Original subtitles

=The Song Inquisitor=

=Episode 4=

What have I done wrong?

What did I do to deserve this?

If you were righteous,

why would you fight the officers?

I am but a helpless woman.

Who knows if you are up to no good?

Stop denying.

Deng Guang told us everything.

I don't know that good-for-nothing Deng Guang.

How could you punish us

based only on his statements?

Yeah.

We are good people.

- Yeah. - That's right.

We are a troupe that was passing by.

We are just singers and actors.

We may be actors,

but unlike you,

we are not criminals.

So, you're a troupe.

I'd like to see

which play you specialize in.

"The Story of the Boudoir", "The Tale of Adversity",

"The Chaste Maiden Zhao and Cai Erlang", and "Returning to Dreamland".

I watched "The Tale of Adversity" when I was little. It was remarkable.

I'd love to watch it again.

The script has been lost for over a decade.

We heard about it, but never performed it.

Who would've thought?

We're in the presence of masters.

The play was unpopular. We stopped performing it.

Yeah, we don't perform this play.

But you should still remember it.

You get to perform while proving your innocence.

Even the thought of it is joyful.

Bring it here.

These are the costumes and props

we found at your quarters.

Put them on and let the show begin.

You're alive.

I knew it.

You heard about the passing of a wealthy man.

Hence, you disguised as a ghost troupe to rob his grave.

But Deng Guang ruined your plan.

Out of anger,

you trapped him in a coffin to eliminate him.

Is that it?

Yes

and no.

Great! Nice singing!

Deng Guang is here.

Great show!

Kill him now.

Can I have the money now?

Don't be rash.

Stick to the plan.

You used the play you heard about

but never watched.

I bet

it wasn't just to kill Deng Guang.

Why do good people

live a short life

while the villains thrive?

Deng Guang was a gambler.

He sold poison.

He made the living

addict to his poison

to make a fortune until their last breath.

After they died,

he stole the grave goods left behind by the deceased's family.

He is utterly devoid of conscience.

He would bleed a man dry even in death.

He deserves the worst death!

Deng Guang is hopeless.

Why didn't you stop your family?

Any normal family

would be ashamed of

purchasing this medicine.

They wouldn't tell anyone.

When the person dies,

the secret will be safe.

Many sought help from the doctor

for a glimpse of hope.

But they ended up throwing their lives away.

I thought my father was already dying.

But mere days ago, I learned

that my father didn't die from any sickness.

He was addicted to a poison!

My father too.

My brothers died the same way.

We investigated

and found that our families

knew a man called Deng Guang.

After every few successes,

he'd flee to a different town.

We tracked him down and found him

when Baron Wang was buried.

Why didn't you kill him right away?

Why go through the trouble of disguising as ghosts?

Killing him

would be too much mercy for him.

I want his soul

to be tortured,

torn apart, and crushed!

We lured him in dressing as ghosts

so he could learn

what it feels like to be swindled.

We trapped him in a coffin

to be a grave good

so he could lose hope as his life faded away!

I can't allow the world to remember him

as the drunkard who was murdered.

I want him to be remembered

as the most accursed devil who has committed heinous crimes.

He must suffer for all eternity!

Spare us your righteous speech.

Deng Guang deserves the worst death.

But right from the start,

you used the ghost troupe

to spread terror

so no one would investigate.

So you could get away with it.

You thought you were doing good with violence,

but you are fighting violence with more violence!

You tarnished the play

and brought shame to the dead.

You were born with a beautiful voice.

You should be singing

the graceful melodies of the world,

not disguising as malevolent ghosts.

You are a disgrace

to your parents.

When I was little,

I love watching and singing operas with my father.

I'd like to talk to him again.

No matter how ashamed he was of his condition,

he could've told us so we could overcome it as a family.

But it's too late now.

Death took him from me.

Mu Qing, Wang Youde, and the others disguised as a ghost troupe

to murder Deng Guang. This is an unforgivable crime.

Lock them up!

- Yes! - What about Deng Guang?

- What about Deng Guang? - Move!

- You deserve to die too! - Move!

Deng Guang is a fraud and a murderer.

He will be jailed as well.

You'll pay for this!

My husband.

(Tomb of Wang Lihuan)

This time,

let my husband be at peace.

I heard you are playwrights.

Why not turn this case into a play?

The world should learn

about this hysterical tragedy.

The case is solved. He is avenged.

Let's celebrate with a roasted chicken.

Pack our things.

Don't overstay the inn.

The old man is paying.

(Tomb of Wang Lihuan)

You manipulated them into killing Deng Guang.

That day at the court,

Mu Qing said

she only learned about the cause

of her father's death mere days ago.

Who told her that?

And who told the others?

How should I know?

You tried to undermine the investigation.

You knew

they had trapped Deng Guang inside.

You wanted Deng Guang

to be buried with your husband.

You let us exhume his remains

out of pressure

only because Deng Guang

could either play dead or fool.

As soon as he talked,

he would've exposed himself.

That is a serious accusation.

Mu Qing didn't rat you out.

But we caught a scent from her.

One, the black locust scent from the inn.

The other

was the incense that filled your house.

After it is done, simply pay us and stay hidden.

Those investigators ruined our plan

by saving that actress.

You could be a suspect as well.

They got in my way.

After the job is done,

take the money and leave.

It was you

who manipulated us into catching the ghost troupe.

You were clear of all suspicion.

So why do you drink the poisoned liquor?

I guess

the real murderer who took your husband's life was you.

After we got married,

I couldn't conceive a child.

I didn't want my husband to become addicted

to Deng Guang's poison

and lose himself.

Deng Guang used that secret to blackmail him.

He had already

bled our family dry.

And in the end,

my husband even lost his life.

I've lost everything.

I've lost the purpose to live.

Deng Guang may be unforgivable,

but the law of the Great Song will punish him.

You are not exacting justice.

Hiring murderers

is the same as committing murder.

Moments ago,

I switched the poison out.

What?

When wealth is lost,

it can be rebuilt.

When a lover is lost,

you can still look for new love.

Not having children is not a flaw.

But Baron Wang can't be brought back to life.

Years of lies from his wife cost him his life.

There's hope now that I have the medicine.

My wife and I have been married for years.

We can't bear a child.

I know she loves playing with kids.

We shall have a happy family soon.

Yeah.

A wonderful family indeed.

There's more?

Yes.

I'll buy every last bit you have.

Actually,

the person who couldn't bear a child

and brought this misfortune unto him was me.

You three

were strangers to her,

but you went out of your way to purchase her freedom

and prove her innocence.

But after years of marriage,

I couldn't entrust my husband with the secret.

I wanted to kill Deng Guang with the troupe.

I can run from my crime,

but never

the guilt that haunts my heart.

Which was why

you prepared a coffin for yourself

next to Baron Wang's grave.

You thought you could join him in death.

Not a chance!

That would be too merciful for you.

Turn yourself in.

Repent and regret it

in your prison cell.

(Tomb of Wang Lihuan)

Sir,

I just realized

that you weren't a fool.

You have your reasons.

I won't pry

if you can't tell me.

Much obliged, young lady.

Who is it?

Li Er.

I want my head back.

Huang Santai!

Huang Santai!

♪Under the moonlight, the landscape reappears♪

♪She weeps, tears falling like petals♪

♪People's hearts are unpredictable♪

♪No one knows who reveals their fangs♪

♪No time to wait for orders♪

♪Fearing villains might escape in an instant♪

♪With a shout, the loyal heart presses on♪

♪Halting hatred, pulling back from the brink♪

♪Parting ways amidst the great waves♪

♪Wandering to the ends of the earth♪

♪The road ahead lacks splendor♪

♪The clear sky and bright moon as witness♪

♪Long-held promises not forgotten♪

♪The world is like a grand dream of falling petals♪

♪Coming and going, long away from home♪

♪Justice and human hearts reside under heaven♪

♪Long and painful separation beyond sorrow♪

♪Weathering the winds and sands♪

♪Hand in hand through fleeting years♪

♪Those who share the path, chivalrous and eloquent♪

♪Accompany me as we make the world our home♪

♪I wish only for your unregretful smile♪

♪To roam freely between heaven and earth♪

♪Love remains, unbounded by distance♪

♪I, like a lotus petal, drift beneath the waters♪

♪Witnessing love and hate trampled underfoot♪

♪Too much sorrows and grievances throughout all times♪

♪Sadness in old age♪

♪Only then do we lose the attachment♪

♪Unwilling to feign any elegance♪

♪I lament how the landscape resembles a painting♪

♪I hope only to return♪

♪Beneath the clear and bright heavens♪

♪How can one distinguish truth from falsehood♪