Original subtitles

My Lord, please come in.

Although this Zhu Qi was a constable,

but I did not expect him to be

someone who was a lover of culture and literature.

Actually Zhu Qi comes from a very good background.

He was the eldest son of a scholarly clan in Lu province.

He was skilled in the 4 arts since young and enjoys engraving the most.

But because he loved his wife, his relationship with his family turned sour,

In the end he left with his wife to Taicang

and to make a living he came to my little district

and became a constable.

But...he was incredibly intelligent, was brilliant at solving crimes.

But I never expected he would...

He would...

we found two boxes at the back.

These are all...

These are all tools used to raid a tomb.

My Lord, this is a sickle.

It seems like this is Zhu Qi's murder weapon.

It was all because I misjudged him and governed my office poorly.

How could I make a murderer a constable?!

My Lord, please punish me.

You re not the one who needs punishment

but Zhu Qi.

It is a bounty for someone.

A constable.

Zhu Qi?

Isn't he a constable?

Indeed.

-How could that happen? -Even he committed a crime?

-Yes. -Indeed.

So strange.

Didn’t expect it.

Even this could happen.

Didn't expect something like this could happen.

Wait.

My Lord.

Done.

Good, thank you My Lord.

Alright.

Zhu Qi was quite secretive.

We cannot find his hiding place even now.

If you cannot find him, it means he has not left the city yet.

Then I will continue to search for him.

He will definitely leave the city there.

I have sent someone to find Zhu Qi.

If Zhu Qi took the Pearl of the Marquis of Sui,

then we must find him before Xiao Song.

There will be a lot of fog tonight,

Zhu Qi may use the cover of the fog to

leave tonight via boat.

My Lord that man in the dark clothing

may be the best assassin of the Huoqi alliance Li.

The martial arts of those dark robed individuals

does not seem to be practised by the members of the Jianghu.

You suspect they are from the palace?

My Lord, Examiner Ran is on the boat!

Little loyal dog, hurry and untie me.

Aren't you quite a crafty fox?

What? You became a trapped pet?

Although I may be trapped

but I have information you want.

What information?

That depends on how you treat me.

Bai Yi!

Here.

Throw her into the river!

Xiao fish you are so inhumane!

Hurry up!

Zhu Qi kidnapped me.

He knew someone would kidnap him via the waterways, so used me as his body double.

If I didn’t die,

he asked me to tell you one thing!

Speak.

No-one else can listen.

Tomorrow at noon, at the Wangchun pagoda,

only one person allowed.

Stall owner,

is business good today?

Not bad.

Xiao Song and the others are at Wangchun pagoda, Zhu Qi is already dead.

My Lord, when you see this letter,

I would have become a ghost in the underworld.

Although I studied the literature of the good

but I could not resist the greed within me.

the ambitions that were once pure and grand like swans have now become as dirty as sparrows.

Now I walk with bandits,

gained an aura of a villain,

and forgot what justice and morale was.

For greed of profit I hurt the lives of others,

and now, I know that my crimes are unrepeatable,

and willing to repay with my life!

I cari atone for my sins in hell and reincarnation.

He used an official sword to slice his throat an commit suicide.

Does that mean the broken sword did not belong to Zhu Qi?

I wonder what his feelings were during his death?

Why did he smile?

The person who followed Xiao Song entered the District governor's manor.

My Lord.

Zhu Qi has committed suicide.

There are no gatherings that will not end.

Who is Zhuang Bifan?

I...

I...am investigating him too.

Why did you investigate him?

For...

For the Pearl....of the Marquis....of Sui...

Where is the item?

It is...

It is in Ran Yan’s hands.

This is Lord Xiao.

What do you wish to ask me?

Have you seen Zhu Qi's wife in the past few days?

Never mind these few days, I have not seen her for months.

She is not at home?

Because of her health condition, I heard it was a disease of the lungs,

so she would consistently cough

so she was always at home recuperating.

In the past few days did you see Zhu Qi

take her away?

I did not.

But yesterday night,

I heard his wife scream.

Why?

I...do not know.

Thank you.

Why would Zhu Qi's wife scream

Did she suffer a fright?

Zhu Qi originally planned to confess.

But he suddenly killed himself out of guilt.

And his wife, on the night before his death,

screamed.

She did indeed suffer a fright,

because someone came to her home,

and captured her.

Who did that? And what was their purpose?

Their motive was to make Zhu Qi his scapegoat.

What your excellency means is

someone kidnapped Zhu Qu’s wife,

and forced Brother Zhu to bear all responsibility

and committed suicide

in exchange of his wife’s safety.

That letter...

Someone who gave up their family for love,

how could he commit murder?

And why would he commit murder?

This scent is the scent of vinegar.

Why would there be a scent of vinegar on this letter?

There is not a scent of vinegar on the body at all.

[I am innocent...]

[I am innocent save my wife]

I am innocent, save my wife.

He was framed as expected.

Xiao fish!!

Who blackmailed him?

You Xiao Merman who deserves death!

Looks like I must visit the Zhu family home again.

Say...who are the two people in the painting?

Suddenly I encounter a peach blossom grove,

Within several hundred steps of the stream bank,

There are no other trees around

The grass fresh and beautiful,

The petals scatter onto the floor.

Record of the peach blossom grove.

What kind of woman was she?

These were all images of peach blossoms.

Fragrance of peach blossoms.

Why does she like peach blossoms so much?

It's sweet flag that will cause hallucinations!

Zhu Qi bought this for his wife,

why was that in her medicine?

Do you still recognize this?

It looks familiar.

It is a unfinished longevity charm.

And in the shape of peach blossoms too.

That...is the ornament on Zhu Qi’s sword.

The ornament on Zhu Qi’s official sword has a longevity charm his wife made for him.

So...the official sword within the Manor of the District governor

was not Zhu Qi’s.

Someone replaced his official sword

and framed him.

But only you and I know about the official's sword within the tomb.

And one more person!

Only the killer can frame Zhu Qi

in such a short time.

Before we visited Zhu Qi’s home,

he got his aides to arrange this.

So that we can find the tools for tomb raiding so easily.

Only he can do it.

District Governor Li.

if he was the mastermind,

Zhu Qi's wife should be with him.

Then where did those tomb goods go?

Examiner Ran are you alright?

l am fine.

When I was checking the official’s swords at the governor’s manor, i accidentally bumped into one of the vases.

District Governor seemed worried about me,

but I feel that he was more worried about the vase.

Could he have disguised the ancient artifacts as ornaments?

If we want to know the truth,

we must find someone to evaluate them.

I have someone in mind.

My Lord, Lord Xiao suddenly came to visit.

He still came.

Lord Xiao welcome to my home, forgive the poor reception.

Please sit. Please sit.

Lord Xiao...

This is...

A friend.

His surname is Sang, name Chen.

Sang Chen,

don't you have a stomachache?

Right right, I have a stomachache,

my stomach hurts, hurts so much!

Someone take this young master to the privy.

Alright, thank you.

Young Master this way please.

Lord Xiao,

I wonder what urgent business brings you to my...

little manor.

I am here to find someone.

Who does your excellency wish to find?

Zhu Qi's...wife.

Hurts...Hurts....

Hurts, hurts.

Thank you.

Hurts, hurts.

The killer Zhu Qi committed suicide to atone for his sins.

But we have not been,able to find his wife even now.

Therefore I came to the District Governor's manor

to ask you, the District Governor to help me find her.

Lord Xiao you always speak in such a way that requires the listener to work out what you mean.

Causing this inferior minister to panic from your words.

Lord Xiao you have such talent under your command.

I can only assist you as your subordinate

in your search for that person.

Come.

Please.

Lord Li.

Your tea is....poor man’s tea.

This is an embarrassment.

I have always been principled and honest.

There is no difference between the tea in my residence than the ones in a normal civilians.

I like the way you say you are principled and honest.

Even I do not dare to praise myself.

A pure white jade.

And there is browning from being buried in soil.

It has engravings of a young phoenix and patterns of nature it is an antique from the West Han

Court works through the ministers protecting

To put it lightly, the ministers are of one family,

but to put it seriously it is to form allies to be involved in clandestine activites.

As soon as you become a minister, because of your position you cannot have close confidants.

In the past, there were ministers who abused their authority

and aristocrats who sold important positions for money.

But there are loyal ministers,

who bravely argue with the Emperor

and upstanding principled generals who sacrificed their lives who out country was attacked.

If I had the great ambitions Lord Xiao has,

I would not have remained in this small District Governor’s office,

and be this unknown District Governor.

A gentleman should be open and principled,

this ambition does not have to be great, rather it should be direction!

resolves cases as if he has an unexplained power,

it is my fortune to be able to solve this case

with you this time.

Kwill not lose my direction with you guiding me.

I really want to hear

your analysis on the drum chariot case.

The mastermind used some kind of method

found eight grave robbers to help him raid ancient tombs,

sell the contents of the graves for profit.

An easy tactic, just need to catch their flaw.

Those who have their flaws, is someone who has the power to cover the sky with their hand.

He was able to create a new identity for them

and allowed them to take root and make a living in Suzhou city.

Even four of them died,

they were able to get rid of their identity.

It was because of negligence on my part

which allowed Zhu Qi to abuse his authority

and use his position to create fake identities for them.

Each of them had their own role to play.

Seamstress Hua Xuwan was responsible for finding the ancient tomb

I believe

she was skilled at at scouting for tombs

after she found the location of the ancient tomb,

she would inform the other members through the birthing outfit.

outfit?

During the birth of a new child, you need a banquet and jewelry,

and of course a midwife.

That is quite strategic.

But how did they know when to come and raid the tomb?

Perhaps they had agreed on the meeting time long ago.

For example on the 15th of every month.

Which was the night their carriages disappeared and they became decomposing bodies.

The four of them must have agreed,

to raid the tomb then.

That does seem reasonable.

Those eight people hid the burial goods in a certain location.

For safety,

they would hide those goods in a different place each time.

But after they hid it,

they would meet up with the contact the mastermind arranged

at the Qingli brothel.

Another cup!

Master Zhuang, it's been ages since you last visited.

Come, drink a cup with me first.

You drink wine?

You really remember me?

Listen to you, of course!

Good. Come here.

Let's drink into a stupor!

Lord Li, how do you think they will split up the

money they made from the goods?

It's unreasonable that they will halve it.

Four to six is too little,

3 and 7 is better.

And who is 3 and who is 7?

Although those tomb raiders did the laboring,

but they were all brawn and no brains.

Unlike the mastermind who arranged everything from the shadows.

They earned a living with their brain.

That is true.

Those who make a living with their brain,

thinks about much more than those who do it through hard labor.

Indeed, indeed.

This entire tomb rain operation went rather smoothly,

the entire process was almost perfect.

I must praise the mastermind for being such a genius.

Unfortunately...

something occurred outside the plans of the mastermind.

Examiner Ran what do you mean?

Those eight people were bandits and it was hard for them to change their ways.

They forget honor when there is profit and became greedy when money was involved.

So they fought against each other.

Four of them wanted to gain all the profit.

If I am right,

They are managed by those four.

They were their assistants.

Those assistants were unsatisfied with what they got,

so decided to revolt.

There are always greedy individuals

who know no shame and forget their honor.

They cannot distinguish their position and status.

People like that can only be killed.

That is right.

So Hua Xuwan, Wei Siniang, Bu Zixiao, and Zhuang Bifan they took the initiative

and killed them.

But...

Lord Li, I have a question.

If it was you, where will you attack them?

Naturally in some desolated mountain or field.

That makes sense.

That was why Hua Xuwan's little finger

ended up in her fake female cousin's mouth.

Examiner Ran you are so meticulous you can work out the truth from such small details.

You are the most skilled examiner I have ever seen.

Thank you for your praise.

It was because I was so skilled that was why I was targeted by the mastermind,

and was kidnapped.

Lord Xiao was skilled at solving cases,

if he gained such a talented subordinate like you,

the mastermind had no choice but to do that.

You little fox was o lucky.

Someone discovered you even though they placed you within the wine amphora.

But as a little fox, how can I be compared to an old fox like you?

Examiner Ran,

will take it as praise.

Hua Xuwen, Wei Siniang, Bu Zixiao Zhaung Bifan those four people,

thought they would be able to profit even more from it,

yet they never expected that

they would be murdered in the same way and using

the same weapons they committed murder with.

Well said.

We came from the same roots, but why are you in such a rush to cook me?*

Which means..

Your Lordship believes they were killed by their allies?

These four people did not know they should pay kindness with gratitude,

their greed came as time passed.

I believe the mastermind killed them

because he had no choice.

Lord Li.

Here.

Then may I trouble you to analyze the situation.

Then I shall speak my mind.

Go ahead.

I believe that mastermind ordered Zhu Qi to kill the four of them to shut them

only it was a shame Zhu Qi was hesitant and did not kill them quickly.

Those four discovered something was strange,

and dug up the decomposing bodies to replace them

and intended to escape.

And in the end was discovered by Zhu Qi.

Zhu Qi knocked them unconscious in some way,

and used the short handle sickle to axe them to death,

but he was worried his crime will be exposed and it would implicate him

hence, he did not use his own official knife.

he wanted to leave himself an escape path.

It's a shame..

You were wrong about one thing.

My Lord please enlighten me.

The four people did not detect it and tried to replace their lives with the bodies.

Instead it was Zhu Qi who purposefully created the drum chariot case.

He discovered the drum chariot in the ancient tomb,

can create a unique sound and attract the horses.

So Zhu Qi used that point

and lured the four of them to the field dug out those four bodies,

and replaced them with those 4 people.

He took the 4 people into the tomb,

and left some clues to me.

Unfortunately the mastermind was one step ahead.

Zhu Qi did indeed leave more than one clue.

he brought the fire to himself.

It’s a shame..

He was not as crafty as you.

You pushed all your crimes...

onto him.

Your Lordship you think so highly of me,

and accused me as that mastermind.

Zhu Qi became a fugitive thanks to your arrangement.

He wanted to report you,

but you captured his wife and used her to threaten him.

Forced him to bear all responsibility

and commit suicide in guilt.

Examiner Ran

I just said you were intelligent,

why did you start to become foolish now?

How am I foolish?

I did not force him to work for me.

Instead he was

Because....

I am Zhu Qi's benefactor.

Zhu Qi loved his wife deeply.

Except his wife suffered from a lung condition.

That medicine was expensive, he cannot afford it.

So, he found me.

He borrowed money from me.

So I helped him out and got him to manage my antiques business for me.

He was unwilling.

In order to make him agree,

I brought up his wife.

Zhu Qi loved his wife deeply, and decided to help me.

Lord Li I fear you are not speaking the truth.