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The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty
Episode 5
Why me?
After all, knife is your tool to make a living.
You've been through many bloody events.
If it is a must, you do it.
I'm a doctor
to cure people and save lives.
I won't
take life.
Lower your voice.
It may hear it.
If so,
those words will haunt it.
Fine,
I'll do it.
Is it possible that Han Zao wasn't poisoned?
Not at all.
He must be poisoned.
How to prove that?
How to identify the poison?
At present,
we can only tell the poison from
the body's external features.
Let me out.
Let me, let me out.
Let me out. Let me out.
Please.
Let us out.
Let me out.
Please.
Let me out.
I'm willing to say everything.
[Be loyal and righteous]
Zongqi Sui,
wrong,
Baihu Sui,
I haven't congratulated on your promotion.
Didn't expect your visit today.
Commander Wang,
Western Depot 's interrogation has
driven those people mad.
How can you find leads?
Not that acute.
We just pricked them with needles and didn't allow them to sleep.
Do you have any findings?
You have your method.
I have mine.
Not until the end can we know
whose method is effective.
But such torture
is of no help in finding leads.
Sometimes,
finding no lead is also a lead.
Your Excellency!
-Dong -Your Excellency!
I beg you to save me.
Get up first. What's the matter?
Master came back with his second wife
and said they would sell family property
and move to the south.
His second wife also said
it was no use to have so many family servants.
We will be dismissed.
But my contract deprives me of being redeemed.
They will sell me.
Please save me, Your Excellency!
Don't panic.
I'm to ask if I can buy you.
Your Excellency!
Go back first
and wait for my news.
Your Excellency.
Just go back.
What brought Your Excellency here at night?
I came to confirm
if you plan to dismiss your family servants?
Yes. So what?
If it is true,
I wonder whether you can sell Dong to me.
Dong?
You can buy her.
50 taels of silver.
50 taels of silver?
I spent 5 taels of silver
buying her
and gave her free food all these years.
Is 50 taels of silver
too much?
Okay.
Deal.
Please give me some time. I'll come again
after preparing enough money.
See you.
[The house has been mortgaged. Please move away in three days.]
Kicked out?
What are you here?
Why don't they let you stay?
Dong's master next door will move to the south with her family.
So I was kicked out.
What do you come for?
I still have no idea about Han Zao's case.
So I want to discuss with you.
Your Excellency,
I'm suffering a hard time now.
Your things are not that urgent.
After all, I'm a lower 6th rank magistrate
but I was kicked out by other people.
I must find a place as soon as possible.
Or I have to sleep on streets.
It isn't hard to find a house, is it?
Do you know how expensive houses in the capital are?
No idea.
Where do Your Excellency live?
How is the residential environment there? Is your house expensive?
Near Chongbeifang.
The residential environment is acceptable.
Chongbeifang?
That's a prime area!
You live with your parents, right?
Is your house big?
I live alone.
I bought that house years ago.
It's a three-entrance building. Not bad.
Your Excellency,
have you had breakfast?
Soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks of this store
are the best in this block.
Have a try before they get cold.
Han Zao's case...
I have some ideas
about Han Zao's case.
What ideas?
But I'm with a poor memory these days.
In terms of the reward of
Marquis Wu'an's case days ago,
I can't remember whether I've taken
the 50 taels of silver or not.
With nothing but bare walls, it is still my home.
Now, I and my sheep are about to be homeless.
With a poor memory
and nowhere to settle down,
I can't keep myself in peace.
If I'm not in peace,
I can't think of any lead.
If Your Excellency don't mind,
I have some available rooms.
I don't want to bother you.
Don't worry, Your Excellency.
I will sort the leads out
and tell you after I
find a place to dwell.
It's not possible for you to find a place in a short time.
Plus, the Li family pushes you so hard.
Just move to my place.
Settle yourself down to handle the case.
Okay. I'll listen to you.
Cheers.
You live in such a big house, alone?
I'm not used to living with parents.
Being an imperial guard is not much of a good thing.
Getting in and out of my home in flying fish dress
will panic others,
so it's better to live alone.
I feel at ease now.
How can you not feel at ease
by living in such a big house?
The one in front of us is my room.
You can choose either of the west or the east wing-room.
I want this one.
It seems good. I love it.
The left room
can be my study.
It basks in sunlight.
I won't be cold in winter.
Here you are.
Can't you talk nicely?
Why are you so rude?
After all, I'm a tenant you invited.
Is this the Family Sui's way to treat guests?
Furthermore,
I won't live here for free.
I will pay for it.
I wanted to pay more.
But as you let me live in this wing-room,
I will pay you 1.2 taels each year.
You...
You didn't oppose. I'll take that as a yes.
I'll go to Shuntian Prefecture
and come back before dinner.
Stop!
Help me watch the things on the carriage
and ask people to carry them to my room.
-I ask... -By the way,
I haven't paid for the transport.
Please pay for me.
I'll give you the money when I pay for my rent at the end of this year.
Your Excellency,
why did you come this late?
I relocated today
and it took some time.
What? His Excellency asked about me?
No. No.
No.
What happened?
Those two Oirats came again.
They are making a scene at the gate.
His Excellency hasn't come yet.
I don't know what to do.
Fortunately, you came.
I get relieved now.
Aha,
that man came.
Give my cloak back!
Return her cloak!
Though I was drunk,
I knew everything.
I remember them clearly!
You were furtive at the alley.
You are indeed a thief!
Listen, rascal,
though Ha was drunk,
she remembers everything
you did that night!
You thought I fell asleep
so I knew nothing, right?
I actually woke up several times.
Ha remembers everything that happened
when you slept with her.
When did I sleep with you?
Don't slander me!
I didn't expect you stole my cloak.
You not only stole it but also tore it!
I'm fuming!
You rascal not only slept with Ha
but also tore her clothing.
Ha is really angry.
He even tore her clothing.
I see.
The official appears to be dressy.
In fact, he has damaged that girl.
I can tell
it is a love debt.
What love debt?
Stop talking nonsense.
Or I'll sue you for slander.
Give my cloak back!
I...
My chopsticks!
You thief official!
Why did they give your thing back
but still not return mine?
If you don't return my cloak today, I won't let you go!
Listen,
if you don't return her cloak, your chopsticks will be broken off.
Return my chopsticks first.
Return my cloak.
Return my chopsticks first.
Cloak.
Fine. 5 days.
I'll return your cloak within 5 days.
1 day.
4 days.
2 days.
3 days.
This is my bottom line.
They don't keep their word.
Since you don't keep your word,
I'll take this away.
You can exchange my cloak for them after 3 days.
Rascal,
you can exchange her cloak for chopsticks after 3 days.
Go back! Go back!
No more funny things to see.
Get lost!
Let's go. Let's go.
Madam, how can you break your promise?
You agreed to sell her to me for 50 taels.
How can you sell her to Huanyi Brothel?
I did promise you.
Then you said you went back to raise money.
I waited for 2 days
but you still didn't come.
Then Huanyi Brothel gave me the money.
First come, first served.
See you, Mr. Yang.
Take care!
Hong will wait for you tomorrow.
Your Excellency,
I did spend 50 taels buying her.
But rouge, powder,
room and bedding also need money.
What I do is business.
Actually, I do this for your sake.
For my sake?
You don't know,
though that girl looks small,
she is gluttonous.
Her gluttony is immaterial
as Huanyi Brothel is wealthy enough
to afford it.
But think about this.
Since she is gluttonous,
she will be as fat as a pig within less than half a month.
How can any guest be fond of her?
You won't be able to sell her then.
And she eats so much every day.
You will be wasting money.
Only spoiled children
are gluttonous.
As long as she stays here for a few days,
I'm sure she will behave herself after our instruction.
It's my well-intentioned advice.
Hope you can think it over.
Your Excellency, you misunderstood.
I didn't refuse to sell her.
Well, I'll tell you my bottom line.
Don't tell anyone else.
Okay.
200 taels of silver.
200 taels of silver?
It's the special price only for Your Excellency.
If other people ask me,
at least 300 taels.
You are charging an exorbitant price.
200 taels of silver is an exorbitant price?
There are numerous people willing to pay the money.
Look at Mr. Huang downstairs.
You are to sell Dong's virginity?
How can it be possible?
Only when she is familiar to guests
and has more admirers
can I sell her at a higher price.
Your Excellency,
take care!
What are these?
White radishes.
They must be cooked in order to take effect.
What's this?
Noodle and rice soup with cabbage and egg.
It's my creation.
I cooked soup first,
then added egg white and cabbage to noodles.
Finally I put rice in it.
Would you like to try?
How about it?
Is this food?
So disgusting!
I put my heart and soul into cooking it.
Why don't you eat it?
I don't have an appetite.
I don't care. You must eat it.
I put my whole efforts into cooking it.
Don't cook anymore, okay?
Be frank.
What's up?
Guangchuan,
you are handsome,
have a successful career and get promotion in a row.
I think what you need is
a person in charge of housekeeping.
What do you want to say?
I know a person perfect for this.
Do you remember Dong?
Since Mr. Li planned to move to the south with his family,
his second wife decided to dismiss family servants.
I planned to buy Dong
but the second concubine broke promise
and sold Dong to Huanyi Brothel.
I went there to talk with the procuress.
But that woman deliberately created difficulties for me.
I can find no way out
but to come back and ask you for help.
I thought it would be a big issue.
So you agree?
Great!
Then what's for dinner?
Sir, let's go upstairs and play.
I knew that.
Magpies have
chirped
all this morning.
My eyelids
keep twitching.
It's because of you, my distinguished guests.
Girls, what are you waiting for?
Come and greet the guests!
Why are you still standing there?
Sir, if you have any request, just tell me.
Imperial guards team up with Water and Fire Association
to check fire safety equipment in Huanyi Brothel.
Tell your guest to go out.
Sir,
if we offended any dignitary,
please tell me.
I'll pay attention to that.
If you continue to check my brothel,
I won't be able to do business.
That's none of my business.
From today on,
we will have a thorough check on
your anti-fire and anti-theft facilities
as well as identity of every visitor.
Sir,
I beg for your mercy.
Please tell me,
which dignitary did I offend?
Your brothel has an acute problem
in fire prevention.
First,
water vats at front yard and backyard are not filled with water for emergencies.
Second,
look,
lamps here lack anti-fire rings.
Third,
you spent 50 taels buying a girl
from the Li Mansion.
Now I'd also like to spend the same amount buying her.
Sir,
that's your point.
You freaked me out.
That girl,
not to say selling her,
I can give her to you for free.
I'm to fetch Dong's contract.
Come back. Come back.
I won 't take her for free.
50 taels.
I will pay you the full price.
Why are you still standing there?
Fill the water vats.
Guangchuan, are you a neat freak?
Why does it take so long?
Is it a matter of neat freak?
Do you know how dirty the kitchen is
after you used it?
Well, do it quickly.
I'm hungry.
Your Excellency!
-Your Excellency! -Dong!
Dong!
It's good to see you come back,
Dong.
It's good to see you come back.
Your Excellency.
Who is this ugly girl?
Go inside and wash yourself.
Thank you, Guangchuan.
The kitchen was ruined by Tang Fan.
There are only a few ingredients left.
Please put up with the noodles.
Yummy.
Delicious.
It's marvellous.
What are you doing?
So tasty.
It's like the noodles cooked by my mother.
So tasty.
I will never forget
Your Excellencies' kindness to me.
I'm indebted forever.
Stand up.
Don't call me Your Excellency.
Call me brother.
Brother Sui.
Brother Tang.
Brother.
When did you come?
The temperature is moderate.
Do you want to have a try as well?
Why do you go away?
Is this Your Excellency Sui's house?
Here is your arhat bed.
We put it here, Your Excellency.
Please pay the bill.
It's 3 taels of silver in total.
I never ordered any arhat bed
3 taels of silver?
Get out!
Don't yell.
I ordered it for you.
You carried all my things out
and messed them up.
What if I can't find things when I need them?
Guangchuan, what you said doesn't make sense.
We will reorganize them after drying them.
How can you not find things you want?
Where is my identification,
document
and capital deployment map?
Where are they?
Your identification is in the second drawer
of the counter in your study.
Document is the paper
you brought back yesterday, right?
It's at the rightmost edge of the penultimate tier
of the hollowed-out shelf in your study.
What is capital deployment map?
A book with illustrations.
There are a few on the
small tea table near the window of your bedroom.
There are illustrations in them.
You put them there?
I saw them when Tang turned them over.
What do you fume over
in this hot weather?
Everything you want is here.
If you regret letting us stay here,
you can tell me directly.
You needn't speak in a surly way.
In a surly way?
I speak in a surly way?
Dong,
pack things up. We'll leave here.
Baihu Sui hates to see us.
We don't have to stay here
to ask for a snub.
But do we have anywhere else to go?
Being homeless is better than staying here.
I even read Han Zao's case file
till this morning.
I planned to discuss with him.
But my goodwill is distorted.
What did you say?
My goodwill is distorted.
I'm asking about breakthroughs of Han Zao's case.
Not any.
If any, my anger to you has pushed it out of my mind.
Take them down.
Enjoy yourself.
Have you thought of anything about Han Zao's case?
Yes.
I want to go to the imperial palace.
To find leads,
I must go to the imperial palace.
This is the imperial kitchen
which is in charge of food in the palace.
Now we are passing by His Highness the prince's chamber, Ciqing Palace.
Turning right from here,
you can see Her Majesty Zhou's Ningshou Palace.
This is Her Highness's Anxi Palace.
In front of us is Wenhua Hall.
It is the last place Han Zao stayed before
he died suddenly on the way back home.
Well,
do you have any findings?
Not any.
Actually, I came here
in order to see His Highness.
What?
His Highness is the last person
Han Zao stayed with before he died.
Only by meeting His Highness
can we know what on earth happened that day.
It's an extraordinary request.
It's more than extraordinary.
I'm asking for the moon.
But I know you can make it.
Long live Your Majesty.
Baihu Sui Zhou of Imperial Guards asked outside to see you.
Let him in.
Yes.
Your Majesty.
Stand up.
Have a seat.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Zhou,
you haven't been here for some time.
There is a lot of work to do at the Northern Administrative Court
I must be diligent.
I heard you were promoted to Baihu days ago.
You are a 6th rank official now?
Yes.
Do your best.
Be the best you can be.
Yes, Your Majesty.
How is your mother doing?
She is fine.
But she is concerned about Your Majesty.
It's been a long time
since she came to see me last time.
I stay alone in the palace.
There is no one who can talk with me.
I will tell my mother to come
and keep you company when she is available.
Okay.
Fine.
Your Majesty,
actually, I came here today
to ask for your help with an issue.
What is it?
It is the case of His Highness's studying companion assigned to the Imperial Guards.
It's complicated and hard to get new findings.
Almost half a month has passed,
I've just found few leads.
I disappoint His Majesty.
This case involves the imperial palace.
It's a serious matter.
His Majesty cares much about it as well.
What can I do for you?
Do Your Majesty remember Tang Fan
who was praised
by His Majesty for his talent
at the palace examination three years ago?
Yes.
The person chosen by His Majesty.
Now he is a magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture.
Being acute and resourceful, he has cracked many weird cases.
I took him to the palace today
to ask His Highness about
the situation that happened that day.
It may be helpful to the case.
Where is His Highness?
Your Majesty,
His Highness is practising archery at the drill ground.
Let's go to
meet His Highness there.
Archery is boring.
Wooden sword is more interesting.
Your Highness,
it's not right to say so.
If we were at war now,
our victory would still count on horseback archery.
Oirat has outstanding cavalry and horses.
Almost every soldier
can hit the target on a fast horse.
Facing such enemies,
we must master horseback archery.
Your Highness will reign the country
and be a supreme commander of the army.
Horseback archery must not be undervalued
I see.
You have progressed a lot in archery.
Your Majesty.
Grandmother.
Your Highness.
Grandmother, do you think my archery is improved?
Yes.
Treat.
No. 1 Scholar candy!
You are glowing.
Have a rest now.
Baihu Sui.
Yes.
His Highness is having a rest now.
What do you want to ask?
Your Majesty,
it's about Han Zao's case.
I want to know if
Your Highness remembers what happened that day
Cheng,
do you want to talk about
Han Zao's case with them?
Grandmother,
I'm willing to.
I want to do something for Zao
by helping to find the murderer.
Good boy.
I'm Tang Fan, lower 6th rank magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture.
Your Majesty.
Your Highness.
You can ask whatever
you want to ask.
Yes.
Your Highness,
could you detail what happened that day for me?
Your Highness,
a magistrate brought by Her Majesty
is asking His Highness questions.
Magistrate?
I remember the lesson
for that day was to
read Historical Records of the Later Qin Dynasty which is the 3rd chapter
of Abridged Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government.
We had a break between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m..
Your Highness,
it's time to have a break.
At the same time, maids served mung bean soup to us
and said it was sent by Her Highness.
We were thirsty after reading
so we felt happy about that.
But,
but when I was about to drink,
Liu Xiang said the decoction I had had those days
wasn't compatible with mung beans.
Your Highness,
the decoction you've had these days
isn't compatible with mung beans.
It's better not to have the soup.
Is it...
Give mine to Zao.
Your Highness,
the reason why you didn't drink the soup
is because of the medicine?
Yes.
At the time...
Yes.
His Highness had a cold days ago
and had inflammation in stomach and bowels.
The Imperial Hospital prescribed torreya seed tea.
His Highness has been drinking it till now.
I see.
Your Highness, please go on.
I couldn't drink it.
So I let Zao have both bowls of soup.
He didn't seem different after drinking it.
We then read for another 2 hours before he left.
Thank you, Your Highness.
I'm clear about what happened that day.
Her Highness!
Your Majesty.
Get up.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Highness.
Get up, Your Highness.
You all can get up.
I heard a magistrate came here.
Where is that person?
I'm Tang Fan, lower 6th rank magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture.
Your Highness.
Are people from Shuntian Prefecture
able to enter the imperial palace at their will now?
This is a forbidden place
but didn't block a person like him.
I think some time later,
loiterers can also enter here at their will.
Your Highness,
His Excellency Tang was brought to the palace by me.
I was appointed to investigate the case of His Highness's studying companion.
Though His Excellency Tang is Shuntian Prefecture's magistrate,
he was asked by the Northern Administrative Court
to assist with the case.
You are using His Majesty to press me.
I do not dare.
The reason why His Majesty gave this case to the Imperial Guards
is because their commander
Wan Tong is your brother.
He did this
to get you relieved.
Do you have any worries?
You misunderstood, Your Majesty.
I have nothing to worry about.
But Sui Zhou is from your family.
His Majesty made such arrangement
also to get you relieved.
Chen Fulin is from a poor family.
In the eighth year of the Chenghua reign,
he became an eunuch and came to the palace.
He was transferred to 5 government offices in 6 years.
In addition,
he has a twin brother.
Before the new year,
his parents took his brother to outer city Chongnanfang
and opened a Tofu pudding store there.
Though the business isn't good enough,
it offers them a dwelling in the capital.
Do we need to bring every related person here
for interrogation?
His Majesty just scolded me
and told me not to cause troubles in the imperial harem.
He came to 5 government offices in 6 years.
If we do interrogate every related person,
half of the imperial palace will be involved.
I'm stupid.
Send people to monitor
Chen Fulin's family first.
Yes.
Commander,
Her Majesty brought Baihu Sui
and a magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture
to ask His Highness
about Han Zao's case.
Her Highness went there after hearing about it.
Now they are in a deadlock at the drill ground.
Prepare the carriage.
I'll go to the imperial study.
Not drill ground?
Do you think Her Majesty and Her Highness,
will listen to
anyone else besides His Majesty?
What do you mean by saying that, Your Majesty?
The same question to you.
Obviously, Your Majesty suspects me.
It's me who ordered maids to send the mung bean soup.
Since it was sent by me,
how could I put poison in it?
How could I shoot myself in the foot?
His Majesty!
Mother.
Your Majesty.
Father.
Long live Your Majesty.
Get up.
Why are you all here today?
Her Majesty brought a magistrate.
I was worried about that.
So I came to check it out.
Magistrate?
Mother,
what magistrate?
The magistrate from Shuntian Prefecture.
There he is.
Your Majesty,
I'm Tang Fan, lower 6th rank magistrate
of Shuntian Prefecture.
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