Original subtitles

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

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

Put out the fire!

Fire!

Huaiying!

Put out the fire!

Huaiying!

Fire!

Huaiying!

Put out the fire!

Take a look.

Go away!

Make way!

Move aside!

Make way!

Hurry up.

Move it!

-Huaiying. -Mr. Di?

Huaiying!

Huaiying.

Huaiying!

Qiao Tai, hurry. Follow them.

-I'll find a way. -Okay.

Quick.

Keep up.

FAIRNESS FOSTERS DISCERNMENT

The scribe of musicians.

A secret door.

Hurry up.

Hurry up and sign it.

POWER OF THE PEOPLE

This...

I can't sign this.

It says here

that the fire at Jushui House broke out

because of Heaven's wrath.

But Jushui House

was on fire inside,

not outside.

How can you say it's heavenly fire?

All right.

Then tell me.

Where did the fire come from?

I...

If you can't say,

then you were the one who set the fire!

To know where the fire came from,

we need to investigate the scene

and find where the fire started

and what caused it.

You haven't even investigated yet.

There's no proof.

How could you say that I set the fire?

How dare you!

I...

Of course I have proof.

Of nine people, eight died.

You're the only one who survived.

If it's not you, then is it me?

If I really wanted to commit the crime,

how could I have let myself

end up like this?

A person like you with a shady background

could do anything.

Someone, beat him

until he's willing to tell the truth!

-Yes! -Stop!

PROSPERITY OF THE PEOPLE

FAIRNESS AND CLARITY

Move aside.

Apologies for the belated welcome.

Please.

Mr. Wei.

Di Renjie

is the son of Di Zhixun, the former Secretary General,

not someone with a shady background.

Besides, he's right.

If he had committed the crime,

he wouldn't have ended up in this state.

Di Renjie was once my student.

I have faith in his character

and his intellect.

Mr. Wei, please forgive me

for making such a reckless statement.

Someone,

take the prisoner to the back office

for investigation.

-Yes. -Yes.

Mr. Wei.

This is what happened.

Mr. Wei, according to the sergeant,

the scene was charred black.

No clues can be found.

The coroner is still examining the bodies.

We can't find any clues about this case.

I have no idea where to start.

Mr. Wei.

I didn't set the fire.

As for whether the fire was natural or man-made,

I volunteer to investigate it

to prove my innocence.

You want to investigate it?

Within ten days,

if I can't solve the case,

I'll take the blame.

If you're afraid I'll escape,

you can send my portrait

to the guards at the city gates.

Your portrait? What's the use?

Any villain knows how to disguise themselves.

Mr. Wei.

It's not that I don't want to help.

It's just

against the rules.

Mr. Wei.

He Dajing was your assistant

and your favorite student.

He was also my friend.

I hate to see him die in vain.

Please help me.

Let's do this.

I have an idea.

This black iron is indestructible.

Without the key, it's impossible to be opened.

With this as proof,

even if he disguises himself,

he won't be able to leave Chang'an

as long as you notify the gate guards.

I'll have him stay in my residence

and keep an eye on him.

With me as the guarantor,

you can rest assured.

Every day in the evening,

come to the Magistrate's Office

and make daily reports.

WANNIAN COUNTY MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE

WANNIAN COUNTY MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE

He was going to close the case with the fire caused by a thunderbolt.

Why go out of your way to complicate things?

We can't blame Heaven

for human sin.

What if you fail to find out the truth?

As long as it's man-made,

clues will be left behind.

I'll be able to find out the truth.

Be careful.

Let me know what you find

so I can help you.

Thank you, Mr. Wei.

DAY ONE

How did this fire start?

Was it started by lightning again,

just like the Wutong tree?

Why she is the only one

whose body is intact?

The others were all burned to death.

Only this one

was found in another room.

She suffocated to death.

How did you get in here?

What...

Don't touch it.

What...

-Let's chat. -What do you want?

-Come. -You...

-Listen. -You...

-Don't be reckless. -Do you know Mr. Wei?

-Mr. Wei. -Don't touch anything.

Mr. Wei sent us here.

Grand Secretariat Wei? I know him.

Grand Secretariat Wei.

This key is from the palace.

What a beautiful

lady.

This is the third batch.

If the Jinwu Guards are in such a hurry,

something big must have happened in the palace.

In the palace? What could happen there?

If we find out who owns this thing,

we should be able to know.

How do we do that?

Judging from the gilt threads

and the vermilion coloring,

ordinary people can't afford it.

The East Market has a fragrance shop,

Jingyuan Pavilion.

The best fragrances from Hu merchants

are always supplied there first.

Go and find out

who bought these fragrances.

Mr. Di, where are you going?

Let's go to the East Market.

JUSHUI HOUSE

JUSHUI HOUSE

This is...

Did someone lock the door

from the outside?

There's a secret door, right?

Where does it lead?

You must be mistaken, sir.

There's no such door.

Yaxin!

Yaxin, there's a fire! Come out!

Yaxin!

The others were all burned to death.

Only this one

was found in another room.

She suffocated to death.

Yaxin, open the door now!

Open the door!

Sister!

Sister, open the door!

Open the door!

Why was there a palace maid

hiding in Jushui House?

I've checked it out.

The sachet contains a mixture of myrrh,

sandalwood, and wild turmeric.

They are all the empress's favorite scents.

Could it be that the lady was from the empress's palace?

She surely holds a secret.

That's why the streets are filled with Jinwu Guards.

They're all looking for her.

LEFT JINWU GUARDS

Who disturbs the Jinwu Guards?

I know the identity of that body.

You do?

She was the empress's palace maid who was responsible for treasures.

General.

It's her.

KANG ZHIYI

-Search Pingkang Ward. -Yes.

Everyone, search Pingkang Ward.

Don't miss a single corner.

Who is he?

The empress's guard,

General Kang Zhiyi.

What has the empress lost?

Judging from this,

it must be something valuable.

Life, death,

and power.

Everyone is terrified of them.

This threatens our state's very foundation.

-Your Majesty. -We must investigate it.

Such an important matter happened.

-Your Majesty, you must be prudent. -Your Majesty.

Please think twice.

Your Majesty, please make a fair judgment.

Your Majesty, I implore you to make a decision.

Your Majesty.

-You must be prudent, Your Majesty. -Please think twice.

-Your Majesty. -You must be prudent.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

Please make a decision.

Please make a decision, Your Majesty.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

The loss of the Phoenix Seal

means that imperial authority is at stake.

It was used by villains

to kill the Governor of Yangzhou, Chen Zhuliang, with poison.

The court is in a state of panic.

The loss of the Phoenix Seal

is an act of misdeed by the empress.

She must be severely punished.

Your Majesty, please...

make your decision.

-Your Majesty, please make your decision. -Your Majesty, please make your decision.

EMPRESS

DAY THREE

BULLETIN OF THE COURT

What are you looking for?

Look at the mess you've caused.

Who on earth are you?

Who do I look like?

Are you from the government?

From the General's Residence?

From the palace?

Don't ask.

It'll bring you trouble.

Excuse me.

How much is this?

It's ten wen.

It's too expensive.

It's not. I can give you a discount.

It's so pretty.

How much is it?

Eight wen each.

This lady is so beautiful.

-Give her a discount. Five wen. -Yes.

-Okay, fine. Five wen. -Okay, pay him.

-Five wen it is. -Thank you.

Come here and take a look.

Hello, take a look.

Excuse me. Can I try this?

Of course. Have a sample.

This is delicious.

-Really? -Have a taste.

-Let me try it. -Really?

Here. Have a taste.

Don't just eat it.

Are you buying or not?

Yes, buy what you need to buy.

Pay for what you need to pay.

Okay.

What's that on your face?

They say it wards off evil spirits.

Do you believe that?

Let's go.

Mr. Di is waiting for the bulletin.

You're taking it too seriously.

I'll go back later.

WEI'S RESIDENCE

Huaiying.

As expected from someone who has been to the Western Regions.

You're so knowledgeable.

I envy you.

Unlike me.

Every day,

I'm stuck in the Imperial Academy,

miserable and gloomy all day long.

I've been copying documents and writing articles endlessly.

All these years,

if it weren't for Mr. Wei's care,

I would hardly be able to make a living.

Stop drinking.

Drinking can easily lead to a mistake.

I've never made a mistake because of drinking.

Someone spiked my drink that day.

-What's this? -It's all fate.

People are now living in fear,

saying it's Heaven's wrath.

What "Heaven's wrath"?

Tell me.

The empress's favorite Wutong tree was struck by a thunderbolt.

The entertainment house she liked

was also struck by a thunderbolt and caught fire.

What else could this be if not a warning from Heaven?

Jushui House didn't catch fire from a thunderbolt.

You didn't tell me anything,

so I must go outside to listen to these rumors.

It's not Heaven's wrath.

You're just like your father,

a miser with words.

Mr. Wei.

Do you know

what He Dajing liked?

For the past few days,

I've been dreaming about him.

But in my dreams,

I can't see his face clearly.

He had been with me since he was a child.

But recently, I realized

that I didn't know him at all.

He liked drinking

and always carried a wineskin.

He liked writing poetry.

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.

I didn't know any of this.

He was a timid child,

always careful with what he said and did.

In more than ten years with me,

he never dared to speak out.

And I was mostly

criticizing and nitpicking him.

My condolences, Mr. Wei.

He has gone.

I'm worried about you now.

Two days have passed.

Do you have any idea

where the fire started?

Jushui House

is full of flammable materials.

It's hard to find the point of origin.

The Governor of Yangzhou, Chen Zhuliang.

Five years ago, for opposing the establishment of the empress,

he was demoted to Yangzhou of Nanshan Circuit.

A few days ago,

he was forcibly poisoned

and killed by a forged imperial decree with the Phoenix Seal on it.

It was because of this

that the theft of the Phoenix Seal was uncovered.

But the eleventh day of the fifth month...

Exactly.

It was the day after the incident at Jushui House.

Is this related to the Jushui House case?

Yes.

That night, someone went to Jushui House.

He knew there would be a fire

and locked the entrance,

preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

JUSHUI HOUSE

It was purely a fluke that I survived.

Who wanted to kill you two?

He did not want to kill us.

The person he wanted to kill

was Yaxin, the palace maid responsible for the seal.

Yaxin stole the Phoenix Seal entrusted to her care.

After the deed was done,

she was silenced.

According to Wannian County's report,

the musician in charge at Jushui House

was from the same hometown as Yaxin.

So many people were implicated

because of Yaxin.

Did you report this to Wannian County's magistrate?

Not yet.

This is all just my speculation.

There is no proof.

But the incident at Jushui House

and the loss of the Phoenix Seal

are inextricably linked.

I'm afraid the fire

was set by the one who stole the seal,

an enemy of the empress.

You've read so many court bulletins.

Why do you still not understand?

The empress's reforms

have offended too many people.

What I want to say is

that Yangzhou's Bulletin of the Court are not true.

I do not believe

anyone will resist the reforms.

What changed by the empress's reform of the imperial exam

was the monopoly of the eminent families.

The agricultural reforms

no longer penalize displaced migrants,

allowing them to settle down nearby

and giving them farmland.

People can farm,

and crops can be grown.

This is what I've seen with my own eyes

during my travels over the years.

Just because you saw it,

does it mean it's true?

The empress's Phoenix Seal is missing.

All the examination papers

have been sealed and stored.

They won't be marked.

The Institute for the Advancement of Literature

is now a mess.

Those who support the empress and those who oppose her

are fighting.

I've never had anything to do with politics.

I'm too old and just want to avoid trouble.

But you should know that in Chang'an,

there are too many people

who oppose the empress.

They're very vicious

and don't need to hide.

They all have their own hidden agendas

and are in high positions.

Chang'an

is not yours or mine.

It's theirs.

I wonder when you got this bad habit

of pilfering wherever you go.

How can you call this pilfering?

I just took it in passing.

Okay, sure. But why didn't you take something valuable?

What's the point of taking this pile of junk?

It's called...

souvenirs.

Wrong direction.

Where are you going?

Is Mr. Di around?

He's not.

I'll go find him.

He's not around.

Some things must be done when he's not around.

GOOD MORALS

Mr. Hong.

Good. I was looking for you.

This is my handmade stuffed rice cake.

I have both sweet and savory flavors.

Have a taste.

What do you need?

Nothing.

If you need something, say it here.

You have something to ask of me

or you wouldn't be ingratiating.

I can't eat this.

I just want to get to know Mr. Di.

For example,

is there anyone else in this family?

Mr. Di's parents

died when he was young.

Then does he have siblings?

No, he's an only child.

Pity him then.

He's an orphan like me.

Even though Mr. Di is the only one left now,

he comes from a family of government officials.

He's not the same person as he is now.

It has nothing to do with his family background.

If one lives in the world alone

all the time,

one will feel lonely.

Are you worried

that he can't solve the case?

I'm not worried that he can't solve the case.

-I'm worried about his... -You're worried about his safety.

Mr. Hong, don't worry.

From now on, just like you do,

we will make sure he is safe.

You're back.

Come on. Have a taste.

I made stuffed rice cakes.

I'm not hungry.

At least try it.

He...

This is the man you want to know.

That's the way he is.

You never know what he's thinking.

WEI'S RESIDENCE

A burnt leather cord.

Someone set the fire

and then locked the exit

with a leather cord from the outside.

This was not heavenly fire.

Definitely not.

A farmhouse on the outskirts of Wannian County

was burned by heavenly fire last night.

The report says four people died in the fire.

What should we do?

Go. Call the coroner!

Magistrate, the coroner suddenly fell ill two days ago

and is sick at home with a face rash and continuous sneezing.

Of all times, why now?

Let me try.

I know a bit about medicine.

Sure. Take a look.

What did you find?

The four bodies are all male.

They have calluses on their palms

and purlicues.

They were all burned to death.

I know that!

That's right.

Wait.

They were already dead

before the fire started.

In his mouth,

there is no ash.

I'll take a look inside the scene.

You...

-Follow him! -Yes.

I'll go into the scene too.

Everything is burned to a crisp.

What kind of clues can we get?

Let's just do it.

What did you find?

Anything found at the murder scene

must be turned over to...

What's wrong?

It's just a bunch of dead silkworms.

What's the big deal?

You, go over there and check.

Why did it have to be these silkworms?

What are you doing?

I want to take some silkworms

and check again.

No need to do so.

Someone, take these bodies

and everything we found here

back to the office.

-Come. Clean this place up. -Wait!

Magistrate, let me investigate again.

I'm sure I can find something.

No need to do so.

This case involves the palace.

It's out of my hands.

If you want to investigate, see the Minister of Justice.

Go.

Magistrate.

Let me investigate again, please.

Today

is the fourth day.

It's hot.

It's so hot.

It's so hot.

Don't you get it?

You can't solve this case.

It's a clash of giants.

It's so hot.

Hurry up.

Let's go.

Let's go back and rest.

Let's go. Hurry up.

-Yes. -Yes.

Be careful.

-Watch out. -Did you get something?

Look ahead. Slow down.

Okay.

All right.

The Wannian County magistrate said,

"Why did it have to be these silkworms?"

What does it mean?

Empress Wu emulates Empress Zhangsun

and performs rites on sericulture.

By traditional rites,

she must be close to the people, raise silkworms, and reel silk herself.

Who raises silkworms near Chang'an?

So I'm afraid the silkworms

were from the rites on sericulture.

They were spread over farmhouses

to show the empress's virtue of caring

for all the people.

So this is just an ordinary farmhouse.

It's a farmhouse,

but perhaps it's not ordinary.

I'm afraid those people in there

weren't ordinary farmers either.

What do you mean?

There must be clues on the bodies.

The problem is

I'm not authorized to examine them.

I can't go any further.

If we walk back to Chang'an,

how long will we have to walk?

I...

Heaven helps the good ones.

Nice! There are three, one for each of us.

Wait. There are four.

That's weird.

These horses don't look like wild horses.

I've seen these horses before.

DANING WARD

They're the Yulin Guards'.