Kwai-cheung worked undercover in Jin.
He found out that someone in Song was leaking national secrets.
Unfortunately the letters have disappeared.
I didn't mind you being a bodyguard.
I ignored my parents' objection and tried to elope with you.
I was wrong to have left you at the pier.
You have every right to be angry.
Someone died at Fa Yim Lau.
I'm sending Tai-lik and Yeung Mau.
Forgot to bring money? Forgot?
That is such a poor excuse!
Go away!
Go!
Boss, do you have any old acquaintances?
I wish to talk to whoever is in charge!
Tai-gan!
The chamber is...very comfortable!
Please go upstairs...
Who's looking for me?
Over here!
You must be looking for a job!
You can't work here just because you want to.
Tai-gan, right?
I'm Ngau Heng. People call me Blind Heng.
My young mistress Miss Yin-yu
is a famous courtesan in Hangzhou's Lai Mo Bin.
She'd like to work for Fa Yim Lau,
and help bring in more business.
Miss Yin-yu is pretty and charming.
Men will die for her while women...
Enough! We're not hiring!
No! Listen to me...
Let go of me!
Listen to me... Let go!
See? The sound alone tells you she's amazing!
(Flower)
When Miss Yin-yu is performing,
she'll do 2 somersaults as well.
Along with my erhu,
I guarantee we'll bring down the house.
Street acrobatics have no aesthetic value.
If I need kung fu, I'd get a martial artist.
I'm a good judge of character.
She's too thin and nothing to look at.
Snob!
And that voice! No thanks.
Listen, she has an ultimate weapon.
You might have seen the whip,
but nothing like Miss Yin-yu's whip.
Even a tiger will go limp at its sound.
Ha-lin can do the same.
Tai-gan!
What is it?
Master Chow won't budge!
I'm too embarrassed to show my face!
What a pain!
Don't worry, Tai-gan! Listen to me...
Miss Yin-yu can have any men wrapped around her fingers.
You'll be in awe once you experience that.
Fine! We'll see what she can do!
If you can get him into bed...
Into bed?
Let him finish!
We'll talk about the terms if she can do it.
Very well!
Miss Yin-yu is here to serve you, Masters!
I'll play a song for you.
Masters, would you like a game to see who is to drink first?
Let's have a drink then.
Do you know the difference between water and wine?
Water makes you cold,
while wine makes you warm.
A girl who can drink
can make you feel warm even in the bitter cold.
Why don't I...
No, don't mind me.
You'll get 10 taels for making him laugh;
100 taels if you get him in bed.
Master Chow, you look so sad.
Did someone die in your family?
His mother just passed away.
That's just nature taking its course.
You have such long eyebrows.
You must have 5 or 6 brothers.
His brothers all died in an avalanche.
Even the dog he had had for over 10 years was killed and eaten by someone.
That's really bad luck!
Master Chow...Are you alright?
I want to die!
Some deaths are weightier than others...
Heaven took your family
only because it has a huge responsibility planned for you.
How can you say you want to die?
Shut up and stop crying like a woman.
What are you doing in a brothel during a national crisis?
Someone weak like you is better off dead!
Fine! I'll kill myself!
Master Chow, don't be so sad!
Please sit down! You should go!
Let's go!
What's wrong?
Killing someone is much easier.
Tai-gan must be playing us for fools.
He set us up with that loser.
Bravo!
No way! Not even if you pay me!
Get out. Let me get on with my business.
Tai-gan, Ha-lin is not back yet!
What should we do?
She's supposed to be back today!
Maybe she's held up along the way.
She's up next to perform.
Calm down! Listen to me...
What do you know? Mind your own business!
I know a lot!
I told you Miss Yin-yu is great with the whip.
Come...tell them yourself!
Tai-gan, let me handle this!
Men will go crazy when they see my whip.
They'll be ecstatic.
Go change!
Let's go upstairs!
Upstairs? What am I to do?
Let me give you a test!
Make sure you don't hit me!
Don't look so scared. You're blind.
Who says the blind won't get scared?
Just make sure you don't hit me!
Are you alright?
Bravo!
Look what you have done!
You volunteered, I didn't make you.
I'm holding you responsible for ruining my reputation.
What kind of reputation does a thief have?
Come here!
I don't need your help!
Let me help you.
Go away! I don't need your help!
Hold still!
You're quite good at this!
I'm not making fun of you.
We're lucky we got in today.
But you're too heroic.
We'll be kicked out soon enough.
Do you know anything about men and women?
No, they didn't teach us at the Bureau.
Then I'll tell you.
A woman is like an egg,
hard on the outside, soft on the inside.
Men are like egg yolk.
They're yellow inside and out.
In a brothel, what breaks a patron's heart
is that he can give a courtesan everything,
but she won't go to bed with him.
What breaks a courtesan's heart is that
she may give the patron everything
but he only wants to go to bed with someone else.
You seem to talk from experience.
You know quite a bit about men and women.
Tell me how I can kill men with my eyes.
Treat all men like your boyfriend.
Make them want to keep coming back.
Talk to them like you're scratching an itch. Be flighty.
How?
Like you have had internal injuries.
Close your eyes. Try it on me!
Like the difference between water and wine?
Water makes you cold, wine makes you warm.
Oh my!
Well? How did I do?
Good! You're really quite amazing,
and a quick learner too.
Let me wait on you.
No thanks!
I hear brothels are full of traps.
Let's go check it out.
Sir, I would like to marry you...
Leave me alone!
Don't be shy!
Hey...
Let me wait on you!
Stop it! Or I'll hit you!
Come on... No!
Here I come...
No!
A trap!
A secret passage!
Go check it out!
A maid died and she was gone for 3 days.
If her parents died, she's not coming back.
Ha-lin was nice enough to bring Sau-kuk's family the bad news.
Right. She's not out for fun.
She should be back tomorrow.
I'm afraid she's running off with the money!
I paid her in advance.
Ha-lin is honest. She'll be back soon.
Oh dear!
A rat!
What are you doing in the backyard?
What are you doing, blind man?
Yes, I'm Blind Heng!
I can tell from your voice you're Tai-gan!
How did you find this secret passage?
I was straightening the sheets
when I found a hole,
and somehow I fell into it.
What were you doing in Yin-yu's bed?
I was making her bed!
I get it...
The hole is an escape route for patrons
in case their wives show up.
Fa Yim Lau is so considerate!
If there's nothing else,
we'll be in our room.
I should head back too, can you lead the way?
Run along, girls! I want a word with Blind Heng.
What is it, Brother Tai-gan?
How is Fung-lin?
Fung-lin?
Yu Fung-lin, the owner of Lai Mo Bin.
Right! Yu Fung-lin of Lai Mo Bin...I know her!
Her skin is smooth as silk despite her age.
You're lying!
I don't know the owner of Lai Mo Bin.
I made up that name.
Tell me who you are!
Why did you come to Fa Yim Lau?
I didn't say Lai Mo Bin, I said Ngai Mo Bin.
Stop quibbling!
I want the truth. Who are you?
No...
Hung Sap-kau sent us!
What? From Yee Heung Lau?
I headhunted his girls
and he decided to send spies?
You're so smart!
That's right!
You should know we work for money
and that's all we care about.
Hung Sap-kau is such a sly thing!
You blew our covers.
Why not play along?
If you pay us enough,
we can work for you instead.
Hung Sap-kau and his father have clout in Bianjing.
That's right!
It's best to know your enemy at war.
Don't you want Fa Yim Lau to be invincible?
That's right!
Since he started it! Alright!
I'll double whatever he's paying you!
Let me know when you hear anything.
Thanks, Tai-gan!
Good! Watch your step!
What have you found?
There was a Master Chow who wanted to kill himself,
and no one could cheer him up.
But as soon as Kwai-lan came,
he wouldn't stop laughing.
I got you!
What's going on?
You're in the wrong room! Go away!
I'm sorry!
I got you, Kwai-lan! You didn't care...
Was he drunk?
I don't think so.
His eyes were blood shot. His hands were trembling.
He was sweating and babbling.
It made sense if Kwai-lan was giving him Trilling Beauty for his business.
The dead maid couldn't have taken it too!
There must be something between Kwai-lan and Sau-kuk.
I don't know. Any progress on Ha-lin?
She didn't bring the news to Sau-kuk's family.
What?
There can only be 2 explanations.
Either she's run off with the money or she's dead.
There must be a connection among Ha-lin, Sau-kuk and Kwai-lan.
You're done?
Hey!
Try our masseurs if you're done.
Hold on...Iook at this!
That witch whipped me! I'm all bruised.
Please go easy on me!
Bear with it! Our masseurs are very good.
They can balance the Yin and Yang energy flows in you and help cure you.
Wait...What about having kids?
Take that up with the wife.
By the way, they used you as their cover.
They said they're spying for you.
That's right!
Do you mind?
It'd be my great honour to help the Bureau.
Shut down Fa Yim Lau if you can.
I can make up for lost ground.
Right!
Let's get started!
Take it easy!
No, harder!
No, lighter!
Nice!
Chuen-kung said Kwai-cheung should wake up soon.
He even saw his fingers move!
How come he's dead all of a sudden?
When Chuen-kung came back, Kwai-cheung had already stopped breathing.
Chuen-kung, stop it!
It's not your fault! You have done your best.
You must be tired, let it go.
I couldn't have been wrong about this.
I treated him with acupuncture
and his pulse and circulation were back to normal.
I really thought he would wake up.
But his condition worsened suddenly!
Chuen-kung, we all know you have done your best.
Don't blame yourself!
Kwai-cheung shouldn't have died.
I have never been wrong before.
Was there anything suspicious?
No, I've double checked everything.
You have no control over life and death.
Dying is nothing to be afraid of, we only feel bad for his wife.
She thought she'd be spending Mid-Autumn with him.
I don't know what to tell her now.
Why are you all standing there?
Master Fung!
Rather than shedding your tears,
you should try to find those letters.
Help Kwai-cheung finish his job,
so that he hasn't died for nothing!
He must have left behind clues for us.
Kwai-cheung hid himself in a temple when he was injured.
And we found this bottle at the scene.
When we brought him in,
someone had dressed his wound with this.
This is from the Jins?
It contains licorice root, musk,
antelope horn, saffron and bone meal,
none of which are ingredients used by Jins.
Kwai-cheung reached the temple after he was injured
and ran into a kind hearted person,
who dressed his wounds
and left this bottle behind.
The bottle looks a bit old.
The owner must have carried it on him all the time.
The lack of scratches means it has not been used often.
The owner is probably not a martial artist.
Kwai-cheung was seriously hurt.
The Jins were hot in pursuit.
He probably knew he couldn't get out alive.
What would he have done with the letters?
Pass them to the kind hearted person in the temple
and ask him to take them to us.
But that person never showed up.
Something must have gone wrong.
If we can trace this ointment,
we'll know his identity.
This is our only lead.
If we can't find the traitor,
Kwai-cheung will never rest in peace.
Master Fung, let me do it.
We must keep this under wraps.
If word got out, we couldn't go on with the investigation.
Yes, Sir!
You have been cooped up in your room.
I'm taking you out for some fresh air.
Where are we going?
To get popcorn or eat cake?
We'll take a walk down memory lane.
Take a look at the pretty flowers...
What do you want?
Let me tell you a story.
A brother and his kid sister
used to sneak out to watch people spin the top with a whip.
You kept asking me why the top could go on spinning,
I was a bit annoyed
so I bought you a piece of sesame cake
and told you to wait for me right here.
As usual, there were jugglers and acrobats on the street.
But unlike other days,
there was a cricket fight.
Stop the thief!
Come back!
Stop him!
Wan-ling...
I made a grave mistake!
Chuen-kung, we'll get rid of the crowd.
Thank you.
Take your time.
Run along...There's nothing to see.
Don't be scared!
We only recreated the scene
to help jog your memory.
Wan-ling, I'm so sorry!
Wan-ling?
I never stopped looking for you,
but I wasn't able to find you.
Until I saw the birthmark on your arm,
I did a background check on you.
Your age and the time you were kidnapped all matched.
I'm certain you're my sister Ma Wan-ling.
Wan-ling
No! You're not my brother!
My name is not Ma Wan-ling.
Stop calling me that...No!
It's true, Wan-ling!
Shut up!
You abandoned me!
For the past 20 years, I wish I were dead!
I was sold repeatedly and beaten up.
I had to beg and steal
but could never stay warm and fed.
I didn't mean it...
Thank Heaven I finally found you.
You left me because of a cricket?
I never stopped feeling guilty.
Guilty? I was almost sold to a brothel!
Luckily I was tough enough
and I could steal and swindle.
If not, I would have been dead!
Let me take care of you from now on.
Thank you very much!
I must thank you for reminding me how much I hate you.
Give her time to calm down!
I'll keep an eye on her.
Two people fell into the well.
The one who died from the fall was a dead man.
What would you call the other?
Call for help! Not funny?
I looked up Ma Chuen-kung too.
His parents are dead.
That means my parents are dead too.
Sometimes I dreamt of having them around.
Why didn't they try to find me sooner?
Your brother did find you after all.
I won't forgive him that easily!
What do you have in mind? Kill him?
It'd be worse if your only family was dead.
Here...hold it up!
What for?
Just hold it up.
Your brother was so young. He didn't know any better.
You know he didn't do it on purpose.
Don't be mad at him anymore.
One should look ahead.
Being pigheaded is like holding up the rock.
It gets very tiring.
But people like to go through life holding that rock.
Don't be stupid like them, alright?
Good! You've put it down!
You're getting sweaty from chopping wood.
Why not get someone to do it for you?
I used to do that all the time.
I used to do it.
See? I can do it.
You're the best! You could handle Wan-ling and can chop wood.
People are only humans.
Wan-ling can stay here with us.
Chuen-kung doesn't even have a home for his sister.
Honey!
What's this?
I forgot to hide it!
Sit down.
I have something to show you.
Where did you get these money notes?
It's money I've earned from the Peach Blossom Grove.
When I save enough, I'll buy a big house with a lotus pond.
We can pick lotus roots with our son.
Can we put some koi in the pond?
Sure! There'll be room for turtles too.
I'm happy just thinking about it.
Let's put the money notes in the bank tomorrow where it's safer.
Good idea! What time is it?
Don't you have a job to do?
Yes!
You look so handsome. What job is it?
A patron at Fa Yim Lau.
Let's get one thing straight.
I'll get perfume all over me. Don't get the wrong idea.
I know you'll behave.
Can you bring me 2 dozens of lotus cakes?
Want some osmanthus cake as well?
Good idea!
I'll get going!
Come home soon.
I will.
Hold it. Use the back door.
Don't want the customers to get inquisitive.
You're so considerate! I'm going...
Be careful!
I will.
Run if there's any danger!
I will.
What are you staring at?
I told you to check under the table.
Hi, Sap-kau!
Tao Fa!
What is it?
They're playing hooky.
Really?
See? There's a stain under the table,
but they only cleaned the table top.
You have such a keen eye!
It's late. You can go home.
Clean that up tomorrow.
Thanks, Boss!
I told you I wouldn't abandon you.
I'm not busy tonight, so I came by to check up on things.
Where's Cheung-sing?
He has a job to do at Fa Yim Lau.
Fa Yim Lau is not a restaurant!
Those women are pretty and seductive.
I know, I even know about Chau-yuet.
He told you?
He told me everything.
But don't you worry. I am understanding.
I know you can't force love.
The timing was wrong then.
I feel sorry for Chau-yuet.
No thanks. You have such a kind heart.
Have a seat.
What exactly happened back then?
How did Chau-yuet end up like this?
I'll level with you.
It was a real shame.
Chau-yuet didn't really know what happened.
It was a match made in Heaven.
They pledged their love for each other.
Too bad Cheung-sing had a secret mission.
What has Cheung-sing got to do with this?
He has everything to do with it!
Go on!
Chau-yuet thought Cheung-sing was a bodyguard,
while Cheung-sing's mission was to befriend Sou Fu.
He didn't expect he'd fall in love with Chau-yuet.
When Chau-yuet's parents wanted to break them up,
Chau-yuet decided to elope with Cheung-sing.
But it always rains when you go out,
and it's sunny when you open the umbrella.
It's really annoying!
Cheung-sing finally won Sou Fu's trust
and had to rob a bank with him.
He left Chau-yuet waiting at the pier.
Chau-yuet waited till the sun went down
and later got married as her parents had wanted.
We never expected Chau-yuet to become a prostitute.
Cheung-sing is still hung up over this.
After all, they were once very much in love.
I'm impressed you're so understanding
and would let Cheung-sing go to Fa Yim Lau.
No woman is as forgiving as you.
What's with the long face?
He lied to me! He said Chau-yuet was your old flame,
when in fact he was the one.
No wonder Chau-yuet was glaring at me the other day.
How could I be so stupid to believe him?
But you said you knew!
Men are not to be trusted!
What are you doing here?
Tao Fa, I've brought back the sweet potatoes
Now let's go confront Chu Cheung-sing.
Mind your own business!
Tao Fa is a good friend of mine.
Her business is my business.
All men cheat on their wives.
He can't possibly have that many missions.
He's just making up an excuse to go to Fa Yim Lau.
I don't know what to do!
Can someone tell me what to do?
Don't listen to that vicious woman!
He who strikes first gains the advantage.
Go to Fa Yim Lau and claim your husband
before it's too late.
Never try to break up a couple.
If Tao Fa loses her husband, where can you find her another one?
Tao Fa, go find out the truth.
Let's go to Fa Yim Lau now.
It's probably not a good idea!
We'll play by ear.
If they're clean, we'll leave right away.
Hey, woman! Stop meddling!
Where are you sitting?
Straight ahead on your left.
How handsome...Hello, Master!
Sit down!
My young mistress' beauty is known throughout Kaifeng
and in fact everywhere in Song!
She's the famous Miss Yin-yu!
What's your name, Sir?
What have you found?
Kwai-lan has Trilling Beauty in her room.
She's just a pawn.
We must know who's behind this,
and catch them all once and for all.
Kwai-lan hasn't been out since we arrived.
Someone must have delivered Trilling Beauty to her.
Kwai-lan is running low on supply,
her contact should be here soon.
I don't think anyone in here is aware of their deal.
Her supplier may disguise as her patron and deliver the goods to her room.
Then nobody would ever find out.
Fa Yim Lau has too many patrons.
Half of them are Kwai-lan's customers.
Cheers!
Help yourself!
I know who it is.
I knew you'd find out.
Only lechers come to Fa Yim Lau.
Look at that bald man over there.
Master Hung, Miss Kwai-lan is waiting for you upstairs.
Please come with me.
Which one is her room?
Room No 3.
I'll go check it out.
Tao Fa, don't do this.
You should talk it out at home.
No, there'd be nothing left to talk about.
I'm talking to her, not you!
What is it to you?
You obviously have something to hide.
You knew all along Cheung-sing and Chau-yuet had a thing going.
Don't try to pin it on me!
Cheung-sing is not like that!
You're not helping me at all.
Sap-kau, you should leave if you're not helping me.
I recognise Chau-yuet. I'll find her.
Let's go through the back door.
My stock is running low. I need more.
Why? Are you selling now?
Of course not! I put it in the food and wine
The heat is on. I think someone is onto us.
Decent women like you shouldn't be here!
Obviously nobody cares who comes and goes.
Where is Cheung-sing?
He's obviously upstairs in a room.
Sap-kau, take us to Chau-yuet's room.
Fine! I'll take you there.
You'll know you're wrong. Follow me.
Anything unusual going on in Fa Yim Lau?
Get this clear: I've never told anyone about the Trilling Beauty.
Don't nag. Just take the money and go!
I have a business to run.
Watch out, the walls have ears!
Yes!
Who is it?
It's me, Cheung-sing! Quiet!
Here...I'm sure Cheung-sing is not here.
Don't bother to knock!
Honey?
What are you doing here?
See? They're caught on the spot!
Cheung-sing, what can you say for yourself?
How can you answer to your wife?
I was worried about you.
Speak up, Cheung-sing! Have you no shame?
Stay away from her!
You have some explaining to do!
You're a liar!
I just came to see for myself.
I didn't expect to see you in here.
It's one thing to come to Fa Yim Lau.
How could you come to her room?
Have you no regard for me?
Chu Cheung-sing, Tao Fa has slaved herself for you.
How could you carry on with another woman?
I misplaced my trust in you!
You're caught on the spot today.
Who will it be, Tao Fa or Chau-yuet?
It's none of your business. Take them home!
Let's go!
You're not welcome here! Please leave!
You seduced her husband, witch!
Hey...don't get yourself in trouble!
We're through if you won't come with me.
Alright...We'll go together! Right away...
You have no conscience!
Not so loud! This is embarrassing!
You shouldn't have cheated on your wife if you had any shame.
Shut up and let's go!
Stop staring or I'll gouge your eyes out!
Who let you in? You're making a racket!
You should do your bickering at home!
We wouldn't want to be here even if you invited us, pimp!
Sang! Wah! Throw them out!
Well?
Nothing! A wife was here to catch her husband in the act.
You should leave now!
Is there a new prostitute?
You mean Yin-yu? The one who brought a blind man with her?
We were doing just fine! Why did you come to Fa Yim Lau?
You think this is fun?
Just go!
Sap-kau!
Let's go!
Was that woman putting on her clothes or taking them off?
Shut up and move it!
Taking them off!
Putting them on!
That means they're finished.
And so are we! We're finished too!
Come on...
We're finished...What should I do?
Go away!
Let's go!
Do your crying at home!
You're finished.
Let's go!
Go away!
It's alright! Carry on with your drinking!
Yin-yu works for the Phecda Bureau?
Good luck! Just don't finger me.
Baldie!
I had nothing to do with it!
Are you crazy? It can kill you!
I had nothing to do with it!
Spit it out!
So our marriage means nothing to you, hateful thing?
Sap-kau, take my wife home!
You're not coming with us?
What do you want to do now?
Shut up! I have work to do!
You're going back to Chau-yuet?
You know Cheung-sing has a mission.
He must have his reasons behind.
Do the talking at home, not on the street.
I think he has been bewitched.
Keep your opinions to yourself!
Let them sort it out by themselves.
Yes, I lied to you,
but I'm really on a mission tonight.
We've been married for 10 years. Do you trust me?
It is hard to do that!
Shut up!
Do you trust me?
Chu Cheung-sing, I'll believe whatever you tell me.
But I'm really scared now.
Can you go home with me now?
Why can't you understand, I...
I know, you have a job to do!
I understand, but I really need you to come home with me now.
Let's go home and I'll scratch your back!
I really have to go!
Watch out!
Don't go, Honey! Come back!
Tao Fa!
Chu Cheung-sing, you're heartless!
Come back!
I'll definitely poison you!
Are you alright?
Baldie was quick. He disappeared on me!
Come out, Baldie!
I can see the reflection of your bald head!
I can see you, come out!
Where the hell did he go?
Does that feel good?
Get up and fight!
How dare you call me Baldie when I have so much hair?
You have no right to call me Baldie!
No!