Original subtitles

Subtitles and Timing provided to you by 🎶 The Copper Sparrow 🪶Team @viki.com

"Go Ahead Fearlessly" - Liu Yuning

♫ Grudges and karma, right and wrong ♫

♫ The past hides blood and tears ♫

♫ It is hard to catch up after years of separation ♫

♫ The truth cannot be fully revealed ♫

♫ Fate is full of twists and turns ♫

♫ Life and death, fortune and misfortune go hand in hand ♫

♫ Obsession is hard to get rid of, keeping the truth and getting rid of the lies, let the wind blow ♫

♫ Tossed about by the wind and rain, I will never regret it, I will accompany you for my whole life ♫

♫ At least you share my joy and sorrow ♫

♫ Unravelling fate, fearlessly, a dream returns ♫

♫ The mountains and rivers are bright and beautiful, holding hands, together we return ♫

♫ In this life, my heart returns untainted of dust and ash ♫

[Melody of Golden Age]

[Episode 3]

For the incident at Ming Hall,

[Zichen Palace] you have deducted your own salary,

all the guards have been heavily penalized,

and the person who self-immolated has died,

with only a lone elderly left at home.

Let this matter rest.

You just got married yesterday.

You can stop the morning reports for the upcoming days.

Stay at home and keep your bride company.

Yes, I heard that the Great Chief investigated the Ming Hall fire case throughout the night

and had not returned for the entire night.

The Great Chief has served Grand Empress Dowager with utmost loyalty and duty.

It's just pitiable for the bride.

Grand Empress Dowager should grant the Great Chief a good few days off.

I'm afraid his loyalty might be a sham,

as he's intentionally avoiding the bride.

The marriage of the Great Chief was introduced by me.

This morning, when I went to visit,

I found out that the bride was actually driven away in anger.

In the entirety of Shen Mansion, no one knows where the bride has gone.

Could it be that this lady from the Yan family vanished into thin air right after marrying

into the Great Chief's mansion?

Vice Minister Lai, in front of the Grand Empress Dowager, please censor your jokes.

Grand Empress Dowager, Vice Minister Lai is just worried about the Great Chief.

I have heard that Grand Empress Dowager intends to give the Imperial Guards some additional powers.

This is indeed a good thing.

But if the Great Chief cannot even manage his own household well,

how can he assist Grand Empress Dowager

in more significant positions?

Minister Shen,

what do you think?

Prime Minister Zhang's words are very true.

If one cannot sweep one's own house, how can he sweep the world?

I shall return home at once to console my wife and take care of the inner household affairs properly.

I will surely not let Grand Empress Dowager down.

You didn't go out to investigate cases all night.

How come you've gone to sleep without washing up again?

Did the Great Chief really not enter your chamber?

This Sixth Miss Yan, she is your niece. Right?

Replying to Grand Empress Dowager.

[Musical Minister Jinzang] This Sixth Miss Yan

is the daughter of Lady Jin from the Yan Mansion.

And this Lady Jin is my older sister.

Rest assured.

Shen Du might appear unruly, but in fact, he is methodical.

He won't do anything truly outrageous.

Yes.

I will make a trip to the Liang Mansion. [Ximing Temple]

Hey, you, what are you doing here?

[Inspector, Xu Xiangren]

Director Wu, I heard there was a case here.

There is a case indeed, but what does it have to do with you?

I heard that you got married into the Great Chief's mansion,

so why are you out and about in your wedding dress today?

- Could it be that you were driven out? - You…

When this woman goes on an errand, she always stirs up trouble.

Sixth Miss is quick-witted,

and she was once mentored by Chen Wen, the supervisor of the imperial prison.

She has inherited a lot of his investigative skills

and has always been a great help to us inspectors.

Exactly.

Director Wu. Marshal Xu. I was momentarily impatient.

Excuse my rudeness.

I just wanted to come to the crime scene and see if there were any clues left.

There are specialist personnel for investigating cases.

And you, a clerk, should just manage the records well. What case are you investigating anyway?

Go-Go back to the Ministry of Justice Office first and change your clothes.

Director Wu,

you've just returned from the western suburbs, haven't you?

My Lord.

Look. Look at the sleeve of Director Wu.

This blue flower on it is so beautiful.

Look, look. It seems his lady has learned a new embroidery pattern.

It's good for young people to be eager to learn new things.

If you want to investigate,

you can go in and have a close look.

But don't interfere with the inspector handling the case.

And mind your own business.

- What was that? - Madam Wu doesn't know how to embroider.

His lackey, Feng Gui, has been frequently going to the western suburbs lately.

There are mud spots all over his legs. He even got a deed to a house.

Nine times out of ten, he's keeping a mistress in the western suburbs.

A mistress?

Let's go.

I am a clerk of the Ministry of Justice. Can I go and have a look?

Go ahead if you're not afraid.

Master, did you notice anything before? Was there anything unusual?

Not yet.

I heard that when the two of them were just unearthed, they were still tightly embracing each other.

Both of them had their hearts excised and bled to death.

The woman's face was slashed,

but her expression was serene.

The man's body was intact with his skin turned black.

Judging by the slash marks and the bloodstains, they were inflicted postmortem.

In this weather,

the bodies somehow don't emit any foul odor of decay

and even give off a scent of mixed medicinal herbs.

Sixth Miss, you haven't lost your mind, have you?

Since when do corpses smell fragrant?

Sixth Miss.

Sixth Miss' words are spot on.

This morning, a young novice monk found the bodies when he was digging bamboo shoots

in the forest outside the temple.

The man has been identified as Liang Chenzhong, the legitimate eldest son

of Minister Liang from the Ministry of Works.

The woman is Kuang Zhanxin, a musician from Pingkang Alley.

Is this a case of lovers' suicide?

I don't think so.

The man's skin has turned black.

Did you find out what poison he was exposed to?

- The poison he was afflicted with… - Zhong'er.

Zhong'er.

- Zhong'er. Oh, my son. - Mrs. Liang, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm so sorry.

Zhong'er. [Liang Chenyu]

You mentioned poisoning.

The poison that afflicted your son was "Dripping Water Guanyin".

[First Madame Liang]

The Ministry of Justice and the inspector will definitely [Liang Jiren]

find out your son's cause of death.

Find out what?

- Older Liang. - I apologize.

Sorry, sorry.

Take care, Minister Liang!

Are you still investigating?

Ximing Temple is an imperial temple built by the imperial order.

All the reputable officials and nobles of Xiang'an would come here to offer incense.

With this kind of incident,

- naturally, there must be an explanation. - Yes, you're right.

Madame Liang made such a scene and it messed with my head.

Quickly investigate the case. Quickly close the case.

- Lu Chuichui. - Yes.

Go, go, go. Take the already identified information and send it back to the Ministry of Justice for filing.

I've heard that the abbot of Ximing Temple had stored quite a good selection of tea.

Let's go and have some free tea.

Drinking tea? He still has the nerve to drink tea.

Wu Taiming brings no peace.

All he does is act high and mighty. I can't believe him.

Sixth Miss, you have been looking at the bodies for a long time.

Wait until you're done, come with me.

If Wu Taiming is enjoying tea, we should also treat ourselves better.

I will take you to Furong Garden for the new opera and some good tea.

Chuichui, you go back first. I want to take a closer look at the corpse pit again.

- Go then. - All right.

I'm leaving.

Dripping Water Guanyin?

It seems you still haven't clearly remembered my words.

- I wouldn't dare. - What are you doing here instead of at the Shen Mansion?

Although I have married into the Shen family, I'm still a clerk of the Ministry of Justice.

How can I not come when a murder has occurred here?

You are just a clerk of the Ministry of Justice without rank.

How come you have taken on the duty of a coroner?

I have also never heard that the Great Chief of the Imperial Guards needed to put out a fire personally

and toil all night for it, at the expense of missing his wedding night.

Great Chief, I just asked the inspector for the investigation results.

There is very little blood in the pit. Mostly, it is corpse fluid.

Liang and Kuang were probably moved here after most of their blood had dried.

But there are no wheel tracks nearby.

There are, however, many footprints.

This place has countless pilgrims, and even the Princess of Valor is a regular visitor.

What can be discerned from footprints?

What about the shovel marks in the pit?

Can they show how long ago it was?

It must have been some time ago. But the coroner says it's difficult to judge the time.

The 15th day of the fourth month.

- How do you know? - The edge of the pit is thinner at the bottom and thicker at the top.

The impact point is sharp, and the edge is round.

The murderer or an accomplice used a commonly seen round-headed shovel.

The soil at the side of the pit is loose, with a heavy center.

The soil at the bottom of the pit is compact. This is a manifestation of post-rain soil.

Today is the eighth day of the fifth month.

The last time it rained was on the fifteenth of the fourth month.

Here.

When I came out this morning, I took some from the house.

When I return, I'll have to ask the old butler, which store he bought these sweet preserved fruits from.

Here you go.

The soil changes a lot.

Your findings may not be reliable.

Look here.

About three feet and eight inches above the ground, there is a streak of dirt,

caused by splashing mud and water.

The bamboo in Ximing Temple is the yellow-grooved bamboo,

which can grow one to two inches one day after the rain.

The splash marks are directly opposite the grave pit.

The marks are thick at the bottom and thin at the top.

They were undoubtedly made on the day.

Did Chen Wen also teach you these?

I am very concerned about you, my wife.

I've done a thorough research.

My master once said, that capturing criminals,

putting them in custody, and interrogating them are the duties of the Ministry of Justice.

Therefore, exhausting every means to crack the case

is the responsibility of any member of the Ministry of Justice.

You are just a lowly clerk without rank.

The duty of the Ministry of Justice won't fall on you no matter what.

- I… - We only got married yesterday.

Return with me to the Shen Mansion today and learn the responsibilities of a new bride.

The Great Chief hastily welcomed the bride.

Now, all of Xiang'an knows that the Great Chief does not favor Sixth Miss.

And coincidentally, I don't care much for you, the Great Chief.

So from now on, we shall each do our own thing, without interfering with each other.

And you don't need to worry about what responsibilities I take on.

It seems that today, I have to worry about it.

Shen Du.

Let go.

Shen Du.

Put me down. Shen Du! Shen Du!

What are you doing?

What do you want?

Truly deserving of Ximing Temple.

How can one get such good tea in the office?

Unfortunately for your husband, I married a lady who is wholeheartedly devoted to official duties.

So I can only bring her home for some comfort.

Put me down now.

Nice scenery.

Shen Du, what are you doing?

Put me down now.

I advise that you be more obedient;

otherwise, I'll show affection to you in public.

What?

That girl, Yan Xing, and the other one on the horse is...

Great Chief Shen?

Didn't they say that White Ghost threatened Lady Shen

with a knife to her neck on the day of their marriage?

It appears these are all rumors then.

Now, you are now Lady Shen in everyone's eyes.

Having already entered the game, there's no longer a choice to leave unscathed.

A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey.

You put on this show.

Are you trying to win a reputation as a good husband and son-in-law?

We are newlyweds. Being intimate is natural.

Today, I will definitely make you and the people behind you satisfied.

The Imperial Guards manage myriad affairs daily.

I'm sure you have many things to attend to on behalf of the Grand Empress Dowager.

Taking me along might be inconvenient, right?

- Are you dead or crippled? - Great Chief.

If you are neither dead nor crippled, what inconvenience could there be?

A letter from the palace.

[Decree from Empress Dowager] Quickly resolve the Ximing Temple murder case.

Ensure the safety of the second branch of the Liang family, Liang Chenyu.

- I need to go somewhere. - Where to?

Liang Mansion at Fengyue Alley.

[Liang Mansion]

What's going on?

If he doesn't investigate the case, I still have to.

Following him like this is not a solution.

Great Chief.

Our third young master is waiting for you in the study.

Great Chief.

Call me Husband.

Or you can say goodbye to your tongue after we leave Liang Mansion.

Husband.

Speak.

My official position is, after all, different from yours.

You have business with the master of the second branch.

It's not very convenient for me to accompany you.

I might as well wait for you outside.

I just want to go out for a walk.

Fine. Jing Lin.

- Follow her. - Yes.

Great Chief, this way, please.

I stayed up all night.

I'm going to take a nap here now.

Go over there and stand guard for me.

All right then.

Since you guards can even watch the Great Chief's wife sleep.

There's no need for me to be coy.

Guard away.

Lady Shen. What are you doing here?

Here, for you. It's very sweet.

I heard that after the Liang family split, they built a wall.

The trees in this area seem to have been moved here afterward.

Logically speaking, these pear, mulberry, and locust trees are not considered auspicious choices.

The second madam ordered them when she was mad.

Separation?

Pointing at one to curse the other. Guilty conscience.

These two brothers hold deep grudges.

Could it be as rumored in the alleyways,

that the son of the second madam, Liang Chenman was poisoned by the Dripping Water Guanyin,

and it was done by the first branch of the family?

Be careful with what you say.

However, the second madam did go mad after the death of the second young master.

Since then, the connecting door in the wall between the first branch and the second branch

- has never been opened again. - Madam!

What are you doing, Madam?

Avoiding White…

I'm hiding from my husband.

Well, since I married him yesterday, my husband can't leave me for a moment.

He has to send someone to follow me with every step I take.

I really need some air.

White?

Is the Great Chief so clingy?

Yes, he is.

I was wondering about it.

Although the Great Chief often comes, it's the first time he brought a female family member into the mansion.

So my husband is actually very close to the Liang family.

The Great Chief and our third young master are very close.

He usually brings some flowers, plants, and medicinal herbs to the second madam.

Something happened in the second madam's yard again. Hurry!

It's the second madam's yard.

The Grand Empress Dowager has decreed.

The crossbow improvement blueprints must be completed on schedule.

But how can I have the mind to draw them?

Your brother Liang Chenzhong's murder case is being investigated by my imperial guards.

You can rest assured.

But…

Your family has been serving the Ministry of Works for generations, skilled in archery and machinery.

Most of our dynasty's crossbow equipment was designed by your grandfather

which has earned prestige on the battlefield.

Passing down to your generation, only you can be entrusted with this important task.

Grand Empress Dowager has always valued talent.

Just focus on completing the task entrusted to you.

Just like before,

as soon as my father picked up the brush to draw, your father would immediately turn and leave.

Before my father died,

he could never forget the incident that year.

[The memorial tablet of my late father, Shen Bingzhu] The criminal Shen Bingzhu deserves death for his crimes.

There's no need to mention it again.

Rest assured, I won't repeat that person's mistakes.

Man'er.

Man'er.

Man'er.

Dripping Water Guanyin?

Don't touch my Man'er.

[Second Madame Liang] Man'er. Man'er.

Don't touch my Man'er.

Help!

Help!

- Help! - Great Chief, over there.

Help!

Help—

Help me!

Help—

Shen Du, what a cruel heart you have.

If you can't drive me away, you're thinking of taking the chance to drown me here.

Help!

- Help me. - Here.

Clean it up.

Take the Great Chief's wife to bathe and change.

I'm so sorry about today.

I hope you will forgive me.

It's all right.

Tell your third son to focus on his work with ease.

Yes.

I'll take my leave.

Had I not seen it with my own eyes,

who would have thought that just the mere mention of White Ghost that makes the world tremble

would turn out to be a considerate husband?

A ruthless man to the outside world, but a man of deep feelings in reality.

What have you told those maidservants?

I was playing along with your act of being a good husband.

Maidservants from a grand household like this spread rumors in the most effective way.

Why did you save me?

If I were to die from drowning, it would be an accidental death.

You wouldn't have to find a way to drive me away.

Why not kill two birds with one stone?

I still need you for something.

[Shen Mansion]

I have settled your belongings, Madam.

You shall rest for the night here.

Didn't the master say that the main room should not be used as a bridal chamber

as it could easily lead to bloody disasters?

The master has already resolved it.

So rest assured and reside here.

I think the west chamber has better feng shui.

It's beneficial to me. I should go back and stay there.

Stop right there.

You don't have a choice.

If you wish to die,

you can leave Shen Mansion.

Fine, I'll live here.

Who's afraid of whom?

Bloody disasters?

It's not yet certain who will bleed.

Madam, the master has not yet started eating.

So what? I'm hungry.

The one who caused me to fall into the water today was the second madam of the Liang family.

Her son died from the Dripping Water Guanyin poison,

but she treated that pot of poison as if it were her own child and even called it "Man'er".

Now, this son of the first branch, Liang Chenzhong,

has also been poisoned by Dripping Water Guanyin.

How could it be such a coincidence?

Do not speak while eating.

I have finished eating.

Do you also think that Liang Chenzhong's death is Liang's second branch's revenge?

Great Chief.

Send it away.

Yes.

Leaving in such a hurry?

Skipping a meal?

So talkative.

You manage people's eating and drinking,

but are you also going to manage their speaking and blinking?

Remember, in the Shen Mansion,

you'd best choose to be blind...

and deaf as well.

The case of Liang Chenzhong has been handed over to the Imperial Guards.

The case belongs to the Ministry of Justice.

I thought you were smart.

Grand Empress Dowager has handed the case over to the Imperial Guards from the Ministry of Justice.

Don't you see...

her underlying purpose?

Grand Empress Dowager wants to calm the issue.

Because the Liang family is an important official in the Ministry of Works.

The design of the current dynasty's crossbows all came from the hands of the Liang family.

Liang Chenman of the second branch died suddenly and unexpectedly.

Liang Chenzhong suddenly died as well.

If the third young master was involved again due to a family vendetta,

it would inevitably affect the succession of the Liang family's skills.

Not completely foolish after all.

The second branch of the Liang family cannot be imprisoned.

Unless...

you want to confront the Grand Empress Dowager.

Or are you saying...

this is what Zhang Hangwei meant?

I am not a follower of Prime Minister Zhang.

You left the scroll in the room on purpose, to test me?

You should thank your cleverness.

Otherwise, you would have been beheaded by now.

In fact, there's no need to open it.

I can guess that it is the crossbow diagram inside.

What are you laughing at?

I am laughing at you. The Great Chief of the Imperial Guards

has determined that the murderer is from the second branch of the Liang family without verification.

But it might not be true.

The second branch of the Liang family bears a grudge against Liang Chenzhong.

Yet the murderer only slashed the courtesan's face to the bone.

I said, you don't need to investigate this matter.

What if I insist?

Either stay alive and be silent,

or become a dead person who cannot speak.

Great Chief, how about we make a bet?

You're truly not afraid I'd kill you.

Of course, I am afraid.

But you have also said that you still needed me for something.

What? Are you afraid of losing the bet to me?

How do we bet?

Let me investigate.

If the murderer really is the third young master of the Liang family, Liang Chenyu, you win.

I will personally ask for a divorce then.

My life will also be at your disposal.

You really seem to think your life is too long.

But if I do find the murderer, after three months, you and I will part ways.

You didn't want to marry me,

and neither did I.

There’s no enmity or grievance between us.

We don't seek a century of harmony, only a pleasant parting.

Okay.

No matter what, I must endure three months.

By then, the examination for the female officials will be over.

The matter of being dispatched abroad should also be settled by then.

It's not appropriate for me to live in this main bedroom. Right?

If I say you live here, you live here.

Our marriage was bestowed by the Grand Empress Dowager.

In anyone's eyes, we should be overflowing with affection.

If you cannot do that…

I'll lose my head again.

All right, I know.

You don't say. I think this main bedroom suits me.

In that case, you should treat me as the lady of the house in all ways, you know?

I have to play the full role. Right?

If I sleep here, where will you sleep?

Didn't you just say "in all ways"?

Newlyweds enjoying their bliss, close as lacquer and glue,

we can only share the same bed now.

You climbed onto my bed with your outerwear on.

This is what I always do at home.

If you're not used to it, you just have to give it a try.

You're right. I should try to get used to it.

You're pressing on my hair.

You don't say.

The preserved fruits in the Shen Mansion are really delicious. I can never get enough.

So good.

Would you like one?

You…

Uncle Zhong! Change it.

Change everything!

The light is so bright. Can it be turned off?

No, it can't.

How can I sleep with it this bright?

You could just not sleep.

Chichi, how have you been recently in Jiangnan?

Recently, I solved a wife-murder case.

The deceased did not commit suicide. Let me reconstruct the scene for you.

- Yuanniang. - After you strangled Wang Yuanniang,

you put a rope around the corpse's neck, dragged her to the beam,

hung the other end of the hemp rope on the beam, and pulled hard to hang her up.

All these left marks on the beam.

Therefore, two different strangulation marks appeared on her neck.

The black ones went backward, and the brown ones went upward.

There are still rope burn marks on your hands.

- She was strangled to death by you. - Clerk Yan,

Madam She has confessed that she assisted Cheng Xian in the matter of killing his wife.

This small shirt was embroidered by Yuanniang, wasn't it?

Upon examination by the coroner, Wang Yuanniang was found to be two months pregnant.

You're trying to deceive me.

Even if she was pregnant, so what?

You resented marrying into the family, and in anger plotted to murder Wang Yuanniang.

But what you didn't know was that she was wholeheartedly devoted to you.

She had long planned that after the child was born, they would take your surname.

The embroidery on this little shirt is the surname Cheng.

[Cheng]

You blame Wang Yuanniang's maternal family for oppressing you.

But you know the truth better than anyone.

Yuanniang. I owe you an apology, Yuanniang.

Yuanniang.

However, on the deceased's body, there was also a pinprick wound, which is quite strange.

The coroner has temporarily been unable to determine its origin.

Lately, there have been many changes with me.

Before dawn.

Subtitles and Timing provided to you by 🎶 The Copper Sparrow 🪶Team @viki.com

"Only Want You" - Ding Yuxi, Deng Enxi

♫ One look confirmed our fate ♫

♫ Upon meeting again, I know you're the one for me ♫

♫ Gaze at the stars, dreaming about old times ♫

♫ A pair of people have already taken root ♫

♫ Lovers before the candlelight, do not ask their thoughts ♫

♫ Affection is bound, lasting forever ♫

♫ Using the evening breeze to express deep love ♫

♫ I have someone I long for in this life ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

​♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

​♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ You are the only one for me ♫

♫ Embracing each other, how serious we are about our love ♫

♫ Every moment is treasured ♫

♫ From dawn to dusk ♫

♫ You and I, forever inseparable ♫

♫ Without noticing, you broke into my heart ♫

♫ Slowly immersing myself, I become undaunted by perils for love ♫

♫ I charge into battle with unmatched resilience ♫

♫ Because you are my responsibility ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

​♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ Deeply in love, you are the one I have chosen ♫

♫ Autumn moon and spring breeze, I only want you for my whole life ♫

♫ The trace of your palm ♫

​♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is heating up ♫

♫ You are the only one for me ♫