Original subtitles

1

♫Still waiting, for news to be picked up like flying sand,♫

Timing and Translation provided by the Tang Yamen Team at viki.com

2

♫Flourishing and falling like a burden, from the other side of the world.♫

3

♫Seeing your silhouette, suffering and drowning in the dark,♫

4

♫Memories rise of mistakes, being unable to hold onto your hand.♫

5

♫Still as many times as I try to separate, to not openly mistake,♫

6

♫Being afraid I will entirely doubt myself.♫

7

♫Don't tell me that feelings engraved in one's heart and carved in one's bones♫

8

♫Are not real and true.♫

9

♫Still how many words I've spoken haven't explained,♫

10

♫I want to give you so many more experiences and things replaced.♫

11

♫No matter how I act, no matter how many mistakes I make,♫

12

♫All along, I have not departed and gone over,♫

13

♫I'm truly waiting for you.♫

14

♫Still how many words I've spoken haven't explained,♫

15

♫Having never forgotten you, being dedicated to you.♫

16

♫Possessing feelings engraved in one's heart and carved in one's bones♫

17

♫All real and true.♫

18

♫Still how many words I've spoken haven't explained,♫

19

♫Many thoughts I should untie love with you, being truly desolate.♫

20

♫Wanting to know why don't I break free, demanding I bravely, quickly overcome,♫

21

An Oriental Odyssey

♫I am truly moved.♫

22

Episode 2

23

Why didn't you say all that in court?

24

I intended to,

25

but no one would believe me.

26

Officer, please give me some time, and some time to them as well.

27

I surely will figure out the truth.

28

You're a man of integrity.

29

Let me tell you, I appreciate your listening to me.

30

When I was taken to the court of law, I didn't have any chance to talk.

31

The boss and others at Qianduan Brothel colluded to accuse me,

32

so it's useless for me to say anything.

33

I cried out against an unjust trial again and again,

34

but only you listened to me today.

35

In that case, I will tell you everything that I know.

36

What else do you know?

37

I'm not so sure about these matters.

38

Before Miss Ru Yue's death,

39

her life at Qianduan Brothel was already very hard.

40

She's no longer a prominent top courtesan. As if...

41

she has some weird illness?

42

She was in low spirits and became paranoid.

43

The brothel-keeper then drove me back to the kitchen.

44

She locked Miss in her room, and forced her to accept clients.

45

One night, with her hair disheveled,

46

Miss rushed into the kitchen crying and looking for me.

47

She said there was something strange in her room.

48

Help! Somebody help me!

49

Help!

50

Somebody help me!

51

Help!

52

What's the matter? Do you want to die?

53

Do you want to wake up all my guests in terror?

54

Boss, there is a dark shadow in the room.

55

She's ill, but I think you are crazy too.

56

Go back to the kitchen now and stay there.

57

If you come upstairs again, I'll let you accept customers!

58

Get out!

59

Officer, please give me some time.

60

I can certainly prove Xiaoyu's innocence.

61

What's your relationship with them?

62

He's just your horse steward.

63

So what?

64

So what if he's just a steward?

65

Even if he's just a stranger on the street,

66

as long as he suffers injustice, I will help him out.

67

All right. I'll give you three days.

68

Within three days, if you can't find the evidence to prove her innocence—

69

You can kill three of us then.

70

I'm Ye Yuan'an from the Mansion of Assistant Minister of Finance.

71

Young Master!

72

But before the investigation of the case, you must take me to a place.

73

Excuse me. Excuse me.

74

Excuse me.

75

You asked me to take you here!

76

I'm not scared.

77

Officer Zhao, which "dried fish" do you want to check?

78

What is a "dried fish"?

79

A corpse.

80

I want to check Ru Yue's corpse, the dancer in Qianduan Brothel.

81

That case was closed,

82

so her body has already been buried.

83

Where did you bury the body? I will dig it up.

84

Who is she? She's so hot-tempered.

85

Let her eat some sheep-dung eggs to recuperate.

86

What are "sheep-dung eggs"?

87

It's the dung of sheep.

88

Say that again!

89

I'll repeat it for you three ways.

90

Sheep dung egg, sheep dung egg, sheep dung egg. (T/N he uses 3 different words all meaning manure/dung)

91

Business first.

92

You must have written down notes when checking the corpse, right?

93

Did you find something strange?

94

Yes, I have never seen such a strange corpse.

95

Master gave the orders, but I couldn't bear bury her.

96

Follow me over there.

97

Her body and hair curled up.

98

This shows that she was under high-temperature conditions.

99

Her skin was swollen.

100

It shows that her skin split after getting burned.

101

But her body wasn't scorched.

102

There are almost no signs of getting burned.

103

Besides, there are no ashes in her nasal cavity.

104

No matter how you look, this is a burned corpse,

105

but her body didn't touch fire.

106

Weird.

107

Yes Officer, you also find it strange.

108

I have been doing this for more than thirty years.

109

I have never seen such a thing.

110

This was not done by human. It may be by some supernatural power?

111

Have you reported it to the Administrator?

112

Did he believe it?

113

Of course. But he couldn't make such an adjudication.

114

I heard that a suspect has been arrested.

115

There was human testimony and physical evidence,

116

so that suspect was sentenced.

117

It was also in time during the performance check of the Ministry of Personnel.

118

He has to solve this case immediately.

119

You people indeed trampled on human lives.

120

But you can't prove Xiaoyu's innocence.

121

Any other clues?

122

According to my records, on the day of the crime, there was some water in her room.

123

How do you feel, Young Master Ye? You said you wanted to come to the mortuary. Are you satisfied?

124

Do you believe in supernatural things?

125

No.

126

I also don't believe Ru Yue was killed by ghosts.

127

So, now we at least know something.

128

Sir, I have something to show you.

129

That dried fish was holding this

130

when she got carried into the ice room.

131

This item doesn't look like a lady's item from the Tang Dynasty.

132

I mean my servant girl basically doesn't use this kind of strange thing.

133

The shape of it is so strange.

134

I don't know whether it is a woman's accessory or for other usage.

135

That girl held it tightly and her corpse had stiffened up.

136

It took me great efforts to get it from her hands.

137

I heard that the Ghost Market in the east gathers at nightfall and disperses at dawn.

138

Rare and valuable objects of foreign lands mostly come from this market.

139

Let's go.

140

[ Ghost Market ]

141

Is this the Ghost Market?

142

I thought it would be very amazing.

143

Only a few rotten shops?

144

Be patient.

145

Come and see!

146

New products!

147

Judge her bones from her teeth.

148

- Judge her blood from her hair.

- Zhao Lanzhi!

149

Look. This slave has the strongest muscles and bones. The most abundant blood!

150

- Look at her face.

- I'm bidding...

151

Buy her and do everything you want!

152

- Five hundred fifty!

- Six hundred!

153

Sold! Okay!

154

Look at this one next!

155

Okay!

156

The baby in her belly must be a boy!

157

Take out all your good stuff!

158

- Who knows whether it is a boy or not!

- She will give birth to a child in two days.

159

Who wants her?

160

Are you sure it is a boy?

161

You must be kidding.

162

If it's not a boy,

163

I will compensate you four times the amount!

164

I don't believe.

165

You don't believe? Okay.

166

I will cut her belly now to show you all.

167

Okay, go ahead!

168

- Cut her belly!

- No...

169

Cut her belly, quickly!

170

Don't worry. This human blood is a good thing.

171

I won't cut her belly without money.

172

You must be cheating us.

173

Next product!

174

Have a look.

175

What are your other goods?

176

Hold it tightly!

177

Hold it tightly!

178

Quickly. Hold it tightly!

179

Hold it tightly. Quickly.

180

Though he looks dirty,

181

he is of great strength. It can run and jump!

182

Buy him and let him do all your dirty and heavy chores.

183

In the worst case, you can let him guard your house and garden.

184

Is that a human? It must be a monster.

185

Of course, he's a human.

186

- Who are you?

- But I think it's a monster.

187

But, it's okay if you want to treat him like a dog.

188

This man is unusual.

189

He can carry heavy things of three men.

190

How could you sell your items if you do not take good care of them? I'll buy him.

191

Okay. Pay the marked price. I'll give him to you once you give me the payment.

192

Quite bold.

193

Can you control him?

194

Behave yourself! He is treating your wound!

195

You saved my life at the market the other day, didn't you?

196

Let go of him!

197

I'm gifting you the chain. Drag him away.

198

I'm afraid that you won't be able to catch him if we remove his chains.

199

I already said it. Let go of him.

200

Okay...

201

He's running away!

202

I bought you just now. I'm your master. Come back!

203

He ran away!

204

I...

205

Shopkeeper, your identities are as many as your masks.

206

Let me see who you are.

207

We've got trouble. Run!

208

Thank you for saving me earlier, Officer Zhao.

209

But we still didn't learn what that silver snake is.

210

You lost your clues. I lost mine too.

211

What do you mean?

212

May Young Master Ye please remember our three-day agreement.

213

Don't rush me. I need time to think it over.

214

Princess Minghui.

215

I remember that the first time I saw Young Master Xianya was at the Mansion of Duke Zheng.

216

That day, I was talking with some girls and drinking tea at the pavilion by the lake.

217

I saw you practicing archery with other young masters there. Your archery was so amazing.

218

I'm very flattered.

219

Actually I knew that you were also a guest there.

220

But I didn't inform you first and greeted you hastily.

221

Please forgive my impoliteness.

222

You don't have to apologize.

223

We all know clearly the previous situation of our two families.

224

My royal brother and your father are officials of the Imperial court,

225

but their political opinions are divided. They didn't get along well.

226

Even if we met each other that day, what would we say then?

227

I won't blame you.

228

Thank you, Princess.

229

But it's different now.

230

My father and the King have cleared up the misunderstandings.

231

This is credited to Your Highness' efforts.

232

So we are now engaged.

233

Hence, I asked to meet you here today,

234

because I want to say something to you.

235

Go ahead.

236

Though the marriage depends on the words of our parents,

237

I have already fallen in love with you.

238

I admire your talents in literature and military affairs.

239

The other day my sister-in-law told me

240

that Royal Brother has agreed to marry me to Xianya, the son of Lord Pei.

241

I was very happy. So happy that my heart almost popped out.

242

Hence, today, I want to tell you

243

that even Royal Brother and Sister-in-law don't agree with our marriage,

244

I won't marry another man.

245

Princess, what you said is just what I want to say to you.

246

Really?

247

Of course.

248

You are not the same as Royal Brother, right?

249

He... What's the matter with him?

250

My sister-in-law was initially happy.

251

But when they got married,

252

she realized that Royal Brother is already in love with another woman.

253

Princess.

254

The immortals are my witnesses.

255

I won't betray you.

256

You revere the Buddha and possess the Nine Divine Beads.

257

I believe in all of what you say and do.

258

Who told Your Highness that I have the Nine Divine Beads?

259

That is a legendary divine object.

260

I'm just an ordinary man.

261

How can I be so lucky to have it?

262

If you don't have that kind of luck, how could we have been fated to meet?

263

Sister lied to me that there are ghosts and rats in the basement.

264

I think something illegal is hidden in it.

265

I must find it and tell my father.

266

Human skull!

267

Spider!

268

Rat!

269

I'm on fire! I'm on fire!

270

What's the matter, Yuanning?

271

Sister, I burned my face!

272

You...turn over and lie well. I'll put out the fire.

273

Don't move.

274

What do you think? Do you feel that you have become handsome?

275

Sister! You...

276

What?

277

How dare you go to the basement? Who asked you to go there!

278

Zhao Lanzhi, how dare you!

279

You clearly have caught the criminal and the person who took her away

280

but you dared to let them go! I'll punish you!

281

Lord, the whereabouts of the criminals are under my control.

282

I can arrest them at any moment. But this case is full of doubts.

283

In two days, the Ministry of Personnel will come assess the officials' work performance.

284

You don't wish to see anyone crying injustice before the court and bringing shame on you, right?

285

How dare you! Then you... Tell me any developments in the opium case you're handling.

286

I'm incompetent. The suspects are being interrogated.

287

If we can't find the mastermind, perhaps there will be no progress.

288

I'll intensify my efforts to investigate and find the plotter behind the scenes sooner.

289

Water...

290

I'm thirsty. Give me some water.

291

Xiaohu.

292

Water. Water.

293

I'll tell you. You are right.

294

The one who made deals with me

295

was the iron-masked man on the ship.

296

What's the name of that iron-masked man? What does he look like?

297

I don't know. But I've seen him before.

298

When our deal was set, he invited me to Qianduan Brothel to drink.

299

He seemed to be familiar with the girls there.

300

He must be a regular customer there.

301

Have you seen a tattoo on his arm?

302

No.

303

Xiaohu, send for an artist.

304

Yes.

305

Qianduan Brothel.

306

Well, Yuanning's eyebrows got burned last time.

307

They're completely gone!

308

However, that woman had a long wave of hair.

309

But the coroner said the her hair was just curled up.

310

Her hands and feet were tangled together.

311

Her blood permeated through the skin.

312

It seemed that she was burned to death, but her body did't touch the fire.

313

I think it wasn't done by a human.

314

When a person is incompetent and with less experience,

315

don't they usually blame everything to supernatural things?

316

You said that the woman seemed to be burned to death,

317

but she didn't catch fire.

318

Generally, there are two ways to die.

319

The first one is to get someone physically abused.

320

Strangle, burn, or drown him.

321

These are the usual ways, usual ways of killing.

322

What's the second one?

323

The second one is to torture someone spiritually.

324

Let him see the most horrible things.

325

Make him feel that he is going to die.

326

At that moment, the mind is greatly stimulated.

327

Once his body can't bear it anymore,

328

he will die.

329

Don't look down on my incompetence and make up stories.

330

According to historical records, there was a sword maker in Qilian Mountain.

331

He made an amazing sword,

332

but it got stolen.

333

He thought his disciple had stolen it,

334

so he arrested his disciple and bound him.

335

He cut the blood vessels in his wrist.

336

Then, he placed a wooden barrel beside him,

337

covered his eyes, and made him listen to the sound of dripping water.

338

His disciple died very soon.

339

He seemed to have bled to death.

340

However, his wrist had already healed.

341

You're saying that Ru Yue was killed by illusion?

342

But how does one create illusion?

343

Think.

344

- Drugs.

- Yes.

345

I'm going now! Bye!

346

- Where are you going?

- Thanks!

347

- Young Master, eat more.

- Here.

348

Drink it.

349

Young Master Ye is also here.

350

[ Sealed by the Tang Dynasty's Luoyang City Administrator on the Fourteenth Day of the Fourth Month ]

351

Honorable customer, you can't enter.

352

I came here to look for that...Miss Ru Yue.

353

Why can't I go into her room?

354

Miss Ru Yue? Honored customer, it can't be helped.

355

Ru Yue is not available tonight.

356

How about this? I help you to find more beautiful girls.

357

These days, we have some beauties from Tianzhu.

358

They are gorgeous! Let's go. Please follow me.

359

These girls are really beautiful.

360

They are good at singing and dancing.

361

You are..? Where is he?

362

Madam, I noticed a very suspicious person.

- Did you hear any movement?

363

Yes, I heard footsteps and saw shadows.

364

Madam, could Ru Yue be back?

365

Madam, you slapped me so hard.

366

You talked nonsense.

367

If guests find out my house is haunted, I'll be doomed.

368

- Light incense here, quickly!

- Okay, okay!

369

If guests ask, just tell them it's for dispelling mosquitoes.

370

Got it!

371

Fragrance censer.

372

For incense?

373

It's used to burn fragrant powder in a lady's room.

374

It's right then.

375

That day at Qianduan Brothel, were there any strange things except for Ru Yue?

376

There was nothing wrong except for Ru Yue.

377

If she ate the same food and drank the same water,

378

but only Ru Yue died,

379

then there must be some problems with the air she breathed in.

380

Sounds reasonable.

381

My slave!

382

- Quickly!

- Okay.

383

My windows! My windows!

384

Why are you still standing here? Catch them!

385

- Yes.

- Yes.

386

That ominous thing!

387

You caused me to lose money again! I'm so furious!

388

They saw it?

389

I think they may know something.

390

Great.

391

[ Fragrance Shop ]

392

What are you doing here?

393

You are doing business.

394

Of course we want to buy something.

395

A fragrance shop that has its doors not open may not be selling anything.

396

I'm sorry.

397

Please go back.

398

This way please.

399

Boss.

400

Why did you bring them in?

401

Take them out!

402

Boss, they gave this to me.

403

What do you want?

404

You know what I want!

405

Is the money enough?

406

Please wait. I'll fetch the goods you want.

407

Special investigation funds.

408

I'm so sorry. Rare commodiites are usually hoarded.

409

It's out of stock. I'm so sorry.

410

What are you doing?

411

What the hell is this?

412

That is specially-made fragrance burner of my shop.

413

We know it's a fragrance burner! What kind of fragrance does it burn?

414

This fragrance is made from a kind of wild herb called opium.

415

It is made by the Tangmo Barbaric Tribe outside Annan City.

416

After processing, it can be made into this kind of fragrance.

417

Its scent is very addicted when burned.

418

It leaves no traces.

419

Those Tangmo barbarians then made it into a scent burner.

420

And they sell it to buyers.

421

Wild opium can create illusions by itself.

422

The effect of a refined powder is much stronger.

423

You just need a bit, and when lighted and inhaled, it can paralyze your main and collateral channels and create illusions.

424

Minor effect is that you become very happy and can go wild.

425

In the worst case, people can die from it.

426

You were right.

427

Where do you get it?

428

I can't say.

429

Or I will die!

430

You will die if you don't tell the truth.

431

Give me the account book.

432

I don't have any account book.

433

Let me tell you, your business has killed a person. You'd better watch out!

434

You...

435

Master Li, Master Li!

436

Hold on.

437

Master Li!

438

- Do you know him?

- He is the one I want to find.

439

I'll help you!

440

What's wrong? Young Master Ye, are you alright?

441

Don't mind me. Focus on catching him.

442

Workers, surround them!

443

Yes!

444

How dare you!

445

You want to come and go as you wish?

446

Are you treating my shop as the city gates?

447

You dare to stir up troubles here?

448

I will break your legs!

449

Who want to die first? Come on!

450

I..I..!

451

Beat them!

452

That slave trafficker was right.

453

This slave is so great.

454

So excellent.

455

Officer Zhao wants to arrest you, and you dare to run away?

456

Elder Brother Jiang Ren.

457

Yes, that's him. He sold opium to me.

458

You are one of the constables here, right?

459

Officer, you swindled me.

460

You are fabricating charges on me!

461

I'm a legitimate businessman.

462

I run a wood business.

463

I don't sell any opium.

464

In catching a thief, you must find his loot.

465

You brought this man to frame me?

466

Go to hell!

467

You won't tell until you die, is that it?

468

I have nothing to say.

469

Sir, he's wounded.

470

Send for a doctor to check him.

471

Yes.

472

Sir, your crocodile tears are useless for me.

473

Take him away.

474

Go!

475

What is that drug? It hurts!

476

Endure it. You think

477

I will give you the same drug as the Emperor's?

478

Get lost!

479

Go away!

480

Hey! It's time to take your medicine.

481

I'm not drinking.

482

This drug is poisonous.

483

I saw somebody sprinkling poisons into it.

484

No, I won't drink it.

485

This is the prison. Who would dare to poison you?

486

You are so ungrateful. Drink it!

487

I'm not drinking!

488

Call him over! Call your superior over!

489

I'll tell you all that I know!

490

Tell me.

491

There are more than five hundred opium transactions in Luoyang each day.

492

It is seemingly approved by the authority.

493

We would use the excuse of buying foreign drugs for military supplies to procure them.

494

Using this excuse, the daily secret deals is at least two hundred.

495

Transaction, goods check, and contacting

496

are all done at Qianduan Brothel.

497

These are handled by me and Madam Zhang.

498

New customers must give us ten gold ingots.

499

In other words, it's an entrance fee.

500

Why do we do it at Qianduan Brothel?

501

There are two advantages.

502

First, it's convenient for money laundering.

503

Revenues from opium smuggling can be kept on the ordinary account book.

504

Those girls can also help attract customers.

505

Second, Qianduan Brothel cruises on the river every night.

506

There's no better object than that brothel boat to cover up the secret transport of opium.

507

I see.

508

If I'm not wrong, there is a chief plotter behind you.

509

Was he the iron masked man I fought with at Shen Da's boat?

510

Who is he?

511

Yes, you are right.

512

Yes, there is a chief plotter behind me.

513

He is the one who wanted to poison me just now.

514

But unfortunately, I can't take advantage to retaliate,

515

I have never seen his real face.

516

I was supposed to be the one delivering the goods to Shen Da that day,

517

but I had a stomachache.

518

The chief plotter delivered the goods by himself, but something bad happened.

519

Shen Da was arrested.

520

I was then sent to the outskirts of Annan to hide from troubles.

521

Annan?

522

Yes, Annan.

523

I encountered a brat at the dock

524

who came out of nowhere.

525

His horse was startled during our quarrel.

526

My subordinate brought a strange slave from Annan.

527

That slave has great strength and is adept at jumping and leaping.

528

He tamed that horse.

529

But at the same time, he also exposed his identity, which lured you.

530

The chief plotter wasn't happy.

531

He thought the slave was a big problem.

532

He wanted me to find a chance to kill him.

533

But...I don't want to live a dangerous life like this.

534

I think that slave was extraordinary,

535

so I took him to the Ghost Market to fetch a good price

536

to cover for my traveling expense.

537

However, you came.

538

Since you'd already run away, why did you return to the fragrance shop?

539

Because of my addiction to opium.

540

The chief plotter was looking for me.

541

I dare not go back to Qianduan Brothel.

542

Officer! You are only a head constable.

543

How can you handle this?

544

Why do you think so?

545

I'll tell you why.

546

Smuggling a huge amount of opium under the guise of military medical supplies,

547

receives a lot of money but no one is suspicious about it?

548

It then must be a high-ranking official or a relative of the Imperial court!

549

Timing and Translation provided by the Tang Yamen Team at viki.com

550

♫Tired of strategizing from lights out until dawn, ♫

551

♫ Longing for you but remaining silent♫

552

♫ Constantly dreaming of exchanging knowing glances with you♫

553

♫ Who does not wish for a full lifetime with someone entirely intimate,♫

554

♫ Knowing what to expect when the Big Dipper has turned and the stars have moved. (time flown by) ♫

555

♫ I'm stubborn and you bear grudges, ♫

556

♫ Extremely antagonistic love is so absurd. ♫

557

♫ Who is shouting in the middle of time passing by unreconciled?♫

558

♫ Once we drank and chatted merrily, what you said that night on the mountain. ♫

559

♫That time has ended and gone by, only to leave regret. ♫

560

♫Fluttering on the winds of this world, floating and drifting, ♫

561

♫Following the footprints left by you, ♫

562

♫Hoping to meet and be acknowledged again by you.♫

563

♫Remembering and longing for the love and regret of the past, ♫

564

♫Reuniting with you, and not finding this life so empty. ♫

565

♫Once we drank and chatted merrily, what you said that night on the mountain ♫

566

♫That time has ended and gone by, only to leave regret. ♫

567

♫Once we drank and chatted merrily, what you said that night on the mountain ♫

568

♫That time has ended and gone by, only to leave regret. ♫