Original subtitles

Everyone.

Since Mr. Lan has handed over the Examiner Seal, the examination will continue.

I'll draw the question of the examination on behalf of the Ministry of Rites.

Wait. What's happening?

Considering everyone in the Ministry of Rites is under Mr. Lan's command.

There still might be fraud if they act on his orders.

What do you want?

If the examination is to continue,

it must be guaranteed that there's no possibility of fraud,

especially in the drawing process which has to be done impartially

with no possibility of any kind of interference.

Everyone.

If you don't trust us, you can elect someone to draw the question.

The three ministers and everyone in the Ministry of Rites have no objection.

We've just discussed it.

If we choose an examinee to draw the question, it'll still be hardly convincing.

How about this, we'll choose an irrelevant person to draw the topic blindfolded to be fair.

Who do you want to choose?

The old man who sweeps the courtyard.

He isn't an official.

He doesn't have a stake in this matter.

He isn't an official.

Mr. Yang?

=A League of Nobleman=

=Episode 18=

(The 20th Year of Yongxuan)

(Rule the Country by Virtue)

Rule the Country by Virtue.

The question was written by Mr. Liu.

Write an essay on the topic of "ruling the country by virtue".

The examination starts now.

(Guiyou)

(Xinmao)

(Lan Jue)

(The two prophecies of Mr. Jinghu directly refer to the imperial examination, )

(which also involved Mr. Lan.)

(What's his purpose?)

(Chen Zishang)

(Enemy Prophecy)

(Mr. Jinghu)

(Why didn't Chen Zishang show up for the exam?)

(Guiyou)

(Seems that I must find Mr. Jinghu as soon as possible.)

Maybe I should start with Chen Zishang.

(Every king desires to be...)

(Renshen)

(The previous dynasties...)

(Yiwei)

(Renwu)

Zhang.

(Rule the Country by Virtue)

Did it only take you one day to finish the essay?

I finished it very early.

(Suzhou Government, Jiangnan County Ma Lian, Rule the Country by Virtue)

Sir!

Have some snacks, sir!

(Exam Hall)

Let's go now. I don't want to stay here any longer.

Where's the carriage?

Sir. It's at the gate. Please move your steps.

You useless thing!

Why did you park it there? It's too far!

Sir, please don't be mad.

The guards of Exam Hall wouldn't let us park here.

Did you tell them my name?

I did.

Dogs are more capable than you. Get the carriage here now!

Yes, yes. Yes.

What are you looking at?

(Zhang from Xichuan)

Is this Chen Zishang's residence?

Chen Zishang.

Mr. Lan, you will be punished for dereliction of duty.

You've made a big noise.

Even if you ask to be imprisoned, it's still hard to justify yourself in front of the Emperor

as the chief examiner.

(Why would Mr. Jinghu interfere with the examination?)

(Is the acrostic poetry only for slandering me for accepting bribes?)

(Common people may)

(come out on top.)

Go in there.

Mr. Lan.

♪ The cows are awake and want to graze ♪

♪ Excellent grass is in the south ♪

Time to eat.

Mr. Lan. Are you gonna eat?

Mr. Lan. If you don't eat, I'll eat yours, too.

I'm a little hungry.

Leave it there.

I... I'll eat later.

Hurry up. It will get cold soon.

You actually brought food to the Judicial Prison.

I have to thank you for that.

Earlier, you recommended me for the job in the case archive.

That's how I made the acquaintance with the jailer here.

Thanks to him, I'm here imprisoned with you.

I asked to be put in prison to stabilize the situation of the examination,

but why are you here?

Chen Zishang is dead.

What?

I felt it was strange that Chen didn't show up for the exam.

Therefore, I handed in my exam paper early and went to his house.

I found Chen Zishang lying dead by the well for a while.

(Looks like he fell to his death while bathing.)

In that case, there is something suspicious about it.

The strange thing is that if you fall while bathing,

your body will instinctively arch up to protect your head and neck

by landing on your hips and waist first,

but there are no injuries on Chen Zishang's waist, back and hips,

which means he already lost the ability to react when he fell.

So, I think the murderer killed him first, then faked the bathing scene

and made him pose like he was tripped up and fell.

Unfortunately, the scene was washed by the rain and most of the traces were ruined.

Who do you think the killer might be?

I don't know yet.

But I found other clues.

I went into Chen Zishang's room

and found that he had packed all his luggage.

It didn't look like he was going to Exam Hall, but rather like he was going far away.

I felt confused and looked through his bookcase.

There were some drafts in there besides books.

(Rule the Country by Virtue)

Chen Zishang's draft is exactly the same as Ma Lian's answer sheet.

Is the topic of the examination "Rule the Country by Virtue"?

How do you know it?

During the last two days in prison, I pondered Mr. Jinghu's prophetic poem.

There is something hidden in it.

Do you have a brush and paper?

Common people may come out on top.

Remove the radical "Ren" from the character "Si",

and it will be the character "Yi" left.

Traveling the same journey can clear one's mind.

Combine the characters "Xing", "Xin", and "Mu", and it will be the character "De".

If there is not enough gold inlaid with jade.

The character "Ding" without the radical "Jin" becomes the character "Ding".

The borderland can't be ruled and the people will be disappointed.

The first half of this line means there is no borderland to rule.

The character "Yu" without the radical "Tu" is the character "Huo".

The character "Kou" is a square.

Combine these two characters, and it will be the character "Guo".

On the surface, this poem satirizes the fraud of the imperial examination,

but if you break down the poem,

you'll find that it implies the topic of the examination, which is "Rule the Country by Virtue".

(Rule the Country by Virtue)

I didn't expect Mr. Jinghu to hide the message so well.

I heard from Chen Chou that Chen Zishang made money as a ghostwriter.

I guess Ma Lian was informed of the topic in advance (Suzhou Government, Jiangnan County)

and paid Chen Zishang to write an essay.

The draft is the evidence that Ma Lian cheated in the examination. (Rule the Country by Virtue)

Why didn't you hand over such important evidence to the Court of Judicial Review instead of coming to me?

It concerns the imperial examination.

Mr. Jinghu also got involved in this.

So, for the sake of justice and the history between our fathers, I prefer to give it to you.

To this end, you got yourself in jail.

Well, it was just a misdemeanor.

I talked back to the officer and was charged with lawlessness and put in jail for two days.

Thank you.

Since Mr. Jinghu was able to predict that "something will be wrong with Guiyou"

before the draw, it means Chen Zishang's death and the leak of the topic have something to do with him.

Maybe we should start with these two cases.

If we find out the truth, we might be able to draw him out.

Zhang Ping.

I appreciate it that you came to the prison to tell me the truth.

But we're in different positions.

Do you still hate me for what happened before?

What happened to my father is not your fault.

I won't blame you.

But it still had something to do with your mother.

It's hard for me to be your friend.

I understand.

I'll look into it myself.

Mr. Lan. The Empress Dowager summons you. Please.

As the chief examiner, I should be held responsible for such a mistake during the imperial examination.

But Chen Zishang was absent from the examination for no reason.

I was worried, so I sent someone to his residence

who found that Chen Zishang had been killed the night before the examination.

The draft found in his room corresponds to the topic drew on the day of the examination,

which is "Rule the Country by Virtue".

Your Majesty.

I was asked by Mr. Lan to acquire Ma Lian's answer sheet from Exam Hall. (Rule the Country by Virtue)

It's exactly the same as Chen Zishang's essay.

I also interpreted Mr. Jinghu's prophetic poem during my time in prison

and found that the poem also implies the topic,

which means there were fraudulent examination indeed.

I hope this case can be thoroughly investigated, Your Majesties.

Since you're innocent, you don't have to go to the Court of Judicial Review.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I dare to ask who should take on the case of fraud.

It will be discussed.

Mother.

In my opinion, it's urgent to find out

who is manipulating the imperial examination and killing people lawlessly.

Do you want to make it worse?

How would it make the court look if we admit there were fraudulent examination?

Your Majesty.

- I think... - Mr. Liu.

The prophetic poem implies the topic you wrote.

If this is to be investigated thoroughly, you won't be able to get away with it.

I'm not afraid of being investigated.

I believe that Commandant Wang and Minister Dou are not afraid, either.

- I'm not afraid. - I'm not afraid.

But I think this matter has provoked much discussion.

We should smooth things over and save face for the court first.

After it subsides, we can take our time to investigate it.

You...

Mother. Ma Lian is the ideal son-in-law of your brother, your niece's future husband.

How will it make the royal family look if he is found guilty of cheating and murdering?

They might even think we are covering up for them.

I'm afraid

it will undermine your prestige.

His Majesty is right.

The case must be thoroughly investigated, Your Majesty.

Fine.

In that case, let's investigate it thoroughly.

Those who participated in the imperial examination,

including all the officials, question writers, chief examiners, and invigilators,

are all suspected and will be confined to their homes.

They won't be allowed to go out without permission.

Mother, you're wise indeed.

But

Minister Dou and Commandant Wang are both question writers.

The Ministry of Justice should avoid arousing suspicion.

Then the case should be handed over to...

The Court of Judicial Review.

Your Majesty.

I've been ill lately. I fell lightheaded and can't even read clearly.

I'm too weak to lift a brush. If the investigation is delayed because of me,

I'm afraid it will damage the reputation of our important officials.

Are you declining it?

Do you want me to investigate it?

Your Majesty, please don't be mad.

I'll obey the order.

You can go home.

Don't talk back to an officer again.

Thank you.

Sir.

You've suffered in prison over the last few days.

I didn't expect the His Majesty would back you in the court today.

Looks like it was His Majesty's intention to make me the chief examiner.

I think His Majesty read my letter carefully.

Sir.

I heard that Mr. Tao acted quickly this time.

He has taken Ma Lian into custody.

But Ma Lian is having a great time there.

He is eating well and drinking well. He hasn't been arraigned yet.

Considering Ma Lian's background, Tao Zhoufeng won't make things difficult for him.

It's hard to count on him to solve the case.

What should we do? We're not good at investigation.

Commandant Wang and Mr. Dou are also involved in this.

Mr. Wang needs to avoid arousing suspicion.

How about we ask Zhang Ping for help?

We can't investigate without the help of other people?

Get ready.

We'll go to Exam Hall now.

But...

But you're also confined to your home by the Empress Dowager's order.

How to break out by following the rules?

There must be something we need at Exam Hall.

I only need to take a look inside. I won't spoil the scene.

This is non-negotiable. Just leave.

What if I can provide a clue that might help?

We don't solve cases. We're just gatekeepers.

We don't need your help.

I'll do whatever you want as long as you allow me in.

Well...

We've been standing here for a while and our backs are sore,

but no one has brought us anything to drink.

Yeah.

It's getting dark. We haven't eaten.

Well,

why is there no one who can bring us some meat and wine?

How about this, you guys go eat and drink.

I'll guard the entrance for you.

You used to work at the Court of Judicial Review.

Didn't Mr. Lan teach you anything about bureaucracy?

(What would I do if I were Mr. Lan?)

You want money, right?

You...

How did you say that out loud?

It's okay. We've known him for a long time.

That's all I have.

That's all you have?

For the two prophecies about Exam Hall and the examination question to come true,

it must be guaranteed that Chen Zishang would draw Guiyou

and examination question must be drawn to be Mr. Liu's question.

You mean someone tampered with these two things separately?

Sir. There is no one here. Come in.

Yes.

Shao Zhi and Ji Wen were in charge of drawing lots and keeping exam papers.

They are the most suspicious.

And Mr. Yang who drew the question is also suspicious.

But the people involved are all confined to their homes and guarded by the soldiers of the Court of Judicial Review.

We can't get in touch with them.

That's why we need to start with the physical evidence.

Sir. Is there something wrong with this scroll?

We are about to turn over our duty. Hurry up.

I just got here.

You only gave us five pennies. Do you expect to stay here til tomorrow?

You'll have 15 minutes at most.

Sir

(Exam Paper in the 20th Year of Yongxuan) What's the stain on the seal?

Mold?

How did the ink get moldy?

Do you think the mold has something to do with the fraud?

But Mr. Yang was blindfolded when he drew the question.

How could he see it?

I think there wasn't any mold when he drew the question,

or it must have been noticed with all these people being there.

But how would the ink get moldy?

It looks like the kind of mold growing on rice and flour.

I used to see it all the time when I was little.

Did Mr. Yang touch any rice or flour and get the mold from it?

There is nothing else unusual about the scroll.

The mold must be the key to solving the case.

But

how did it was drawn?

If we can't figure this out, there is no way to convict anyone just by the mold.

How would I look into this if I were Zhang Ping?

(It's strange.)

(The bottom of these rocks wasn't washed by rain. It should be dirty.)

(Why is this rock the only one with a clean bottom?)

(It looks like someone rinsed it on purpose and put it back.)

(There are footprints.)

This could be the primary crime scene.

Dogs are more capable than you.

Get the carriage here now!

Yes, yes. Yes.

=A League of Nobleman=