Don't chase. Something weird.
Why?
But Jing'er is by herself...
She wants to find his identity more than we.
Their target is Wang. We need to protect him.
Jing'er knows where to find us.
Stop wasting time and let's go!
Jing'er
Almighty infinity?
Infinity Monastery?
There's nobody here. Stop pretending.
Take your pins out.
Dee, you shouldn't put your fingers in every pie.
I was fine down there.
Why dragged me up?
Speak up! Where can we find fire turtles?
If I can crack this case,
I'll help you get back to the Palace.
To hell with it!
Who wants to go back? Did I say it?
I advise you not to take up this case!
You can't mess with the people behind it.
It can't be done... and then... and then...
Look!
Your transfiguration makes you inarticulate.
Let me see.
Don't touch
these two acupoints!
They are anathema to transfiguration! Don't you know that?
Don't touch me!
What's the matter?
Nothing. These acupoints
remind me of someone.
Who is it?
It's all right. It's Donglai and Jing'er.
Who is he?
The Imperial Physician, Wang Bo.
A.K.A. Donkey Wang.
He's Donkey Wang?
Could that be the so-called transfiguration?
Well, it's my first time.
That's petty stuff. What's so special?
We wasted our whole evening on him.
What's this piece of crap good for?
Who is she? So arrogant!
Officer Shangguan, the Empress's favorite.
So you are Shangguan Jing'er?
You are the Empress's bitch?
Bitch?
Speak up! Tell me all you know.
Let go of me!
We need torture to make him talk!
A confessión under torture is useless.
The Empress created many cases of injustice
because of torture and this will only alienate people from her.
The fire turtles you're looking for
were used for the late Emperor's asthenia.
I heard about them from Western people
and decided to use them to treat asthenia.
I presented a memorial to the late Emperor.
The late Emperor personally commanded
Western merchants to present him 20 of them.
We soon discovered that
they had no medical value but a very lethal poison.
Once ingested, one would burn under the sun.
That's the symptom of the Phantom Flame Case!
After this failure, I fled for my life.
Before I fled, I exposed them under the sun,
hoping they would be exterminated.
But in a rush, I'm not sure if they died out.
So where did you keep the fire turtles?
It's where Infinity Monastery is now.
You try to frame Infinity Monastery
You're mongering rumours. Let me kill you now.
Jing'er,
the Chaplain can help this case.
Can you tell him
I want to talk to him?
I want to ask the Chaplian face to face...
why he wants me to handle the case.
The Chaplain is so powerful.
Couldrt he just tell me who did it?
The Chaplain is on spiritual sabbatical.
Then I'll go to the Monastery to find him.
Detective Dee, you can't just go there.
I know,
without the Imperial Edict, trespassers will be killed.
Please tell the Chaplain I must see him,
whether he wants to or not.
You're swayed.
How dare you help him pass the Chaplain a message?
Apparently, Dee is at the end of his tether.
No need to see him anymore.
I'll handle it myself.
Remember! To achieve greatness, everyone is expendable!
One needs to be committed absolutely.
If fire turtles are found in the Monastery,
then the Chaplain has to be involved.
But what's the Chaplairs murder motive?
Both men moved the amulets before they died.
I don't believe in divine intervention,
but there might be a clue behind the amulets.
Xue moved it during investigation;
Jia moved them while inspecting the Buddha.
I think during his inspection,
Jia must have found something.
The clue...
may be in Jia's inspection diagram.
We have to find this diagram.
Pei of Supreme Court welcomes the Prince!
Detective Dee, receive the mace...
The late Emperor gave you this weapon.
It was confiscated when you were in jail.
After I got hold of it, I've kept it for you!
I give you back as I hope you still respect the late Emperor.
Dee, I'm bestowing this mace on you.
If I make mistakes in my rule in future,
you should advise me frankly with this mace.
The Empress has informers everywhere.
And you are returning the mace to me in public.
You want the Empress...
to suspect me?
My agreement with the Empress is for investigation only.
Power struggle is none of my concern.
The bitch was right to put you in jail.
You've become an obedient dog.
Dee, do you know how the late Emperor died?
The Empress ordered the Chaplain to kill him!
Detective Dee!
Get up! Detective Dee!
I've won!
You Highness, you've won this time!
No matter how good Dee is, he can't beat you!
He kneeled before you after all.
Detective Dee is a talent.
- Instead of crushing him, we can win him over. - That's right.
But some of our people believe
he's a threat and must be eliminated.
Nonsense! So short-sighted!
Who needs force to subdue Detective Dee?
To win without fighting, what do you need?
Here!
Since you're here, why not show up?
This is the mace the late Emperor gave you?
What's so special about it?
It can detect the crack in a weapon.
How?
By hitting the enemy's weapon with this mace,
you can hear the crack...
When you strike it, it will break!
Men have weak points like weapons.
They will break when struck.
Dee, this is your last chance!
Your Majesty,
please answer me facing this mace.
How did the late Emperor die?
You still suspect me after all?
As reported, he died of liver disease.
Contrary to rumors, I didn't poison him!
I'm ascending the throne on Heavers Mandate.
But since I'm a woman, I'm being vilified.
You know why I came to see you?
To dissuade me from going to the Monastery.
The Monastery is the Chaplairs retreat.
And it is also where the spiritual energy of our Kingdom lies.
Nobody ever dared to disturb it.
I order you not to investigate the Monastery!
The Chaplain is on spiritual sabbatical.
After my coronation,
he will leave the palace.
There's no need to visit him.
Will the Chaplain vanish forever?
Master Dee
Something bad happened.
Who is it? Get down and say your visiting purpose.
I'm Pei from Supreme Court.
Her Majesty has ordered
the visitor to see her immediately.
Please report to me directly.
Pei from Supreme Court humbly welcomes the Empress.
What's so urgent that you have to report at midnight?
I've just received the news that
the Prince... was poisoned to death... in his residence.
Detective Dee has fled!
Archers! Move Quickly!
He's gone to the roof top! Outflank him!
Go arrest him and the rest stay for the Empress.
Yes.
I think during his inspection,
Jia must have found something.
The major clues of this case
should be in Jia's inspection diagram.
Madame Jia, I know you're in mourning,
but our investigation is very urgent.
My apologies for such a late visit.
- Let's go. - Yes.
Two days after my husband's death,
a mysterious fire broke out
and burnt down his whole study.
Why didn't you report it?
I have no idea about this. Was I supposed to report it?
Of course, the cause of fire is suspicious.
Someone wants to destroy the evidence.
It's so important and you...
- Madame... - Madame...
Is your residence being under renovation?
There are leaks everywhere at the study.
So, we're fixing the roof earlier.
It's been going on for more than a month.
More than a month?
That means before Master Jia's accident,
renovation has already begun.
Correct.
During the long renovation of the study,
where did Master Jia work?
He moved to the east wing for work.
Show me the way.
Detective Dee!
You know it's a capital crime to come here.
Why do you walk right into the trap?
But you Chaplain are such a lofty personage.
Why do you need to resort
to ventriloquism?
Detective Dee! You tried all means to see me.
Here I am. Say what you have to say.
I heard fire turtles were bred here.
I must ascertain this for my investigation.
Nonsense.
I've been in retreat here for years.
I've never seen any fire turtles.
Leave right away and I'll spare your life.
My life or death is still undetermined.
But Jing'er, your life is in real danger.
Am I right, Officer Shangguan?
Under the Empress's instructions,
you threw yourself into my arms
and tried to have sex with me.
But you gave away the show unexpectedly.
You wouldn't let me touch your acupoint...
That smacked of transfiguration.
When I entered the Monastery just now,
You spoke for the deer with ventriloquism.
Every time the deer appeared,
it's you who spoke for it, right, Jing'er?
In Phantom Bazaar,
you knew right away the Chaplain was a fake.
Is it because you're the same person?
Jing'er, it's time to show your real face.
In order to ascend the throne,
the Empress eliminated clansmen and old officials.
But she never knows that the Phantom Flame case is so complicated.
In order to crack the case,
she even brought me back for it,
never expecting that I would suspect her.
She told me the Chaplain would disappear
after her coronation.
That's her way of doing things all along.
To achieve greatness, everyone is expendable!
Jing'er,
You know too many of her secrets.
Once the Chaplairs gone, what about Jing'er?
It's ecstacy scent.
Break!
Remember!
To achieve greatness, everyone is expendable!
I told you not to come here but you did!
Don't think I'll be grateful
because you've taken the sword for me.
You smart ass!
They should be snared!
Where are they?
Couldrt be far.
Go find them!
You're awake.
It's good you woke up.
Did I hurt you?
Detective Dee, you're so pathetic.
The worid is so big, but you can't fit in.
Why does everybody want to kill you?
The Empress also asked me to kill you,
but I cannot.
Can you take me back?
Your guess is right on track.
The Empress set up Infinity Monastery
to use the Chaplain to eliminate dissenters.
At that time, we did kill many people.
But we didn't cause the Phantom Flame!
The murderer will strike again.
You have to help the Empress!
Find out who the real culprit is.
Her Majesty is here!
I humbly welcome Your Majesty.
Call the Imperial Physician! Hurry up!
Go find the Imperial Physician immediately!
Yes, Your Majesty.
Stand down.
Yes.
Call the Imperial Physician.
Can I ask you one question, Your Majesty?
Go ahead.
Have you ever
loved one person in your life?
Yes.
But the price was too high.
So...
was it won'th it?
Was it won'th it?
It's won'th it.
Jing'er.
Detective Dee!
We don't have time. No need to untie me.
I know why Jia had to die.
I saw his inspection diagram.
That Buddha...
will be used to kill the Empress.
Rein buckle...
With the righteous sky above me, I am fearless.
Like the sea waves, the new always supersedes the old.
I am the only one who dare to challenge the tradition.
You, the witch Empress
has upturned our whole Kingdom.
But I will be the one
who destroy all your venomous plans.
I know the winner takes it all.
And the heaven above will help me fight for justice.
Today
at day break
let's see how I combat with you.
It's the signal.
Let's start!
This is the inspection diagram by Master Jia.
Pei found it in Jia's residence.
Jia found out the Tubular Pillar is different from the original design.
According to Jia's memorial before his death,
holes were found underneath all amulets.
Although he did not know the reason,
he was murdered nonetheless.
The Towering Buddha is 66 yards high,
overlooking the palace. It can fall right upon the coronation stage
The Coronation Ceremony is the best timing.
Xue's death was a camouflage.
You wanted to divert our attention,
linking the death to the amulets,
blaming it all on the Imperial Chaplain.
You also took advantage of our relationship,
preempting my every move.
Be it to Donkey Wang or to the Monastery,
you managed to set up ambushes beforehand.
So I am sure that
it's you who killed Jing'er outside the Monastery.
I would never underestimate your ability.
Dee, what more do you know about this?
Six years ago, you were the supervisor when the Monastery was under renovation.
I discovered the remnants of the fire turtles left by Donkey Wang.
Donglai was right.
The poison entered the body through water.
Jia drank the water
but Xue did not.
After he snatched the amulet, he didn't drink any water.
So the poison must have come
from outside.
The poison must have seeped through his body.
Dee, what else do you know?
Stop it, brother!
It's baneful to the empire and the people.
Don't make continuous mistakes.
Since 8 years ago,
I have made up mind long time ago.
I've only lived for one thing.
She gave me this; I have to repay her!
I know you will be back.
Getting in here is easy but not going out.
Archers.
Kill him!
Tubular pillar...
Molten fluid...
8 years ago, you led a revolt against her.
Now you're giving your life for her.
Why did you go back on your words?
If you destroy the palace like this,
many more officials will be killed at the same time.
So you'll be killing more than her.
Release the molten fluid!
The die is cast.
The fluid will run into the tubular pillar
and melt its base.
The Buddha will fall upon the coronation stage.
No one will survive in the Palace.
I know you too well.
I heard you were brought back for the case,
so I advised the Prince to kill you,
or you would ruin our plan.
But that old fool refused to listen.
He even called me a flunkey,
so I killed him.
100,000 soldiers are outside the city.
Once the Buddha falls down,
they will enter the city to kill the bitch.
Even you can't survive this.
Break!
The fluid will run into the tubular pillar
and melt its base.
The Buddha will fall upon the coronation stage.
No one will survive in the Palace.
The time is ripe and Heaven has spoken.
Empress Wu is wise, gentle and generous.
For unification, she shall become Emperor.
Let this be known to the worid!
Detective Dee... You can't get out!
Once the Buddha falls down,
I'll let you be buried with the bitch!
Shatuo, your plan has failed!
I can't stop the Buddha from collapsing,
but the fluid from the southwest has stopped.
The angle of the collapse will change.
It won't fall upon the coronation stage.
Oh!
I haven't failed!
After the Buddha has fallen, the guards will be in panic!
I'll now go to the palace and kill her myself.
Shatuo! Give up!
This is your last chance!
Your Majesty!
The Towering Buddha is wobbling.
It's falling towards the palace.
Please take shelter, your Majesty!
I'll go to see it.
How could this be happened?
Is it an omen?
Run! The Budda is collapsing!
I haven't failed
Go check what happened.
Is it really collapsing?
Your Majesty, it's not safe here and please leave at once.
Your Majesty!
Protect Her Majesty!
- Protect Her Majesty to leave here immediately! - Protect Her Majesty
The Buddha is falling towards the palace.
Hey!
It's falling towards you. Don't go that way!
Go save the Emperor
It's Detective Dee who saved me...
A rebel army is gathered 30 miles from here.
They will invade once the Buddha collapses.
Where's General Yao?
Yau is here!
Report the situation outside the city!
60,000 Imperial Guards
were in ambush in Bianzhou before daybreak!
Call General Zhang to lead 100,000 soldiers
to attack the enemies in the east
until the rebels are totally demolished.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You were well prepared indeed.
Detective Dee,
from this day onwards,
the whole worid shall know you're my savior.
May I venture to say a few words to you
in front of the mace?
Preposterous!
Stand down.
Your Majesty!
I asked you to stand down!
- Stand down, everybody! - Yes
Under Heaven, with this mace as the witness,
would the sacred Empress Wu please listen:
On the pretense of magic,
you wantonly killed clansmen and officials.
This is unpardonable!
But society is on the brink of extinction,
So your punishment is hereby suspended.
Ruling requires power and stratagems,
but right and wrong cannot be confused!
May the Emperor know her every move,
and let Tang clansmen succeed her,
so that everything will be back to track.
You called me ''Emperor''?
Long live the Emperor! Long Live!
Officials are lazy; nobody can help me.
For the people, you stay and help me.
I've been in rebellion several times.
How dare I meddle with state affairs?
My assignment is over.
I'm returning this mace to the late Emperor.
The truth has come to light...
The worid is at peace finally...
But Detective Dee is in Phantom Bazaar.
Whether your fire turtle poison is curable
will depend on the will of Heaven.
The will of Heaven is bright and clear,
but I'm travelling alone.
Heaven and Earth have no space for me,
but my heart is at peace.
The sun is up. Let's go down.
''In 690 A.D.,''
''Empress Wu became the first and only''
''female emperor in the history of China.''
''15 years later, in 705 A.D.,''
''Empress Wu retired from the throne,''
''returning the title to the Crown Prince,''
''in honor of her promise to Detective Dee.''
''Co-starring Richard Ng Teddy Robin Yao Lu Liu Jinshar'
''Screenplay by Zhang Jialu''
''Cinematography by Chan Chi Ying Chan Chor Keung HKSC''
''Image Designer Bruce Yu Production Designer James Chiu''
''Edited by Yau Chi Wai Additional Editing Xiao Yang''
''Music by Peter Kam Sound Supervisor Wang Danrong Zhao Nar'
''Vfx Producer Edward Chiyun Yi Chang Ik Jeong''
''Vfx Supervisor Yong Gi Lee Sang Woo Nam Miniatures Director Andy Ma''