Original subtitles

♪By the riverside♪

♪I sow a seed of karma♪

♪Forlorn fates intertwine♪

♪Written in the stars♪

♪Should your passion smolder out♪

♪Will you give up on your ideal world?♪

♪Our past can only be entrusted to memories♪

♪I'm mooning over you♪

♪Amidst loneliness♪

♪Berthed in sleepless nights♪

♪You're my desire♪

♪That teems underneath♪

♪I'm drowned in your beautiful eyes♪

♪I'm mooning over you♪

♪Next to the Three-life Stone♪

♪I cross the Bridge of Forgetfulness♪

♪Gazing at moonlit nights♪

♪The moon appears brighter because of you♪

♪Leaning against the tower, it returns my gaze♪

♪Gazing at moonlit nights♪

♪The moon appears brighter because of you♪

♪Leaning against the tower, it returns my gaze♪

[The Legend of Anle] [Adapted from a novel by Xing Ling]

[Episode 4]

Well, Your Highness?

You asked to take over the matter

to save Huang Pu.

You don't want Pei Zhan

to give him a hard time because of this.

It's such a tricky case.

I wouldn't want to take over it.

But Official Huang

didn't seem very eager to work with me.

He is straightforward.

I doubt he can understand your thoughts.

This is why I think

Your Highness understands me the best,

knows me the best, and cares about me the most.

We are a match made in heaven.

Don't you think so?

Ren Anle.

Sometimes, making impromptu jokes and remarks might work,

but it's not accepted by the mainstream.

It won't work every time you do it.

Huang Pu is a good official.

You need him.

Let me take you to him.

Official Huang, I've been searching for you.

Your presence overwhelms me.

It's His Highness.

Your Highness.

Why are you here?

At ease.

(He is a fourth-rank official.)

(But his living condition is so austere.)

Official Huang.

Official Ren recommended you to me.

She told me you started as a case reviewer,

but you are always attentive to your duties

and became the vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

You have a lot of experience.

You are one of the precious talents of the Court of Judicial Review.

Indeed.

You are very experienced in investigations.

I am but a newcomer

who has no idea

how to pry for secrets and truth.

I never force people to confess to false charges by torture

or take advantage of a case.

That's not what Official Ren meant.

His Majesty only gave us three days.

She wants to solve the case

and bring justice to all the examinees.

Yes, Official Huang.

We only need a scapegoat

to plead guilty.

With that,

we can both save our careers.

It's a win-win for us both.

She's always been this mischievous.

Please don't take it to heart.

Your Highness.

Official Ren.

Do you have any idea what it feels for an impoverished student

to fail the exam after ten years of hard work?

The father's hope is shattered overnight.

How disheartening.

I took the imperial examination five times

to finally put my name on the list.

I was already 40

when I became the vice minister.

Sir.

Do you know why?

It was because I came from a poor family with neither power nor influence.

My scholarly honor was taken by the rich and powerful several times!

My career?

This black hat

is simply a joke.

The poor give up everything for it,

and the rich can simply buy it as they please.

Those who wear this either fill their pockets

or oppress others with their power!

Both of you

can trust me when I say

I'd rather cast away my career

to speak up for all the mistreated examinees

of this country.

What does it mean?

If you won't investigate,

then I will.

We only found notes on one person,

who is already dead and can't testify.

You...

Do you know no shame?

Get out now.

Get out!

Get out!

Your Highness, a piece of advice,

please don't collude with a person like this.

You defended me just now.

Was it the so-called "taking the wife's side"?

I didn't push you aside

so I could give Official Huang my word.

If you want him to frisk the suspects,

there are better ways than to poke at his sore spots.

Your Highness is right.

After all, I was a bandit once.

My methods are often crude and violent.

But with you advising and supervising me

all the time,

I'll learn so much more so quickly.

You're so used to being sly and mischievous.

It'll take a lot of work

to change your personality.

[Ren's Residence] (You put in a lot of work today, Young Lady.)

I had to deal with both Pei Zhan and Huang Pu.

When these two start lecturing,

there's no end to it.

Let alone that guy, Gu Yunnian.

He is always watching us from the dark.

If I didn't come up with so enough things to say,

I would've accomplished nothing today.

Gu Yunnian is cunning.

Pei Zhan is an opportunist.

But Huang Pu is righteous and unyielding.

I didn't expect to see

such a righteous official in Jing.

With his help,

my odds got a lot better.

But he is a good guy.

Why would you intentionally provoke him?

He despises Young Lady a lot

for disregarding lives.

It's what makes this act

so convincing.

[Court of Judicial Review]

I'll be honest with you.

His Majesty has learned of the incident from yesterday.

His Majesty ordered us

to get to the bottom

of this case.

Come clean.

Who was working with Lin Cong to cheat in the exam?

Who was the source that leaked the questions?

So, no one is telling.

If none is talking,

this whip of mine

might hit

any one of you here.

Official Ren!

I've been wronged.

Official Ren.

Young Marquis.

This room is so dusty. I can't enjoy my food here!

Are you blind or what?

Don't just stand there.

Replace Young Marquis's food.

Yes.

Get rid of them.

Official Ren.

You're so capable.

No wonder my father thinks highly of you.

Not bad.

I am flattered.

Gentlemen.

You must be starving after a long day.

But it can't be helped.

We have a direct order from His Majesty.

Until we catch the culprit,

you might have to starve for a few more days.

I...

A few days more?

I have an idea.

Come on.

Why don't we

get ourselves two scapegoats?

Everyone else can go home.

Right?

Yeah!

That's a sound plan, Official Ren.

But who should be the scapegoats?

Do I have to teach you about that?

Just get two of you out by voting

and make sure their confessions match.

Two of us?

Who should it be?

How could Official Ren do this?

It seems that she has convinced

the detained students

to make two of them the scapegoats.

This is outrageous.

Outrageous!

Utterly outrageous!

Where are you taking me, Your Highness?

You keep dragging me with you without saying a word!

Your Highness!

Ren Anle.

I thought you were playing fool,

but you were actually serious about it.

What is the Court of Judicial Review to you?

Reasoning is telling right from wrong.

Emperor Yao was wise, so he founded the system with judicial officials.

Emperor Jing was benevolent, so he founded the Court of Judicial Review.

The Court of Judicial Review

was founded to prevent anyone

from being wronged or framed!

You failed

the law above you with your rash action!

But this case only involves

the rich and powerful.

I heard about it back in theAnle Abode.

In the Capital,

this is how a case is dealt with

if it involves the rich.

The truth doesn't matter.

What matters is that we use a bunch of poor fools

to take the blame for everything.

The lords will be happy with this arrangement.

We get the peace we want.

Your Highness.

You've lived in the Capital for so long,

how could you not know

how things work?

A righteous man will not willfully do the wrong thing.

Huang Pu is a great example of it.

Ren Anle.

People always know what is right.

The metropolitan examination decides the fate of talents.

If you don't take this seriously,

more issues will ensue.

Whatever.

This is getting on my nerve.

I'm in a tough position.

I just spoke heart-to-heart with Marquis Zhongyi,

and now I have to get on his bad side.

If I really do that, this place will longer accommodate me.

Where should I go, then?

Give me a break.

I used to command

a naval force of 30,000 strong

and lived a carefree life.

Had I not fallen for you,

why would I come to

a place where I'm a complete stranger?

Now I have no one to command

and no one to count on.

All of these for what?

I shouldn't have come.

If you behave yourself and don't commit any wrongdoings,

I'll have your back.

Your Highness.

What?

Let go.

You said you'd have my back.

Your Highness.

Let me get some sleep.

The investigation exhausted me.

Is she really asleep?

Your Highness.

His Majesty ordered the Ministry of Justice

to help with the investigation for the three-day limit.

Official Ren

was exhausted from the investigation.

So...

I told you.

Ren Anle's quality of being unpredictable

might be of great help to the Court of Judicial Review.

I didn't know

you'd do so well to play a dunce.

No one

in the Court of Judicial Review has any respect for you.

This is the only way

to make them let their guard down.

Those who stand out and excel

will garner jealousy and envy.

It was the same

with the Di family all those years ago.

But you already stand out.

So many people here

saw you get very intimate with His Highness

in the yard of the Court of Judicial Review.

I did it so the plan

could go smoothly.

That's all.

Luo Mingxi.

I don't need the Han family to back me up.

I don't need Han Ye.

Not even him.

Even without him,

I can still

have total control of the entire game

with my own strength.

Good.

I must check the results.

[Court of Judicial Review]

How is it?

Official Ren, the voting went smoothly.

Very well, let's see it.

Official Ren.

Official Huang.

Official Ren.

Official Ren.

I frisked all of the detained examinees.

All of them

had notes on them, except for one.

That's a lot of notes.

Who was the one without notes?

It was

Gu Qishan.

All is well, then.

Marquis Zhongyi's fury

won't be directed at us.

Official Ren, are you not thinking straight?

Even if he didn't have notes,

he could still be cheating.

Perhaps, he discarded the notes beforehand.

Those with notes

could have been framed

by someone else afterward.

Yes, I hear you.

You are totally right.

But I think

their testimony is more reliable.

As long as the two of them can give a matching confession,

we can close the case.

Official Ren, the voting result is ready.

It's Wu Yue and Zhou Fu.

Wu Yue and Zhou Fu?

It's decided then.

Release the others.

Official Ren...

Yes.

Official Ren!

Do you have no regard for their lives?

I interrogated them.

Wu Yue and Zhou Fu

came from the most humble families among the others.

Of course those from richer families

would collude with each other

and point their fingers at them without any hesitation.

Official Huang, calm down.

Our opportunity has presented itself.

[Court of Judicial Review]

(Official Pei.)

(Off you go.)

(Yes.)

Official Ren.

Congratulations, Official Pei.

Is the investigation over?

After my fearsome interrogation,

we found that the culprit was either Wu Yue or Zhou Fu.

Official Pei.

The case

will be closed very soon.

Great work.

Official Pei.

When the case is closed,

don't forget

to put up a few good words for me

in front of Marquis Zhongyi.

Of course.

We are partners, after all.

I'm glad to hear that.

Official Pei, I must continue the investigation.

Solve the case!

Solving it now!

Sir, Marquis Zhongyi received words from Pei Zhan

and sent his spy to Li's Residence.

It seems he is playing along with Official Ren's plan

and doing it the rough way

to get Gu Qishan out of the ditch completely.

Poor Li Chong'en...

[No animals are harmed during the shooting]

[No animals are harmed during the shooting] All his hard work is in vain now.

[Ren's Residence]

Young Lady.

Earlier tonight,

the current chief examiner Li Chong'en

hung himself in his residence.

(He left a letter of apology)

(to His Majesty, claiming that)

(Wu Yue and Zhou Fu were his distant relatives.)

He couldn't bear to see them suffer in poverty

and have no future ahead of them.

Hence, he made the mistake

of leaking the questions.

Gu Yunnian's move

came at the perfect timing.

But I still outwit him.

Official Ren.

What is it that you seek?

Official Huang.

I need you to put up an act with me.

I once lived in Jingnan for a long time.

Of course I know how the common folk are suffering.

Your frustration from being mistreated

reflects the people's predicament.

As for this case,

as long as you are willing to lend me a hand,

the justice you defend so devotedly

shall be upheld.

The injustice you witness

shall be avenged.

Gu Yunnian will soon realize

what it means to lose every pawn.

[Court of Judicial Review]

(Zhou Fu.)

(Li Chong'en identified you in his suicide note.)

Do you plead guilty?

I've been wronged!

I didn't cheat!

Indeed, someone was carrying notes.

I overheard it when I drank with the other young masters.

But it wasn't me.

Who is it, then?

Well...

I don't dare to tell.

Since you refuse to tell me,

he must be someone prestigious.

Zhou Fu.

An incomplete confession is the worst in an interrogation.

Here in the Court of Judicial Review,

that won't do you any good.

If you go to the rich and powerful,

you won't get rewarded for this either.

So, why bother covering for them?

Sir, I'll tell you everything!

Speak now.

One of the chief examiners

leaked the question to Young Marquis Gu.

He was feeling smug about it,

so he spread the answers

to the others who were involved in the cheating.

I knew it was him!

There are so many new toys here.

I've never tried this before.

Official Ren.

I've been wronged.

The culprit framed me.

And who is the culprit?

Wu Yue.

Why put yourself through this?

The others

had already gone home.

They even got rewards from the Gu family.

But here you are, all alone

as their scapegoat.

Is it worth it?

I'll be honest with you.

Zhou Fu told us everything.

Wu Yue.

I heard you came from a poor family.

Your only family is your mother and she's waiting

for your return alone.

Think about her.

It wasn't me.

I didn't do it.

Luo Mingxi told me ten new sets of cangues had arrived.

It's time to test them out.

[Court of Judicial Review]

Sir.

Sir.

The one Huang Pu interrogated

ratted Young Marquis Gu out.

To Marquis Zhongyi's residence! Quick!

Go!

Darn that Wu Yue.

I interrogated him for so long,

but he wouldn't say a thing.

He kept repeating that he was wronged.

This is impossible!

It's no surprise he won't confess.

Rather than trust you,

he trusts Marquis Zhongyi's power more.

Trickery and pretense will never end well.

I've told you.

Official Ren has worked hard on this investigation.

Instead of appreciating her effort,

Your Highness discourages her.

Official Luo does know how to comfort me.

But sadly...

Ren Anle.

You did well

today.

I know you are intelligent.

That is why I have

greater expectations for you.

Do not disappoint me.

Don't forget your promise.

Marquis Zhongyi went as far as

using a dead man to pin the crime on Zhou Fu and Wu Yue.

I bet he didn't expect

Zhou Fu would testify against Young Marquis Gu anyway.

All that is left

is Wu Yue.

Zhou Fu works for us.

Wu Yue lost his father at a young age. He came from a poor family.

He earned Gu Qishan's trust

by being a weathercock and an artful person.

Zhou Fu

is only bait.

Wu Yue, who's followed Gu Qishan for years

and knows all his secrets

is the key.

Your Highness.

Both the white and black chess pieces are in a stalemate.

The law of Jing dictates

that we need more than one witness.

If Wu Yue doesn't confess,

we will never

make any progress with this case.

If Your Highness needs my help,

simply ask.

His Highness told me

she deceived Pei Zhan and Huang Pu,

and then did the same to Wu Yue and Zhou Fu.

But Official Ren, you might get yourself involved

by solving the case this way.

I am His Highness's prized student.

I won't get stuck in a stalemate that easily.

Gu Qishan is Marquis Zhongyi's son.

Given his father's influence,

who would dare to testify against him?

Given the circumstances,

we can't close the case

unless we get his confession.

I may have been a bandit,

but I know we need at least two witnesses

or get the hard evidence.

If he refuses to budge,

we can figure something out

to throw him into a panic.

Yes.

Make him panic.

Yes.

We'll corner them into desperation.

I did the same in the Anle Abode

when I was the boss.

Indeed.

You think like a member of the Ministry of Justice.

Anle.

What is the plan?

It's a flawless tactic

that I prepared specially for this.

According to the law of Jing,

when evidence is presented and all doubts are cleared.

Even if the accused doesn't confess, they can be charged based on the evidence.

In other words,

if we have the evidence and witnesses we need,

we can get the culprit convicted.

I memorized the books

Your Highness gave me.

It's no use unless you can solve the case.

If you can't solve the case,

you're simply constraining yourself with these words.

Where are your evidence and clues?

If we don't have the clues,

we'll put them in a rigged game.

Like so.

Like what?

Like what?

Official Ren's chess piece

broke the stalemate!

Gu Qishan went home as if nothing had ever happened.

But by doing so,

you're letting him get away with his crime.

Be patient.

In this game of mine,

every chess piece serves a purpose.

Your Highness.

Shouldn't you be in bed?

Is something on your mind?

Somehow,

I kept thinking about her these days.

When she was two,

Emperor Taizu appointed her the Crown Princess.

She must be quite something.

She was seven when she came to the Capital.

Her personal bodyguard, Luo Mingxi, was always with her.

She barely cared about me at all.

My grandmother raised me attentively.

Of course I couldn't stand her attitude.

One day,

I interacted with her through a game of chess, which I was good at.

Even though you're the Crown Prince,

but you can't beat me in chess.

You should admit defeat now.

Ziyuan.

Did you

acquire your skill

from the legendary former head of the Di family, Di Shengtian?

I've defeated my grand-aunt

a thousand times over.

Honestly,

I've never met anyone

who can defeat me.

What are the odds?

Me too.

Ziyuan.

You are the first

to have cornered me.

How about another round?

Bring it on.

Speaking of which,

the girl from Dai Mountain

was a remarkable player too.

I've never met anyone whose skill in chess

can match hers.

I wonder if she can best

Official Ren?

A great chess player can analyze the situation.

If the girl from Dai Mountain

were to investigate this case,

would she have employed the same method?

One is well-educated,

while the other is basically illiterate.

They may have stratagems,

but the approaches will be different.

However,

both of them are one of a kind,

and they both

coincidentally met you, Your Highness.

How is it?

Official Ren foresaw everything.

The fish is taking the bait.

[Court of Judicial Review]

Who is it?

[Kill Wu Yue while he is detained]

The imprisoned man became a wronged soul.

Tonight, we might get

yet another wronged soul.

[Ren's Residence]

Young Lady.

Wu Yue was attacked in prison.

He was assassinated.

Gu Qishan didn't disappoint me.

[Marquis Zhongyi's Residence]

Father!

Get on the horse.

I'm not going.

You should have kept your head down for three days.

Yet you must stir up more trouble.

Father, what is there to be afraid of?

The examiner is dead.

Wu Yue is gone, too.

Keep your voice down!

I had only known Zhou Fu for several days.

He doesn't have anything on me.

The Court of Judicial Review

can't do anything about me, Father.

They are setting a trap

and you throw yourself into it.

I had it all under control.

Why did you cause me more trouble?

Father.

You are too paranoid, Father.

That fool Ren Anle from the Court of Judicial Review

is already working for us.

Two people just died

before the case was closed!

Countless eyes are watching you as we speak.

Why can't you keep your head down for a few days?

Father.

Leave the city now.

No.

Off you go!

Fine.

Whatever you say, Father.

[Court of Judicial Review]

What is taking her so long?

Your Highness.

Accidents happen one after another lately.

Why isn't Ren Anle concerned about it?

You've been drinking since morning.

It's way out of line if she comes any later.

I'll wait for another ten minutes.

If she doesn't show up,

punishments await her.

You want to keep waiting?

You've had tea for almost two hours.

(Your Highness!)

Your Highness!

Jili.

Where is Ren Anle?

Why isn't she with you?

Official Ren is away.

The servants told me

she went to Lingxiang Pleasure House

for the Banquet of Courtesans.

What?

[Lingxiang Pleasure House]

Linlang personally wrote a letter to Gu Qishan

to invite him for a meeting.

He is the lecherous kind of man.

He will definitely come here.

Gu Qishan has been doing

whatever he pleases in the Capital.

It's time to show him

what is bad karma.

My spectators came at the perfect timing.

Ren Anle!

Ren Anle!

Your Highness, you came to my rescue.

Official Ren.

What are you up to now?

At this rate,

we might as well change the name to Crowd Banisher.

You're dismissed.

Official Ren.

Today is the last day we have to investigate the case.

How could you waste your time around here?

Officials.

I literally woke up to a murder these two days.

I am so terrified

since I'm just a freshman in this department.

Why can't I come here to douse my woes?

But,

you defeated the naval force of Dongqian in one day.

Why would you be afraid

of several murders?

You are precisely right.

Had I not been afraid of dying

and charmed by this good look,

would I want to be the crown princess?

Ren Anle.

You are not drunk. Speak properly.

But I am.

Had I known you were so worried about me,

I wouldn't have come here to drink my worries away.

I don't believe your excuses.

Why did Li Chong'en confess to his crime by hanging himself?

Wu Yue was assassinated in prison.

How do we deal with it?

The examiner had confessed anyway.

The case is closed, right?

As for Wu Yue...

As long as

we find the guard of the Court's prison for last night

and torture him in the interrogation,

he will confess.

Another round of torture in interrogation?

Right?

Wen Shuo.

It's already a custom how we solve cases.

Dismissed.

-Dismissed. -Am I right?

Right?

Ren Anle.

The first move of your plan has been carried out.

As for the second step...

Who are you waiting for at Lingxiang Pleasure House

at this early hour?

For you, Your Highness.

Miss, I beg of you.

We've been at it the entire day.

It will be nightfall if you don't start working now.

Do you remember what I told you?

I have greater expectations

for you than the others.

Therefore,

I trust you more than I do the others.

Don't worry, Your Highness.

You will get the result you want.

[Court of Judicial Review]

The case is finally closed!

Huang Pu, what is the meaning of this?

Give me the document!

Official Pei.

There are still missing dots. We can't close the case!

The deadline is approaching.

Even the chief examiner confessed to his crime.

His Majesty is awaiting our reply.

Huang Pu!

Huang Pu.

You are too stubborn.

Do you want to lose your job for good?

I want justice for everyone who takes the examination!

Seize him!

Let go! Let me go!

Let go of me!

You...

This is injustice! You fail the people!

Let go! Let go of me!

Let me go now!

Why you...

This is injustice! You fail the people!

What?

What now?

How dare you...

Huang Pu!

Huang Pu!

And the rest of you too!

A bunch of lunatics!

[Lingxiang Pleasure House]

(Great work!)

(Yes!)

(Yes!)

(Well done!)

Without that insolent Young Marquis Gu,

we can finally enjoy Miss Linlang's dance.

Who knew Lin Cong's death

could expose a scandal about the examination?

The chief examiners and examinees who cheated

should be cursed.

Yes.

Yeah. That was outrageous.

How upsetting!

Indeed.

Those cheaters are so dishonest and disloyal.

They deserve the worst.

But with an officer as benevolent as me around,

you have my word that I will give you

the result you'll be happy with.

This case is difficult

even for the current crown prince

of the nation.

But I beg to differ.

Clever and brave?

With three steps,

I can show you what they mean.

Please explain it to us, Official Ren.

Step one, luring the snake out of its burrow.

And step two?

Step two, let the events take their course.

I can somewhat understand the steps so far.

What about the third?

Step three...

Blot the door and beat the dog.

Young Marquis Gu.

My beauty, keep it down.

I went behind my father's back

to have a drink with you.

Let's keep it discreet.

You are Marquis Zhongyi's legitimate son

and you have all his attention.

Your father would never punish you.

Come on, finish this.

You have a point.

My father is Marquis Zhongyi.

I am Young Marquis Gu.

Who would dare to cross me?

Young Marquis Gu, long time no see.

Official Ren.

Official Ren understands the greater good.

She cleared my name.

It was nothing.

From now on, our friendship is unbreakable.

It's my honor and pleasure

to help you out.

You should run now.

The Crown Prince is after you.

♪If I bet my all on it desperately♪

♪I know my heart will be uneasy♪

♪I give up on my light and hide it under a bushel♪

♪You're the moon in my heart♪

♪I can't dream to own you♪

♪But I'm willing to forsake my life for you♪

♪I'd go the distance for you♪

♪May the light stay with you♪

♪Romance aside♪

♪I fight for your destiny alongside you♪

♪You're my dream from the bygone youth♪

♪Arriving at the end of my life♪

♪I bear no regrets But when we reunite in our next life♪

♪Will you still remember me?♪

♪I've concealed my yearning for you♪

♪And guarded your smile♪

♪Please don't leave me in oblivion when we part ways♪

♪I'd go the distance for you♪

♪May the light stay with you♪

♪Romance aside♪

♪I fight for your destiny alongside you♪

♪You're my dream from the bygone youth♪

♪Arriving at the end of my life♪

♪I bear no regrets But when we reunite in our next life♪

♪Will you still remember me?♪