Donglai!
Jing'er! That's a diversion.
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 follow me!
Jing'er?
Almighty infinity? Infinity Monastery?
There's nobody here. Stop pretending.
Take your pin out.
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?
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...
Your transfiguration
makes you inarticulate.
Let me see.
Hey, hey don't touch
these two acupoints!
They are anathema
to transfiguration!
Don't touch me!
What's the matter?
Nothing. I thought of someone.
Like you, she didn't let me touch her.
Who?
It's all right. It's Donglai.
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?
Let go of me!
We need torture to make him talk!
A confession under torture is useless.
Don't you know that it's torture
which alienates people from the Empress
and go against 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.
In fact, they were 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 harm Infinity Monastery and the Chaplain.
Let me kill you now.
Jing'er, the Chaplain can help his case.
Can you tell him
I want to talk to him?
What about?
I want to know...
why the Chaplain wants me to handle the case.
The Chaplain is so powerful.
Couldn't 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 are punishable by death.
Please tell the Chaplain I must see him,
whether he wants to or not.
You are wavered.
Apparently, Dee is at the end of his tether.
No need to see him anymore. I'll handle it.
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 Chaplain's 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 tubular pillar.
I think during his inspection,
Jia must have found something.
The clue may be in Jia's inspection report.
We have to find this report.
I'll go to Jia's residence tonight.
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!
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 spies everywhere.
You are returning the mace to me in public.
You want the Empress to suspect me?
I had an agreement with the Empress.
I only care about the investigation.
Power struggle is none of my concern.
The bitch was right to put you in jail.
You've become a different person.
Dee, do you know how the late Emperor died?
The Empress ordered the Chaplain to kill him!
Detective Dee! 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.
But some people below believe
he's a threat to our plan
and must be eliminated.
Nonsense! So short-sighted!
Who needs force to subdue Detective Dee?
To win without fighting, what do you need?
Here!
Yes... you are right.
Assassins!
What's wrong with his body?
Look! The Prince...
Since you're here,
why not have a drink?
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 Heaven's 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 Chaplain's retreat.
Nobody ever dared to disturb it.
The murderer is trying to misguide you and hurt our relationship.
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?
Protect Her Majesty!
Stop! Don't let him in!
Who is this?
I'm looking for Detective Dee.
Protect the Empress!
Your Majesty!
Spit it out!
The Prince... poisoned to death... in his residence.
Detective Dee has fled!
That way! He's gone that way!
Go arrest him and the rest stay for the Empress.
Madame Jia, I know you're in mourning,
but our investigation is very urgent.
My apologies for such a late visit.
Two days after my husband's death,
a mysterious fire
burnt down his study.
Why didn't you report it?
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...
Is your residence being under renovation?
It leaked earlier, so we're fixing the roof.
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.
Such a long renovation for a leak!
So where did he work?
He moved to the east wing for work.
Show me the way.
Don't move!
Detective Dee!
You know it's a capital crime to come here.
Why do you walk right into the trap?
For saving me from jail,
I must thank you in person.
But you 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?
The Chaplain is Jing'er. Jing'er is him?
Jing'er, it's time to show your real face.
In order to ascend the throne, the Empress
eliminated clansmen and old officials,
blaming everything on the Chaplain.
In order to shut people's mouths,
she even brought me back to solve the case,
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 Chaplain's gone, what about Jing'er?
It's sleeping smoke.
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?
Couldn't 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 world is so big, but you can't fit in.
Everybody wants 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 the real culprit.
Be gentle and careful.
Call the Imperial Physician! Hurry up!
Call the Imperial Physician!
Yes, Your Majesty.
- Stand down. - Stand down.
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.
Was it worth it?
It's worth it.
Detective Dee!
We don't have time. No need to untie me.
I know why Jia had to die.
I saw his inspection diagram.
Rein buckle...
Let's start!
Yes!
This is the inspection diagram
Pei found in Jia's residence.
According to Jia's last report,
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,
pre-empting my every move.
Be it to Donkey Wang or to the Monastery,
you managed to set up ambushes beforehand.
And you killed Jing'er outside the Monastery
What a thorough analysis!
You're indeed the "Extraordinary Detective"!
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.
Incredible! Incredible!
Stop it, brother!
It's baneful to the Empire and the people.
Don't make continuous mistakes.
Since 8 years ago,
I've only lived for one thing.
She gave me this I have to repay her!
Release them!
Tubular pillar...
Molten fluid...
Break!
8 years ago, you led a revolt against her.
Now you're giving your life for her.
Where's your integrity?
She might be evil,
but you'll be killing more than her.
What kind of monster have you become?
Release the molten fluid!
Yes!
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.
Now I have his tally in my hand.
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 world!
Detective Dee... You can't get out!
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.
I won't give up!
I haven't failed.
After the Buddha has fallen, the guards will be in panic!
I haven't failed!
Wait and see. I haven't failed!
Open the door!
It's collapsing!
Run!
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 haven't failed!
It's really collapsing!
Your Majesty! We can't stay here. Let's leave right now.
Your Majesty!?
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Protect Her Majesty! Please leave immediately!
Hey!
Don't run that way!
Go save the Emperor
Your Majesty!?
Let's go over there.
Your Majesty!
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 world shall know you're my savior.
May I venture to say a few words to you
in front of the mace?
That's preposterous!
Stand down.
Your Majesty!
I asked you to stand down!
Stand down, everybody!
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 world 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