How's the Ha Lin case going?
Ha Lin never went to Sau-kuk's house.
There are only two possibilities.
Either she has fled or something has happened to her.
Ha Lin, Sau-kuk and Kwai-lan must somehow be related.
Kwai-cheung shouldn't have died.
He was injured and he made it to the derelict temple.
A kindhearted man dressed his wound for him and so a medicinal bottle was left behind.
Come out...
Come on...
Run...
Wake up...
Get him...
I am not going, unless we go together...
You are a pest...
Let's fight our way out.
Freeze!
Phecda Bureau here!
You are being surrounded. Stop resisting!
Come on...
Go...
Watch out!
Let go!
You baldie! You call this hair?
Why can't I call you baldie?
Baldie!
Want to hit back?
Baldie...
Come on, stop it!
Don't upset yourself.
Come on, why tire yourself out?
Take them all back. Yes!
Come on... Get up...
Come on, baldie!
Lucky you. The Trilling Beauty you took came out with your vomit.
Ho Sau-kuk's not that lucky.
She took Trilling Beauty before she died.
You know it very well.
I have nothing to do with it.
You are the only one in Fa Yim Lau that has Trilling Beauty.
Don't you deny it!
Yes, the Trilling Beauty was mine.
But I didn't kill her.
Who else but you?
I had no feud with Sau-kuk, why would I have killed her?
Trilling Beauty is expensive.
I myself use it sparingly.
I got it! She stole it from me. She stole it!
It's not bird's nest!
You must have fallen out with her,
so you fed her Trilling Beauty to make her lose her mind.
And others would think she's possessed.
Then no one would suspect you.
Am I right?
I am a good person. Why should I kill?
Why do you all insist on framing me?
Who framed you?
Ha Lin.
Sau-kuk, you should have asked me for it.
I'd teach you how to use it.
Then it wouldn't have happened.
Save it! You killed her with your aphrodisiac.
She stole it from me and met this end.
Maybe you killed her and framed it on me.
Sweet soup treat? How nice of you.
You fed her laced sweet soup.
Yes, it's my treat.
But you handled the soup too.
Maybe you laced it to kill her.
Report me if you dare.
Believe me, Ha Lin is suspicious too.
But she is missing. It's your one-sided story.
Cheung-sing, Ha Lin's body was found by the slope.
Chuen-kung is examining her.
Ha Lin's dead too?
You silenced her?
No! Don't frame me!
I have to receive patrons every day in Fa Yim Lau,
I haven't set foot outside.
Whatever, you are the prime suspect.
You are put under custody until the truth is known.
Take her back. Yes.
Come on.
I'm innocent...I didn't do it... Go...
Chuen-kung, what killed her?
A two inch knife wound on her stomach.
It's a fatal stab.
You find Li Kwai-lan suspicious?
There has to be a reason for that first.
But she has no motivation
I turned the screw on her and she went berserk.
I don't think she could kill and dispose the body.
And she never left Fa Yim Lau.
She used the Trilling Beauty to keep her patrons only.
Cheung-sing, we've checked.
Where the body was disposed of is en route to Sau-kuk's house.
Ha Lin must have been ambushed on her way to relate Sau-kuk's death.
So it's done by an acquaintance.
What made you think so?
Her purse and hairpins were not taken away, so it's not robbery.
There's no sign of struggling because she never expected it.
It never crossed her mind that killer would harm her.
That's why she had this bewildered look.
The killer had a guilty conscience,
and so pulled her skirt over her eyes before burying her.
One killer or more than one?
One only. You can tell from Ha Lin's worn out shoes.
Kwong. Yes.
You play the deceased.
Yuen, you the killer.
You are a woman. Now you have to put the body into the hole.
What will you do?
Dead.
If I were a woman, I wouldn't be strong enough.
I'd have to drag it with two hands.
See? That's why the two soles were worn out.
An acquaintance?
Li Kwai-lan and Ha Lin were bosom friends,
Chun-mui, Chau-yuet and Tung-yee all knew about Ha Lin's disappearance.
The loop is tightened.
The Trilling Beauty case's cracked.
Then came this brothel serial killing.
Tai-lik and Yeung Mau have to stay in Fa Yim Lau longer still.
Let me add, the murder weapon was probably a dagger.
Tell them to keep an eye for it.
Choi...
Go inform Tai-lik.
Get to work. Yes.
There' still one mystery. What's the motivation?
For men, money and/or girls; for women, money and/or lovers.
There's nothing else.
You are right.
It's said Chau-yuet was your old flame.
How did you know?
The grapevine is always buzzing.
Fa Yim Lau
Nothing on the bed.
Try the closet. Alright.
Tung-yee, Chun-mui, come over here.
This hairpin is Ha Lin's mother's legacy
She cherishes it very much.
If she had meant to flee, she would have taken it with her.
Maybe she didn't want to raise suspicion.
Maybe...someone killed her and took it away.
You suspect me?
You are the smiling backstabber.
I'd say you killed her.
You called her a fool and you wanted to have it to yourself.
If I had already got it, I would have left long ago.
You both shut up. What if people hear us?
What's it they were talking about?
What could make the girls kill?
What is that thing they were talking about?
Tai-lik...
What?
What's wrong with you?
You have been this absent-minded since you came back from the warehouse.
Are you not feeling well?
I'm fine...maybe it's too stuffy in the closet and it made me dizzy...
What is this?
From a patron.
They usually give jewellery, not portraits.
Who's he?
It's irrelevant. Let's go back to the case.
No, we have to make it clear first.
How come I didn't know about this patron?
When did you meet?
I was by your side all the time. I know about all your patrons.
When did he give it to you? How come I didn't know him?
Is this an interrogation? How does that concern you?
It's risky. Of course it concerns me.
What risk?
We are working on a case,
some misstep and it'll put us at risk.
That's why we have to be very careful, or we'll be in danger.
That's it? But you have me. Don't worry.
Still, tell me every detail, or I'll report it?
Is that necessary?
It'll bore you. Just tell me.
That day you went to debrief Cheung-sing.
It was full house that night.
The house is full. Help out with the patrons.
Miss, what's your name?
Yin-yu.
As misty rain?
The Moon shies away from the misty rain. High up by the cloud the jade tower reigns.
You are so talented.
Bravo... Great couplet...
My toast to you.
That's it. Just another patron. Nothing special.
A scholar visiting a brothel? He can't be a good person.
No, he's made to come.
See? You are taking his side. Nothing special?
I said "no" and it's "no".
Oh yes, Cheung-sing wants a meeting.
He does?
Come on...
So it means,Ha Lin took that thing with her,
and the killer made use of the chance to get it from her.
Chau-yuet and Chun-mei blame each other, Tung-yee is a fence-sitter.
Chau-yuet was the thief crying thief?
From their talk, it seems Chun-mei is more money-mad.
Tung-yee might just be playing dumb.
Cheung-sing, what do you think?
We still have no clues, I don't want to make rash judgment.
You two just stay at Fa Yim Lau to dig up more.
Sure.
Spare us.
Tai-lik, I thought you took to that place like duck to water.
You're tired of it already?
I just want the case cracked sooner.
Oh yes, Chau-yuet was your old flame.
Let's take a two-pronged approach.
Mau and I will tackle Tung-yee and Chun-mui.
You'll tackle Chau-yuet.
She still thinks you have a soft spot for her.
Play along and smitten her to make her talk.
Mau and I have pulled no punches.
You are the commander. You shouldn't say "no" to sacrifices.
No! Fa went berserk when she learnt Cheung-sing had to visit Fa Yim Lau.
If it goes further, it'll mean a broken family.
It's well-known that Phecda Bureau men will stop at nothing in order to crack a case.
You are now a commander? Who are you to assign our jobs?
We need to crack the case, quick.
There's no such rule in the bureau.
There is now, because I said so.
Just shut up.
I've decided to get close to Chau-yuet.
I won't let you two work alone.
Did you hear that?
He and I are of one mind.
Cracking a case comes first; relationships, a distant second.
Cheung-sing, what about your wife?
I know what to do.
Protection money is no big deal.
Wait till you have spare money.
Brother Sap-kau, you refer business to me
and you help me with the sweet potatoes.
It's well worth it. Just a little token.
Sit. Sure...
Plain noodles with no spring onion, no oil, no ginger or preserved peel.
Why not just no noodles?
Really...
Such a fussy-eater, some upbringing!
Oh, Uncle Kwa.
You shouldn't move heavy stuff with your rheumatic foot. Leave it to me.
I really am lucky today. I met not one, but two kindhearted people.
Hak-chi. Yes.
Take this to the kitchen, and ask Lady Boss to pay Uncle Kwa.
And make him two buns. Yes.
Tell her this batch is good...
You...come on over.
How's Cheung-sing and his wife?
They had a big fight after coming back from Fa Yim Lau.
Nothing? Why did you lie to me then?
I didn't want you to think there's something between us. That's why.
That means there's something between you two!
When did it start? For how long?
How did it start?
You or she took the initiative?
How many times have you been there?
What are you talking about? What actually do you want to know?
She's in trouble and I just wanted to help.
Just? So it means there's something else!
It's about nothing and something.
Anyway, it's about that Chau-yuet!
When a couple have a row, it's always about this or that.
I'm still sure, Cheung-sing won't leave his wife for Chau-yuet.
He must have his reasons.
I have to talk Fa over.
Men always take men's side.
You'll take Cheung-sing's side.
Better urge using a rod on a child. Never urge a divorce.
You are young, what do you know?
You are a bachelor, what do you know?
Lady Boss, the sweet potatoes are thick and big.
Lady Boss, what are you doing? Don't you scare me!
Tao Fa, what are you doing?
What are you looking for? Let me give you a hand
What? You have never seen rummaging before?
Get back to your food.
Fa, what are you doing?
Be careful...
Fa... Be careful...
Fa, what now? Fa...
Hey... Fa...
Hak Chi, Wan Loy, send the customers away. We are closed for business.
Don't give them the bills.
Sap-kau...We have no money now.
Could you settle the sweet potato bill for me?
Sure...
Wan-ling, put a notice outside.
Closed for cerebration until further notice.
Lady Boss, the bill can wait. Leave it for some other day.
You take care of yourself. I have to go.
Closed for cerebration until further notice.
Sorry...
Sorry... Sorry...
We are not done yet...
Take the bowl with you...
Put the box down and sit down...
That rascal is right.
A promise is like a fart.
It's loud but it's all puff.
What vows? What eternity?
They are all forgotten in the honey trap.
Let me tell you, Chu Cheung-sing has taken our hard-earned money to redeem Chau-yuet.
Tao Fa, what do you have in mind?
Tell us, Sap-kau and I will not say "no".
Once your husband, always your husband.
He may be a rascal, but he's still my husband.
So he's possessed. I have to exorcise him.
I can't lose money and my man.
Will you two go to Fa Yim Lau with me to get him back?
Yes, right away.
Fa, I put justice first.
If Cheung-sing won't leave Chau-yuet, I'll beat some sense into him.
Good!
Brother Gan... Yes?
I have something to talk with you.
I want to redeem Chau-yuet.
But she's our star. It's not that easy.
I think the money notes here can cover it.
Yes...
Chu Cheung-sing...
Hands off!
Touch the money-notes and your hand will rot!
The money notes belong to the shop!
You took all our money to redeem this woman?
Honey, money can be made again.
But today...I have to redeem Chau-yuet.
But it's not your money!
It's Tao Fa's hard-earned money!
For shame! And I pleaded hard for you.
I wrongly trusted you.
No one forced her to work here.
She's here because she's cheap.
What has it got to do with us?
With the money notes gone, I couldn't even settle the sweet potato bill.
You were drugged or what?
You would sacrifice the shop for this woman.
I understand why you want to help her,
I see the reason behind the redemption.
But if you want money, you can ask me.
Why did you take it from the shop? What are you up to?
You did it to do Tao Fa in.
It's between the husband and the wife.
Indeed, don't make a scene here.
Cheung-sing, if you are not willing, please go back.
But I am willing.
Rascal!
If you will go home with me
and never see this woman again,
I'll forget about this.
You were just blinded.
Hubby, we have been together for ten years, not ten days.
There should be a bond even with a dog.
Tao Fa, what I owe Chau-yuet I can't repay her in this life.
I have lived a happy ten years,
but she...has been living in hell.
I did it to her. I ruined her life.
I have been pricked by this every day.
I made a mistake back then.
I can't turn a blind eye today.
I owe Chau-yuet.
Cheung-sing...
Rascal, so you mean these ten years with Tao Fa was a mistake?
A woman deserter will get his retribution.
So what do you want to do?
Divorce me or marry her as a concubine?
No! Neither!
I never said divorce.
If you don't want a divorce, then go home with your wife.
No, I can't leave Chau-yuet.
Make up your mind!
Leave the money notes behind if you want her. It's that simple.
Take the money notes.
From now on, Chau-yuet is mine.
She'll never come back here.
Sure!
Chu Cheung-sing, look at me.
If you are a man, make it clear with me.
You want me or this slut?
If you are a man, make it clear with me.
You want me or this slut?
Just tell me.
Just say it. It's about life and death. Don't say the wrong thing.
Tao Fa, I am sorry.
Why? I am a Chu, dead or alive.
Chu Cheung-sing, my ghost won't let you off!
Tao Fa, no... Fa...
Stop making a scene...
Fa...no....
Let me die...
Tao Fa, no... No...
No.... Let me die...
Let go... Tao Fa, no...
No... Let go...
No, calm down... Fa...
Cheung-sing, you alright?
Hubby, I am sorry...
Look at you! Just like a mad dog!
I must have been blind, I could spend ten years with you.
To be honest, I have never forgotten Chau-yuet.
And you...You're just a country bumpkin.
What have you done for me?
You said you are always a Chu,
but what have you done for the Chu family?
Have you brought the Chu family a boy? No!
Now I have repaid you.
From now on, we owe each other nothing.
So you're blaming me for being barren.
Sang, Ngau, throw them out!
Don't get in our way, go away...
Don't get in our way... Go...
Tao Fa...
Come on...don't get in our way...
He's not worth it...
Just go... He's dead to us...
Come on, go, cut it out...
Let's make him a tomb,
and get everyone in Bianjing to come to his funeral...
Just go away... Come on...
The money notes is your funeral gift...
Fa, you have me. Don't worry.
We'll just wait and see.
Come on, don't bother with him...
Go away... Go away...
Don't worry, I've been through worse.
I am so touched.
Silly.
Oh, the bleeding stopped already.
It's amazing. What is this?
Puffball powder I got from Xixia.
It's famous for stopping bleeding.
I never go out without it.
What's wrong with your hand?
Sit down first.
I had a fall last year,
I broke it with my hand and got injured.
Sometimes it goes weak.
From now on, you have me by your side, you won't get hurt again.
Now that they are giving Chau-yuet a farewell feast,
we can search their rooms one by one.
Why begin with Chun-mui's?
To save time. I find her the most suspicious.
Don't be so naive.
People are not what they seem. Don't judge a book by its cover.
I don't know about Tung-yee.
But Chau-yuet wears her heart on her sleeve.
She doesn't care about money.
She has no regard for money.
why should she kill her bosom friend for money?
It's strange. Why are flies hovering over this? What's so special about it?
Let me see.
It smells of blood.
The edge is grooved.
Even with washing, you can't clean it thoroughly.
Flies are sensitive to blood. Even a tiny bit can attract them.
This knife has touched blood.
Chun-mui is the flying dagger girl.
You are right. She's the prime suspect.
She probably is Ha Lin's killer.
I told you so.
I read people like open books.
Sire.
Sire, the situation is critical.
We keep backing off and the Jin keep pressing on.
We now have our back against the wall.
I suggest we increase frontier defense.
(Song)...(Jin)
Right, that'll have the deterring effect.
Sire, that may provoke the Jin and make things worse.
You have a point...
Sire, what about recruiting more soldiers?
You have a point...
But Sire, the recruitment can't wait.
You have a point...
Sire, what point?
Now you can't do a thing or you can't care less?
Recruitment has every advantage.
If you really think I have a point,
then just give it the go ahead.
What's the point of dragging it on?
Sire, please consider.
Sire, please reconsider.
Of course I'll consider...but wait till I have...reconsidered it.
On Boy... Yes.
I am not feeling well...
Yes, Sire...
Sire... Sire...
Since I learnt there's a Jin mole in court,
I haven't dared to say anything or make any decisions.
How's the investigation going about the mole?
There is still no clue. The confidential letter is still missing.
That's bad.
I dare not say anything, or it'll give the mole an advantage.
But if I carry on being indecisive, it'll mean chaos!
Sire, no tell-tale signs?
I can tell they don't mean what they say.
They don't really look up to me, they are shooting me daggers.
When they say "Long live the Emperor" they mean "don't live"!
They gossip behind my back, saying that all I care about is calligraphy.
But you care for the people. We can all tell.
Don't sell yourself short.
I am not selling myself short, I am telling the truth.
The truth is...the throne isn't supposed to be mine.
The truth is...I meant to have my brother run the country,
so that I wouldn't have to work.
The truth is...I never wanted to be emperor.
Sire, mind what you say.
If the Jin mole is still not found,
then not just words can kill me,
Uncle Tuen will have me burnt at the stake.
Sire, don't worry. I'll work hard on it.
I was right. The murder weapon was Chun-mui's dagger.
Could it have been a set-up?
Master Fung, the killer can't be Chau-yuet.
Why not?
First of all, the four are very close.
Secondly, when I said let's elope,
she insisted on waiting for Ha Lin.
She said if Ha Lin failed to return, she would report it.
Thirdly, her right hand was injured and it has turned weak.
You have a point.
She couldn't have moved the body.
I have another discovery...
Wait... What are you doing?
The smell is familiar.
It's Xixia puffball powder.
I know. It's used for external bleeding and heat symptoms.
It's effective in stopping bleeding.
It's grown in Xixia and is rare in the capital.
It's the same as the plaster found on Kwai-cheung.
Really? Cheung-sing, where did you get it?
It's Chau-yuet's. She said she bought it in Xixia
and had kept it with her all the time.
She said the four of them came back from Jin together.
It's around the time Kwai-cheung was assaulted.
Kwai-cheung knew he couldn't get away,
so he gave the confidential letter to the kindhearted man that treated him.
The valuable thing Chau-yuet said was the confidential letter.
The traitor would pay a lot of money to keep them quiet.
Someone wanted to make a fortune but Ha Lin opposed.
That person decided to kill for the letter.
The target was Ha Lin from the very beginning.
But Sau-kuk had the bad luck to become her scapegoat.
The killer tried again and killed her when she went to inform Sau-kuk's family.
The killer is... Chun-mui.
No, not her.
Tung-yee?
Are you inside, Tung-yee?
Tung-yee?
What is it? You want Tung-yee?
Yes.
She's out to get some night snacks.
She'll be back very soon.
Or you can leave a message.
Someone has brought a letter for her,
but Brother Gan wouldn't let him in as he's not a patron.
He said it's important,
so I took it here for Tung-yee.
We mean to have an overnight chat while Chau-yuet is still here.
You can leave it with us.
But he said it's important.
It has to be handed to her in person.
He gave it to you, right?
Don't worry. It'll be given to Tung-yee.
Come on.
Well then, thank you.
Goodnight. Goodnight.
Who would write to Tung-yee?
She has no family.
Could it be her lover?
Open it and we'll know.
It's not that proper.
That hussy keeps her mouth shut and keeps a lover from us.
I am going to read it.
You decide for yourself.
I happened to witness you killing and disposing of the body.
The arm of justice is long.
Bring me 100 taels if you want to get the perfume sachet you left behind.
See you at the Five Mile Kiosk.
Tung-yee killed Ha Lin?
Who would have known?
Maybe it's a prank?
If we want to know the truth, it's easy...
How?
Tung-yee...
You are back.
Yes, I went out for some night snacks.
I've bought roast mutton and noodle...
Care to join us?
The closet.
You wrote me the letter?
Yes.
Here's 100 taels.
Give the sachet back to me.
On second thought, the sachet doesn't worth this much.
But what I saw deserves a lot more.
Miss Tung-yee... You...
Take it easy.
Why don't you hear me out and then decide how much to pay for it?
Give the letter back to me.
Give it back to you? Why?
You may not care for money, but I want to become rich.
We have agreed on that.
The letter concerns the fate of Song.
The man wanted it to be taken to the Phecda Bureau.
We should do as he said, or it'll make us traitors.
Ha Lin, we always listen to you.
You are the eldest. You are always right.
So you are a Fa Yim Lau star.
It's destiny that I get to give you back your sachet.
Cut it out! How much do you want?
So you killed Ha Lin!
Why?
We four could talk it over! How could you be so cruel?
I did give her a chance.
But she insisted on taking the letter to the Phecda Bureau.
She asked for it.
Where's the letter?
You gave it to the traitor already?
It's not with me.
Where is it? Take it out.
That day I said we should make money with it but you all objected to that.
Now you want me to give it to you? No way.
Don't get in my way, or I'll kill you as well.
Guys, the truth is known.
You really were the killer.
Cheung-sing?
You are Chau-yuet's man.
Who really are you? How come you know about it?
We are Phecda Bureau men.
Phecda Bureau? You lied to me?
I am sorry. I am from the Phecda Bureau.
We have been looking for the letter.
Now the truth is out.
You were the people Kwai-cheung met in the temple.
You have offended some people?
Or you are a fugitive?
No...
Whatever, we are all Song people, we are on the same side.
I know you are good people.
Could you do me a favour?
Take this to the Phecda Bureau when you are back in Song.
What is it?
It's very important.
Don't worry. It'll be done.
"Phecda Bureau"
On the surface, Chun-mui was the prime suspect,
because the weapon belongs to her.
But on second thought,
she and Ha Lin are fellow natives, they were close.
She might not want Ha Lin dead.
Moreover, if she was the killer,
she wouldn't have gone to Ha Lin's room to look for the letter.
So you took my dagger to do the killing.
I only wanted better days ahead.
Ha Lin was such a fool.
You think about it. We are just prostitutes.
Would the emperor thank us for that?
You stole Kwai-lan's Trilling Beauty to lace the sweet soup.
It's a treat from Sister Kwai-lan. No more cold drinks.
I don't have the appetite for it.
You have it. Thank you.
The confidential letter concerns national security.
You have read it, so you should know who the Jin mole is.
Just tell us. Who is he?
For Song, just tell us.
Alright...
Chun-mui...
Protect Tung-yee...
Help...
Cheung-sing, they took Tung-yee!
What nerve!
They killed to silence the witnesses.
They didn't want Chau-yuet and Chun-mui to tell.
They took Tung-yee away for one thing only.
The confidential letter.
Be smart and tell me where the letter is.
Or I'll kill you.
I won't! I'll be killed if I tell you.
Where is it hidden?
Tung-yee said it's not with her.
Was she lying?
She's smart, she knew it'd be dangerous to carry it around.
If you won't tell, you're asking for it.
Want me take your eyes out first or chop your hands off?
No...
You are right. She only trusts herself.
She'd put it where she can see and only she can go to.
Right, where she can see and only she can go to.
I'll tell...it's in Fa Yim Lau.
She's the flying girl...I know where it is.
Fa Yim Lau
Stand guard here. The men in black will soon be here.
Yes.