Original subtitles

[Judge Dee's Mystery]

[Based on the novel of the same name by the Dutch author Robert van Gulik]

[Episode 5]

[This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance is purely coincidental.]

[Penglai]

Magistrate,

a male corpse was found.

Stop there.

[Penglai County]

Go back.

Why?

It's the Xu hour now. The gate is closed.

No entry is allowed.

Go out.

The drums are still beating.

And the gates are still open.

It's not a violation

to enter the city now, right?

Captain.

Take them down.

Don't move.

Wait.

I'm Di Renjie, the new magistrate of Penglai County.

This unidentified male corpse

is the first case I'm going to solve in Penglai.

Penglai County is quite lively at night.

Let's get some flatbread. I'm hungry.

You're hungry again.

Excuse me,

I'd like four flatbreads.

Sure.

Pick the hot ones for me.

Okay.

How much is it?

One qian.

One qian for each?

One qian for four.

It's so cheap.

It's much cheaper than those in Chang'an.

That's right.

Fair trade for all.

That's the rule.

Whose rule?

Penglai's rule.

What other rules do you have here?

Take walking as an example.

Scholars and farmers walk on the left.

Artisans and merchants walk on the right.

For forced purchase and sale and price gouging,

it's flogging.

For thieves and robbers,

their hands will be chopped off.

For oppressors of the good

and adulterers,

they walk through the streets for all to see.

That's nice.

Since the last magistrate of Penglai

was sentenced to prison for smuggling,

it's been three months.

Look.

I can't believe the market

is still in order now.

It indicates that the assistants of the last magistrate

did a good job of governing Penglai.

If that's true,

it's a good thing.

Excuse me,

why are all the women on the street

wearing white powder on their faces?

To look pretty.

Pretty?

Are you

Magistrate Di Renjie?

Yes.

[Teng Kan] I'm Teng Kan.

It was Teng Kan

from Penglai who won first place

in the Poetry Contest.

Mr. Teng.

When your poetry won the Poetry Context in the capital,

I was just in Chang'an.

Unexpectedly,

I met you in Penglai.

Seems like

we're destined to meet, Magistrate.

They are

locals in Penglai.

They heard you'd arrive,

so they're here to greet you.

How did you know I was coming tonight?

Magistrate, you misunderstood.

The banquet

is to celebrate the Yichun Festival. [*the start of spring]

We just heard about your arrival.

Two happy events come at the same time.

So we're here to welcome you to join our banquet.

I've traveled a long way

and am covered in dust.

I'll come back to visit you some other time.

That's great.

We can just help you wash off the dust with wine.

If you

still don't want to join us,

we will think

you're blaming us for having a banquet

without waiting

for your arrival at Penglai County.

Huaiying,

they are so courteous.

You should just join them.

Just go. Don't worry.

Wagon, horses, and baggage,

we'll bring them back to the camp.

Go.

Let's go.

Please, Magistrate.

After you.

Please, Magistrate.

After you, Mr. Teng.

Mr. Teng.

Greetings, Mr. Teng.

Greetings, Mr. Teng.

This way.

Magistrate,

this

is my wife, Yinlian.

[Yinlian]

Greetings, Magistrate.

Please have a seat.

Be it a mighty and majestic army

or beautiful scenery,

Mr. Teng handles both with effortless finesse.

Thank you.

Have a seat.

Your poetry is really extraordinary.

It's only natural

that you're the best poet in the capital.

Congratulations.

- I'm flattered. - Congratulations, Mr. Teng.

Please.

It seems that today's night banquet

is not only to celebrate the Yichun Festival,

but it's also to celebrate your poetry

winning first place in the capital.

I can't hide it from you.

I didn't bring any gifts.

I'm really sorry.

Mr. Teng,

Mrs. Teng,

congratulations.

Magistrate, you're too welcome.

Magistrate, thank you.

Magistrate, have a seat.

Miss Cao is here.

Miss Cao is here.

[Cao An]

Sir,

you look familiar to me.

Magistrate,

this is

the best singer in Penglai County,

Cao An.

Her talent and skills

are as good as those of the famous performers

in Chang'an's Pingkang Ward.

Miss Cao,

this is

the new magistrate of Penglai County,

Di Renjie,

Magistrate Di.

I'm Cao An from Mingyue House.

A toast to you, Magistrate.

Have a seat.

♪The land nurtures sweet osmanthus♪

♪Distant woods stand tall and strong♪

♪Leaves open, unfolding brilliance in the wind♪

♪Flowers bloom, radiating moonlight♪

♪The land nurtures sweet osmanthus♪

♪Distant woods stand tall and strong♪

♪Leaves open, unfolding brilliance in the wind♪

♪Flowers bloom, radiating moonlight♪

♪Flowers bloom, radiating moonlight♪

You left in the middle of the banquet. We haven't had enough fun yet.

You can leave me here.

Just now,

someone at the banquet mentioned

the Four-panel Screen.

It's a family matter.

Magistrate,

please don't worry about it.

Mr. Teng.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm a lightweight drinker.

I'm a lightweight drinker.

How much did you drink?

Leprosy.

It's already cured.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

I'm back.

Come on.

Draw a portrait for him.

A dead person?

I don't want to do it.

I won't do it.

Di Renjie.

Di Renjie,

your shoe is broken.

Your shoe...

Ma Rong.

It's fine.

Let him be.

Go.

Go to grind ink.

Don't be afraid.

Come on.

Treat him as a normal person and draw it.

Come on.

Stop there.

Stop there.

- Don't run. - Stop there.

Stop there.

Wait for us.

Stop there.

Heiyan.

Mr. Heiyan,

we're from the Penghai Gang.

You know me?

Mr. Heiyan,

we didn't know you were here.

This girl,

if you like her,

we'll keep her for you.

Let's go.

Wait.

If you know me,

you have to leave me something.

[Young Cao An] Heiyan.

You shouldn't say that name.

[Notice]

Have you found everything?

Yes.

The warehouse was emptied overnight.

Documents and files of decades.

Good. Let's get some rest when we're done.

There really isn't a single unsolved case.

Indeed not.

Mr. Wang,

the position of the magistrate has been vacant for over three months.

No one in the county

filed a complaint?

Magistrate,

there were complaints,

but they were

all minor

and trivial,

so they were resolved

on the same day

and not included in the case files.

The county is at peace.

Great.

Hong,

it seems we really have come

to a great place.

♪The land nurtures sweet osmanthus♪

♪Distant woods stand tall and strong♪

♪Leaves open, unfolding brilliance in the wind♪

[Mingyue House] ♪Flowers bloom, radiating moonlight♪

♪The land nurtures sweet osmanthus♪

[Director]

Sir,

we're not open yet.

Please come back later.

May I ask

who's singing the Bingzhou ditty?

It's Miss Cao An.

♪Flowers bloom, radiating moonlight♪

Huaiying,

you should go to have some rest.

How about the portraits posted?

Any news?

The deceased's face

was disfigured by leprosy,

so it can't be recognized easily.

I'm afraid

it will take some time.

When my father was in the capital,

did he have dealings with an official with the surname Cao?

I remember one.

18 years ago,

an official's property was confiscated

for illegally minting coins.

It's Cao Hexian.

It's him.

But Cao Hexian had no dealings with your father.

No dealings?

The first reason is the Bingzhou ditty.

What is the second reason?

Huaiying,

it's not just this case you're thinking about, is it?

Why are you asking about this suddenly?

Nothing.

I'm just asking.

Just asking.

A new broom sweeps clean. A new officer will set three fires.

The first one

is burning like this.

In my opinion,

the second and third fires

will hardly burn.

I've heard of portraits used to catch criminals

but not portraits used to recognize a corpse.

That's true.

Look at this portrait.

The nose doesn't look like a nose.

The eyes don't look like eyes.

The face is rotten

and pockmarked.

Who could recognize this?

Exactly.

An official with a classicist degree

is really not well educated.

How can he

get such a high position?

It turns out the time

I spent studying is pointless.

Let me see.

Who is she?

Maybe I'll recognize it.

The person in the portrait

looks very similar to you.

You...

You...

If you were not a woman,

I'd have made you pay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You...

Let's take a bet.

Two hours.

Thirty minutes.

Why are you here?

When did you come back?

I've been here the whole time.

That's weird.

I didn't see you just now.

You thought I was in the house.

That's why you kept looking inside.

That's how people are.

Di Renjie,

I'm telling you.

I didn't peep at you.

Did I say

you were peeping?

What did you mean by ''30 minutes''?

It'll rain in 30 minutes.

You bet

it'll rain in two hours.

I bet in 30 minutes.

You can even guess this?

Huaiying,

did you deduce it again?

How did you do it?

Tell me.

You won't understand it.

Well...

Then deduce me.

Deduce me.

You're like a bowl of water. I can see the bottom at a glance.

What do I have to deduce?

Di Renjie,

you and I can never

be on the same page.

You don't need to say thank you.

Change it.

I'm a magistrate.

It's inappropriate for me

to wear stolen boots, right?

What's wrong with your eyes?

Check the bottoms.

They're white.

They're new.

Do you know?

The position of the magistrate of Penglai

has been vacant for over three months,

but there's no single unsolved case.

What's wrong with that?

Isn't it good that there's no unsolved case?

It's good for you.

But for me,

I can only solve new cases.

We have a new case?

You stole someone's money today.

This is the new case I need to solve.

You...

You want to capture me?

I'm an official now.

You're not an official.

You're just an officer.

No. You're even not an officer.

You're just one of my attendants.

I...

I stole the money to defend you.

That criminal...

That criminal is still out there.

That body is still lying there.

You don't go to catch the criminal.

But you want to catch me?

Thirty minutes.

If I win,

I'll bring you to justice.

What if I win?

You won't.

Also,

I forgot to tell you.

Those people in the streets of Penglai wore white powder

on their faces because they had leprosy.

Who is it?

Isn't this the money bag I lost?

Lucky you.

Put it on her.

Are you okay?

Kidnapping a woman in broad daylight.

Who gave you the nerve?

You...

You're a thief.

I advise you to be smart.

If you break the rules of the Esteemed Head,

he won't let you off.

The Esteemed Head?

As long as you're in Penglai,

you have to abide by his rules.

The Esteemed Head

is the King of Justice.

The King of Justice?

Come on.

What are you doing?

Don't you want to tie me up

and take me to see your Esteemed Head?

You go.

Tie her up.

Me?

Hurry up.

Come on. Put it on me.

Yeah?

Go.

Don't steal from people who are living alone.

Don't pick on the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled.

That's the rule.

If you can't remember,

get out of Penglai.

Yes.

Take him down.

Next one.

Boss.

She's here.

[The Esteemed Head] Just a little girl.

Why so serious?

Untie her.

Okay. Untie her.

What are you doing?

What do you want?

So, you're the Esteemed Head?

That's right.

I heard

you're in charge here.

Correct.

Well, I'm curious.

If you're in charge,

what's Magistrate Di in charge of?

You work for the government?

That's right.

Let her go.

Leave.

Now.

What do you mean?

One who works for the government

is under the government's jurisdiction.

So not my business.

Get her out of here.

Yes.

- Come on. - Hands off.

It's easier to invite the devil in than to send him away.

I just heard your men say

that anyone who wants to live in Penglai

has to follow your rules.

I'm here today

just to tell you this.

Di Renjie, Magistrate Di, is here.

From now on,

he has a say in everything in Penglai.

You can rest now.

Since ancient times,

the government and Jianghu

are two different things.

They are indeed two different things.

But don't forget

that there's still the law above us.

I have to take away your Jianghu power

and return it to Magistrate Di.

Power isn't something you take.

It's something you earn.

You have to earn it yourself.

Then tell me.

How to earn it?

By drinking.

Right. Drinking.

Chug it.

Chug it.

Drinking with Rong?

They must have a death wish.

Get up.

You wake up.

Get up.

Get up.

Magistrate, I didn't expect you

to come to my place so soon after taking office.

I'm honored.

When I was passing by,

I heard you play a Bingzhou ditty.

I wonder

if you could play it again for me.

The director told me

that it was you...

We have many singers here.

She must

have made a mistake.

What about I

sing Mr. Teng's new piece

for you, Magistrate?

That won't be necessary.

You don't like Mr. Teng's poetry?

The theme of love and romance

is not what I like.

Unexpectedly,

you don't understand romance.

Mr. Teng is well-known.

Even though he has no children

and no intention of taking a concubine,

he's deeply in love

with his wife Yinlian.

What he wrote and expressed in his poetry

is also his yearning for a lifetime

of companionship with his wife.

Even His Majesty

was moved by it

and granted him two words, ''Elegant Affection''.

All this

can't move you?

You're so well-informed.

You don't look like

a common singer living in a remote place like Penglai.

Do you know where I come from?

When my father was in the capital,

did he have dealings with an official with the surname Cao?

18 years ago,

an official's property was confiscated

for illegally minting coins.

It's Cao Hexian.

That pouch is worn,

but it's not something you'd expect

from a commoner.

The colored glaze bowls beside the pouch

are also not ordinary.

You do like to investigate, Magistrate.

You're so perceptive.

Nothing escapes your notice.

I'm sure you're from Bingzhou.

Because I want to hear a Bingzhou ditty?

That's the first reason.

What is the second?

I've been to Bingzhou

and have seen the culture

and the people there.

The original plectrum for this pipa is broken,

so I can't play the heavy sound.

Let me sing

''Misty Rain of Penglai''.

[Mingyue House]

[Hongsheng Woodwork]

[Teng's Residence]

What's wrong?

Who is there?

Who is there?

Master.

Hurry up.

Master.

- Master. - Master.

Madam.

Madam.

Master is still breathing.

Hurry, save Master first.

Save Master first.

Be careful.

Keep up.

Why are you here?

Go back to the study and stand guard.

No one is allowed in.

Master.

What happened?

Madam said...!

Darling,

take the medicine.

I said no!

[Penglai County Magistrate's Office]

Mr. Teng.

Teng Kan.

Why is he kneeling?

Magistrate,

I

came to seek death.

I've come to turn myself in.

Master.

Master.

Wake up.

[Teng's Residence]

Three stabs in the stomach.

Four on the back.

Seven stabs again.

Same as the unidentified male body found outside the city.

Has anyone touched that sword?

I've sent someone to guard the study.

You. Come in now.

Answer the Magistrate's question.

Magistrate,

I've been on guard.

No one's come in.

Right here,

there was a folding screen.

Magistrate.

Madness and insomnia can be cured by Chaihu,

Xiangfu, Qingpi, and half of Mutong.

Delirium-Easing Insomnia Decoction.

When did

Mr. Teng's madness begin?

Well,

about

half a year ago.

By the wall,

was there a four-panel screen?

In fact,

that thing

is an ominous piece.

So after the incident,

Master sent us to move it

to the storage room.

A folding screen

is an ominous piece?

It was the evil screen

that attracted the evil spirits

and caused Master to kill Madam.

Please have a look, Magistrate.

The willow starts to flower.

A spring scene.

The scholar is taking a nap at his desk.

A woman appears in his dream.

Green hills and fields.

This portrays the scholar on his way

to the examination in the summer.

Then in the late fall,

the scholar passes the exam

and returns home in glory.

He happens to meet the woman he saw in his dream.

This last one should be

a painting of winter.

Why did it turn into a picture

of him murdering his wife?

It wasn't like this before.

It was supposed to be a picture of a happy couple embracing.

But I don't know

why it turned into this.

It turned into this?

Since when?

Five days ago.

The murder weapon showed signs of having been moved.

Judging from the traces at the scene,

someone entered the murder scene,

committed the murder, then fled by climbing over the wall.

Could there be someone else

behind the crime?