Subtitles by DramaFever
[The Female Assassins in the Palace]
[Episode 42]
Your Highness, Li Yan is absolutely not a hairpin killer.
Please investigate carefully, Your Highness.
Peng Da Hai, why are you so nervous?
Your Highness, Da Hai just thinks
that since Li Yan is Princess Consort's personal maid
she can't be a hairpin killer.
Whether or not Li Yan is a hairpin killer
isn't determined by what you want.
We've already seen that with our own eyes.
Mu Shu, Yu Qing, and Tang Mi were all hairpin killers.
And Tang Mi was Lady Wanliuha's personal maid.
So it's possible that Li Yan is a hairpin killer.
Your Highness is right.
If we think about it carefully
it is extremely possible that Li Yan is a hairpin killer.
What do you mean?
When the hairpin killer killed my father-in-law that day
she fled using the tunnel in Arch Princess Consort's room.
I think it's likely that Li Yan worked
together with a hairpin killer to do that.
No way. Li Yan definitely wouldn't do something like that.
Da Hai.
Your Highness.
Your Lordship, Caidie said she was going back home.
Okay, got it.
Batu, what are your thoughts on Li Yan.
Your Highness, so that we don't alert her
I suggest we make Arch Princess Consort and Li Yan leave
and I'll bring people to search Li Yan's room.
Maybe we'll be able to find some clues.
Your Highness, why are you in such a good mood today?
I've walked with you for two hours.
You're not tired?
I'm in a good mood today
so I want to keep walking.
You should keep me company.
Okay.
Search carefully. We must uncover every clue.
Yes, Your Lordship.
Your Lordship, we've been searching for so long.
I don't think there are any issues.
Yes, we've searched everything twice.
We haven't found anything.
We're probably making a mistake.
It's probably a coincidence that Li Yan entered the manor during the same year.
I don't think so.
If Li Yan really is a hairpin killer
then her mask and hairpin will be hidden in a place that's hard to find.
It's just hard to figure out where she would put them.
Your Lordship, if we can't find them
it means Li Yan isn't a hairpin killer, right?
There was a secret tunnel in Arch Princess Consort's room.
Could there be a secret tunnel here too?
Everyone, knock around and see if anything is hollow.
Yes.
Why is this arch lord so stubborn?
Calm down. If we can't find anything, he'll give up.
All right then.
Why does this wall sound hollow?
Could it be that Li Yan really is a hairpin killer?
Peng Da Hai, what did you find?
Nothing. There's nothing here, Arch Lord.
Move that aside.
Hurry!
She is a hairpin killer.
Li Yan.
This mask, hairpin, and cloak
were all found in your room.
They're irrefutable evidence.
Do you admit to your crimes?
What?
Li Yan, you--
Your Highness, I don't know what you're talking about.
You're going to pretend that you don't know anything?
If you tell us who the others are
I'll consider sparing your life.
Your Highness, please spare me. I'm really being framed.
Please investigate carefully.
Even now, you're still reluctant to confess?
I wonder if you'll be able to keep quiet
even after you've had a taste of the paddle.
Imperial Guard Tie!
Here.
Do it.
Yes.
Your...
Your Highness, I...
Wait.
Your Highness, may I question her?
Okay.
Li Yan, you know that the hairpin killers
have many secret traps and secret passages in the manor.
And these things were found in a secret compartment behind your bed.
Did you know that?
Your Lordship, you know that the hairpin killers come and go without a trace.
I'm just a maid.
Anyone could have gone into my room.
Anyone could frame me.
Frame you?
Then you're really something.
In the past, after the hairpin killers killed someone
they would frame nobles or royals.
Why would they frame a maid?
I don't know.
You don't know? Fine.
Then let me ask you
do you know the pendant by your bedside?
It's a mahogany pendant that Arch Princess Consort gave me.
Did you hang it there yourself?
Yes.
How did you hang it there?
I used a nail and hung it on the nail.
You put a nail there.
Behind the pendant was the secret compartment.
If you put the nail in, how did you not see the secret compartment?
Your Lordship, you're a man.
And you're strong in martial arts.
I'm just a weak woman.
You were able to push everything aside, but I couldn't.
Push?
Li Yan, if you didn't know about the secret compartment
how would you know that?
Li Yan, you are a hairpin killer.
Stop pretending you're not.
Hurry and tell us who your co-conspirators are.
Where is Mo Yun?
Chief Tie.
Please ask Chief Tie about me.
You'll understand everything then.
That's right.
Li Yan is the hairpin killer who surrendered to me.
We were able to stage that ambush at Jingling
to prevent Vice Prince Bao Hong's assassination
because Li Yan gave us the information.
Li Yan told us Mo Yun's location.
We don't know how
but Mo Yun got wind of it, and fled so we weren't able to arrest her.
Chief Tie, we didn't find anything.
Fine. If you've truly surrendered
then you should help us solve this case.
I'll ask you again.
How many hairpin killers are in my manor?
Your Highness, I'm unable to answer that question.
Li Yan, you're already in deep water
and you still want to protect them?
Hurry and tell us.
Are you afraid that after you tell us
you'll be killed?
I can promise you
that as long as you're in this manor
you will be protected.
Your Highness, it's not that I don't want to reveal that information.
It's that I really don't know.
Although we were trained together when we were young
when we grew up, we each went our own way.
We haven't seen each other for years.
Even if I see them now
I can't tell that they're hairpin killers.
So it's impossible for me to point them out.
Besides, the hairpin killers move very quickly.
They're very cunning.
If they want to kill me tonight
there's no way I will live to see morning.
I'm afraid no one in the manor can stop them.
How dare you!
From what you're saying, it's like you're proud of the hairpin killers!
Did Mo Yun ask you to pretend to surrender to Chief Tie
so that you could be her spy?
No, that's not true.
How dare you lie!
It's really not true.
I surrendered to Chief Tie
because he figured out my identity.
Hairpin killer?
And because...
and because...
Because why?
Because of Peng Da Hai.
Peng Da Hai.
Here.
What's your relationship with the hairpin killers?
I...
Your Highness, I'll tell you.
My fate with Peng Da Hai
must be told from the beginning.
Madame Mo saved all of us hairpin killers when we were on the brink of death.
She raised us and taught us.
I was grateful to Madame Mo.
I was completely loyal to her...
until I came to the manor.
I discovered that Madame Mo was extremely cruel.
All of us hairpin killers
were orphans that Madame took in.
She trained us
and we listen to what Madame tells us to do.
If I continue to follow Madame Mo
I'm afraid there are only two possible endings for me.
One, I'm killed by the enemy.
Two, I'm killed by Madame Mo.
One day...
Be more awake!
Yes.
I'm sorry. Li Yan, are you all right?
I'm fine.
Come on, I'll carry you there.
Come on.
I was going to the kitchen
to prepare a meal for Arch Princess Consort.
I happened to run into Peng Da Hai...
Okay.
and hurt my foot.
Later, Peng Da Hai
visited me often out of concern.
Then I understood
that in this world
someone really exists
who would treat me well without wanting anything in return.
So I wanted to break free from Madame Mo's control
and be with Peng Da Hai forever.
But I really didn't know what I needed to do.
Until Chief Tie figured out my identity.
He gave me the opportunity to use merit to make up for my crime.
If I can help him arrest Madame Mo
I will be free forever.
Your Highness, what Li Yan says is true.
It is the same as what Chief Tie says.
I believe that she's really repented and is on the right path now.
If that's the case, then Fu Er and Guo Xin
have nothing to do with you hairpin killers?
Your Highness, Lady Wanliuha and Princess Guo Xin
are really not hairpin killers.
After Madame Mo found out about their plan
she beat them at their own game
and sent hairpin killers to kill Vice Prince Hong
and then frame them.
This way, they could take away someone close to you
and make everyone in the manor seem dangerous
causing fear and anxiety.
So they did this to get rid of everyone close to me?
Exactly.
Your Highness, although Guo Xin and Lady Wanliuha
didn't succeed in murdering Hong Hao
they had every intention of doing so.
According to the law, they should be beheaded.
Your Highness, you must not spare them for sentimental reasons.
Wei Tang.
Wei Tang!
You should rest. You've been practicing all morning.
Look at how much you're sweating.
You may leave.
Yes.
Have some water.
Thank you.
Why is your outfit torn?
If you're like this, how can I not worry about you when you go investigate cases?
It's just a tiny rip.
It'll be fine after someone stitches it.
I'll stitch it now.
Take it off.
Just have Hupo do it.
What? You don't trust my sewing?
No, that's not what I meant.
Then let's go inside so I can fix your outfit.
Guo Xin has a gentle side to her too.
If she wasn't so ridiculously arrogant sometimes
she would be worthy of being described as beautiful and talented.
It's fixed. Take a look.
Is there anywhere else that needs to be sewn?
I can't believe how skilled you are at sewing.
No one would know that this was torn and sewn back together.
When I was really young
my mother died.
So I had to take care of myself.
Didn't you have Nanny Su and Hupo taking care of you?
Nanny Su also had to take care of Caidie and Duan Min.
Especially Caidie, who was always climbing around.
She was always getting hurt.
How could Nanny Su have the time to take care of me?
What about Hupo? Hasn't she been with you since you were young?
Hupo had to practice martial arts.
She barely had time to play with me.
She can barely do any of the feminine work.
In the end, I had to do a lot of things myself.
If you want something done well, you have to do it yourself.
No wonder.
No wonder what?
You didn't have it easy growing up.
That's why you love showing off now.
Hey! I helped you but you're teasing me?
This is my first time sewing someone else's clothing.
Hey.
I wanted to compliment you.
Master Tie.
Wait.
How may I help you?
Tell the kitchen to prepare food and drink.
Okay.
Master Tie.
Open it.
The food in here isn't good.
I asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite food.
Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?
No reason. Don't overthink it.
Just eat.
No... there must be a problem.
Has His Highness made a ruling?
Eat first.
After you finish eating, listen to me.
Wei Tang, tell me.
Has His Highness made a ruling?
Wei Tang, tell me.
Guo Xin, I...
Wei Tang, it's always dark in this prison.
I don't even know how long I've been locked up in here.
There's no way you could understand this pain.
Just tell me
how much longer do I have to stay in this rotten place.
I... I...
Hurry and tell me, Wei Tang.
Tell me! Tell me!
Wei Tang!
I can't save you.
You and Lady Wanliuha attempted to murder Vice Prince Bao Hong.
I'm afraid it'll be hard for you survive this.
Wei Tang, I'm begging you.
Please help me.
Please beg His Highness to be lenient.
I want to save you
but the evidence is irrefutable.
Wei Tang, no matter what
I'm your wife.
You can't just abandon me.
Don't kneel. Stand up and talk.
No.
Promise me.
Promise me that you'll beg His Highness for me.
Please beg him to be lenient, Wei Tang.
Even if I'm willing to beg him
he might not be lenient.
No, he regards you highly.
He'll listen to you!
Guo Xin.
Wei Tang, I know I was wrong.
I wasn't a good wife.
I looked down on you and your father.
I thoroughly disappointed you.
But I will change!
I swear that from today on
I will wholeheartedly take care of you and your father.
I won't complain at all.
If I break this oath
may I be struck by lightning
and die a horrible death.
Wei Tang, please help me.
You're the only one who can save me.
Wei Tang.
Wei Tang!
Please help me, Wei Tang!
Wei Tang! Wei Tang!
Hong Tu, what are you doing? Get up.
I'm begging you to save my mother.
Get up and then talk.
Hong Hao, I'm begging you.
Don't let my mother be punished severely.
Please help me convince Father!
Hong Hao, I'm begging you!
Get up.
Wei Tang, because you're a top guard in the Intelligence Unit
and you and your father have had many achievements
I was lenient.
You and your father weren't affected even though Guo Xin committed a crime.
Now, you're actually speaking up for Guo Xin?
You want me to spare her?
Aren't you deliberately making things difficult for me?
I wouldn't dare.
Guo Xin and I are husband and wife after all.
How can I just sit back
and watch her be executed?
Please spare Guo Xin.
I promise I will keep her in check
so that she won't do something like this again.
Your Highness, please spare Guo Xin.
Your Highness, I also plead for you to spare Young Mistress Guo Xin.
What are you doing?
We're buddies.
How can I just look on idly while you lose your wife?
It's pitiful if you don't have anyone to sleep with.
Your Highnesses, please stay here.
Arch Prince is busy inside.
If you need anything, please ask me.
Please tell him
that we have something urgent to see him about.
Okay.
Father, I beg you
to please spare Mother.
Hong Tu, this has nothing to do with you.
- Mother. - Hurry and leave.
Mother, how does this have nothing to do with me?
How can I just watch and do nothing
while you get executed?
Father, I'm begging you.
Please spare Mother.
I'll kowtow.
Hong Tu, all right! All right!
Father, I have something to say.
Go ahead.
I heard that you want
to execute Second Auntie and Young Mistress Guo Xin.
I feel very bad about it.
I remember that in the past, you always emphasized
that the higher your position, the more open-minded you should be.
Whenever possible, we should choose forgiveness.
Do you still remember?
I did once say that.
Okay, since you also think that generous forgiveness
is the right way to rule
then if I may be bold
I ask that you forgive Second Auntie and Young Mistress Guo Xin.
In this way, not only does it show Your Highness's magnanimity
but it will also spread far and wide after the common people hear about it.
I ask that you consider it.
I ask that you spare Second Auntie and Young Mistress Guo Xin
on account of their relationship to us.
Your Highness.
Vice Prince Bao Hong is naturally kindhearted and doesn't hold grudges.
I deeply admire and respect that.
So if Your Highness will do as Vice Prince requests
the subordinates will follow the example of their superiors.
Everyone will be touched.
I ask that you consider it.
Please grant this favor, Your Highness.
All right, all right.
I have my own decision on this matter.
You don't have to say any more.
Because of Hong Hao, Batu, Wei Tang, and everyone else's pleas
I will spare Guo Xin's life.
But because she committed a capital crime
I will ask that His Majesty
strip Guo Xin of her Young Mistress status
and remove her from her manor.
She will be demoted to a commoner.
Because Hong Xi did not teach his daughter well
and has shamed the imperial family
he will be punished the same way as Guo Xin.
Father, are you all right?
[Vice Prince Gong's Manor]
Let's go.
As for Fu Er, as a mother, you let power corrupt you.
You should be severely punished.
But since Hong Hao and Hong Tu are so filial to you
I've decided to be lenient.
Scheming for more power through royal succession is a capital crime.
You will spend your time with Buddha
and be under house arrest
in Tong Jiao Temple for the rest of your life
to reflect on the crime you committed.
As for Li Yan, since you've already turned over a new leaf
and become Tie Cheng Gang's spy
I will change your position so that you work in a teahouse
where there are fewer people.
You will work with Batu and Tie Wei Tang
to arrest Mo Yun and bring her to justice as soon as possible.
Because this matter is of great importance
no one is to say anything or leak any news of this.
I can't believe so much happened today.
Fortunately, Vice Prince Bao Hong is kind and considerate.
Although we caught the criminals, he doesn't want any ill will.
So Arch Prince Chong spared Guo Xin and Lady Wanliuha.
Otherwise...
I guess this is their karmic reward.
How was your talk with Duan Min?
How do you think?
She cried and made a fuss.
She was just short of hanging herself.
But no matter how she acts
I won't trust her anymore.
I won't pity her either.
After all, I don't want to put my whole family at risk again.
It wasn't easy for us to all still be alive.
Listen, Duan Min is definitely not as simple as we thought.
She has a lot up her sleeve. It's scary.
As long as she doesn't harm you, there's not much I can say.
I'm really tired.
My whole body aches.
Why aren't you giving me a massage? My whole body really aches.
What did you say?
Who was the one who said he'd love me dearly?
Who said he'd be good to me?
Why would I give you a massage? Why don't you give me a massage?
I also walked the whole day today. I'm tired too.
I want a massage too.
What you said makes sense.
Now, it does seem like it's my problem.
To apologize to you.
I've decided to treat you well.
Hurry up.
Batu, you said you'd give me a massage.
I am giving you a massage.
Just give me a massage.
Why are you taking off my clothes?
Hey!
Yu Er was so useless!
She wasn't able to kill Tie Cheng Gang
and got herself killed instead?
Tie Cheng Gang will be on his guard now.
If we want to take his life
it'll be even harder.
Yes, Madame.
But there aren't very many of us hairpin sisters left.
Instead of wasting our efforts on others
why don't we...
Shut up!
Since when do you give orders?
I gave you all your lives!
You don't know what's good for you.
If you babble like this again
I'll kill you.
I was wrong. Please spare me.
Originally, I had a task for you.
Now you've messed up my train of thought.
I deserve death.
Although what you said was a bit out of place
it wasn't unreasonable.
How about this? You go back and rest.
After I've thought things through
I'll notify you.
Yes.
Your Highness, your dinner is here.
I don't need it anymore. Take it away.
Yes.
Madame is vicious and moody.
We hairpin sisters, we do our best for her.
But she treats us like disposable pawns.
If this goes on...
Eventually, one day
she'll dispose of me too.
If that's the case
why don't I just take Yin Qiang's life
and avenge Father?
Yes. That's right.
I should first kill Yin Qiang
and then kill Mo Yun
to avenge my sister.
I have a sister?
Your mother died after giving birth to you two.
Your father Tie Lin
gave you two to me
so that someone could take care of you.
But I don't remember.
When Shuang Shuang was still an infant
I switched her with the real Duan Min.
How could you remember?
Wu Shuang, I did everything to train you.
It was all for this moment.
You've learned everything that I know.
Now you should replace Shuang Shuang
and infiltrate the manor.
From now on, you must listen to my orders.
As long as you listen to me
I promise to help you kill Yin Qiang
to avenge your father.
If you don't listen to me
you must remember
that your sister, Shuang Shuang, is still with me.
Madame, don't worry.
To avenge my father
I will listen to you.
I absolutely won't mess around.
Good.
You must go to the manor
and wait for orders.
I will obey your orders.
Why were you pretending to sleep? You scared me.
You smell good.
What were you thinking about?
Not much.
It wasn't easy for your wound to heal. Get some rest.
Don't worry, I know.
Your Highness, the cart is ready.
Hurry, let's go.
Okay, wait a second. I'll be there soon.
Where are you going?
I haven't been home in a while.
I wanted to go home to get some stuff.
You just stay here and rest.
I'll be back soon.
Hey, what are you doing up?
My wound is already healed.
If you're going home, I should go with you.
Well...
I know.
You're worried
that Da Er still blames me for what happened.
Even though my mother said this wasn't your fault
after such a short period of time
my brother won't be able to forgive you just yet.
But don't worry.
I think after a while longer
he'll be able to forgive you.
That's what you say
but if I don't go to see them and I just avoid them
won't that mean I'm problematic?
Since we're a family
I think we should resolve this soon.
I should go with you.
Caidie, don't worry.
If I go, I promise
not to get into a fight with Da Er.
Okay?
Everyone, work faster.
All set.
- Has everything been removed? - Yes.
Take those down too.
Princess, Arch Lord, you're back.
Housekeeper Zhang, why are you taking down the white lanterns?
Your Highness, after Vice Prince died
everyone in the manor has been in a miserable state.
Her Highness said we couldn't keep being so depressed
or else Vice Prince wouldn't be able to rest in peace.
So she asked that I take down all the white lanterns
so that everyone could get themselves together.
I understand.
Let's go.
We'll head inside.
Mother.
Caidie.
- Greetings, Mother and Da Er. - Greetings, Mother and Da Er.
It's great that you're back.
I've missed you guys.
Batu, I heard you were seriously injured.
How are you now? Are you better?
Yes, I've completely recovered.
Don't worry.
Da Er, I feel very guilty for what happened with Father.
If I hadn't brought people here to search the manor
it wouldn't have become this disaster. This is all...
Don't say any more.
We're all a family.
I know that you were sent by Arch Prince.
You had no say.
I don't blame you. You shouldn't blame yourself either.
We are all sad that Father died.
We shouldn't make each other feel worse.
Otherwise, Father, who's watching over us, won't be able to rest in peace.
Let's just end this here.
No one should bring it up anymore.
Thank you, Mother and Da Er, for empathizing.
I really can't thank you enough.
Mother, now that this is resolved
since Batu is here, I hope he can pay his respects to Father.
Okay.
It's all in the past. Don't say another word about it. Hurry and come in.
Mother is right. Let us prepare some things.
Mother, here.
Caidie, what's going on?
Last time I came here, Da Er was so eager
to kill me as a sacrifice to your father.
Maybe my brother saw the light.
Since he's already said all that
don't take things to heart anymore, okay?
Let's go.
Father, E-Erduo, Caidie and Batu came back to see you guys.
Father, E-Erduo.
I used to always hear people say
"The world changes whether you want it to or not."
"You must be filial to your parents while they're still with you."
I didn't understand before.
But now, it makes so much sense.
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