[English subtitles are available.]
The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty
Episode 15
I have heard so much about
Your Highness's reputation as a well-doer.
I heard a wanted criminal sneaked into your house
so I immediately brought my team here to help.
If something happens to your family,
I'm afraid all the grassroots people in the capital...
No,
all the people in the country
will kill me.
I am flattered.
I am just doing what's in my meager power
to help the people.
But today no one in my family
saw any trace of that so-called criminal.
But all the women and children in the house
were terrified by your people.
Commander Wan, if you have finished your investigation,
please leave.
Of course.
I am really sorry that
this time they disturbed Your Highness and Her Highness.
Please forgive us.
Sui Zhou.
Yes, sir.
Tell your people to leave, now!
Yes, sir.
Your Highness,
is there a lame carter
working in your mansion?
No.
Are you sure?
You!
How dare you to talk His Highness like that?
Go.
Please forgive me.
You are really
bold and reckless
to offend him, a nobleman!
I'm afraid you guys are too good to stay
in the Imperial Guards anymore.
God damn it!
I was thinking we could take the credit
if we could catch this Dugu Buning in the Duke's Mansion.
But we were sent here on a wild goose chase.
Look at your disheartened faces.
Sui!
Did you find Tang?
What should we do?
Don't worry.
Go home and wait for my news.
I'll go talk to someone.
No matter how much I looked into the case,
I would never dream that
you, the Well-doer Zhu,
is the real murderer.
I analyzed the victim profiles
and the characteristics of the homicide cases,
I discovered a pattern.
The victims all had light-colored eyes
and pale hair,
and they couldn't speak fluent Mandarin.
I am really curious.
What did you go through
that made you target women
with those characteristics?
I even
followed the life path of the murderer in these two decades,
which included Wanping,
Yenching,
and Daxing,
and the homicide cases of
the missing women with these specific characteristics.
I analyzed all the clues
and made a guess which I thought was the closest to the truth.
I was almost sure
it was that lame and hunchbacked Tuo San.
But I didn't expect the real murderer is you.
Tuo San has always been by your side.
So his whereabouts during these two decades
matches the whereabouts of the murderer perfectly.
However, he is just an accomplice.
Because the real murderer
is the Well-doer Zhu who is known for being a Good Samaritan in the capital.
That poor Tuo San.
He's just your loyal pet.
There is still one thing I haven't figured out.
What made you capable of
doing such a brutal thing?
Why did you kill those women?
Do you really want to know why?
Yes, I want to know,
so that I can die without regret.
Let's make a bet.
I bet you didn't come for the girls
or the drinks here.
Tang Fan found the serial murderer of the female corpses case.
We suspected the murderer
is a lame carter in the Duke's mansion.
Tang Fan went to his mansion to investigate the case
but has been missing ever since then.
I believe something happened to him while he was in the mansion.
Whether he's still alive is unknown.
Do you have any evidence?
Not yet.
But I sounded the Duke out by
asking him if there was
a lame carter in his mansion.
He flatly denied it.
But actually I have seen the carter
enter the mansion several times during my stake-out.
It's not that I don't want to help you.
All you said is based on nothing but your surmise.
How can I go to search someone
in a duke's mansion based on your guessing?
So there's nothing you can do.
My hands are tied.
Do you know what the most terrible thing in the world is?
Not monsters or ghosts.
But loneliness.
I was lonely until I met her.
Her name was Chunhua.
Father discovered our relationship and
tried everything to break us up.
He even tried to sell Chunhua to others with a cheap price.
I decided to elope with her.
But by the time we
agreed to meet and elope,
she didn't come.
There I only saw my father's retainers who came to bring me back.
At that moment I knew
it was Chunhua who betrayed me.
Years later I met her on the street.
She looked at me,
without any guilt in her eyes.
I felt my heart hurt.
But why should I be the only one whose heart hurt?
What about her?
I hated her.
Yes.
I hated her for this.
But even the feeling of hatred faded away with time.
You felt like your heart had stopped beating.
So you killed the second person,
then the third person.
Killing made you feel your heart beat again,
but that feeling lasted shorter and shorter.
So you could only maintain this feeling
by killing frequently.
But the Eastern Depot got the wrong suspect for the case seven years ago.
You thought you finally found a scapegoat.
So you stopped the killing.
You wanted to use this opportunity to quit completely.
But in the end you found that you still couldn't resist the temptation.
You are very smart.
But sometimes being too smart
will become self-righteous.
You really think
I would be afraid that they might find me?
Seven years ago,
your father passed away.
You stopped because of this.
The person you hated the most was dead.
Why can't you stop now?
I have never killed a man.
You are the first.
I can kill you quickly
on the count of seven.
Or I can also do it slowly counting to 30,
while you can see your heart beating in my hands.
Or...
What do you want to do?
Don't touch her!
Let go of her!
Let go!
The trick is some stonegarlic juice,
so that her heart will still be beating
when I grab it in my hand.
Only then can I really get her soul.
Rest assured.
She will sleep beautifully throughout the process.
Let go of her!
Zhu Jianmou!
Someone outside wants to see you.
Please follow me.
The gods are watching down on you.
Your Highness actually used a Buddhist shrine as a cover of the secret chamber.
Are you really not afraid of being condemned by gods?
Is Tang Fan inside?
Tang Fan and the Oirat woman are inside.
I want to take them with me.
That woman is mine.
No one can take her away.
Do you think you can get away with it just releasing one person?
Then maybe I won't release anyone.
I have my own way to deal with them.
How dare you hit me?
Who do you think you are?
Shut up!
You are humbler than a bug in my eyes.
The only reason I am handling this crap
is to preserve the dignity of His Majesty
and the royal family.
You?
I couldn't care less if you died.
Wang Zhi is here, right?
Let me out!
We can't let Zhu Jianmou run away!
Here it goes again.
He gave her a lot of stonegarlic juice.
She may wake up in three to five days,
or three to five years.
Or she won't wake up again.
During the past twenty-two years,
with the exception of the last seven years,
there were forty-five missing cases
or homicide cases that fit the characteristics of this serial murder.
But we found sixty-two crocks
in the secret chamber.
Inside each one of them
was a human heart.
It's both hateful and sad to be born into a royal family.
You know,
he did such a horrible thing,
but somehow I can understand
why he became such a monster step by step.
He must be severely punished for what he did.
But we also need to take the royal family's reputation into consideration.
I trust you to take care of it.
Yes, Your Majesty.
General Yu.
You spitted on Commander Wang.
Did I?
Someone didn't watch where he was going.
I didn't see him.
Is Zhu Jianmou now detained in the Western Depot?
Imperial Edict Prison?
Imperial Clan Court?
A duke is
in a Duke's mansion, of course.
Why didn't you bring
such a wicked person to justice?
I did.
He's now in Shuntian Prefecture.
The case is solved
with a murderer named Tuo San.
You knew what really happened. Why didn't you punish him?
We have a verdict already.
Zhu Jianmou will be punished accordingly by the royal court.
What you can do now
is to try Tuo San
and convict him.
This is the best result we can get.
Tuo San is just an accomplice!
You're asking me to employ trickery.
The court needs to give an explanation to the people.
And Tuo San, being an accomplice, is not innocent.
As for Zhu Jianmou,
he will be punished accordingly as a royal clan member.
But this is something above your grade.
It's the God's willness and the emperor's command that,
Duke Zhu Jianmou who is of royal clan,
has been practicing good deeds for many years
and praised by the people.
He is indeed a role model for the royal family,
and a good example of the nobility.
So now I give you my verdict that Zhu Jianmou
and his family will move to Hulumuwei of North Xinjiang
where he shall spread the spirit of good deeds and make it known
to a broader area of the country.
Respect that!
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I heard the murderer is a cripple in Well-doer Zhu's mansion.
I know.
Such an evil!
Well-doer Zhu is like a Bodhisattva.
Why was there such a bad guy in his mansion?
I heard he killed dozens of young girls.
Such an evil.
Yeah.
Such an evil!
Here he comes!
Well-doer Zhu is here.
Well-doer Zhu!
Although I don't know
where this case is going,
I can sense something is going to happen
by the murderous look on your face.
Sir, you should go now.
I'll try this case.
Your Highness, you are here.
Well-doer Zhu
is such a kind person!
Yes.
He comes to see off
such a wicked old carter before he is executed.
Yeah, yeah.
What a great person he is!
The defendant who is in the court now,
do you plead guilty?
I plead guilty.
I killed them.
Just give me your verdict.
You want to plead guilty?
Not until I say you can.
Who are you really?
Tell me the truth!
My name is Tuo San,
a carter of the Duke's mansion.
Come here!
Read it.
Shen Chen,
Hangzhou native.
At the age of sixteen he joined the Yenching Troops.
At the age of twenty-three he became director of guards
in the Duke's mansion because of his extraordinary fighting skills.
This man was once director of guards?
You can't tell.
You had stayed in the mansion for six years
before
you were almost beaten to death by the current duke's late father
with the reason of you "offending" his wife.
They thought you were dead and dumped you at unmarked common graves.
But you were saved by a hunter passing by.
You hid for two years
and disfigured yourself
because you wanted to seek revenge.
At last,
two years later,
you came back to the Duke's mansion
with a brand new identity.
No one recognized you
because at this time you were both lame and humpbacked,
with a disfigured face.
But you did not expect
you would stay there
until now.
I'm really curious.
Why haven't you seek your revenge yet?
Why?
Because you saw a one-year-old child
in the Duke's mansion.
So why did you stop your plan of revenge
when you saw the baby?
Someone!
Bring Dr. Zhong to the court.
Witness, please tell the court your name.
Your Excellency.
My name is Zhong Yishi,
a resident doctor of Guangshuntang Pharmacy.
This matter will determine people's lives.
You need to tell us the whole truth.
Tell everyone what happened then.
Your Excellency.
Guangshuntang's resident doctors have been family doctors for the Duke's mansion for three generations.
So I know the late duke had sterility
so he was unable to bear children.
Oh my God.
Who would see that coming?
Really?
Who knows?
When you saw that child,
you knew immediately
he is your son, right?
What nonsense are you talking about?
The late duke had only one son.
Don't slander the family with your nonsense.
Your Highness, when you see your biological father today,
don't you want to say something?
I killed all of them!
I have pled guilty!
Don't drag anyone else into this!
What's going on?
He killed himself!
That's right.
He died!
Dead?
Why would he do that?
Yes.
You thought everyone owed you.
All your loved ones chose to abandon you,
and leave you.
So you chose to kill to ease your pain.
How is this possible?
Well-doer Zhu? No way!
But have you ever thought about it?
When you thought everyone abandoned you,
in fact, there was one person who protected you silently
and he never let you down,
or left you behind.
He even accepted your crooked mindset and brutality.
At the last moment of his life,
he chose to take the blame for you.
But you
are indifferent
and look the other way.
You are just like the people you hate.
You let him down.
Mr. Tang.
I am impressed.
What? Is it really Well-doer Zhu?
I can't believe it!
What a great person Well-doer Zhu is!
I know!
Let's wait and see what's going on.
There must be some kind of mistake.
How did that happen?
Why is there
such a twist?
I can't believe it!
Everything has gone so wrong!
He was right.
You have never failed me.
Never abandoned me...
Wasn't everything under control
that Zhu Jianmou would be exiled to the northern border and that's it?
How come everything didn't go as planned and
ended up with such a scandal!
Now great,
everyone knows it.
What does Tang Fan want to do?
So the prestige of Ming's royal family
means nothing to him?
Does he really think I won't kill him?
Your Majesty.
Tang Fan did deserve to die.
Your Majesty, please calm your anger.
Don't let anger harm your health.
Tang Fan is abominable.
But we can't kill him.
No.
This case aroused great resentment among the people.
If we kill Tang Fan now,
I'm afraid it will only cause more condemnation and discussion in the society.
Although it won't change anything,
it'll become an annoying thing to handle.
Then what do you say I should do?
I think we can
demote Pan Bin with the reason that
Shuntian Prefecture's poor performance on this case
has led to popular discontent.
Then we can banish Tang Fan to Tongzhou.
We can consider what to do with him
when the public opinion improves.
Starting from yesterday
her pulse and breath have gradually stabilized.
I guess it won't take long
for her to wake up.
The real problem is you.
Your boldness and disregard of the royal family's reputation.
I am surprised his head hasn't been cut off.
I'm afraid a bunch of people want to cut my head off.
But they could only banish me to Tongzhou
for the time being due to public opinion.
They'd wait for it.
Wait for what?
Haven't you heard the phrase "settle accounts with sb. afterwards"?
Did you regret your decision?
There's nothing to regret.
I was just doing what I should do.
All people are equal before the law.
Since Emperor Hongwu set the Law of the Ming Dynasty for us to follow,
if being a royal family member means
you don't have to obey the law,
then what's the point of the Law for?
You did the right thing.
It's time for the souls of the victims to get the peace they want.
Let me ask you,
are your sister and Cheng still in Tongzhou?
Yes.
I'll consider my being banished to Tongzhou
as a chance to visit my sister.
Then let me prepare some medicines for Cheng.
You can give them to your sister for me.
Is anyone home?
Come out!
Who are you looking for?
Is this Sui Zhou's home?
Yes?
Then I am looking for you!
Me?
Looking for me?
Why? I don't know you.
You'll know me soon!
Come on!
I think you got the wrong person.
What are you doing?
Come on!
-Come on. - what are you doing?
Go on!
How dare you want to marry me with your poor skills?
Go on!
You crazy woman!
Who would want to marry you if you're so crazy?
You!
You don't get to beat him.
There is a woman in your house?
Fine!
I'll tell my elder brother
to cancel
the engagement!
Stop!
I won't marry you!
What the heck?
Excuse me.
Who are you?
Are you
Sui Zhou's friend?
I am Sui Zhou.
Let's go.
I strongly disagree
your marriage with the crazy woman.
I am not even sure we'll get married or not.
It's not your decision to agree or disagree.
No means no!
It's not negotiable.
I followed your instruction that day
to park that carriage he was in at the gate of Shuntian Prefecture.
But how can you be sure
Zhu Jianmou would get off and go inside?
My father used to nag me a lot.
I was annoyed by his nagging.
But he is gone now.
I am willing to give any price
to hear him nag me again.
So I put myself in his shoes.
For so many years
the only one who gave up everything
and stayed by Zhu Jianmou's side
was his biological father.
Since his father would be executed soon,
I bet he would choose to go in to see him one last time.
How did you know their relationship?
Doctors would keep the medical histories
of all royal family and clan members
since they were born.
I found out his dad's sterility.
Based on this I made an inference.
So you were not completely sure.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
What if you were wrong?
Then I lost my bet.
If it weren't for His Majesty's kindness,
your life would be definitely gone.
You are audacious.
You even dare to challenge the authority of the royal family.
You really think you are immortal
and no one can kill you?
Since I met you,
every case I handled
"stopped at where it should" with your filthy way.
The Ming Dynasty governs the country by laws.
Why did I want to be an official?
I wanted to bring criminals to justice.
But you covered up for criminals again and again.
Where can I find justice in the results?
Why would I bother to be a law enforcement official?
I won't be able to change anything!
Things are rarely just "black and white".
This time Zhu Jianmou was already punished
and he wouldn't harm anyone anymore.
But you
got in the way and created so many troubles.
Let's not talk about you might destroy your official career,
if you get killed because of this,
how can you serve your country and realize your ideal?
Stop living in your small world.
His Majesty has his own considerations.
What he needs to think about
is so much more than you.
Your action on impulse
will make the palace very passive.
Ok.
Maybe I won't even go to Tongzhou then.
I might as well just resign
and enjoy idle life of retirement.
Don't be like that.
Who said...
Commander Wang, you're leaving already?
What's going on?
What's wrong with him?
General Yu.
I have been patient with you for many times.
Don't push too far.
You killed my father.
I will never forgive you.
I will seek my revenge
even if Yu's mansion is down to the last person.
If you are really so powerful,
kill every one of my family!
Mr. Sui.
Miss Yu, can I help you?
I was hoping you can help me do a make-over with my horse.
Last time I saw your horse
and it was such a glorious beauty.
I am so jealous.
Mine was present from my father.
It is also a fine horse rarely seen.
I hope you can do a make-over on it
to make it look like yours.
Sure thing.
It's easy.
Give me a moment.
Wuyun!
Mr. Sui.
This lady wants to do a make-over to her horse.
Sure!
Please follow me.
Speaking of horse's make-over,
there are just a few keys.
Fit-to-purpose, habits and perfect quality.
Saddle,
rein,
protective gear,
and horseshoes are all indispensable.
And the most important thing is the saddle.
These three saddles were made by my boss.
In addition to saddle, forage is also very important.
Come here.
Please follow me.
Here.
This
is our best quality forage.
With different horses,
the demand for forage is also different.
Brother.
Don't start trouble with Wang Zhi again.
And drink less alcohol.
Wang Zhi killed our father!
I will bring him down from his office
even with the cost of my life!
Brother...
Sui Zhou, I heard
you have been quite close
to him.
I am warning you.
Don't go close to him.
Or you won't be able to marry my sister
even if it was Her Majesty's order!
Brother.
Come in. I need to talk to you.
Come inside!
Sorry, Baihu Sui.
My brother has been rude.
It's ok.
How can you talk to him with that attitude?
What's wrong with my attitude?
Her Majesty wanted you to marry Sui Zhou.
But it is not finally confirmed yet.
If he doesn't listen to me
and continues to collude with that treacherous Wang Zhi,
I'll teach him a lesson!
You're getting more and more ridiculous.
Don't you ever say such things
in front of Sui Zhou.
He is a true hero.
He won't get involved with Wang Zhi.
He's a martial arts master?
That's easy then.
Tell him to kill
that bastard Wang Zhi righ now.
Then I will give you two my blessing.
I will call him my beloved brother-in-law.
Sorry, Master, Lady.
I am such a butterfingers.
I will clean it up.
You're crazy!
What am I to you? You think I am a reward?
What are you to me?
You're my sister!
Listen! Be it a man or a woman,
whoever kills Wang Zhi can marry my sister!
Same old dishes every time.
Is there nothing new?
What are the odds you asked?
We hired a new chef yesterday.
He has a signature dish which is so good.
You're going to love it.
Then what are we waiting for?
I was afraid you don't want to let a chef come in here.
This dish must be cooked and served
right in front of the diner
to best preserve the good taste.
Call him in to cook.
Yes, Your Excellency.
I'll ask him to come.
It does taste good.
We have found out
he is a chef of Yu's mansion.
Zhang Degui.
He has been working for Yu mansion
for over a decade since he was young.
Yu Zhengpeng just won't stop.
He told me
he would avenge himself on me even if Yu's mansion is down to the last person.
But I didn't expect he would literally send his chef.