon as my Mother passes away,

you make Concubine Gao your wife.

You let her live in my Mother's room and discard my Mother’s belongings’

Have you ever care about my Mother? Have you ever cared about me?!

You...

You never.

You only care about yourself!

I am just a tool for you to secure the family fortune

You only married my Mother because marriage to her will profit you

You!

Very good!

As you feel that I did not treat your biological Mother well,

then I will not be a good Father either!

Fine! Fine!

Do not call me your Father from now on!

Do not think you can get a dime from me!

I will just think that you were never my daughter!

Miss.

Does it hurt?

How can Master be so cruel?

How could he slap you?

Starting from today,

he will no longer be my Father.

The road will be long ahead

I must do my best to search for the destination

Let the horses drink their fill'in the salty lakes

before tying them up by the shoeblackplant shrub.

I did not expect you to have such skill with your hands.

Deputy Head Xiao.

This is an embarrassment.

They are only told to entertain the children.

What brings you here to see me?

You are dismissed.

And you study for now.

I wish to trouble you..

to help me carve a fox.

Fox?

That's right.

This fox is quite wild,

arrogant and full of itself, has a fierce expression.

arrogant full of itself, has a fierce expression.

And likes...

Want me to examine a body, give me money!

Likes to scold others the most.

Arrogant and full of itself and has a fierce expression.

That bearing...

why does it sound so much like Miss Ran?

What Miss Ran?

Nothing, I will carve it for you immediately.

This jade is good quality jade imported from Persia.

Master Sang really knows his jade.

A fox like this...

resembles her in looks.

Girl,

I am begging you, your Master I

I do not have the connections to help you find work in other fields.

L-Let me off.

Old man, you said you would support me entire life.

Now that I don't have money, you have to help me think of a plan.

That's not how it works!

your entire lif is that Master Su.

I don't want want to marry him.

-Don't want to marry him? -so no man will support me.

But you cannot bring trouble to me.

How about this?

You know medicine too, why don't you go and see some patients?

That way you can help the sick as well.

You are right.

But....where will I find patients?

-Regarding how you find the patients... -The sick?

I suffered a sudden fit of illness, I do not know if it is serious or not.

Is there a physician around to help me out?

I will definitely reward you handsomely!

The patients come as soon as you mention it,

here to deliver money to you.

-Are you a physician? -Where are you feeling unwell?

I feel as my throat is contricted.