Original subtitles

Mowen, thank you so much for tonight.

But investigating a case like this would damage your reputation as the top detective in the capital.

I'm truly sorry about that.

Reputation is all about vanity.

It's incomparable to your life.

It's all thanks to you.

I can't take all the credit.

Tonight's game changer is you.

If it weren't for the second blood letter from Li Niang

that let me know where the real culprit came from,

I wouldn't be able to realize that.

Your Excellency, something's wrong.

A beggar just brought 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."

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

refers not only to my secret letters, but also Father's past.

The writer believes Father colluded with the enemy back then,

leading to the utter annihilation of the Army for Southward Expedition.

It's been so long ago.

Except for me, who else would still remember this?

This person must have something to do with the Army for Southward Expedition.

We only know it's a young woman who asked him to bring this blood letter around 9 p.m.

It's a young woman.

And only people in our theatrical troupe know about this ladder.

She works in the theatrical troupe.

Mowen, when you checked everyone's credential in the theatrical troupe, do you notice

that there's a young woman relevant to the Army for Southward Expedition?

Thinking of this, when I was checking,

there is a dancer from Jiannandao in the theatrical troupe.

When I further looked into it, her father turned out to be in the Army for Southward Expedition.

I believe she must have disguised herself long enough to seek an opportunity for revenge.

First, she stole the bead, and then she killed Xie Hao.

Now, she left a blood letter.

She doesn't simply want me to die.

She also wants to ruin my reputation before I die.

This person planned this so elaborately. [When a puppet does evil, its master must be executed.]

I don't believe she will let this plan fail. [The corrupt official here is ruining our country.]

I have an idea.

We can turn this plan to our advantage.

Han Yan has confessed that she's the murderer.

Han Yan?

It's over. Go back to your rooms.

Get back.

By now, the culprit who started all this in Banyue Pavilion

finally revealed herself.

She knew Han Yan wasn't the real culprit but pleaded guilty and would be judged by the law.

In that case, all her efforts would be wasted.

So, to turn the table and kill me, she had to get the bead as soon as possible

and let everyone know about my secret letters.

All I had to do was have Xu Dong watch her, and she would be caught with hard evidence.

If you didn't anticipate her every move, your play tonight would be ruined.

The bead was Li Niang's last move.

It had gone this far.

She had no choice.

And what got trickier was

if I wanted to crack the case tonight without having Li Niang confess,

the only thing I could do was to make Han Yan cooperate with me.

I needed to start another play.

But if I wanted her to cooperate,

I first needed to let her know Guo Yun's true colors.

Guo Yun is a victim of his own wrongdoings.

If he didn't treat Han Yan so venomously, we wouldn't know how to crack this case at first.

Han Yan is...

She can be broken neither by persuasion nor force.

We've overcome so many difficulties along the way.

I can't imagine that we can't break her.

Even though we didn't break Han Yan at that time,

when I looked at those medicines for the protection of an unborn child,

it suddenly occurred to me

that Guo Yun was merciless and ungrateful.

He didn't even dare to offend his wife because of his father-in-law.

How could he be so considerate to protect his mistress' child?

You mean Guo Yun tampered with these medicines?

Did you just say

the stem ginger in these medicines was added especially for you by Guo Yun?

Yes.

This is the proof that he killed your child.

Most of the stem ginger in the medicines was actually Bletilla striata.

These two look similar.

It's hard to notice the difference.

But if stem ginger was replaced by Bletilla striata and taken by a pregnant woman,

she would easily suffer a miscarriage.

That's impossible!

Minister Guo would never harm me!

You're just trying to turn me against him!

If you want to know the truth, be my guest and try the medicines.

As a saying goes, "Even a vicious tiger will not eat its cubs."

How could he be so venomous

to kill his own flesh and blood without even showing it?

If you can't forgive what he did,

today would be a perfect opportunity to punish him.

After it's done,

I will help you leave this sad place with a new identity.

I hope you can think it through.

What do you want me to do, Your Excellency?

If we wanted Empress Dowager to believe this play,

Han Yan would have to convict Guo Yun

with twists and turns while looking overwhelmed by sorrow.

By now, there was one last step to go.

And Zhang Ping would be perfect to finish this.

Since Empress Dowager has been suspicious of me tonight,

we could only have an outsider catch the culprit to dispel her doubts.

Let's go and find Boss Jia.

When Zhang Ping went to Boss Jia,

I had someone tamper with Fire Bead.

Later,

Zhang Ping followed my lead and found Han Yan.

In the meantime,

Xu Dong replaced the secret letters in Rhino-Horn Bead with fake ones

and put them into Han Yan's room.

And Han Yan was standing in front of Empress Dowager

confessing her crime as we had agreed in advance.

She pointed out the whereabouts of the bead while pretending to accuse me

of colluding with the enemy and committing treason.

The proof of his guilt

was hidden in a bead made from rhinoceros horns.

Where is it now?

It's under the bed in my room.

If it wasn't for your quick wit

and Zhang Ping's cooperation as a hothead, it could've been very dangerous for you.

Now, danger is hiding everywhere.

I surely have to be careful.

Han Yan is a poor girl after all.

Please take care of her.

No problem.

I'll have people send her out of here now.

Peizhi, what do you plan to do with Li Niang?

Bring her back to my house and I'll figure it out later.

She had such a big plan to set you up. She will not give up easily.

Be careful.

I'll leave you to it.

[A League of Nobleman]

[Episode 4]

Xu Dong. Xu Dong!

Xu Dong!

Where are Minister Lan and Li Niang?

Darn!

Something happened to Minister Lan.

- What happened? - Wake up.

Quickly notify Minister Wang at the Ministry of Justice to bring reinforcement to the Sentry of Loyal Spirits

Yes.

The Sentry of Loyal Spirits.

The cenotaph of the Army for Southward Expedition.

[Suburb of Ning'an City, Sentry of Loyal Spirits]

♪ You carry your sword and bow ♪

♪ Your ambition remains unchanged even after you're beheaded ♪

♪ Your will is so tough and no one can humiliate you ♪

♪ Your determined spirits are still heroes even among ghosts ♪

Lan Jue,

do you recognize this place?

The tomb of Liu Wen, late father.

I know why you came here.

You believe that the Army for Southward Expedition died in the wrong because my father colluded with the enemy.

But there's more.

My father is a righteous man. He would never commit treason.

How did tens of thousands of soldiers die then?

Liu Wen, my father, was the Military Governor of Jiannan.

I grew up with him in the army.

His fellow officers taught me how to ride a horse

and shoot arrows.

They taught me about martial arts.

Every one of them

is my family.

When I was eight years old,

the southern border was in urgent danger.

My father was loyal to his country. So, he led his army to fight the enemy.

Tens of thousands of soldiers ran to the battlefield.

But none of them came back.

All of this...

is because of your father.

When I was collecting bodies there,

I saw hungry wolves eating their bodies all over the mountains.

Every one of them was dismembered by those wolves.

I couldn't even find an intact one.

[The tomb of Liu Wen, late father]

I could only find several clothes and personal items.

I buried them under this cenotaph.

Today,

I want to sacrifice your life and console their souls with your blood.

Let's separate and find him.

If it wasn't for your father, soldiers of the Army for Southward Expedition

now might have returned to their hometown and living happily with their adorable kids.

And I would be pulling lethal bows and taming fierce horses.

I would be fighting on the horseback on the battlefield with my father while smiling and remaining graceful.

Instead, now,

I'm bearing hatred.

I spent half of my life drifting

and disguised myself day and night

just for today.

Father,

this cup of wine mixed with our enemy's blood

came late.

Lan Jue, do you want to know what it feels like

if you were abandoned in a wasteland

and had your body eaten by hungry wolves?

Today, I'll let you know how it feels.

Who?

I can't believe you found me here.

It looks like I estimated you after all.

It is hard to find.

This place is so big.

You're like Xie Hao, one of Lan Jue's lackeys.

I didn't come for him.

I came to figure out a clue.

I have to ask you.

Are you really a fool, or you're just pretending to be?

Who on earth applied nail polish to Fire Bead?

You or him?

I was locked up.

My hands aren't long enough.

Then you did.

I asked Xu Dong to do it.

Why do you have to use me so many times?

I have to be off the hook tonight, so I need a fake culprit for Empress Dowager.

Only when you're the one who solves the case can dispel Empress Dowager's doubts.

You're an insidious viper.

Like father, like son.

You.

Are you done?

Get lost if you are.

Alright. I'll be out of here at once.

You.

Zhang Ping, what exactly are you here for?

I told you. I came for an answer.

You!

No one would risk their lives to rescue you.

Stop your wishful thinking.

But I still have to rescue him.

He did make some mistakes.

But whether he should die or not is up to the government.

You can't lynch him.

Since you want to die with him, I'll make it happen for you.

Wait!

Do you remember this turpentine oil?

You used this to burn Xie Hao.

Are you done? Get lost if you are.

Alright. I'll be out of here at once.

Zhang Ping, what exactly are you here for?

I told you. I came for an answer.

But I still have to rescue him.

Go to hell together!

Zhang Ping!

Zhang Ping.

Zhang Ping!

Zhang Ping!

I've taken an oath to kill you by myself today

for tens of thousands of soldiers of the Army for Southward Expedition.

Peizhi!

Minister Lan!

Your Excellency.

Don't kill her.

What?

You would hate it if I die so easily, right?

[The tomb of Liu Wen, late father]

I'm shouldering the responsibility

of revenging the whole army.

I would rather

die

than yield.

♫ You carry your sword and bow ♫

♫ Your ambition remains unchanged even after you're beheaded ♫

♫ Your will is so tough and no one can humiliate you ♫

♫ Your determined spirits are still heroes even among ghosts ♫

She looked here before she died,

just like a fox that turns its head towards its cave before it dies,

and a north-born horse who always cherishes the wind from the north.

The clothes and items buried under this cenotaph are her family.

She is also buried here.

Her soul would finally come back here.

We're the same.

We're all victims.

Mowen, about what happened in the Sentry of Loyal Spirits,

I hope everyone in the Ministry of Justice can keep their mouth shut.

Rest assured, Peizhi.

No one would mention Li Niang after tonight.

How are Zhang Ping's injuries?

It has been taken care of, as you said.

Your Excellency, he knows too much.

He would cause us trouble later.

It would be better if...

Bring him back and keep a close eye on him.

Yes.

[Imperial Palace]

We've cracked the case of Banyue Pavilion. [Xuanzheng Hall, Imperial Palace]

Guo Yun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites set up Minister Lan, his colleague.

After Guo committed murder, he tried to plant this on Minister Lan. Now, the evidence is overwhelming.

Your Majesties, please rule this matter. [Dou Fang, Minister of Justice]

I knew Guo Yun was no good!

I said I need to find a left-hander in the imperial court.

I want to know how to pull the bow with my left hand.

I asked him exclusively.

He didn't admit that.

He lied to me! It's a felony!

He must be punished severely.

Minister Lan, it's not intimidating to you, right?

Your Majesty, I'm fine.

He must have thought you're gentle and weak, so you're an easy target.

In my opinion, why don't you learn how to hunt and do some exercises like me?

Thank you, Your Majesty.

With Guo Yun's evil virtue and bad conduct,

he shall be dismissed from office and get back to his origin as a commoner.

He shall never be recruited.

As you wish, Your Majesty.

There's only one Vice Minister in the Minister of Rites.

Minister Lan.

Be careful.

I will live up to the trust of the imperial court.

I have something to say.

Your Majesties, [Xuan Ji, Head of Imperial Astronomy]

as Head of Imperial Astronomy,

I've diligently done my research for decades,

and finally, I designed an astronomic instrument called Hunxiang Instrument. It's unparalleled in the world.

This instrument (TN: Similar to modern celestial globes)

is powered by flowing water, and it can tell time at any time. [Hunxiang Instrument of Dayong Kingdom]

A day is a cycle.

It can operate for a year,

and its margin of error would just be a snap of the fingers.

Your Majesties, it can help you find the opportune time.

What is he trying to do?

It's a waste of manpower and money.

Grand Tutor Liu, do you have any doubts about this? [Liu Xian, Grand Tutor]

I don't.

[Wang Qin, Grand Commandant]

In that case, this instrument shall be built

by Head of Imperial Astronomy as soon as possible.

Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Works shall try your best to cooperate.

As you wish.

[Ministry of Justice]

[Lan Jue]

This case is finally closed for now.

Are you feeling better?

Nothing serious.

Listen to me.

Stop looking into your father's case.

We can investigate it after this period of time.

I've been in the imperial court for ten years.

All the hustling and bustling is to look into this matter.

My father's indictment back then said clearly that Nandong promised him substantial profits.

They promised him that he would be a lord with his land.

If that's true, the King of Nandong must know about this.

And he doesn't need to hide this from me.

Once I meet him, I'll know the truth.

I know.

The reason why you communicate with Nandong's Ministry of Rites

is to find a clue by threading the needle and lure the real culprit out.

But this path is long and too dangerous.

Is there another way out?

I've been looked into this in the army and the imperial court for ten years.

I got nothing.

I have no choice.

It's said that there was an exotic woman.

She brought your father to the south.

Where is she?

It's said she was a spy from Nandong.

But I can't remember a single thing about her.

Unfortunately, we stopped trading with Nandong after the defeat twenty years ago.

Only the Minister of Rites can be sent to Nandong on a diplomatic mission and pay tribute.

If it wasn't for that, you wouldn't have to take such a risk

and get yourself involved in the open and secret fight with Guo Yun.

Since I've chosen this path, I'll never regret this, even if I have to die a hundred times.

It's an accident that I'm holding a the position as a Vice Minister now.

What I'm supposed to be is a criminal with wooden fetters and handcuffs.

Halt.

Don't say such inauspicious words.

What am I afraid of?

I still have you, right?

Your Excellency, Zhang Ping doesn't wake up.

Bitter life.

Bitter life.

Bitter life.

Bitter life.

Bitter life.

Bitter life.

Bitter life.

Your Excellency.

Brother Zhang...

Physician, what's wrong with him?

Although he was injured by a broadsword, it shouldn't turn this way.

I've practised medicine for many years.

But I've never seen a disease like this.

In my opinion, you should prepare for his funeral as soon as possible.

Brother Zhang...

Brother Zhang...

Here are six copper coins in total.

We could sell your noodle stand.

We can afford a coffin lid.

Xudong, have someone choose a high-quality coffin

- Brother Zhang... - and hold an elaborate funeral for him.

Yes, Your Excellency.

Thank you, Minister Lan. Thank you, Minister Lan.

Zhang Ping and I were brought together by fate.

I will take care of his funeral.

Thank you, Minister Lan.

Even God is jealous of talents.

It's such a pity.

When you were still alive, you were determined to know

why I stole the bead. I might as well tell you the truth.

Indeed, there was a letter written by me to Nandong's Ministry of Rites in the bead.

But I didn't collude with the enemy.

I just want to know the truth twenty years ago.

I have my difficulties.

Although you put me in danger for several times.

But accidentally, you're also the one who saved my life.

You're an inflexible and honest man.

But when the water is too clear, there are no fish.

If there is an afterlife, I hope you will not be as inflexible as you are now.

He! He! He!

[A League of Nobleman]