Original subtitles

Where is the traitor?

Hanging at the market entrance.

Who is the traitor?

Either a pig or a dog.

Where is the traitor?

Hanging at the market entrance.

Who is the traitor?

Either a pig or a dog.

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency, the bead...

It has been taken by someone who left only a note

saying that tonight he would report me for treason and collusion with the enemy.

Then Miss Xie Hao and the verse written in blood on the stage...

Xie Hao bore the blame for me.

Everything that happened on the stage was deliberately planned.

Though they killed Xie Hao, their real target was me.

Who would go to such lengths?

What's his purpose?

The person took the bead away and left a note to threaten me.

He must know about the bead [Collaboration and treason cannot be redeemed by death.]

and the secret letter inside it. [Tonight in the hours of the Rat, I will reveal your crime.]

Hong Luo only wants money.

I think it has nothing to do with him.

Send a man to the Ministry of Justice now.

Have Mowen come here immediately.

I'll do it right now.

Also, Zhang Ping knows too much.

He can't stay.

[When a puppet does evil, its master must be executed. The corrupt official here is ruining our country.]

I came coincidentally!

As soon as I entered, I saw the murder case.

Guo Yun? Why did he come here?

Minister Guo, you're back.

After I finished my official business, I dared not delay and came back as soon as possible.

Minister Gong also came out. I'm going to greet him.

Yes.

[A League of Nobleman]

[Episode 2]

Everyone, I never thought that a murder would occur at my birthday banquet.

I'm sorry to frighten you.

I came to your birthday celebration as soon as I returned, [Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Guo Yun]

not expecting to run into a murder case.

Minister Lan, are you fine?

Thanks for asking.

Minister Guo, you came all the way here at night.

I'm deeply grateful.

Don't stand on ceremony at this moment.

Get on the stage and check the situation.

[The corrupt official here is ruining our country.]

[When a puppet does evil, its master must be executed.]

The murder method is cruel.

This place is very dangerous.

Why don't you return home for a rest?

I think the judicial departments will solve the case and give you an explanation.

But the murderer already said that the corrupt official was here.

He dirtied our names.

Now we are all involved.

Yes.

I agree with Minister Guo.

We must prove our innocence.

What do you all think?

Your Excellencies, we'd better report to the government.

There's no need.

I represent the government.

Vice Minister Wang of Ministry of Justice, you came at a...

Peizhi, I'm late.

I'm sorry for the belated gift.

Thank you, Mowen.

The murderer did come at me,

but there's another story.

Tonight, I need you to cover up for me.

You don't have to say anything.

- Bai He, check the scene of the crime. - Yes.

- Yin Yuan, question all the guests. - Yes.

Search the place thoroughly!

Yes.

The Ministry of Justice is taking over.

Let's be flexible due to the urgent matter.

Gentlemen, why don't you go back to rest?

Wait.

Nobody can leave.

- Who is up there? - This is...

Empress... Empress...

Your Majesty.

Her Majesty was in good mood tonight, so she came out to watch a play.

Let's spare unnecessary etiquette.

Yes.

If there wasn't such a mess, we would have watched a good play. [Madam Li of Shuoyang, Empress Dowager]

Your wild discussions just now were not inferior to the play.

Does the verse accuse anyone falsely?

If not, who is it accusing?

Minister Wang, do you have any findings?

Your Majesty, I've just arrived and have nothing.

Dear ministers, do you have anything to say?

Confession or report, either will do.

Your sin will be doubled when the case is solved.

Who are you?

What are you doing here? Go.

Let me go!

I'm not the murderer.

Report!

I found a man backstage who was suspicious.

- I said I'm not the killer. I'm here to investigate. - "Investigate"?

Are you with the Court of Judicial Review?

No. I'm a scholar from Sichuan County, Zhang Ping.

But I like investigating cases.

Nonsense! The Ministry of Justice will handle the case.

It's not your place to meddle in it.

You came late, didn't you?

- You... - I found some clues backstage.

If you're not in a hurry, can I go back and have a look?

I think you are suspicious.

Take him down and interrogate him.

Yes.

Wait.

Minister Wang,

let him explain.

Since you're a scholar, you should study for the exam.

Why are you here in Banyue Pavilion?

I came here...

I came here to confront someone, but he wouldn't admit his fault.

Then I came across the case.

What have you found out?

I examined the body first.

The victim's mouth and nose are clean.

No smoke was inhaled.

There's a mark around the neck.

The victim must have been strangled before being burned.

When Miss Xie Hao was hung on the stage,

her head drooped, and her body didn't move at all.

Apparently, at that time, she was already dead.

I also found two other clues backstage, but before I had a closer check, I was dragged out by your men.

Tell us.

First, when I was in Xie Hao's dressing room, I found a round oil mark.

It smelled like pear blossoms, which was also smelled on the victim's head that caught fire first.

Pear blossom hair oil must be lit with an open fire. It can't self-ignite.

Do you suspect that the missing bottle of hair oil is related to the murder?

Yes. The killer probably found a way to make it self-ignite,

but I haven't found the method he used.

What is the second suspicion?

On Xie Hao's dressing table, I found this.

The candle was extinguished.

When I found it, it was a little shorter than the other candles.

It seems to have been extinguished half an hour prior.

There is a hole in the bottom of the candle

with patterns imprinted inside.

It looks like the carving of a bead.

Half an hour ago, it was the interlude, the time when Xie Hao was killed.

These two things may be related.

Your Majesty, this case involves a human life and concerns the reputation of the officials here.

I have a question to ask this scholar.

Permitted.

You said that there was a round hole in the bottom of the candle,

but there are numerous round things in the world.

How can you be so certain that there was a bead inside?

Have you seen a bead with such carving patterns?

Your Majesty, the young scholar seems to have some secrets.

If you have seen it, it's all right to say so.

Your Majesty, I have some advice.

Though I don't know why he won't tell us,

if it were to cause panic among the people here and make them guess without grounds, it isn't necessary.

Therefore, I suggest

that this scholar participate in the investigation.

Firstly, his inference is well-founded.

Secondly, he doesn't seem to have any conflict of interest with the courtiers.

His participation is conducive to a fair judgment of the case.

I would love to.

Minister Wang.

Yes.

After the murder, has any fish escaped from the net?

I've kept everyone here. No fish has escaped.

Good.

You must investigate it thoroughly and find out who is going to ruin our country.

Yes!

As for the scholar, let him investigate alone.

If he has any conclusions, report to me directly.

It concerns the national reputation.

Before doubts are cleared up, you should stay here.

I'm not leaving either.

Yes.

Your Excellency, Minister Wang asked you to go backstage.

Did Guo Yun and Zhang Ping make any moves?

Not yet.

But Minister Wang has had them under close watch.

We'll either live or die tonight.

We must bet it all.

Brother Zhang, what's going on?

I'm investigating the case. Join me.

We're involved in such big trouble, yet you're still thinking about investigating.

The murder is weird. I want to solve it.

And Xie Hao probably died because Minister Lan sent her to steal Hong Luo's bead.

If I solve the case, I'll find out why he wanted to steal the bead.

So many officers and soldiers are here.

It's not your turn to investigate the case.

The Empress Dowager asked me to.

"Empress Dowager"?

I-I-Is she also at Banyue Pavilion?

Mowen, I've told you the whole story.

The murderer now has the Rhino-Horn Bead.

Once the secret letter in the bead is presented to Empress Dowager,

I'll be convicted of collusion and treason.

Then I can never explain it.

Why are you so calm?

It's the Empress Dowager.

It is said that His Majesty nominally rules the country, but it is actually hers.

Nevertheless, Empress Dowager appointed you to work the case.

Brother Zhang, I knew you had potential.

Brother Zhang, where do we start?

Backstage.

Look for Xie Hao's hair oil bottle.

Taking the bead, killing Xie Hao, and hanging the verse may just be the beginning.

There must be more abominable moves.

About the killer, do you have any guesses?

Guo Yun is most suspicious.

He is vicious and cunning and would seek revenge for nothing.

He tried to buy the secret letter from Hong Luo this time.

Though I sent him abroad with an excuse,

he could still have his man wait at Banyue Pavilion

for the Empress Dowager to come and then stage the incident.

That's possible.

It isn't surprising that he tried to kill you.

At the moment, we have to keep an eye on Guo Yun, find the killer before Zhang Ping,

retrieve the secret letter, and hide it from the Empress Dowager in order to gain a slim chance of survival.

Zhang Ping?

I thought you recommended that he solve the case because you had a plan.

I had to act first at that time in case Empress Dowager became suspicious.

Then what's your plan?

Now we have to guard against him and stop him from meddling.

We're working.

Irrelevant people are not allowed in.

We are not irrelevant.

We're appointed by the Empress...

by top officials to solve the case.

Haven't you checked backstage?

I haven't finished.

- I must find the victim's hair oil bottle. - Since you've checked it, it's done.

Let's look for it somewhere else.

Peizhi, I've sent people to look for the bottle.

With the best detective in the capital here, don't worry about being defeated by the scholar.

Mowen, there is a cantilever structure over the stage.

Only big theaters can afford such a thing.

On the cantilever are various devices used to hang things above the stage.

Do you suspect there is evidence on it?

According to Zhang Ping, in the last act, Xie Hao was already dead before she was hung on the cantilever.

So when did the killer kill her?

During the interlude, Xie Hao wasn't backstage.

I've looked everywhere backstage without finding any traces.

Did the murderer really kill Xie Hao up there?

And the two banners are also hung on the cantilever.

- Yin Yuan. - Yes.

Send for the troupe leader, Jin, and the puppeteers.

Yes.

[Theatrical Troupe of Banyue Pavilion, Leader Jin]

The ladder is hidden quite well.

Didn't you notice that Miss Xie Hao was dead when you put her down?

W-W-Well...

Your Excellency, please come with me.

Y-Your... Your Excellency, have a look.

During the performance, we were here reeling the rope out.

Well... we could neither see the ladder nor see what happened on the cantilever, let alone Miss Xie Hao.

Usually, when she was ready, she would pull the rope three times as a signal.

When it was time for her to perform, we would put her down.

- It's true. - It's true.

However, something was wrong today.

During rehearsal, when Miss Xie Hao attached herself to the rope, it swung a bit.

But today, it swung especially violently.

Your Excellency, be careful.

This is the crime scene.

Leader Jin.

The killer hid in a corner.

When Xie Hao came up and attached the rope to herself, he came up from behind and strangled her.

Xie Hao struggled desperately.

That's why the rope swung violently.

After Xie Hao died, the killer yanked the rope three times.

The puppeteers then lowered Xie Hao down, as they had during rehearsal.

Now we found the method of murder,

but the killer was very meticulous and didn't leave any trace.

Your Excellencies, I have a favor to ask of you.

Speak.

Sorry to bother you.

The unique skills of our troupe are all hidden on the cantilever.

We've never let outsiders see it.

If it gets out...

Who else knows about the ladder?

Only our own people know about it.

That's our special skill, and we've never told others.

All right, I get it.

You can leave now.

Yes.

The killer is one of the troupe.

Now we must find out if anyone in the troupe works for Guo Yun.

Go away. Go away.

Are you taking over this place too?

I said it before.

You do your job, and we'll do ours.

Let's not cross each other's paths.

We finished the search. There's nothing here.

Let's search the other places.

- Yes. - Yes.

They outnumber us.

How can we find it before them?

Found it.

- Your Excellency, I found it. - Too bad. They found the bottle.

Brother Zhang!

It's empty.

Yes.

It was when we found it.

There is nothing left in it.

It seems we can't investigate the substance.

Although the bottle is empty, the smell still remains.

We may find out what was inside it.

Keep it.

Yes.

What can I do for you?

Have you found the hair oil bottle?

Yes.

So what?

May I have a look?

We found the bottle first.

Why should we let you see it?

You've tried to hold me back the whole time.

So? Do you expect me to follow your orders?

Minister Lan, trying to hold me back only implies that everything is suspicious.

I know Xie Hao's death must have something to do with your plan to steal the bead.

Zhang Ping, do you know what punishment you deserve for slandering a court official?

You know clearly whether it is slander.

Where is your evidence? Without evidence, it is slander.

Since you wouldn't let me do my job, I'll report to Empress Dowager.

Stop!

Just because you couldn't find anything, you're going to report us.

Aren't you ashamed?

Tell me. What do you want to do?

I want to examine the hair oil bottle and learn how the killer created self-ignition.

The bottle is the evidence found by the Ministry of Justice.

How can we give it to you easily?

Don't you even understand that?

Then let me go backstage to do my job.

As you please.

Nobody will stop you.

Minister Lan, no matter what your scheme is, I'll find out what happened.

Mowen, there's no time to lose.

We mustn't let Zhang Ping figure it out first.

I'm going to question the troupe.

I'll search their rooms and see if anyone has had secret contact with Guo Yun.

Your Excellency,

they are dancers, and they are musicians.

All troupe members are here... except a girl, Zhi Xia, who is quite upset.

We couldn't get anything out of her.

She doesn't seem to be faking it.

I locked her in the room.

Find a physician for her.

Question her again when she feels better.

Yes.

I've found out that the murderer is one of you.

Seriously? One of us?

Sister Xie Hao was so kind to us.

Who would kill her so cruelly?

Are you going to confess or wait for me to figure it out?

Think it over.

Who is the killer?

Who would kill her?

No volunteer?

Then let's have an interrogation.

At the interlude, did you find anything unusual?

Who knows? The interlude was very short. [Dancer of Banyue Pavilion, Ling Xiao]

Everyone was busy changing at the compartments for the next scene.

Nothing unusual. [Dancer of Banyue Pavilion, Li Niang]

[Musician of Banyue Pavilion, Han Yan]

We didn't even have time to change. [Dancer of Banyue Pavilion, Wan Zhuang]

How could we pay attention to anything else?

Was everyone there when you were changing?

Yes. We girls are always together.

We can testify for each other.

Sure.

Your Excellency, are you suspecting me?

Your Excellency, we're only delicate girls.

How could we kill someone?

Enough. Leave.

We've searched thoroughly backstage.

Why couldn't we find it?

Where is the least noticeable place to pour the remaining hair oil?

The bottle is empty.

The killer must have emptied it to keep us from discovering the substance.

There is another possibility.

There wasn't much oil left in the first place.

I've checked it.

The other dancers' bottles are full.

What are you doing?

Collect all the dancers' bottles.

They are all full.

The killer poured the remaining oil into these bottles.

Even if the trick is figured out, since it has been diluted,

it would difficult to identify what the substance is.

It's done.

I was excited for nothing.

They're useless.

I have an idea.

Your Excellency, we've searched several dancers' bedrooms without finding any evidence of secret contacts with Guo Yun.

Your Excellency, we're not good at investigating cases.

Even though we've searched everywhere, we haven't found anything useful.

The officials and courtiers often give the troupe girls precious gifts to please them.

I don't think Guo Yun is an exception.

Your Excellency, look.

These are no more than medicines for pregnancy and miscarriage.

In Banyue Pavilion, it isn't surprising.

Your Excellency, what's wrong?

Brother Zhang, you are...

This is my master's idea.

When I was little, he used to make me cheese in this manner.

You pour the milk into a bottle and swing it like this.

The curds and whey will be separated.

Maybe in this way, we can separate the hair oil and the combustible substance.

How many rounds do we have to swing?

Probably several thousand.

How long will it take us?

Soon.

Miss Han Yan, I know you killed Xie Hao under Vice Minister Guo's instruction.

I think in Banyue Pavilion, you've seen enough of the officialdom's intrigues.

I won't preach about moral principles today.

I want to make a deal.

If you return the bead to me, maybe I'll let Minister Wang spare your life.

Vice Minister Guo?

I don't even know him, not to mention what you're talking about.

The pipa is very valuable.

It's too expensive for you to afford.

The scroll is made of red sandalwood inlaid with mother-of-pearl,

and its back is pieced together with ivory carvings.

Each piece shows extraordinary carving skills.

And the love poem on it must have spoken for your heart.

"The lovely lady makes the city infatuated, with her red lips, slender fingers and exquisite tastes."

Hidden in the two lines are your name and the surname of Minister Guo.

Apparently, you not only know Minister Guo but are close to him.

Your Excellency, don't accuse me for nothing.

I share the same interests with Minister Guo, and we occasionally compose poems and sing together.

Then why do you have anti-abortion medicine and tonic medicine for miscarriages?

If I'm right, it proves that you once carried his child.

As a fourth-rank official, you rub it in deliberately.

You're so vile.

Empress Dowager personally attends to this case tonight.

If you're exposed, do you think he will take all the blame or sacrifice you to save himself?

This is the hair oil.

This should be the combustible substance.

The oil isn't flammable.

We'll know if this is the other combustible substance after testing.

Brother Zhang, what's this?

It caught fire without even contacting the fire.

This is turpentine oil.

We need to do a test now.

A wig?

How will you do the test?

Miss Han Yan, I advise you...

Minister Lan, you're trying to pin the murder on me by all means.

Even if Minister Guo and I are attracted to each other, does it have anything to do with the murder?

You don't even know what kind of person Guo Yun is.

How can you be so devoted to him?

Do I not know what kind of person Guo Yun is?

I'm forced to make a living here.

Even though I'm talented,

men regard me as a plaything at their disposal.

But Minister Guo is different.

He knows me, respects me, and treats me with sincerity.

When I was pregnant, my pulse was unstable, and I vomited a lot. He was concerned about my health.

He got anti-abortion medicine for me personally

and told the physician to add dry ginger to relieve my sickness.

If he didn't care about me, why would he bother?

You don't even have evidence, yet you try to plant the crime on him.

I know that you've resented him for a long time, but I don't have what you want.

Don't waste your energy.

Han Yan is really hard to break through.

We've pushed our way forward through difficulties

without expecting to be hindered by a prostitute.

I thought by breaking through her, I could get the letter back and uncover Guo Yun.

I never thought that...

Guo Yun is hardhearted and ungrateful.

For the sake of his father-in-law, he dare not offend his wife.

How could he be so considerate and care about his mistress' unborn child?

Brother Zhang, why does nothing happen?

- Good! - Good. Good.

- Great! Good. - Good!

Great!

- Great! Good! - One more!

Good!

Brother Zhang, will it work?

What's that?

It looks like a light spot.

It's a Fire Bead.

What is a Fire Bead?

A crystal bead that can gather light and heat.

As expected, this isn't a Fire Bead.

Someone must have done something to the one on the left.

Your analysis sounds reasonable,

but...

Books say that if you hold mugwort next to a Fire Bead facing the sun at noon, the mugwort will ignite.

The hair didn't catch fire because the light wasn't strong enough.

But during the performance...

Let's go see Boss Jia.

Zhang Ping is going to see Boss Jia now.

Let us out!

Back off! Stop yelling.

Back off. Back off.

Stop asking.

Back off!

Is it a blood letter?

What does it say?

Your Excellency, we're in trouble.

A beggar just sent a blood letter saying,

"Secret letters with the enemy reveal the hidden evil intent."

"Having no shame drives a son to go on with his father's will."

Where is the beggar?

Did he say who sent him?

He is blind.

He just said a young lady asked him to deliver the letter before midnight.

Except that, he didn't know anything else.

He slipped away.

Now the Imperial Guards have been alarmed.

They've asked us to strengthen security and be strictly on guard.

Empress Dowager will know soon.

Your Excellency.

Peizhi.

Have we come to a dead end?

Having no shame drives a son to go on with his father's will.

He just said a young lady asked him to deliver the letter before midnight.

Only our own people know about it.

But Minister Guo is different.

He got anti-abortion medicine for me personally

Don't waste your energy.

Zhang Ping is going to see Boss Jia now.

I must make Han Yan talk.

Young man, be careful.

Chen Chou.

As expected, in order to produce the effect of lightning and thunder, they put gunpowder into the brazier.

The light became strong instantly.

Then they used the Fire Bead to concentrate light rays on Xie Hao's head, causing self-ignition.

There's a murder!

I hope that you think it over.

Your words tonight will not only decide my fate

but also your life.

The oil is nail polish used by the pipa players.

Isn't the pipa played with a plectrum (pick)?

It's a new method of playing with fingers instead of plectrums.

It's easy to hurt the hands, so the players need nail polish.

In the troupe, who can play the pipa in this way?

Few players in the capital can do it.

There's only one in the troupe, the "Pipa Fairy," Miss Han Yan.

Go ask Empress Dowager to question Han Yan.

Are you Han Yan?

Yes.

Take her away.

Here is Her Majesty's order:

"Call Vice Minister Lan back!"

I'll follow the order.

[A League of Nobleman]