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 4]

[Serene Demeanor]

Morning, Great Chief.

It's not morning anymore. It seems that the Ministry of Justice is not very strict in rules.

Thanks to you. I slept so well last night.

You said the second branch of the Liang family is not the murderer. How certain are you?

Almost certain.

Go on then. Now your head is still on your neck.

If I keep staying up all night like this,

even with a head, I would still have to go to the underworld.

My Lord.

My Lord. Madam. Time for breakfast.

I have no appetite.

Wow. What a mess.

Yan Xing.

- Sixth Miss. - Chuichui.

Seriously? Doesn't the Shen Mansion provide you with meals?

- If I eat with him, I'm afraid I'll choke. - She's still alive.

Looks like she's fine. Let's go.

Choke? No way.

I heard that you and White Ghost are very much in love.

A good Jack makes a good Jill.

I've heard all about you two riding a horse together.

Tell me the truth.

Indeed, good news stays within, but bad news spreads far and wide.

Bad news? You're now famous among the circle of noblewomen in the Imperial City.

Back then, there was a woman who faked fainting and fell into Shen Du's arms.

And she got arrested by the Imperial Guards and sentenced for the crime of offending the Great Chief.

It really is his style.

Since then, once the women in Xiang'an City see White Ghost, they avoid him like the plague.

I can't believe he would show affection with you in the street and have close contact.

It's better to have less contact.

This is…

On the night of your wedding, Ming Hall was on fire.

The Grand Empress Dowager was furious. Several people from the Imperial Guards were held accountable.

Even your husband was fined his salary.

I didn't know that.

I heard about that poor scholar named Chen Baiyi.

He set himself on fire in the Ming Hall because he sought fame but failed.

He is dead. His family should have been implicated, but…

only this nearly sixty-year-old, blind, and deaf old lady is left in his family.

The Grand Empress Dowager showed mercy and wanted to pardon her.

But this old lady went to the Ministry of Justice to stage a sit-in, insisting on seeking justice.

She's been sitting for a day and a night.

Just think, who would dare to take it on?

- Do you want to die? - I have to die sooner or later.

Anyway, I can only die once.

Old lady, please stand up first.

If there is really an injustice, we will certainly give you an explanation.

Thank you, Miss!

Who had the nerve to take that old lady's case?

Come on, step forward.

I'm in a good mood. I promise I won't beat you to death.

Who took her case?

That old lady at the gate? I've already sent her home.

Dismissed.

Go, dismissed.

[Feng Gui]

Why is it you again?

Actually, that old lady should be properly consoled.

Otherwise, she'll keep sitting at the gate of the Ministry of Justice.

Regarding the case of Chen Baiyi,

- I have already taken it very seriously… - The follow-up of this case is handed over to…

Feng Gui!

Keep an eye on that old lady, don't let her come again.

I'll pass.

Director Wu, I think…

Come here.

The murder case of Liang Chenzhong from the Liang Mansion has been taken over by the Imperial Guards.

Everyone,

stay out of it.

The Imperial Guards is not something you can interfere with at will.

If anyone doesn't obey, I will punish him severely.

- Yes. - Yes.

Go get busy.

Director Wu, I…

Yan Xing. Chuichui.

Don't you two still have case files to organize? Go for it.

I…

Sixth Miss, I suddenly remembered that Great Chief Shen invited you to lunch.

It's late now.

Well, it's not urgent. Lunch is more important.

Lunch is more important.

Let's go.

[Tongming Hall]

Don't care about your small business. Follow me.

Okay. Then I'll follow you.

My apologies, official lady.

[Ministry of Justice]

Tongming Hall has rules that only male guests are accepted. No female guests are allowed.

We are not guests. We are here to investigate a case.

Well, send a male official here to investigate.

I am a clerk.

However, she is a dignified ninth-rank recording official, as noted by the Ministry of Justice.

If you block us, maybe you are objecting to the government's system of selecting officials.

Please don't make it difficult for me.

If today we allow you two to come in,

I'm afraid I might lose this job.

Well, take another careful look,

if we are male guests or female guests.

Male guests. Please come in.

[Owner of Tongming Hall, Rong Zhui] How could Zhanxin be so miserable?

I thought that she could be a wife to Liang Chenzhong...

and form a happy family.

Who would be that cruel to kill her?

My condolences. Do you still remember?

Before Kuang Zhanxin went missing, did anything unusual happen?

Or did she ever have a dispute with someone?

Zhanxin has always been gentle,

getting along well with everyone.

Until the officials came to inform us last night,

didn't you know that Kuang Zhanxin was missing?

She left on the seventeenth of last month

to go on an outing with Liang Chenzhong.

Liang Chenzhong had taken her out for fun before.

I thought this time, she just went for a bit longer.

If we need further information, we'll come and ask again. Please accept our condolences.

I heard that Chen Baiyi set himself on fire and also set the Ming Hall on fire.

Fortunately, you drove him out early.

Great Cang values much on nepotism.

He's from a poor family and still wanted to become a noble.

It’s sheer folly.

He's lucky to polish my essays for me.

Yet he was still not content.

This bunch of poor scholars just don't know what gratefulness is.

How dare he, just being a study companion, try to get first place in the Hongwen School literary competition!

- Come on, drink. - Come on.

Sixth Miss. Sixth Miss?

Let's go.

- Sixth Miss. - Marshal Xu.

Imperial Secretariat Lu.

Marshal Xu, you're here at Tongming Hall for a case?

It's the case obtained by your husband.

I guess I shouldn't call you Sixth Miss anymore.

I should call you Madam Shen.

Marshal Xu, as always, call me Sixth Miss.

Fine. Then from now on, don't call me Marshal Xu anymore.

Call me Brother Xu.

Okay, Brother Xu.

After the matter of Kuang Zhanxin got out,

the owners of the shops near Pingkang Alley act as if they are obsessed,

feeling like the ladies from their own shops who have been out for a long time and not returned are missing.

There are a dozen cases already.

- More people are missing? - No.

Among seventeen girls who were reported missing, fifteen have already been found.

And the two remaining, are probably fine.

But there is one thing I haven't decided whether to report it yet.

And then I met you here.

This records the cases of missing musical performers over the years. [Missing Persons Case Files]

Weird.

These performers are not the most popular,

but all are well-versed in music and rhythm,

specializing in instrumental music and skilled at playing the pipa.

Exactly.

It's just too coincidental. That's why it feels suspicious.

These are the portraits of the missing women.

These women all have the same flying fairy hairstyle.

Anything else?

Look.

The faces of these women are different,

yet they all have something in common.

- Especially in demeanor, they are extremely similar. - Yes.

At first glance, there is an indescribable similarity among them.

I was thinking of handing these files over to the Ministry of Justice,

but I don't think it's okay to bypass the Imperial Guards.

Now it seems it's best that you get it.

White Ghost surely wouldn't draw his sword and kill his wife over this. Right?

Then I shall take my leave first.

You swore oaths at dawn and left.

I wonder what you were investigating.

So you were chatting here.

I am discussing the case with Marshal Xu, who commands all the inspectors of the Imperial City.

Commands all the inspectors?

This is impressive.

Back in the day, Marshal Xu was a grand criminal wanted by the imperial court

with a bounty of 100,000 taels.

So, Marshal Xu is the one from the legends

who infiltrated the palace and stole the Grand Empress Dowager's jade pillow.

If he's that amazing, he wouldn't have been caught.

Although he was caught, the Grand Empress Dowager appreciated his talent.

Not only did she not punish him, but she also got rid of him as a slave.

It's true that he was caught.

- That means he was outsmarted and his skills were inferior. - I…

With someone like him, what information can you get?

I can get information.

As for my bet on the Liang family, I'm about to win.

Every evidence now indicates that this is a years-long series of serial murders.

Once I have found the murderer, the second branch of the Liang family could completely clear their name.

Great Chief, the one watching the Liang family has reported back

that the second branch was splashed with chicken blood by those from the main branch.

The second madam has become even more insane.

The third son went to the Ministry of Justice to turn himself in.

And Princess of Valor wants to see you.

[Guangyue Restaurant]

Princess of Valor only invites the Great Chief alone.

Princess of Valor.

Liang Chenyu was imprisoned.

This is not what the Grand Empress Dowager wanted.

If I remember it correctly,

the Grand Empress Dowager did not request you to thoroughly investigate this case,

instead, to protect the second branch of the Liang family.

We don't have enough evidence yet, so there is no conclusion.

Great Chief, you have always been meticulous.

But this time, you have been slow to follow the rules in handling affairs.

Don't be like your father,

who makes significant moves silently.

I dare not.

Princess of Valor must be making things difficult for the Great Chief.

The Grand Empress Dowager had given instructions regarding this case of the Liang Mansion

to protect the second branch of the Liang family.

Yet, you insist on investigating to the very end.

And now, Third Young Master has been put into prison.

Now, how can the Great Chief explain this?

I will take responsibility for this case,

and surely give an explanation to those who are above.

The Grand Empress Dowager trusts you, so naturally, I also trust you.

But I hope you don't let us down.

I heard the new Madam Shen is very interesting.

Grand Empress Dowager bestowed me a marriage,

I am so grateful.

Great Chief!

Five pairs of bodies were dug up at Ximing Temple, who died the same way the other two did.

In that case,

this matter indeed has nothing to do with the second branch of the Liang family.

The two before from Liang Chenzhong's case,

there are six pairs of men and women, twelve bodies in total.

The murderer killed them in the same way.

The men had their hearts carved out, and the women were disfigured.

This is not the soil of Ximing Temple.

These bodies have been moved recently, and reburied anew.

Their faces turned purple, and their flesh turned inside out.

But I can still tell this was a young woman.

Can you estimate the time of death?

These two people must have been killed the month before.

Around the bodies, there are many layers of charcoal and plant ash.

They must have been used to cover the smell.

What exactly is this fragrance?

Anything weird?

If my master were here, he could definitely tell what is in it.

In my opinion, you have already learned what your master taught you.

And you are no less skilled than Pan Chi, the top detective.

Not really.

After my master retired, he traveled far and wide, and probably has almost forgotten about me.

This is the first pair of bodies ever dug up.

Their decomposition is the most severe.

It's hard to tell the time of death.

It should be within four to six years.

If the murderer is the same person, that would be insane.

He can disembowel and excise hearts, hemust be a strong man.

Perhaps a butcher.

In my opinion, the murderer is very likely a woman.

Why?

The position, length, and depth of the wounds on each face of the female body

are almost identical.

And the strength used in the stabbing,

doesn't seem to be from a man.

If the murderer is a woman, she would have to have killed twelve people over these years.

These male victims were not the elderly or weak.

They were all in their prime when they died.

How could they possibly be outmatched by a woman?

Brother Xu, if you think it is impossible because you have not seen it,

then many strange cases in this world cannot be solved.

Let's go.

You…

What do you want to do?

Princess of Valor has already instructed

that the case of Ximing Temple and the case of the Liang Mansion will be merged and handled together

and placed under the management of the Imperial Guards.

People from the Ministry of Justice must not interfere any more.

Whatever.

I'm going to take you to a place.

Where to?

You…

The scent of White Champaca lingers in her sleeves.

A silk robe with a ruyi pattern brocade.

A jade velvet flower hairpin.

A peony-decorated white silk fan.

If you have time to be in a daze,

you might as well think carefully about how to keep your life.

Where exactly are we going?

The Ministry of Justice.

Put me down now.

We're not far from the Ministry of Justice, I can walk there myself.

The murderer has not yet been found, and Third Young Master is still in prison.

If he dies, you'll die with him.

Great Chief Shen, the bet I placed has never been lost.

Great Chief, what brings you here?

Can't I come here?

Great Chief, not at all. Welcome!

I've come to ask you for a person to assist at the Imperial Guards.

Great Chief, you want to transfer someone. Easy.

Who do you want? I'll make the arrangements immediately.

Her.

The case of the ten corpses at Ximing Temple has been entirely entrusted to the Imperial Guards.

The Ministry of Justice should stay out of it.

Yes.

Great Chief, I have many case files unorganized.

I'm afraid I can't be transferred to the Imperial Guards.

Clerk Yan, what are you talking about?

You have many case files unorganized.

Hand it over to Secretariat Lu.

Hurry up and go with the Great Chief.

If you don't come,

then this case is concluded.

Director Wu.

Drag those bodies outside the city

and bury them some place.

No way!

- I'll go now. - Sixth Miss!

We got it from Chen Baiyi's house.

I've read all the essays he has written.

Each piece is brilliantly written.

During these days, you have worked a lot.

It's fine. Let's watch a play in the Furong Garden.

Approved.

Be careful.

Great Chief, the coroner has already completed the preliminary tests.

Jing Lin.

If people from the Ministry of Justice are found to be investigating this case privately,

they shall be dealt with as acting for factionalism and personal gain.

Yes.

Then I must thank you for your support and favor,

allowing me to get the right to investigate this case.

I will surely do my best to solve the case as soon as possible.

Glad that you know it.

Since I've been transferred to the Imperial Guards,

then I'd be a member of the Imperial Guards.

So, I have to follow the rules of the Imperial Guards.

I am just a clerk.

How can I ride with you on the same horse?

I am not skilled at riding.

I believe Guard Jing is compassionate to his subordinates.

You certainly won't leave me behind. Right?

Me?

Then today, I have to ride a horse with you.

If you wish to ride a horse, you should naturally be with the Great Chief.

As for me…

I will lead the horse for you.

It's not appropriate.

Let's ride a horse together.

When handling cases, there's no distinction between men and women.

You can just treat me as a regular colleague.

Madam, take your seat.

How much longer do you have to chitchat?

If you keep doing so, you'll be fined six months' salary.

I…

Great Chief!

These were taken from the bodies of the first victims.

Supervised by the first year of the Shengli Era.

It was worn by the body of the man who was first killed.

The murderer's first crime should have been six years ago.

Why?

The murderer killed in the same way every time.

There must be a pattern to the timing.

A very small mistake makes a great difference.

If we are wrong, then it won't be easy to find the murderer.

If we are wrong, then it won't be easy to find the murderer.

Double Fish Pattern.

Jinxiu Workshop.

This Double Fish Pattern was a specially made pattern by Jinxiu Workshop back then.

It's so popular.

Jinxiu Workshop was the largest silk square in the Imperial City,

presenting tribute silks to the palace on the first day of every month.

However, in the sixth month of the third year of the Shengli Era,

Jinxiu Workshop was charged with the crime of insubordination

for delaying the presenting of Princess Runing with summer clothes.

Henceforth,

no one in the Imperial City dared to wear clothes from Jinxiu Workshop out in public.

This man must have died before the insubordination case of Jinxiu Workshop.

The gold medal was made in the first year of the Shengli Era.

Then he might have died in the first year of the Shengli Era.

Impossible.

Double Fish Pattern was the style of spring clothes

made by Jinxiu Workshop in the third year of the Shengli Era.

It was only available between the second and fourth months back then.

You remember it so clearly?

The case file of the Jinxiu Workshop is in the Archive.

There is a volume of illustrated catalogs,

recording the patterns of Jinxiu Workshop over ten years.

Jing Lin, go and confirm by comparison.

Make no mistake.

Yes.

[Chang'an City]

Madam, the Archive is full of treasures and books.

Do not wander around...

or touch anything.

Understood. We should split up to search.

- You go over there. - Don't touch anything.

[Collection of essays from the Hongwen School]

[Test Paper Four]

Hurry up.

Hurry up. Don't drop it.

What on earth is going on?

Wait!

Wait! Why are you here?

- Weren't you transferred to the Imperial Guards? - I want to see Director Wu.

There's progress in the case of Chen Baiyi's self-immolation.

He has already instructed that no one can mention the Ming Hall case again.

If anyone mentions it again, he should submit his resignation.

There really is an inside story. I want to see Director Wu.

Wait. Didn't you see the entire Ministry of Justice

got into trouble with a nursery rhyme?

No one has time to investigate the self-immolation case.

- Nursery rhyme? - Don't you know it?

Mind your head.

It's spread to every household in the Imperial City.

I wonder this time which place will suffer.

Be careful. Mind the steps.

Ruthless people, merciless Buddha,

under the sovereign, the order is in chaos.

Merciless Buddha hides the sin.

Black Fiend is coming!

Kid.

Do you realize what you just said is grossly defiant and contrary to Taoism?

Well, how should I punish you?

Try this new invention of a trap.

Later, we'll put the pot on the fire.

And you'll have even more fun.

Guards.

No, please no.

No, please no. He is just a kid.

Please spare him.

If one can spread such defiant words,

then the Imperial City will become a place without rules.

- No, My Lord. - Please spare us.

If you do not properly educate your kid, then I'll do it for you.

No, My Lord.

Make way for the Princess of Valor's carriage.

Princess of Valor.

This person looks somewhat familiar.

What is going on here?

Your Highness, please save my child.

Please save my child, Your Highness.

I've come to patrol the streets today,

suddenly I heard a child saying defiant words,

so I caught him.

Sorry to disturb you.

I see.

Your Highness, please show mercy.

I'm sorry that my child speaks nonsense.

I will certainly educate him well.

Yes, Your Highness.

Parents are to blame for children's misbehavior.

You should be blamed.

Vice Minister Lai,

everyone makes mistakes.

Moreover, he is just a kid.

Vice Minister Lai, you've always been brilliant and wise.

So why would you ruin your good reputation over a child?

Even so…

Since I have witnessed it today,

it means this child is destined to meet me.

Vice Minister Lai,

could you perhaps spare this child for me?

Since Your Highness said so,

I naturally have to spare him.

Release him.

- Thank you. - As long as the child is fine.

- Thank you. - You may leave.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Princess of Valor is truly compassionate.

Princess of Valor is truly generous and merciful.

Humbly, we see Your Highness off.

- Get twenty strokes of the cane for punishment. - Yes.

Who exactly is that woman?

[Imperial Guards]

What's wrong?

Lai Luozhi accused the Great Chief of being ineffective in investigating the case.

So the Grand Empress Dowager issued an order to take the Great Chief away.

You two guard the door. Tell me about anything of the Great Chief promptly.

Yes.

No entry.

The Great Chief has instructed that without permission, no one is allowed to approach the office.

If you…

If you want to break in, step over me.

Don't flip through. If you flip through, I'll show no mercy.

Stop flipping through.

- If you keep flipping through, I will take my own life. - If you want your Great Chief to die,

then do it.

Grind the ink.

Grind the ink.

I hope it's not too late.

[Left Commander, Right Commander, Vice General]

[Imperial Guards]

Her handwriting is surprisingly similar to that of the Great Chief.

Are you confident that this can really save the Great Chief?

I can't guarantee it,

but we should at least give it a try.

Perhaps it can prevent him from severe punishment.

What are you waiting for? Hurry up!

I am waiting here.

Stop flipping through.

Grand Empress Dowager.

The Imperial Guards have taken over the case for several days, yet they haven't solved it.

Now, rumors are saying the imperial court is inept at selecting officials.

Even worse, some speculate the emperor's intentions, saying we intend to shield the Liang family.

It's a disgrace to your reputation.

Grand Empress Dowager, please allow the Imperial Inspectorate to take over this case.

What you said is exactly what I am concerned about.

Shen Du from the Imperial Guards has arrived.

Shen Du, the Great Chief of the Imperial Guards.

Greetings to you, Grand Empress Dowager.

May you live for long.

Minister Shen,

the case of the Liang family has yet to be solved.

Maybe you should give me an explanation.

Grand Empress Dowager, the murder case of the Liang family is not an isolated incident.

But it's related to multiple bodies dug up in succession at Ximing Temple

and committed by the same murderer.

Based on the evidence, the Imperial Guards have sped up solving the cases.

The case of the Liang Mansion involves important court officials.

And Ximing Temple is even a place for devout Buddhist practice and worship.

Now with the case unresolved,

an offensive nursery rhyme has become popular in the city.

Tell me about it.

Then I will recite this nursery rhyme to Your Majesty.

"Ruthless people, merciless Buddha,

under the sovereign, the order is in chaos.

Merciless Buddha hides sin."

Impudent!

Grand Empress Dowager, please calm down.

I believe that the spread of this nursery rhyme

is all because the murder case at Ximing Temple remains unresolved.

If the Imperial Guards cannot find the murderer,

then we might as well have an exorcism.

Grand Empress Dowager, admired by all.

Don't mind these reckless words.

Great Chief Shen, you forgot this.

The Imperial Guards suddenly arrived to arrest me,

and I was in the process of sorting out the case, wanting to present it to Your Majesty.

A great line: "In the peaceful world, only Buddha's heart prevails.

Evil thoughts through countless calamities shall never survive.

Unraveling the threads to cleanse the grievances.

With keen insight, the world is at peace."

Very well.

Now that you've gotten clues about the Liang family and Ximing Temple,

then let's proceed.

Understood.

Minister Shen,

you also mentioned in your memorial

there is an inside story on the Ming Hall self-immolation case.

The self-immolator did not do it to vent dissatisfaction,

but a desperate act to express his determination to me through death.

Is that true?

I am reviewing it and will report as soon as possible.

Grand Empress Dowager.

All right.

You two are both my right-hand men.

Each with your own merits.

Enough for today, you may all leave now.

Minister Shen.

Please stay.

I have another matter

for you to attend to immediately.

I shall obey your command.

Great Chief Shen.

Today, in front of the Grand Empress Dowager, you remained composed and eloquent.

Truly amazing.

Vice Minister Lai, you flatter me.

I was merely stating the facts.

People say the Imperial Guards are the Grand Empress Dowager's eyes.

But don't look in the wrong direction.

All we do is within our duties,

unlike the Imperial Inspectorate, with fangs bared, tearing about everywhere.

If it were someone else, they would probably be at their wits' end.

Then I hope you can solve the case soon.

There are many people...

watching you.

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 ♫