Original subtitles

BASED ON THE NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME BY THE DUTCH AUTHOR ROBERT VAN GULIK

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

IMPERIAL HAREM

CHEN'S RESIDENCE

GOVERNOR OF YANGZHOU

CHEN ZHULIANG

Governor of Yangzhou, Chen Zhuliang,

you went against the rules of Heaven with ill intention.

You are ordered to commit suicide.

EMPRESS'S SEAL

Heavenly fire set the ancient tree aflame!

JUDGE DEE'S MYSTERY: THE PHOENIX SEAL

CHANG'AN

HOMEWARD INN

HONG LIANG

You're up early today.

It's not even noon yet.

DI RENJIE, COURTESY NAME HUAIYING

Early in the morning,

why did you go to the Imperial Academy?

The Imperial Academy?

I didn't.

Wuben Ward in the fifth month of the year.

The scent of sophora flowers fills Chang'an.

At this time of year,

the sophora flowers outside the Imperial Academy in Wuben Ward

are in full bloom.

The sophora flowers

still have the morning dew on them.

I went to see your mentor, Wei Wuji, the Grand Secretariat

of the Institute for the Advancement of Literature.

The examination for classicists is tomorrow.

Here is the admission ticket.

I'm not going.

Huaiying, you must not know.

The empress has reformed the examination this year.

No matter your origin or background,

everyone has a chance.

Those commoners

all applied for the examination

and traveled thousands of miles to the capital.

Who doesn't want to pass the examination

and take the right path?

You're drinking my water again.

How about ordering two dishes?

It won't cost you much.

Excuse me.

-Sir. -Thank you.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Did you hear what I said?

-Come. -In the future,

I can teach or write documents for others.

-Hurry up. -At worst, I can be a bookkeeper.

Chang'an is so big.

I'll be able to make a living.

-You come too. -Coming.

Hold them.

Huaiying.

-Come on. -To travel to the Western Regions,

you had to get a passport from a guarantor.

Do you know how much you owe me?

You two, it's time to pay the rent.

It has been overdue for days.

Sir, please give us a few more days.

You've been in arrears for days.

Well, you two have money

to eat and drink with your kid,

but not pay the rent.

You two, stop right there. Where's your rent?

I'm telling you.

All of you.

-What's more, -Pay your rent...

you've been in the Western Regions for years.

-Now you're finally back in Chang'an, -...or get lost!

but you're not going home.

-Fine, I'll put up with it. -Excuse me.

Sir.

One bowl of goat soup and three flatbreads.

Sure.

That's enough.

How much do they owe you?

Put it on my tab.

Ask him for it.

Flatbreads, extra toasty.

-Go. -Sure.

One bowl of goat soup and three flatbreads!

Flatbreads, extra toasty!

-All right! -How do you still want to eat?

I've been so worried about your exams

that I haven't been able to eat a single bite.

I...

Even my belt has become loose.

Sir, your goat soup and flatbread.

-That's it. -Wait.

Take this.

Sure.

If you keep this going,

I'll have failed your father.

From the mister over there.

Did you hear what I just said?

I'm listening.

I owe money, idle away my time,

and don't go home, right?

You brought those two bandits with you.

Do you even know them?

Ma Rong and Qiao Tai, right?

Where are they?

QIAO TAI

WENSHENG MUSIC HOUSE

XIAO, TA, LU

On the first day of the fifth month,

a big event happened in Chang'an.

-Who knows? -What was it?

Outside the palace,

there was the empress's favorite Wutong tree.

It's said to attract the phoenix

to bless our Great Tang.

But on the first day of the fifth month,

the tree was struck by lightning.

Guess who did it?

-Wasn't it a natural disaster? -Yes, nature.

-A natural disaster. -Exactly.

I think it's a man-made disaster.

It can't be man-made. It's natural.

-How could it be man-made? -Let's bet on it.

-A natural disaster. -Yes, bet on it.

-Do you dare? -Come on, bet on it.

-I'll take it. -Bet.

-Bet. -How are we betting?

Traditional betting.

Two whites and three blacks for Xiao, a natural disaster.

Three whites and two blacks for Ta, a man-made disaster.

Let's bet on it and see who wins.

-Bet. -Place your bets.

Come on, Xiao!

-Xiao! -Ta!

-Lu! -Xiao!

-Xiao! -Ta!

Ta.

Come on.

-Go ahead. -Come on.

Come on.

Come on. Place your bets.

-Xiao! -Ta!

Lu!

You organized gambling and cheated.

That's a baseless accusation.

I didn't cheat.

But you did discuss state affairs.

What?

Stop right there.

You two, show me your passports.

I'm pissed off to hear that.

One more thing.

Starting tomorrow,

stop wearing that Hu clothing.

It looks terrible.

Put on the hat I bought you.

I'll get it for you.

HOMEWARD INN

Fence this place in.

-Yes, sir. -Officer.

-Don't move. -Officer.

No one is allowed to leave the inn.

-Yes, sir. -Stop.

Check every corner.

-Go over there. -I'll go upstairs. Go!

Go and check upstairs.

-You get out. Quick. -Hurry up.

Hurry up. You go over there.

Everyone, get out.

Go. Quick.

Don't move.

Quickly!

Quick. Go.

Quick.

My lychees!

My lychees.

Come out.

Come out. Quick.

You, get up.

-You can go. -You. Why are you still eating?

Up.

Search carefully.

Five days ago,

Tongling Store in the East Market

lost a precious pearl.

Yesterday,

we caught a dealer purchasing loot.

According to him,

the thief and the loot

are in this inn.

Who sold you the pearl?

Officer.

I've told you everything.

I only agreed to trade here at noon today.

I don't know who I'm dealing with.

Officer, he's lying.

How could this possibly happen in our inn?

Bring me the register.

All right.

-We don't do that kind of thing. -Make way.

Officer.

You don't even write dates. Everything is in scribbles!

How can I read it?

No, Officer.

It's a small inn.

We don't have enough staff to write down everything.

I beg your forgiveness.

What does it have to do with us?

-Right. -Exactly.

-It's not our problem. -It has nothing to do with us.

You can't frame good people.

That's right.

Shut up!

Since no one admits it,

we'll take everyone back.

Why?

-Yes. -You must see clearly.

Officer, we're all innocent.

Sir, tomorrow is the imperial examination.

You can't just arrest everyone.

Right. We're here to take the examination.

We have to take the examination tomorrow!

-How can we still take it? -That's right.

What does it have to do with me?

-Right. -How will we take the examination?

Stop! Who's there?

-Get him. -Yes

He's quite skillful.

What?

Did you steal and wanted to run away?

I stole nothing.

This move...

Bring it on.

Take this thief back.

Stop!

It's not him.

How do you know?

He's just a deserter.

Desertion is a capital offense.

He's hiding in this inn.

I've never even seen him.

Look at him.

His skin is tanned.

His cheeks are red.

This is the typical face

weathered by years on duty in the Western Regions.

The red color on the dagger

is the tie on the chain mail of our Tang soldiers.

You've taken off your armor

and put down your sword,

but you still can't let go

of the red color that accompanied you through thick and thin.

My mother is seriously ill.

I just want to see her again.

Give me the register.

REGISTER OF GUESTS

XU HUI

Xu Hui

is a charcoal seller.

He cuts firewood and makes charcoal all day long.

He suffers from tuberculosis.

It's killing him.

The only thing he wants to do in his life

is to take this year's new imperial examination.

He has been taking the Miracle Cure pills

just to regain his vitality.

He...

wouldn't steal.

Liu Ben is from Dayu County,

Qianzhou, Jiangnan Circuit.

He walked from Dayu to Chang'an.

He has worn out many pairs of straw shoes.

He can't afford to eat

and had to make do with cold water.

His hands shook from hunger,

but he didn't miss his exam preparation.

For two days,

he didn't eat a bite of rice and only drank water.

He wouldn't steal.

Zhou You

from Jiannan Circuit.

Transporting lychees from Jiannan to Chang'an

takes days, even at top speed.

In this weather,

lychees will stay in this shape and fresh

for less than four days.

What are you doing? Get in line.

I'm sorry, I can't hold it. I had some rotten fruit yesterday.

Come out quickly!

The pearl was lost five days ago, right?

Therefore,

it can't be him.

Feng Mengliu from Yangzhou.

Recently, Zhaodi Temple in the city

has been restoring the mural, Scenes of Hell.

They called on all painters across the country.

He's one of them.

He works behind closed doors

and only gets one day off every ten days.

That's today.

He wouldn't have time.

Zhang Hu and Wu Bing

came with a kid.

Ever since they got to Chang'an, the boy has wanted to go out.

But the men are only focused on preparing for the exam.

These days,

they haven't left the inn.

When can we go out and have fun?

That's right.

We've been here for days, but we haven't gone out.

After the examination tomorrow,

I'll take you to the West Market the day after tomorrow.

Great!

So those two

couldn't have stolen it.

Liu Hai and Liu Xuantong

are from Longzhou.

Liu Xuantong has been bedridden.

Liu Hai has been with him and never left the inn.

Yuchi Sinian, a poor child.

Since coming to the inn, he has been working.

And him, Sun Zizhi.

He's a musician.

Pingkang Ward is where he works every day.

And the Ashina Tribe.

They just want to enjoy Chang'an after the imperial examination.

They didn't have the time.

Chen Mingjian.

Since he arrived, he has never left.

I don't think it's him.

Wu Jingkai. He left the inn once,

but he was just in front of the inn.

Guo Chuan hasn't left the inn

since he arrived.

Then it's Zhong Xiaofei.

Zhong Xiaofei? I don't think it's him.

It's not him.

Who in the inn is most likely

to steal the pearl?

If your register is correct,

then it's him.

He looks unfamiliar to me.

He...

is not in the register either.

If there's a suspect,

it could only be him.

-Take him. -I'm just passing through.

-I'm Chen Yaoguang, a bookkeeper! -Take him.

My referee is Yan Mao.

He's in Xinchang Ward.

If you don't believe me, go and ask him.

It wasn't me.

It could also be him.

He's not on the register either.

Sir, don't joke with me.

I'm the innkeeper.

How can I be on the register?

I've been here for ten years.

You know that.

You may know what people appear to be,

but not their true colors.

Sir, I'm innocent!

-Take him. -Yes, sir.

Officer, I'm innocent!

Officer, I'm innocent! Officer!

We've got him.

Where's the pearl?

The abacus.

Give it to me.

-Hand it over. -Officer, I...

It's not in here.

This isn't my abacus.

It's his.

I told you I'm innocent.

Sir, it's not me.

Sir, what are you doing?

Sir, I really didn't take it.

I really didn't take it.

Look, he's the thief.

This is not mine!

-He's the thief. -This is not mine!

-This is not mine! -I'm innocent.

I'm innocent!

Wait.

This is not his.

-Heavens. -Bring some water.

Officer.

Look.

There is a layer of grease on it.

It's because the innkeeper used it

during his daily grind.

And that abacus

belonged to the fake bookkeeper.

He switched it.

We have the thief and the loot.

This is

the truth.

I've been stealing for over ten years,

but I never thought I would get caught

by you lot in Chang'an.

We have the thief and the loot.

-Take him back. -Yes, sir.

-Get up. -Get up.

Move it.

Quick. Go.

Officer.

It really was a guest at our inn.

Can you spare that deserter's life?

That was so scary.

HOMEWARD INN

-Thank you, sir. -Thank you, sir.

WEST MARKET

Huaiying.

I won't mention the debt and returning home, okay?

You like to get into trouble outside.

I don't care either.

From now on, you can do whatever you want.

But there's one thing.

Can you go to the examination tomorrow?

You can do whatever you want from then on.

I...

-Great. -Great.

-Look. -Huaiying.

The Western Regions are a mess.

You don't know Qiao Tai and Ma Rong well.

You brought them back to Chang'an with you.

Aren't you afraid they might get you into trouble?

Excuse me.

Take a look...

Make way!

Make way!

Watch it! What are you doing?

-Stop! -Make way, please!

Stop!

-Stop there! -Move aside!

-Stop! -My wine!

Move!

Stop!

-Don't let them get away. -Stop!

Make way!

You rascal!

This is too dangerous. This...

Stop there!

Stop there!

Stop!

It's outrageous.

Stop there!

-Stop! -Stop there!

-Stop! -He Dajing, stop there!

Huaiying, help me.

Stop there!

We're just playing with He Dajing.

Do you want to keep doing that?

Come on. Let's go home.

IMPERIAL ACADEMY

Huaiying.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Stop there!

Huaiying, this has nothing to do with you.

Huaiying!

Huaiying!

Don't hit me!

HE DAJING

-Sir. -Huaiying?

Kill him!

What a busybody.

Mr. Di, I'm coming to help!

-Make way! -Mr. Di.

-Make way! -Make way!

-Make way! -Huaiying, run. Tomorrow you have to...

-Make way! -Make way!

Make way!

There are so many people.

-Mr. Di, run! -My father is the Minister of Personnel.

-Arrest them all! -Take them!

-Don't move! -Don't move!

Don't move.

Be gentle. Looser.

It's too tight.

Why did you release them? They attacked people.

Yes, they're the violent ones. Don't let them leave.

Crouch down.

-Look at you. -Why did you arrest me?

-You're such a big man now. -Shut it!

After all these years,

you're still being chased.

They made a cruel remark about the empress.

I got angry and said a few more retorts.

The empress has been promoting new policies.

The tax policy in particular.

It's reformed from time to time.

No wonder these people...

Di Renjie, He Dajing.

Come out.

Someone wants to see you.

COMPLIANCE

FRUGALITY

Grand Secretariat, they are here.

Mr. Wei.

I'm sorry for the trouble.

Mr. Wei.

WEI WUJI

Huaiying?

Okay. Go in and get them.

Don't yell.

Let's insist that we know no one.

Fine.

HIGHEST VIRTUE

So you've been traveling

in the Western Regions all these years.

Yes.

Shule and Kucha are both interesting.

But the moon in Kunlun is incomparable.

Have you also been to Kunlun?

I haven't.

I'm not there yet,

but I yearn for it.

That's why I wanted to hear your story.

-I am flattered. -Grand Secretariat.

Grand Secretariat.

I came as soon as I saw your name card.

He Dajing is my close assistant.

Mr. Di was once a student of mine.

It's my fault for not knowing

they have been misbehaving.

It is nothing.

It was just a street fight.

The two misters were involved by accident.

There was no need for you to be here as their guarantor.

I'll release them now.

I'll release them at once.

Thank you.

You are very welcome.

We shall continue discussing the Western Regions of Tang

after your examination for classicists tomorrow.

That is settled then.

Mr. Wei, mind your step.

Luckily, we met Grand Secretariat

or we would've had to spend a lot of money today.

What about those two?

They're not residents of Chang'an.

Their release will be hard.

This will be enough, right?

I told you we can't keep them.

They're trouble.

So what should we do?

Should I go?

I already took care of it.

A wise man must remember

not to join the wrong side.

Mr. Di.

He's gone.

He really doesn't want us anymore.

Take a look.

DANING WARD

Take it out.

This is Chang'an,

not your countryside.

There are laws and regulations.

You have to be careful and obey the law.

Above all,

refrain from discussing palace affairs.

Do you hear me?

I'm full.

The last time I ate this much

was when I killed

a bully's sheep.

Back then, we robbed the rich to aid the poor.

We never killed an innocent person.

You just admitted to murder and robbery.

If I were an official,

I would punish you now.

How much do you owe for your passport

to the Western Regions?

I didn't tell her anything.

Keep your voice down at night

if you don't want people to know.

This shabby place...

I don't want your money.

"The fish won't survive if the city is on fire."

You taught me that.

I also taught you,

"A noble person makes his fortune in a proper way."

Only this time.

Sir, another flatbread.

Okay.

Here you go.

"Don't act kindly just because it is petty."

"Don't fail to act evilly because it's trivial."

I remember it too.

I'll keep an eye on her from now on.

I will watch her.

If everyone thinks like him,

this world will never get better.

DI'S RESIDENCE

Di?

Take a look.

You scared me.

Why did you talk to the neighborhood official?

Did you know that Di Renjie's father

used to be a prominent official in Chang'an?

Did you know that his family

owns a big house?

That's weird.

Then why does he stay in that shabby inn?

I don't know either.

He has so many secrets.

Do you think the name Di Renjie

is also a fake?

A name is just a designation.

What's real or fake?

Even if he's using a fake name,

maybe he has a good reason.

Huaiying.

Have you heard?

The categories of this year's examination

offer many choices.

Regardless of your status and background, you can choose any of them.

There are Confucianism and classic texts.

There are also astronomy and calculations.

An individualized exam. Everyone can show their talents.

Did Mr. Wei tell you that?

Didn't you promise to do well in the exam?

-Will you... -I promised him I would go.

I didn't promise him

I would do well in the exam.

This thing is interesting.

Huaiying, why don't you and I make a bet?

If I win, you'll go to the exam.

If I lose, you don't have to take it.

Two blacks and three whites is called Ta.

Three blacks and two whites is called Xiao.

If it's all black, that's Lu.

If it's all white, that's Kai.

I choose all whites.

Quick.

If you don't choose, it's a win for me.

It's such a big deal, not a joke.

My fate

must be in my own hands.

Huaiying.

I don't know what your fate is.

But your fate

has something to do with that.

All candidates,

tidy up your clothes

and enter the examination room.

Leave your belongings here.

Your admission ticket.

Leave your wineskin too.

This year's examination is even stricter.

You're not allowed to bring any drinkware or eating utensils in.

Leave your wineskin here.

If it's found in the exam room,

you'll be disqualified.

All right.

Don't put it upside down.

It won't spill. Go inside.

Next.

Huaiying.

Don't tell Mr. Wei

that I carry a wineskin with me.

If he finds out,

the consequences will be unthinkable.

Look.

It's the emperor and empress.

His Majesty!

Her Majesty!

It's truly His Majesty.

His Majesty.

His Majesty.

The examination is over.

All candidates must leave.

Huaiying.

Let's go drinking.

Did you do well?

Will you go? If you don't, you're looking down on me.

Let's go.

Study hard for decades,

put pen to paper to serve the court, and gain higher status.

It has been three years.

I can finally go out and about again.

Huaiying, come.

Look.

This is the Great Tang.

Even though it's nighttime,

it's fully illuminated

and crowded with people.

It's like a festive feast at every moment.

Let's go.

I heard that the Poetry Contest two days ago was very exciting.

The country's best singers, dancers, and poets came to Chang'an.

There was my favorite,

Ms. Yulan, the top dancer of the Tang.

And Cao An. I like her too.

Her singing

is better than that of all of the 108 wards in Chang'an.

In the end,

it was Teng Kan from Penglai

who won the Poetry Contest.

Teng Kan?

I know him.

Isn't he a military officer?

-He's a general, -Two gentlemen!

But he's a very good poet now.

Even the empress and emperor

are impressed by his poems.

This place is good.

Are you guests of Grand Commandant Zhangsun?

We just want to have a drink.

There's a private event today. We can't serve you.

We just want to have a drink. Then we...

Let's go. Let's drink somewhere else.

Don't pull me.

I'm telling you.

You're nothing.

Huaiying, let me tell you.

When I become a powerful official, we'll book this place too.

Then I'll ride the best horses

and drink the best wine.

We'll order the best dancers.

I must become an Imperial Scholar!

Huaiying.

What are you looking at?

The land nurtures sweet osmanthus

Come again.

-Distant woods stand tall and strong... -Huaiying.

-Gentlemen. -Huaiying, slow down.

What are you looking for?

-Misters. -Misters, want to listen to some music?

Sure.

Do you have singers and dancers here?

We have both.

Huaiying, what are you looking for?

May I ask what brings you two gentlemen here?

I would like to see the lady

who was singing.

No one was singing.

I clearly heard

someone singing a Bingzhou ditty.

JUSHUI HOUSE

We're closed today. We can't serve you.

-Are you looking down on us? -Move aside.

Why are you all like this?

What are you doing?

Nothing. It's nothing.

-Xiaotao. -Yes.

Please invite the two gentlemen in.

Yes.

Well, please come in.

Huaiying, let's go.

JUSHUI HOUSE

-Let's go. -Let's go.

JUSHUI HOUSE

"The best singer in Chang'an."

A singer who is liked even by the empress.

Huaiying, you have good taste.

Gentlemen.

We're closed today.

The guards and servants are out.

We're not open for business.

It's all right.

I just want to see the one who was singing just now.

We're the only ones in Jushui House.

You must have misheard.

But I did hear someone singing

a Bingzhou ditty.

No one was singing.

No one was singing and that's it.

We're here to drink.

Just serve us wine.

Serve us wine.

Sit, Huaiying. Sit.

Someone, serve wine.

Why is the wine in this color?

Dajing.

This wine...

Can we afford it?

Just drink it.

Here, Huaiying.

A toast to you.

Come on.

Let's get drunk today.

Slow down.

Wine has strong after-effects.

What? Afraid I'll get drunk?

Isn't that why we drink?

I like to have a sip every day,

but I don't dare to in front of Mr. Wei.

So don't tell Mr. Wei

about our drinking today.

Does Mr. Wei still lecture people often?

Now...

Mr. Wei has been granted more responsibility.

By the order of His and Her Majesties,

based on the Record of Eminent Families from the Zhenguan Period,

he's compiling Great Families.

Great Families?

It contains 245 surnames and 287 families,

divided into nine classes.

All officials above the fifth rank

are included.

The empress's four families are listed in the first class.

And soldiers too.

Soldiers are only included

if they're promoted to the fifth rank or above

based on their military merits.

The other clans with no merits

are all at the back.

With this,

the order of the world is about to change.

Of course it will.

Those old nobles

such as Grand Commandant Zhangsun

will have a hard time in the future.

Maybe one day,

something will go wrong.

This wine is really good.

I'll drink more today.

What's this smell?

I lift my drink and sing a song,

for who knows if life is short or long.

A man's life is but the morning dew.

Past days many, future ones few.

The melancholy my heart begets

comes from cares I cannot forget.

To alleviate worries,

only drinking will do.

He Dajing.

What is the matter, Mr. Wei?

Do well on your exam.

I will

always remember

your teachings.

When can we pick the shining moon

hanging in the sky?

Huaiying.

Taste my wine.

Usually,

I would have drunk it all by now.

But I couldn't bring it to the examination room today,

so there's still some wine left.

Why is it so light?

Did it leak?

It's impossible.

What?

When did it leak?

At the Imperial Academy.

It must have been those servants.

Pity my good wine.

It's bitter!

Why is it so bitter?

Bitter?

The herb Chinese goldthread.

A few days ago,

while preparing for the exam,

I had a toothache,

so I took some Chinese goldthread.

What bad luck.

We're looking for the suspect.

Search the premises.

-Yes. -Yes.

-Hurry... -Hurry.

-Quick. -Open the door.

Open the door.

Open the door now.

-Open it. -What's wrong?

-Officer. -Quick.

Open the door.

-Quick. -Open up!

Quick. Search.

Quick.

Make way...

Let's go.

YAXIN

Yaxin, it's me.

Sister.

When can I get out of here?

Just a little longer.

Jinwu Guards are out there searching for you.

Someone!

Bring me wine!

I'll go out to take a look.

Lock the door.

Today, we must drink

to our hearts' content.

Where are you going?

Don't go.

Sir, where are you going?

I just came to apologize.

We agreed

to leave after a pot of wine.

My friend is drunk.

Don't blame him.

It's fine, sir.

It's not a problem.

There's a secret door, right?

Where does it lead?

You must be mistaken, sir.

There's no such door.

Here is the wine.

Sir, please keep drinking.

I think you've had too much to drink.

Your wine is not good.

I'll make you some hangover soup later.

JUSHUI HOUSE

There's a fire!

Fire!

Huaiying!

Put out the fire!

Huaiying!

Huaiying!

Put out the fire!

JUSHUI HOUSE