[English subtitles are available.]
The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty
Episode 20
Coming!
Mr. Tang.
Your Excellency.
This Chongyang Flower Rice Cake was the reason I was late
and almost didn't make it to greet you.
Try it.
This is so delicious!
I didn't expect a glutinous rice cake can have such a taste!
On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month,
every household will make
this Chongyang Flower Rice Cake.
It's not difficult. But you have to get the right portions
of glutinous rice and polished round-grained rice.
Then you pound the cooked rice with a wood pestle.
Today we only needed a small amount
so it just took 3 hours to pound it.
If we need a lot,
it'll need 5 to 6 strong men to take turns to pound
for eight hours straight
and then add a certain ratio of glutinous rice milk
to get such a perfect texture.
I see.
One of my hobbies
is making delicious food.
As long as it tastes good,
I don't care
how much time it'll take.
I can't agree more!
Thank you, Your Excellency!
And this dish is called
Heaven Ham and Duck.
It has a special way to enjoy it.
Your Excellency, please behold.
Here.
When you lift the lid,
the soup must be slightly boiling.
The steam in the casserole is like cloud and mist
which gives lingering fragrance.
The diners will
enjoy the dish in visual and smell senses.
The ham
will be red, fragrant, and rich
and the duck is tender and fatty.
The soup will be in a color of rich oyster white.
I am so lucky to meet
such a gourmet who
studies delicacies with his heart.
Your Excellency, please.
Mr. Ma, please!
This drumstick is so good.
Sui,
what do you think Tang is eating in there?
Are there drumsticks?
Hello, everyone.
You worked hard to follow
Mr. Tang to come a long way here.
Dig in! Enjoy yourselves!
I am Ma Rufu,
the butler of Ma's mansion.
If you guys need anything,
I'm your man.
Mr. Ma.
Let me do some introduction.
It's OK.
I can tell from a glance.
This one
must be his attendant.
These
two ladies
must be his maids.
And you,
if I am right,
must be his butler.
Enjoy it.
Tell me if you need anything.
Wang Zhi from Western Depot is here to see Mr. Wan.
Commander Wang.
This way, please.
Such a tasteful pond.
This is our master's favorite place.
He personally
takes care of the vegetations here.
He has been putting a lot of
time and effort in it.
This way, please.
Your Excellency Wan.
This is…
Commander Wang!
What's the matter?
Why would His Majesty
order me to commit suicide while I didn't do anything wrong?
Why would you think that?
This pattern is known by all the officials.
If you bring a case to someone's home,
it means that he is facing his doom.
No. This is not what happened.
In the case it is just a new official uniform
I brought you.
Here you are.
Commander Wang.
How much is this?
Not a lot.
Just five taels of silver.
Five taels of silver?
That's still a lot of money.
Thank you
for giving me this gift.
-You're welcome. -Thank you.
This way.
Here.
Go get some tea.
Yes.
Commander Wang.
Please take a seat.
Watch your steps.
I am getting old.
I even
have difficulties in walking now.
Your butler
bears himself well.
Actually,
he's my son.
I didn't expect your son
dresses so…
simple and plain.
My dear brother,
let me tell you,
simple and plain living
is the tradition of our Wan Family.
Please.
Your Excellency, I can't
let you call me your brother.
No matter how I see it,
I am so much younger than you.
I don't deserve to be
called your brother.
Commander Wang.
My surname is Wan,
and so is Her Highness Noble Consort Wan.
If you look at the family tree
of the Wan clan,
Her Highness is my distant aunt.
I know Her Highness always
sees you as her son or nephew.
So if we
look at it that way,
you are like a brother to me.
Your Excellency is quite right!
Actually
I came today to pick your brain.
Sure!
For the past few days I leafed through the records of the Ministry of Personnel's officials
and found the past three governors in Yunhe
who were relieved of their office all died of unnatural causes.
There must be some reasons
behind their violent deaths.
Not long ago two officials from the Ministry of Revenue
also died of accidents.
One hanged himself
and the other fell in his house's pond
and drowned to death.
Well, Commander Wang.
This does sound weird.
You didn't hear any whispers about it?
No, no!
There is a frog!
You little punk! Come here!
You little punk!
How many times did I tell you that
you can't stay by the pond?
You might drown! Take him away.
You scared me to death!
Look at this thing.
"Calligraphy of Jushi"?
Yes.
It is the authentic work of calligraphy of Jushi
by famous calligrapher Zeng Gong.
I have long heard about it.
I did not expect
I can see the authentic work at your house today.
Since you like it,
I think you are
the right owner for it.
I can't take it.
This is the only copy in the world.
It's too valuable and
I can't take it away from you.
Your Excellency.
Just as a previous sword should be worn by a hero
and makeup should be worn by beauties,
this Calligraphy of Jushi and you
are the most harmonious match.
But…
Since so,
I can only thank you for your kindness.
Your Excellency!
Mr. Ma.
Let me take you to get familiar with the environment here.
Let me give you a tour.
This one and this one
are servants' rooms.
It's up to you to allocate.
Take this.
This is…
This thing is a general token.
If you want to purchase anything
for Mr. Tang in Yunhe,
you can use it to put it on accounts at any place.
You don't have to care how much you spend.
Of course,
we will
foot all the bills.
Thank you, Mr. Ma.
You're welcome.
We are both their servants.
It's our duty to serve our masters well.
What servant?
Sui is…
If you need anything else,
come to me anytime.
Thank you for that.
I shall take my leave.
Please.
You keep your mouth shut.
Mr. Ma,
I have to go before I overstay my welcome.
I didn't expect it to be so late in the blink of an eye.
Don't sound like a stranger.
Your brilliant literacy
and talent
have made me admire you so much.
I like to make friends with people.
Wuyun, go get the horse.
With such an elegant and talented official like you
as our Yunhe's magistrate,
what a blessing for the people here!
-I am leaving. -I am leaving.
Mr. Ma,
why do you say you're leaving?
Isn't this your mansion?
Your Excellency.
Actually this is not my home.
Whose home is this then?
Yours.
No, I can't take it.
Mr. Ma,
I am grateful for your hospitality.
I can't accept such a luxurious house.
Your Excellency.
I know the rules of the royal court.
Consider this house to be lent to you.
As long as you are in Yunhe,
you can live here.
Just treat it as your own.
Live and have fun.
You can do whatever you like.
But the few of us
living in such a big house
is too extravagant.
Your Excellency.
Your presence
has graced the house.
Why would you say it's extravagant?
Speaking of which,
when will your family members arrive?
My parents died early
and I am not married yet.
I only have one sister
who's staying in the capital.
Please wait a minute.
Greet His Excellency.
Your Excellency Tang.
Your Excellency.
These maids
will stay here
to serve you from now on.
Since so,
I shall thank you for your kindness!
Dora!
Wuyun.
No need to unload the luggage.
Put it back on the cart.
Let's go!
Wuyun!
Don't put it back!
Put it back on!
Don't!
Do it!
One says yes and one says no.
What do you expect me to do?
Don't get angry.
He meant well.
Besides, he doesn't know our relationship.
You are not married.
There is no relationship between you and me.
Step aside!
Why are you so unreasonable?
Dora!
You can't go.
Can you be reasonable for once?
No!
It seems that they have closed the city gate.
We have to wait until tomorrow to be out of town.
Aha,
since we have made up our minds to follow him,
don't quarrel with Tang Fan
over some trivial matters.
Let's go back.
I didn't come to Yunhe for him.
I never go anywhere because of anyone.
I know these years you have
suffered a lot because of Aras.
I know you are hurt inside.
But since you came to the capital and met Tang Fan,
you have become much happier than before.
Although that man is so weak…
So weak that I pity him,
he does make you happy again,
and he has also made you change a lot.
So don't be so stubborn
because it only makes yourself miserable again.
Have a look!
OK, let's stay for the night here.
We can decide what to do tomorrow morning.
Who do you want to accompany you today?
Do you want Qinglan to sing a song?
It's OK.
Tonight's business.
Commander.
What did you find?
These three people died very strangely.
The strangling mark on Su's neck
was left after he died
which means he was already dead
before someone hanged him there.
On the corpse of Wang
I didn't find signs of drowning
which also means
his body was dumped into the pond after he was already dead.
And the former Yunhe governor
died even more bizarrely.
Witnesses said
his horse was frightened and charged straight off the cliff.
But no one knew why his horse was frightened.
Play with me.
Don't leave!
Sir…
What are you doing?
I garrisoned at the borders
climbing on ice and snow every day.
I was almost starving and frozen to death there.
What?
I'm now detested by bitches when I come back to the capital?
What are you doing here?
Do you know where this place is?
What place?
I have been through hell many times.
I don't care where this is!
You humiliated the army!
Get lost!
Yes, sir.
Officer, please don't leave.
I'll pay for
the things he destroyed.
General.
Someone wants to see you.
General Chen, why are you back?
I came back to urge the payoff of soldier's pay and provisions.
As you just saw,
the troublemaker is a subordinate of mine.
He came to the capital once a month ago.
He went to the Ministry of War to urge the payoff several times.
But he didn't get the money; instead he was spited by a low-ranking official.
In fact, that official just wanted some bribe.
But how could these poor soldiers have the money to pay the bribes?
He didn't finish the job
and was punished
after returning to Liaodong.
So please understand
what he did
an don't be too harsh on him.
He was upset
so he vented his anger at someone else.
If you trust me,
just leave it to me.
Let me help you figure out a way.
That'll be great!
I will be grateful
for your help.
It's late.
You should go back to rest early.
Aha.
You didn't sleep?
Let's go back then.
I am not going back.
I'm not here for Tang Fan.
Why should I go back to him?
Aha?
[Prosperous Store for rent]
Your Excellency.
What are you guys doing?
Be gentle!
Tang.
Boss Ma wants to see you.
Please ask him to come in.
OK.
Mr. Ma.
You came so early.
Your Excellency. Good Morning.
Since you just arrived in Yunhe,
I thought I can take you to breakfast first.
Then you can also take a tour of Yunhe
on the way. What do you think?
Ok.
Sui,
are you sure you want to wear this livery of servant?
Why?
This is so ugly.
I'll put it aside.
General, if the number is correct,
just sign here.
Here?
Yes.
Thank you for your help
that I am able to get the military pay.
You are most welcome.
You should be focused on important things such as the frontier defense.
But you had to worry about such trivial matters.
It was not right.
General Chen, rest assured.
As long as it's for His Majesty
and for the Ming Dynasty's interests,
I will do everything I can.
Commander, take care of yourself.
General, you too.
There is one restaurant.
There is another one ahead.
We used to
entertain guests
or just enjoy the food…
Pay me my hard-earned salary!
What's this about?
Your Excellency, don't misunderstand.
These are just a rabble.
Blame me.
I was too kind to them,
so they took advantage of my kindness.
Look how
unruly they are!
His Excellency is here.
Your Excellency.
We have grievances!
How dare you, the unruly people to
gather here?
We can talk and work it out if you have any grievances.
But if you gather and block the road,
you guys are violating the law!
Someone!
Arrest the leaders!
Why are you still standing there?
Do it.
Sorry.
We are wronged, we are wronged!
What are you doing?
Yuancong?
What are you doing here?
Because I think the silver workers are right!
Right my ass!
Go home!
I won't go back.
Did you hear me? I told you to go home!
What are you doing?
What did I do to get arrested?
Let go!
Your Excellency.
Speaking of those silver workers,
I
never docked any of their wages.
Really!
If you don't believe me,
just go to the streets and ask around.
And the wages I gave them
are the highest standard in the whole Yunhe.
So why did they say
you docked their wages?
There is nothing I can do.
Your Excellency, you don't know
these poor people.
They always ask for more.
And their greed
has no limit.
I heard a little bit about
what these silver workers complained about.
It is said that
the land used as silver mining
can no longer
grow any food crops for the following many years.
Is that true?
Your Excellency Tang,
since now the royal court is in need of silver,
silver mining
has become the most important thing.
Other things
are just the price we have to pay.
They're consumables.
What if one day
the silver mines are drained?
Then we'll leave this place.
Pick another place with silver mines and dig again.
Right?
By the way,
Your Excellency Tang,
I've picked a house for myself
at the best location of the capital.
If you don't mind,
I will prepare one for you, too.
I can't take it.
But if it's borrowed from you,
then I guess it'll be alright.
Your joke almost
scared me to death
-Cheers. -Cheers.
So, you see.
Actually I have my own difficulties.
Do you think all the money I've earned is mine?
Actually very little is left in my own pocket.
Do you know how many people in higher places
are waiting to collect money?
Higher places?
Yes.
County, city, prefecture and province-level officials.
You need to make sure everyone is happy.
As for the officials of the central government,
six ministries
are waiting for our money.
And those are not all.
Not all?
Some place higher.
Above everyone.
His Majesty.
Everything is his.
Mr. Ma!
No, no, no.
I didn't mean anything else.
I have no other intentions.
Long live His Majesty.
I was taken aback.
Why do you sigh?
Your Excellency.
All these things I did
and all the money I earned
are just for my children.
Oh yes.
Among the parade today
was your eldest son, right?
Yes.
That was indeed my unfilial son Yuancong.
I sigh whenever I mention this child.
Such a good-for-nothing.
Mr. Ma,
why do you have to worry?
You have so many children.
There must be someone else who can make you proud.
Your Excellency.
You have no children now.
You will understand when you have children.
Anything else?
I can't remember it.
Really?
Really.
Here is a crossroad.
To the north is Wanhai Restaurant.
To the south is Feng's Bank.
To the east is Guihe Jujube Cake Shop.
To the west is Rongxing Silk Store.
This intersection is a two-way carriage lane.
Give it to me.
Dong,
give me an Ice-top.
What's this?
Yunhe's map.
So detailed.
Why is it cold water?
Didn't you order Ice-top?
Of course it's cold water.
These are the routes Ma Lin took you to see the city.
He followed this route for the first time
and this one the second time.
Every time he deliberately bypassed two places.
So he only let you see
what he wants you to see.
These two places are probably just silver mines and the slum.
Nothing serious.
Maybe you need to sober up
before we talk about this.
I'm not drunk.
Don't forget the purpose why you came here this time.
I didn't forget.
I come this time
to be an official.
And that's what I am doing right now.
He's here for you.
Go on.
Dora, Do…
Your Excellency Tang,
Your Excellency Tang!
I've been looking for you for a long time.
What happened?
Something happened in our mansion.
My master told me to find you quickly.
Let's go.
Mr. Ma.
What's going on?
Yuancong was kidnapped.
We'll have lookouts here,
here and here
enclosed in three layers.
Also here,
here, here, and here
must be under strict surveillance.
Your Excellency.
I'm a little worried…
Will it cause any trouble
if you two go give the ransom together?
The letter is very clear that
only one person is allowed to send the ransom.
If they see two people…
Because
I only care if Yuancong
can come back safely.
I don't care how much money you spend.
I just hope that my son will be rescued safely.
Mr. Ma.
One person alone can't carry
a heavy box loaded with silver.
And this matter is not just about money.
This happened when I just took office.
This is clearly a provocation to the government.
I need to have a positive outcome for this case.
Master,
the money is ready.
Give them the money no matter how much they ask!
When, where,
route, amount of the ransom,
bacon…Bacon?
Why bacon?
Your Excellency Tang.
Who cares why they need it?
Right?
We have plenty of bacon ready.
Just bring it to them.
I just hope that Yuancong can come back safely.
Why is there no one in this place?
I don't know.
You didn't clear up the place, right?
No.
I think we were fooled.
Whose dog is this?
Come here.
[Follow the dog]
These kidnappers are tough to deal with.
Let's go.
What should we do now?
Throw the silver.
We need to see Yuancong first.
You throw down the silver first.
And then I will let you see him.
Without seeing him,
we won't throw the money.
Show them.
I will kill him if you don't give me the money now.
What are you doing?
Give it to him.
Throw it into the water.
The boat is flooded! The boat is flooded!
Officer, please have mercy!
I didn't kidnap Young Master Ma.
I just want to take the opportunity to get some money.
Take these four people back.
Fish the box of silver up.
Spare my life!
Something happened!
Yuancong!
Separate them.
I'm afraid someone might die if they keep fighting.
All of you, go to separate those two groups.
What are you hesitating about?
Your Excellency.
These are
Master Ma's henchmen.
I am afraid
in case we hurt them…
You guys listen to me clearly.
Look at the outfit you're wearing!
You took the salary and pension of the royal court,
not the Ma family!
Whoever doesn't obey my order
immediately takes his uniform off!
Let's go!
Where are you?
Move! Stop fighting.
Yuancong!
Let go!
Stop fighting.
Stop!
Your Excellency Tang.
Mr. Ma,
didn't we agree you can't act rashly?
What are you doing now?
After you left,
a lot of letters asking for ransom were thrown into my house.
Everyone said they would kill Yuancong if they didn't get the money.
I know.
We just met some fake kidnappers.
That's why you can't bring people out to fight the fake kidnappers.
The reason why I brought people out
was because I'm sure
among these kidnapping letters,
a letter is true.
Because my son is in their hands.
How can you be sure?
The letter
was written by my son Yuancong.
He must be forced by them to write it!
Your Excellency.
Yuancong has always been a very kind child since childhood.
He never gets involved
in any insidious and nasty schemes.
He never bullies others
just because we have a little bit money.
Never!
If they're angry at me, take it out on me!
Why kidnapping my child?
Right?
Mr. Ma,
don't panic.
Please show me the letter first.
I am familiar with Yuancong's handwriting.
As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a letter written by him.
Look.
Right at the first sentence they asked me to release them.
And they won't release Yuancong
until all the silver workers in the protest parade are released.
They didn't mention money at all.
What does it mean?
This means that these silver workers
forced Yuancong to write this letter!
Right?
If this is the kidnappers' purpose,
it must be the silver workers who kidnapped him.
Listen to me.
Don't act rashly.
You might endanger
Yuancong 's safety with a wrong move.
How about this?
Trust me.
I will bring Yuancong back.
Your Excellency Tang.
I am willing to pay everything
as long as you can save my son.
From beginning to end
this letter is written evenly and calmly.
The ink's density is uniform.
Obviously the ink bar was ground carefully before he dipped his pen.
This is expensive ancient Xuanzhou rice paper.
Most people can't afford it.
There are 174 characters here
with almost the same size.
You're amazing!
So Ma Yuancong wrote the letter
with plenty of time
and a calm mindset.
Look at the content.
There are four paragraphs
where four points were mentioned.
Release the workers, shut down the mines,
return mines to farmlands, and pay the workers' wages.
But he did not mention releasing him or ransom.
The letter didn't mention how to release him.
Such a clear idea
doesn't look like
something an 18-year-old boy can come up with.
Your Excellency.
I sent someone to Ma Yuancong's study
and brought some of the rice paper he usually uses.
This is exactly the same
with the letter.
What do you think?
I think
Ma Yuancong
wrote the letter in his study.
This is not kidnapping at all.
It's Ma Yuancong's own idea to put on a play
trying to save the silver workers.
What is he now?
Ma Yuancong's statement…
I seem to have heard of it somewhere.
How about this time?
Why does it still taste wrong?
Did you cook it the same old way we used?
That's right.
Same old ingredients and recipe.
But
why doesn't it taste like what we have on the prairie?
You didn't cook it right.
The smell of mutton here
is much stronger than lamb on your prairie.
So the previous method will definitely not work
if you're using the same old way to cook the mutton soup.
Dora.
Do…
I'm going to be on
a very dangerous mission.
This may be the last time I saw you guys.
It doesn't matter if I'm gone forever.
But that your mutton soup doesn't taste right
is what matters.
Mr. Wan.
This new official uniform
makes you look a lot younger.
My good brother.
Your new official uniform to me will pay back soon.
I…
Come here.
My brother,
look at this.
I am telling you,
the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel,
wrote a memorial together to accuse you of making a false claim of the soldiers' salary so that you can get a kickback.
But luckily
all the memorials will be reviewed by me first.
So I withheld the document temporally.
Brother,
do you know anything about this?
Brother,
Chen Yue lied to you this time.
I've checked
the details of Liaodong armaments.
This Chen Yue had fiddled military pay by twenty thousand taels of silver.
Why did the Ministry of War withhold Liaodong's soldiers' salary and pension?
They found out about his embezzlement from fiddling the soldiers' headcount.
If His Majesty knows this,
even if you're not punished for the time being,
in the future you will find it harder to gain his trust.
Your Excellency,
what are you going to do with this memorial?
Me?
I…
I can buy some time for you by withholding it.
But
listen to your brother's advice.
Your top priority right now
is to plug the deficit with money as soon as possible.
As long as you balance the books so that the numbers are matched,
you won't be in big trouble.