Original subtitles

Ran Yan.

18 years of age.

The Di (legitimate) daughter of the Yan family.

Yet lives alone in the ancillary building.

She is skilled in medicine but is unwilling to be a physician.

As the Di daughter of the Ran family,

she would rather make a living examining bodies.

This is the smell of pigeon blood and alcohol.

Ointment like this is unnoticeable when you apply it to the skin normally.

It will only become noticeable when the body starts producing a lot of heat.

Liu Can must have drunken a lot of wine that night.

His irises are fully dilated.

There are no bruises?

The chest is normal.

Bloated stomach...

Gas was probably produced because he had just consumed food.

Color of his nails were normal.

He did not die of poisoning.

There are no external wounds on the legs.

And none on the feet either.

Give me a tea bowl.

Did you hear what I said?

Usually I am the person people pass tea and bowls to.

Forgot you are a minister. So capricious because you hold such a high position.

found the cause of death!

He has a metal needle inserted in the Baihui acupoint at the top of his head!

But...

what person has the strength to insert a metal needle into a skull?

Perhaps it was a specially made weapon.

You used the characteristic of the desire of blood of ants

to find the wound.

Quite creative.

I have a brain.

Unlike a certain human fish, who only knows to open his mouth.

Human fish?

Someone like you Lord Xiao who suffers from migraines,

must spend every day in a bath, exactly like a fish.

A fox...is the embodiment of a beast

And the vessel that carries a demon.

How dare you call me a fox with demonic characteristic!

I can feel that demonic aura filling this room!

I can't be bothered to argue with you.

Give me the money.!

When did I owe you money?

Xiao fish, you want to get out of it?

My head was injured because of you.

The fee for misstreatment is more expensive than our autopsy fee.

But....I will not follow up on it with you.

See you.

Never see you again!

Want to get out of it? No way

I will get you to repay me!

You mistook him for the wrong person, scram!

My Lord listen.

The person who placed the order said it was here, I walked a long way to get here.

Even if I was mistaken, he does not need to offend me like that right?

Am I right?

I do not have the time to listen to your nonsense,

and leave!

That was how forcefully he threw my inkwell!

What is the inkwell? It's my treasure! How can he throw it!

A-A gentleman does not argue with others nor will they walk with villains!

At the time I angrily grabbed by purse and left with a sweep of my sleeve

But...he did not even say farewell!

He just glanced at me, he was so rude!

Alright I now.know that you are not related to his death.

You may go.

Minister,

what did you say happened to that person?

He died. On the seat you're sitting on now.

Dead?!

I am sitting at a place someone died in.

My Lord.

Keep him there, when he wakes up he will leave.

Yes.

My Lord, is there a new lead with the autopsy?

Go and investigate,

if there is a blacksmith who made a metal needle like this in Suzhou.

Yes.

My Lord I have another lead.

Speak.

Every time Liu Can comes to Suzhou he will stay at the Gu Ren Lai Inn.

My Lord please come in.

Why did this guest change the room so that it resembles the room of a woman?

There are scratches on the leg of the table.

But there are no signs of a struggle in the room.

There is rouge on the rim of the cup.

It was used by a woman.

Why is there a dip in the windowsill here

Then Madam can you tell me

who was the woman who'was performing the masked dance in the pagoda?

Ning Xiang?

it seems like she is a woman with a story.

No, no.

it seems you do not wish to say

I will immediately tell his Lordship that you clearly knew who the killer was.

yet you concealed her identity.

You're an accomplice.

Don't don't.

Ning Xiang cannot be the accomplice.

I called you over to ask you something.

You're not feeling well?

In answer to Your Lordship, I caught a cold

that is why I have a slight cough.

Yesterday night a murder occurred in the brothel, you saw it right?

Mr LiiPdied a horrid death.

I did not see it, but I heard about it.

Where did you go yesterday night?

was walking by the riverbank alone.

But I accidentally caught a cold in the process.

What is your name?

What is your role in the brothel.

My name is Cui Mei, I am a Musician.

Do you recognize this room?

This room..why does it resemble the room of our most famous dancer

Ning Xiang, so much?

It's almost the same!

The person who was dancing that masked dance yesterday looked so much like her in body form.

Do not speak nonsense to His Lordship.

Did the dead Liu Can know Ning Xiang?

He did.

Tell me about Ning Xiang's situation.

Ning Xiang she*.

She is not only beautiful,

she is a good dancer too.

What's most important,

Ning Xiang she...is very kind and friendly.

Everyone in Qingli brothel likes her.

Every time Guest Liu comes to visit us he will reward her handsomely.

A reward for Ning Xiang!

Thank you Mr Liu!

Ning Xiang was no doubt the most beautiful person in the world.

At the time even our most honest attendant Wang Lun,

completely lost his mind over her.

Wang Lun, what are you doing? Serve the wine

Alright, alright.

Wang Lun used all the money he saved up

to buy gifts for Ning Xiang.

A gift for you.

You are so pretty today.

He...is like an ugly toad who wishes to get a swan!*

Although it's just impossible

but he managed to save Ning Xiang quite a few times she was in danger.

Ning Xiang! Be careful!

For Ning Xiang Wang Lun was even willing to sacrifice his arm

It was not only his arm, one time carriage lost control in the streets

and almost ran into Ning Xiang!

That Wang Lun saved her without any disregard to his life!

That much?

That was not the end of it.

There was another time..

Niang Xiang went on a boating trip

the boat suddenly leaked

it was that Wang Lun who...

Why does it sound as it's it's from a story?

As long as they are together, something bad would happen.

They are a couple who bring bad misfortune to each other.

It's a shame...Ning Xiang is dead.

Tell me would Ning Xiang's ghost come back and find us?

What ghost?

I love ghost stories, hurry and tell m e

Ning Xiang she...died on that night.

The Madam is here.

Ning Xiang!

Ning Xiang!

Ning Xiang was cut up into pieces so much so her appearance became unrecognizable.

When did that happen?

year ago.

How did you know the murderer was a bandit?

The people in goverment said so.

They interrogated Wang Lun for several days.

But that foolish rascal was unable to tell them anything.

Only said he could not see the appearance of the killer.

The government concluded that

Ning Xiang was strangled.

Afterwards she was butchered into pieces because

he stole something and was seen by Ning Xiang.

So she was killed to shut her up.

And then?

Then Wang Lun used up all his savings to bury Ning Xiang

and because of sadness he left the place.

Where was...Ning Xiang buried?

On Mt Feng Xiang.

Under the 1000 years old camphor tree.

It was Ning Xiang's favorite tree.

That Wang Lun truly loved and cared about her.

But now Ning Xiang is back,

Say...will she hurt us?

If you are innocent, you will not be afraid of the ghosts knocking on your door.

Madam did you neglect Ning Xiang?

I am a good madam.

Besides,

I offer her incense every year after her passing.

What about her room? Who stays there now?

Who dares to live there after she died?

It's become a room for storage.

There seems to be many questions surrounding Ning Xiang's death.

The skill of the medical examiners here are so poor.

If I can find the cause of her death,

perhaps I can receive the money... Xiao Song owes me.

Madam, where is the storage room?

[Ning Xiang]

There are no leads on the bed either.

Why are there so many spots on the wall?

There were blood spots there as expected.

If Ning Xiang was killed on the bead,

why was there such a large area of blood here?

So strange.

My Lord.

Not a»single blacksmiths has seen this needle.

It seems that this needle was not made in the Suzhou city.

Now the rumors flying around say that it is the work of a ghost.

You believe there are ghosts in the world too?

Of course i do not.

Only I do not know

what the motive of that person was.

Someone arranged the room that Liu Can stayed in at the inn

like Ning Xiang's room.

And also set it up like Niang Xiang's murder scene.

Which means that person...

wishes for us to reinvestigate this case,

and find the real killer.

So Your Lordship means that those bandits were not the real killers?

First there was no sign of a struggle.

Secondly, Ning Xiang did not lose any jewelry.

Then tell me,

what was the motive of the bandits.

You are right.

If those bandits did it for the money

then why didn't they take the jewelry away?

Surely they did not arrange the room in that way

in order to mislead us?

Whether it's to mislead us or to help us find the truth,

we'll know when we investigate one thing.

My Lord, Ning Xiang is probably buried around here.

Her again?

She came alone to dig up a body.

She's quite young but quite bold.

Atractylodes lancea, Gleditsia sinensis are used to get rid of the smell of the body.

Fresh ginger is used to suppress the smell of rotting when during a

a close up examination.

How can she know that?

She knows this despite her young age,

and know to use ants to find the wound,

She is even more skilled than the medical examiners of the Ministry of Justice.

It is quite exceptional.

Bai Yi,

what do you think about this Mistress Ran?

Crafty, does not deserve our trust.

She is a fox that will bite us anytime.

She was not strangled.

She was stabbed by something of the likes of daggers.

Xiao fish,

I told you we will not see each other ever again.

Fox, I said we will see each other again.

But I never expected

you would like bodies to this extent.

That you will come and dig up graves.

As you dug it up, I will make things convenient

and help you bring the body back to the governmental office.

That is body snatching!

But...if you are willing to repay me the money you owe me,

I will consider about giving you this body to you for free.

That's outright robbery!

Xiao fish...

don't you want to know how Ning Xiang died?

I seem to hear you say that

he was stabbed.

What right do you have to capture me?

[Manor of the Suzhou Prefectural Governor]

As an important government minister how dare you abuse your authority on a little girl like me?

Slandering my good name and reputation,

and imprisoning me in this foul smelling prison that is the home of rats!

Your bahavior as worse than that of a beast's! Even worse than the King Zhou of Shang!

The torture of the bamboo scroll, the prisoner will be held to the ground

and rolled until their body is separated.

Caning?

Those caned their flesh will be flayed open.

And will scream in agony from the pain.

Lingchi ( slow slicing).

Those punished under this method their tongue will separate from their teeth

and die from the loss of blood.

Xiao fish! If you dare to touch a hair on me today

you will never know how that woman truly died!

I am very curious,

in broad daylight a little girl like you

would volunteer to steal a body.

went to examine the body, volunteered to examine a body!

Fox.

Do you forget your honor when there is profit to be made? Doing anything for money?

Want to trick me out of my money so much?

like money and a profitable situation.

If you don't give it to me, I will not tell you!

Fine.

Then please choose a torture method,

I, the deputy head of the Ministry of Justice will show you it personally!

Surely you will give me a single coin right?

I've examined it,

there is a bone in the neck that was broken,

which means someone did try to strangle her.

But she was not strangled to death.

The true cause of her death

was a stab in the chest by a dagger and after she died,

she was strangled in the neck.

Evidence.

Look yourself.

The ribbs around the wound have darkened in color.

Which means blood had soaked that area before.

And look at the position of the wound.

It was a direct stab to the heart causing death right away.

Also, although bones were broken in the neck however

it is not enough to kill her.

She is already dead.

Why did they strangle her neck?

I do not know.

But there is one more point.

I discovered something strange inside Ning Xiang's room.

Tell me.

According to the Madam of the Brothel,

Ning Xiang died on the bed.

But I discovered on the wall at the foot of the bed,

large area of blood splatter.

That means Ning Xiang was killed at the foot of the bed.

And then dragged onto the bed and strangled.

Foot of the bed?

But if Ning Xiang was killed at the end of the bed,

but there is an organza bed curtain,

so it's impossible for the blood splatter to reach this place.

A year ago,

Ning Xiang was strangled by a necklace to death.

A year later,

someone arranged a room at the inn into the murder scene at the time of Ning Xiang's death.

Then pretended to be Ning Xiang and came back to commit murder.

And killed Liu Can.

Disguising it as strangulation.

What is his relationship with the killer?

And why did the killer pretend to be Ning Xiang?

Is there another lead in the room of the inn?

I've done my job here, can I go now?

Be my personal medical examiner,

and this money will belong to you.

will also reward you handsomeone?

Will you agree or not?

Will you accept it or not?

So heavy.

With these 200 coins, I can buy lots of atractylodes lancea & Gleditsia sinesis

But if I accept it then my life will be controlled by a noble who puts on airs.

No! I cannot be trapped by this dratted Xiao fish!

Although I am someone who forgets honor in profit and does everything for money,

but I am unwilling to be in cahoots with you, tarnished/corrupt fish

So...

farewell forever!

My Lord.

Why did you ask someone who once showed you disrespect as you examiner?

Because she is a genius at examining corpses.

With her around, my work is half done.

But she is a woman.

In my eyes she is merely

a medical examiner who can help me achieve my goal.

[Binpin]

Death notice?

[Binpin]

Guest, you wish to buy something?

It's Lord Xiao.

I am looking for you owner.

My Lord, the owner has something to do so he has left.

Who invited him?

I do not know, the owner just said he went to Pingjiang river.

Pingjiang river?

That's right My Lord, the river is in that direction.

Just walk along this path and you will reach it after passing a small alleyway.

Incense merchant Liu Can,

do you recognize him?

My Lord, I have never heard of that person before.

Take care My Lord.

[Metal needle again?]

Chase him! Capture him

My Lord

My Master was fine when he left.

Why did he suddenly die?

My Lord, you must help us find the real killer.

Did Ahmoli upset anyone before?

My Lord, my Master came to China to do trade from Persia

he has always treated everyone with kindness how could he upset anyone?

Was he acting strangely before he left?

Oh yes, before my Master left,

he seems to be anxious, as if something was troubling him.

But as he was unwilling to tell me,

as his butler I did not have the face to ask.

Have you always lived in Suzhou? (In a foreign tongue)

Came to Suzhou city about half a year ago. (In a foreign tongue)

And met Master. (In a foreign tongue)

Did your master ever mention about the name Ning Xiang?

I have some recollection.

My Master used to visit Qingli brothel just to see this Ning Xiang.

But I heard she left.

Do you know Ning Xiang?

My Lord, I was not in Suzhou city at the time,

I've never seen her, do not know her.

But I heard Master say she was skilled in dancing,

it's a shame she left.

And which of the girls in Qingli brothel do you know well?

My Lord, I am an honest person,

I do not know those girls.

Your Master..

Has he ever visited Gulai inn before?

've never heard him mention that before.

Bring me the account books of your Master.

Yes My Lord.

The blisters on the hands of this person...

why are they so thick?

My box!

Why is his complexion so pale ?

Wake up!

It turns out you were the one who saved me that day?

They've all left?

They have left, but Mistress,

but you must marry in the next few days otherwise they will remove you from the Ran family register.

They went too far!

When I've handled this, I'll play with them.

Come here and help me out.

Miss, what are you doing?

Who is this man?

Cut the nonsense, I've been dragging him all the way here, almost dying from the effort.

Help me help him in.

You leave first.

Me leave?

Miss, allowing a man to sleep on your bed

goes against the morals of soceity.

And now you want to spend time with him alone? That is completely...

I am removing his clothes to cure his wound,

You want to see?

I do not wish to see it.

But Miss, I am injured too.

I've been beaten up like this by your stepmother.

Where did I place the ointment to treat wounds?

Miss, I was beaten!

Miss! I was beaten!

I was beaten because of you!

Your stepmother even said you have to marry in a few days!

Let's see later, help me keep watch.

Tell me if there's anything.

I am not a dog.

I want to see the handsome man too!

Get Out! Close the door!

It turns out you were so heavily injured in the river that day.

Yet you managed to endure to now.

These injuries on your body...

how did you get them?

Who are you?

Why did you become a cold hearted killer?

Anyone who has touched my sword will die.

You tried to kill me once already.

Are you not afraid of me?

You wish to kill the one who saved you?

-My Lord. -My Lord.

-My Lord. -My Lord.

These Qian Nui guards excel at martial arts,

But they were killed by them immediately.

It seems our opponent is quite powerful.

A fatal strike to the neck.

It seems the Huoqi alliance is here too.