Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty]

[Episode 1]

[Chang'an Sheriff's Residence]

Beast!

How dare you come here again?

Spring wind is sentimental, too,

Blowing my silk dress flapping loose.

It seems that you, my darling,

have forgotten me.

Who?

[Wu Daqi, Sheriff of Chang'an]

Who is deliberately mystifying here?

Beast!

Wu.

Have you really forgotten me?

Demon!

You are so heartless.

You want to kill me?

Shut up!

I'm the sheriff of Chang'an.

Today I will kill the demon

and get rid of an evil for the people.

[Lu Lingfeng, General of the Imperial Guards]

Everyone loves

[Jingyun Reign in the Tang Dynasty]

this grand kingdom,

just as everyone loves

the great Chang'an.

Look.

Everything is peaceful and bright,

and prosperous just like a dream.

The more colorful it is,

the deeper and more unpredictable its shadow is.

The gorgeous Tang Dynasty is like a mirror.

One side is a false show of peace and prosperity,

while on the other side,

[Su Wuming, new Sheriff of Chang'an]

ghosts are everywhere.

How dare you!

I didn't say that.

This is a quotation of my respected teacher, Detective Di.

I know you are Di Renjie's disciple.

Remember,

do not show off

in front of me.

Listen.

Wu Daqi, former Sheriff of Chang'an,

drowned somehow.

I went to the crime scene

and found many strange things.

If you are really capable,

find out the truth as soon as possible.

Don't let Sheriff Wu

die without a clear reason.

Got it.

This is your duty.

I will supervise you.

Got it.

Look!

A bride from Chang'an

is getting married with a man outside the city.

Song Chai.

[Xin County Song Chai]

Your family is in decline,

but my father still wants to fulfill the engagement.

Don't let my sister down.

Otherwise, I won't let you off easily.

Yulin,

don't be rude.

It doesn't matter.

[Dou Yulin, son of the Dou family]

Mr. Dou.

Marrying your sister

is a blessing from my previous existence.

How can I let her down?

It's getting late.

I'll leave first with my men.

You're leaving first?

Song Chai!

Is that how you treat my sister?

[Dou Cong, daughter of the Dou family]

Yulin.

According to the Tang custom,

the bridegroom takes the bride out of the house,

but he can't stay with her all the time,

he needs to return to the bridal chamber first.

Yes.

Wair for the bride there.

Rules?

Then leave.

Cong,

I'll go first.

There is a long way to go. Be careful.

Thank you.

It's so sunny.

Why is there thunder?

Yulin, what happened?

Sister.

Don't be afraid.

I'm here.

I won't let you suffer.

The horse bolted.

Go after them!

Hurry up! Go after them!

Let's go.

Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

Why are you here so late?

My horse

runs slowly.

Sheriff.

Perform the autopsy.

Write it down.

Yes.

General has examined the body?

What do you mean?

Someone unveiled the red cloth for shrouding the body.

The monks found it.

If they didn't unveil the red cloth,

how would they know

it was a corpse?

In that case,

why did they wrap the red cloth around again?

Are you trying to test me?

I'm in no mood for that.

The most important thing

to investigate into a case

is to know the original state of the victim.

This backyard

may not be the place where she was killed,

but turning over the body at will

can greatly hinder the effect of the autopsy.

This place is under the jurisdiction of Chang'an County.

If I can't find the culprit

of the homicide case,

I will report it to the Supreme Court.

The Imperial Guards are in charge of

guarding His Majesty and patrolling Chang'an.

General.

You're overstepping your authority.

You're right.

But isn't Chang'an County

located

in the capital?

Over the past year,

there have been many murders in the capital.

I have every reason to suspect

that the murderer behind these homicide cases

are trying to harm the court,

and even the current emperor.

Shouldn't I investigate it?

There are many cases like this.

I assumed office today,

why didn't I see

the old case files?

That's the matter of your Chang'an County.

Why do you ask me?

Do your job well! Carry out the autopsy and investigate into the case!

Don't humiliate Detective Di

in the name of his legitimate disciple.

Let's go.

Yes, General.

The deceased wears a wedding dress.

She should be a bride.

Come here.

Turn her over.

Fang Xiang,

the divinity that leads the way.

He was a general in front of the palace

of King Zhou of Yin

and the vanguard during the expedition.

Later in the legend, he evolved into

a road deity who exorcises ghosts at funerals.

According to the Tang Dynasty's rules,

the person who can use Fang Xiang

must be above the fourth-rank official.

Ordinary people can't use it without permission.

Write it dwon.

The mask is deep in the victim's skin.

and has become one with her face.

The murderer's method of killing

is bizarre and terrifying.

Wu.

Tomorrow morning, you go and find out

who lost the bride.

If I remember correctly,

the first time this happened

should be in early July last year.

Which is, one year ago.

Yes.

General.

Do you want to be the president of the Supreme Court?

No.

You don't want?

Then why are your eyes shining

when you hear about

a homicide case?

Nonsense.

You brat.

Do you want to be beaten?

General, calm down.

I will shut my mouth up.

It's 9 o'clock p.m..

Go on night patrol.

Yes, General.

Sheriff Su.

[Pei's Residence]

Let me toast you first.

No, no.

You are the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel,

but you invite

a newly arrived sheriff to dinner.

I really dare not drink this wine.

[Pei Jian, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel]

Sheriff Su.

Why do you say so?

In the early spring, the princess traveled to Wugong County,

[Wen Chao, Minister of the Household]

and lost a container for incense at the courier station.

Do you remember?

Yes.

I caught the thief

at that night.

So,

now you understand.

So Sheriff Su

was recommended by the princess.

[Magistrate of Chang'an Yuan Lai]

No wonder Assistant Minister Pei

invited you.

I am honored to be here.

Alright. Enough.

Sheriff Su, please.

Father.

Father!

I want to marry Xiao.

It's useless to lock me up all day long.

Please excuse me.

My daughter's crazy again.

I'm not crazy.

Father, please send me to the Western Region

[Pei Xijun, the daughter of Pei Jian]

to marry Xiao.

You still say you're not crazy?

General Xiao has died on the battlefield.

Dead?

Then I will marry it.

Please grant me.

Assistant Minister.

Is that how you take care of her?

Take her back. Quick!

Quick! Take her back!

Don't touch me.

-Miss. -Xiao.

Xiao!

Let go of me!

Xiao!

Wu.

Go to the nearby and find the owner who lost it.

The rest of you

follow me to catch the thief.

Yes, General.

Assistant Minister Pei, please wait.

Guys,

please wait.

I want to treat you to something nice.

Today,

I feel ill at ease because of my daughter.

If I don't drink a little,

I'm afraid I can't sleep at night.

Assistant Minister Pei wants to treat us

Chang'an black tea?

Exactly.

I hear that the tea is very expensive.

Copper coins

can never but it.

Three ingots of silver

can only buy one liang of tea.

Sometimes you have to use gold.

I bought it

with my own savings.

Today,

I mainly want to treat Sheriff Su.

You two are lucky.

-That's right. -Right.

Take him away.

Go.

General.

We found the owner.

Is it yours?

Yes.

Thank you, General.

Only copper coins are circulated in the Tang's market.

Most officials

don't have a golden cake like yours.

Think about when you showed your riches

and when you were targeted by a thief.

You should learn from it.

That must be

when I bought Chang'an black tea in the East Market.

Chang'an black tea?

Did you buy it?

No.

I didn't expect the immortal tea

was so hard to buy in Chang'an.

How dare you!

Who said this was immortal tea?

I've heard it

when I was in Luoyang.

Chang'an black tea is popular in the capital.

The high officials and nobles rush to buy it.

The saints and the princess are enjoying them.

That's why I...

Nonsense!

The tea's raw material

is rare,

and the method to make it is unique.

The elderly will feel refreshed

and their physique will stretch after drinking it.

After young people drink it,

their yangqi will overflow

and they will have infinite energy.

It is said that if someone drinks it often,

he can even reach the fairyland

and dance with the deity.

I hear about it too.

I didn't expect

I was so lucky to drink it tonight.

Come on.

Sheriff Su, after you.

Thank you, Assistant Minister Pei.

He...

Su Qian.

Such a quiet courtyard.

Where is this place?

This is the residence

for you in Chang'an.

The dead sheriff

used to live here.

I heard

Wu Daqi was powerful

and once made military contributions in the border.

He drowned here

at his prime.

This residence

[Su Qian, Old servant of Su family]

is ominous.

Those who are afraid of ominous things

are trapped in the fog.

Once the truth is revealed,

they'll be surprised

that the truth

is so close to us.

Sheriff Su.

Magistrate Yuan.

Why are you here?

I'm worried about you.

Yesterday,

you scared me.

When I saw the color of the tea,

my head

became a real mess.

To be honest,

I faint at the sight of blood since childhood.

Faint at the sight of blood?

You are the disciple of Detective Di.

I heard that...

Rumours may not be true,

but me fainting at the sight of blood is absolutely true.

Sorry for that, magistrate.

In that case,

you can still solve mysterious cases

in Wugong County.

You are really a genius.

I'm just lucky.

By the way,

General Lu from the Imperial Guards said

that there were many cases of missing brides in the capital

last year.

I want to see the old case files.

Don't mention it.

The former magistrate Wu Daqi

died accidentally.

Yongzhou Government,

the Supreme Court,

and the Imperial Guards

sent people in turn.

His residence

and his office

were searched everywhere.

All the files were confiscated,

and no one has returned them so far.

I see.

General.

I saw you last night.

Where?

On a painting.

Do you know

Miss Xijun, daughter of Assistant Minister Pei of Ministry of Personnel?

No.

General.

You're hiding it on purpose.

Don't you have anything to do?

Have you found out the truth

about the female corpse last night?

I'm investigating.

The bride went missing on the day she got married.

Then she was murdered and dumped.

Similar cases

happened on occasion in a year.

As the sheirff of Chang'an,

you don't investigate the case,

instead, you cling to powerful people

and look at the paintings!

You are nervous,

which means you must know

Miss Xijun.

Tell me. Tell me.

What's going on between you and Miss Xijun?

Boring.

Detective Di has an impressive reputation.

Why did he accept a disciple like you?

The bride's surname is Dou.

The Imperial Guards have ordered his family

to identify the body.

Thank you, General.

My daughter.

My daughter!

My daughter.

My condolences.

[Mortuary, Chang'an County]

Madam.

My daughter.

My daughter.

What happened to you?

Sheriff.

The deceased is Dou Cong.

She got married yesterday.

The groom lived in a town

5km away from the Mingde Gate.

The carriage went on as normal,

but halfway,

the horse got a fright

and then disappeared.

Have you identified the body?

We can't identify her face,

but the red mole behind the ears

and the birthmark on the waist

showed that it was her.

You...

Are you the new sheriff?

Yes.

Please find out who killed

my daughter.

Sir, please get up.

Please rise.

The murderer is Song Chai.

This is...

My son, Dou Yulin.

I've been waiting for the bride at home.

How did I become the murderer?

If you didn't leave my sister behind,

she wouldn't have died tragically.

This is the custom of Tang.

What custom?

-It must be your trick. -You...

Dou Yulin.

I heard from your servant

that the bride's horse was frightened.

But you didn't go after it.

Where did you go?

It has nothing to do with my sister's death.

Answer me.

I went to drink.

Your sister married Song Chai.

Are you unhappy with that?

Of course.

It's all my father's fault.

My sister shouldn't

marry this scumbag.

You...

Sheriff Su,

even if Song Chai is not the murderer,

he must have something to do

with my sister's death.

Please investigate it.

Leave here now.

You...

Sheriff Su.

Cong.

Cong is really dead?

Cong didn't come.

I thought it was Dou Yulin

who had something to do with it.

He took his sister back.

Why do you think so?

My parents died.

My family fell apart.

The Dou family wanted to break off the engagement,

especially Dou Yulin.

He spoke rudely for several times.

If it weren't for my father-in-law's decision,

and for Cong's love to me,

there would be no such thing as yesterday's marriage.

Sheriff Su,

please catch the murderer

to soothe the death of my wife.

I see.

Sheriff Su, please.

Sheriff.

Ask Song Chai

to come to the county government

and report his whereabouts every morning.

What's your purpose?

I'm afraid he'll escape punishment.

That's impossible.

He's the groom.

And also a gambler.

We can't trust him.

Song Chai wasn't captured.

It seems that Su Wuming

doesn't suspect Song Chai.

That fool.

Song Chai is a gambler.

We can't trust him.

How do you know he is a gambler?

I came here this morning.

He hasn't gone home yet.

It's curfew in Chang'an.

Those who don't go back home at night are

the drunkard and gambler.

But he didn't drink.

He probably went to gamble.

His poor family

also proves that.

Big. Big.

Small. Small.

Small.

Small.

Small.

All in.

Small.

All in.

Small.

Big. Big.

Small. Small.

Big. Small.

Big! Big! Big!

Big! Big!

Big. Big. Big.

It must be big.

Big! Big!

I win!

I win!

Who's that?

It's you.

I saw you at the gambling house

winning quite a lot.

Can you give me some instructions?

Instructions?

I have been unlucky for three years,

before I turn over now.

Brother,

I want to have a fortune like you,

but I have no seed money.

So I want to ask you

how to get the seed money.

Stand straight.

Judging from your appearance,

your family should be relatively rich.

My family declined.

Don't worry.

As long as you are from a well-respected family,

you can have a good wife.

That's where the seed money comes from.

What do you mean?

I don't understand.

Please tell me more.

-You are such a... -Song Chai.

I've been looking for you everywhere.

Brother,

Help me.

I'll lend you some money.

Go.

-Don't run! -Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

Stop right there!

Song Chai,

you're rich!

Do you find a better owner

to sell that woman for a big price?

That's why you tricked us?

No.

I won it.

You?

You lost all your money.

You never win.

Cut the crap.

Do it.

Give it to me.

No, no, no.

Don't try to run away.

No!

The General of the Imperial Guards is here.

Surrender now!

You?

The General of the Imperial Guards?

Aren't you Song Chai's accomplice?

Song Chai!

Stop running!

Who's there?

How dare you break the curfew?

Stop!

Those who break the curfew shall stop,

or you'll be killed.

I won it.

No one can take it.

Stop the arrows!

General.

You...

General, I...

Lu Lingfeng,

you've been obstructing my investigation.

I'm going to report you.

You're just a sheriff of Chang'an.

How dare you accuse me?

I'll report you to Her Highness.

When did you get close to Her Highness?

It's none of your business.

Why was Su Wuming there?

Did he also know

that Song Chai was a gambler

and kept an eye on him?

He was shot by the Imperial Guards.

I saw it with my own eyes.

You don't need to

pretend to examine the body.

I only found this fatal arrow,

but I didn't find the missed one.

General,

shouldn't you give me an explanation?

Explain what?

If my memory serves me right,

if there is someone breaking the curfew,

the Imperial Guards should first

pluck the string to give him a warning.

If he doesn't stop,

shoot on the ground in front him and warn him again.

If he still runs,

they can finally shoot him dead.

So I wonder

how many arrows

did the Imperial Guards use to kill Song Chai?

This person is highly related to the Dou case.

I wanted to capture him alive,

but he was shot dead directly

by the Imperial Guards.

What's the purpose?

Su Wuming.

You're just a sheriff of Chang'an.

How dare you accuse the Imperial Guards?

General Lu is prestigious.

You must think that the Imperial Guards are

the closest to His Majesty.

Therefore,

you should share the burden for His Majesty.

If you order others around

in the name of His Majesty... -How dare you!

How audacious you are!

Although I am

just a eighth-rank sheriff,

but still an official of Tang.

No matter how high your rank is,

you're just a guard.

This is the county of Chang'an,

not a place for palace guards like you to act tough.

Leave now!

Leave!

It was wrong for the Imperial Guards

to kill Song Cai.

But they did that in emergency,

not on purpose.

You don't have to

make a big fuss.

Sheriff Su.

Song Chai was a gambler.

You also noticed that, right?

Back then, I found that he

had calluses on his right index finger and middle finger.

So I deduced there must be calluses

on his thumb.

Only old gamblers

who are obsessed with gambling house

may grow calluses

on these three fingers.

In that case,

as the sheriff of Chang'an,

why didn't you arrest and interrogate him?

Although he was a suspect,

he was not the murderer.

I wanted to follow the clues.

Have you interrogated those two

who attacked others with daggers?

On my way.

Please spare my life.

We're telling the truth.

Song Chai took us

to check the goods.

That's why we offer him

such a big price.

What do you mean by "check the goods"?

We are human traffickers.

Song Chai showed us

Miss Dou,

who was really beautiful.

We planned to sell her to the eastern region

to make some money.

We didn't expect to be cheated by Song Chai.

We agreed that when the escort team left,

we took Miss Dou at his home.

We waited for the whole night,

but the bride didn't even come in.

Sheriff,

Dou Cong's body

should be stored in the ice room.

No hurry.

Look.

There are no traces of decay

on her body.

Don't you think it's strange?

You're right.

It doesn't stink at all.

More than that.

Her fragrance is still there.

The murderer

used preservative spice.

It is very special.

I've never smelled

such a fragrance.

The capital of Chang'an is

full of weirdness.

[West Market of Chang'an]

This is the West Market

under the Bureau of the West Market of Chang'an.

There are 220 lines of shops

in both East and West Markets.

Because the officials and nobles live in the east,

it's more orderly there

with more hand-made goods.

The West Market, however, is more chaotic.

It's a place where ethnic minorities and foreign merchants gather.

From the West

or even further places

comes spices, jewellery,

[Kang Yuanli, government official of the West Market]

and all kinds of rare things.

They all gather here.

In fact,

we don't have many local spices.

Exotic spices are major goods here,

including storesin, benzoin,

black tambac, dutchmanspipe root, and dalbergia benthamii.

We have everything here.

Come in.

This fragrance store is famous

in the West Market.

[Luminous Fragrance Shop]

Sheriff,

this is the last fragrance store here.

It seems you still don't like it.

To be honest,

I'm looking for a fragrance

used to prevent the body from decaying.

You must be kidding.

There is no such spice in the world.

Of course there is.

If not, I won't look for it.

Looks like you're investigating a case.

There's no such thing in the West Market.

Unless...

Unless what?

You may find that kind of fragrance

in the Ghost Market.

Ghost Market?

If you go there once,

you will get harmed internally.

It's better not to go.

[Station of Imperial Guards]

The carriage that the bride was on

was found.

It is in a village

17.5km outside the Mingde Gate.

Get the horse ready.

The Chang'an side also

got the news.

Should we wait for Sheriff Su?

For what?

For gambling,

he even sold

his newlywed wife.

People are so unpredictable.

Unfortunately,

Song Chai broke the curfew

and was shot dead by the Imperial Guards.

Good job.

Sheriff Su just took office

and you've already solved the case.

I

will apply for some rewards for you.

The truth of this case

is not that simple.

Despicable as he is,

Song Chai is not the murderer.

I just got the news

that the bride's carriage has been found.

I believe we can find important clues

according to this.

General,

if you want to punish someone,

just punish me.

What did you do?

It was my idea to share the meat of that horse

to everyone.

That was my idea.

The horse for the bride

must be carefully selected.

Even if you don't use it,

you may sell it for a good price.

Why did you kill and eat it?

General.

That horse was not

killed by us.

When we found the carriage,

the horse had already died.

How?

I think it died of exhaustion.

It sweated all over.

It was not sweat,

but blood.

Is it sweat or blood?

I...

Su Wuming.

Su Wuming.

What are you doing?

The water is not deep,

nor is there much mud.

The former Sheriff Wu Daqi

was drowned here.

It's really strange.

I tried to feel

how he felt when he was dying.

You're crazy.

You inspire me.

Wu Daqi must be

crazy back then.

Otherwise,

how would he drown here?

Come up.

Come up now.

I have something to tell you.

Blood and sweat.

Sweat and blood.

Did someone

tamper with the horse?

Of course.

It is all my father's fault.

My sister shouldn't

marry this scumbag.

The brother of the bride Dou Cong,

Dou Yulin.

[Dou's Residence]

Please.

General Lu, Sheriff Su,

have you caught the murderer?

Where is Dou Yulin?

Sir.

Sir.

Look...

Yulin has been too sad recently,

crying every night.

He must be asleep.

I came here this morning.

I saw him have a bowl of porridge.

Knock the door open.

Sir!

♫The storm rises with no reason♫

♫In the night of illusions♫

♫I go into the maze♫

♫In a world of prosperity♫

♫A heart burns with obsession♫

♫With the darkness rising♫

♫I can't stop wandering through the night♫

♫With light in my heart, I'm not afraid of the storm♫

♫It's because of justice♫

♫That I seek a truth for this long, lonely night♫

♫The heaven and earth are held together by a strong will♫

♫The people are in peace♫

♫Carving right and wrong into a clear heart♫

♫The truth♫

♫Will reinterpret this justice♫

♫Even if there is a fog♫

♫Even if there are invisible waves♫

♫I'll tell the story of the fate♫

♫Tell the love of the world♫

♫Remember the memory of grace♫

♫The resentment is not yet over♫

♫The rivers and mountains are immortal, the clouds are overturned♫

♫To be consoled by the truth, even with thorns on my back♫

♫Only for justice♫

♫I seek a truth for this long, lonely night♫

♫The heaven and the earth are held together by a strong will♫

♫The people are in peace♫

♫Carving right and wrong into a clear heart♫ ♫The truth♫

♫The truth♫

♫Will reinterpret this justice♫

♫Even if there are a thousand sails, it's not a waste of time♫

♫What I am afraid of is the unrighted wrong♫

♫What is the meaning of life and death♫

♫I'll paint the sunshine into the landscape♫

♫The spirit of righteousness♫

♫Exists for the one I care♫