[English subtitles are available.]
The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty
Episode 11
Look!
Look at that!
That one is so pretty!
Look!
So pretty!
Look how high that one goes up!
Look!
Look at that one.
Where is Xiaobao?
He's missing!
Xiaobao was here a while ago!
Xiaobao! Did you see my boy Xiaobao?
He's about this tall. Xiaobao!
Have you seen a boy about this tall?
Xiaobao, where are you?
Have you seen my child?
The whole department is risking their lives doing their job.
But in the end you took all the credit.
Congratulations, Baihu Sui.
You're moving quickly up the ladder.
It seems that our
Northern Administrative Court is too small
for a talent like you.
This time Xue Ling
had gone too far.
He left the post without permission,
and stole an official boat.
He must be punished heavily.
Everyone must toe the line in our Imperial Guards,
and he is of course no exception.
He got some bad influences from his superior.
According to the law,
his punishment can be flexible from dismissal
up to,
you know,
being exiled to 250km away.
Your Excellency.
The Ji'an case was solved because of your command
and wise decision making.
I just followed the instructions of Your Excellency.
I shall not take the credit.
I will give a detailed report
of this case in these two days
so that people will know the credit should be Your Excellency's.
Xue Ling is a first offender this time.
I will let him pass.
My colleagues, listen well
and learn a lesson from it.
Behave properly.
I have a new case for you.
Kidnapping?
Isn't it Shuntian Prefecture's job?
Open your eyes to see
whose child was abducted!
Wang, the Assistant Minister of Ministry of Personnel?
That's right!
They control officials' promotion appointment.
I don't need to say anymore.
This is a juicy job.
Baihu Sui, if you solve it beautifully,
we can be showered in glory.
For those losers of Shuntian Prefecture,
even if they are given the case,
they won't be able to pull it off.
Yes, sir.
Dismiss.
What is this?
This is our cash cow.
Even if you are short of cash,
you can't practice fraud.
Do you know what this is?
In the second year of the Jianyuan reign of Han Dynasty,
Emperor Wu sent envoy Zhang Qian to the Western Regions.
During Zhang Qian's two trips as envoy abroad,
which he passed through Usun, Tayuen, Shendu, and Parthia,
he brought back Ferghana Horses,
grape, pomegranate, and sesame.
This is another thing brought back
by Zhang Qian.
Wolf Peach.
Wolf Peach?
Look at it.
This Wolf Peach is beautiful in shape and vibrant in color.
It smells sweet,
and presents a strange orange-red color.
People say
it's very toxic.
How do you want to make money out of this poisonous thing?
By chance
I got some Wolf Peach seeds.
After I went home
I kept wondering how I could
make some very toxic poison with it.
What do you want?
No, just hear me out.
This thing
grew very fast.
Before I realized it,
they had covered a large area of my backyard.
I didn't pay too much attention.
But then didn't you entrust me with your sheep?
It liked to eat them.
I watched it eating them for days…
Stop!
Such a cute little sheep.
It's so sad!
The sadder part it
this sheep was poisonous, too, right?
I guess we can't eat the meat?
Unfortunately,
your sheep is fine.
Did you do experiments with my sheep?
What's wrong doing experiments with your sheep?
It lives with me
and I didn't get paid from you!
It has to be valuable in another way.
It shits so much every day…
Try one.
It's delicious!
Sweet and sour at the same time.
It has a very special taste.
Is this Wolf Peach you're studying harmless to human body?
I have never tried any.
But it should be fine.
You are not afraid that it might kill me?
Don't be so cynical.
I have prepared the possible toxicide for you.
Be a pioneer in its study!
Even if you die,
you will get your share of profit after death!
-You… -You and I are best buddies!
Let's not discuss this!
Look at it.
It tastes good and is easy to plant.
We're getting rich!
Now that you put it like this,
it seems to make sense.
I know, right?
But the name Wolf Peach sounds too aggressive.
Ok. What do you want to name it?
I wonder what it tastes like
to cook as a dish.
As for the name…
Its round shape looks like
an eggplant.
It's something from the Western Regions.
Maybe we can call it
tomato, which means Western Eggplant.
I like it.
Tomato.
Wait for my good news.
Take a look.
In the west,
I mean even
further west
to the Western Regions,
doctors there
call their study of birth, senility, illness and death "medicine".
The science of this book is called "anatomy".
They say it's important to understand the structure of our body first
before we make diagnosis and treatments.
This looks like
some sort of heterodoxy martial arts manual.
Tang Fan.
You have to help me with this.
How?
I want to practice what's written in the book.
So I need newly dead corpses to practice anatomy.
Don't you Shuntian Prefecture often
have unknown bodies that no one claims?
I asked Sun about this.
He said he needs permission from his superior.
I figured
it's unnecessary to
bother Governor Pan with this little thing.
Anyway, you are also a 6th rank official.
First of all,
I'm a lower 6th rank official.
I'm still half a rank away.
Secondly,
I don't want to help you with
this wicked thing.
So just go to Governor Pan to
try your luck.
How can you say it's wicked?
The world of medicine is so profound.
We have to keep exploring
to make continuous progress.
You have really improved a lot recently.
You even figured out
whether the Wolf Peach is poisonous or not.
But this thing is tricky for me.
A few days ago I went to Ji'an without asking permission.
Governor Pan
is really angry with me.
He
wishes he could beat me up to vent his anger.
I don't want to
ask for a snub.
So I can't help you.
But
this tomato is really delicious.
I wish it poisoned you!
You came to see me only after
more than ten days you were back from your business trip.
You didn't miss me at all.
I have nothing in my heart
but His Majesty and Your Highness.
But I was delayed by some chores.
Please don't be mad at me.
You were ordered to go to Liaodong
but the souvenirs you brought back are candied fruits from Jiangxi.
You knew I will not punish you
so you didn't even bother to cover up.
Your Highness is joking.
That's because I never tried to cover up anything.
You can punish me
as long as that makes you happy.
How smooth-talking.
You're going to see His Majesty next, right?
Yes.
His Majesty
is very angry by the kidnapping case of the son of
the assistant minister of Ministry of Personnel.
Every law enforcement division has been scolded by him.
You have to be careful.
Yes.
Thank you for Your Highness's reminding.
Sir.
Are you alright?
Did they give you a hard time?
Did they torture you?
Worse than being tortured.
They forced me to write a confession.
You know writing stuff is my biggest weakness.
They said they got orders from their superior to
teach me a lesson.
As a Xiaoqi of the Imperial Guards, I had never been afraid of anything.
But they didn't beat me or insult me.
They just told me to write my own confession,
over and over again.
I had to rewrite it if there was an error.
I think I wrote the share of my whole life.
Here you are.
Sir,
so many words again!
Child's kidnapping case.
Isn't this kind of case under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture?
The only son of the Assistant Minister of Ministry of Personnel went missing.
His family has served three emperors.
It's said that three people in the family worried sick.
His Majesty is in a fury.
So many children are lost
and never found every year.
Now everyone gets panic because
a child of an Assistant Minister went missing.
I'm hungry.
Let's go.
Sir.
What are these?
The two of you, eat some tofu.
Why do we have to eat tofu?
Was it fun in jail?
No.
That's the point.
Eating tofu after being released
means you two will live an innocent life.
Do you know what tofu is made of?
Soybean.
Can the soy beans made into tofu
convert back to soybeans again?
Of course not.
So that means you will never commit a crime again.
You are not going back,
and you will become a different person!
We both went to jail because we were investigating a case.
Still.
How are we supposed to eat these insipid tofu?
Maybe add some salt?
This stingy man is finally generous for once.
He bought all the tofu at the tofu stall.
There is still a lot at the back.
Don't waste food.
Ms. Dong.
Can I use your kitchen?
Sure.
In fact,
my real name is not Ms. Dong.
Just call me by my name.
Qianxi.
There you go.
Let's dig in!
Thank you for your food!
This is the first time I try your cooking.
Let me see if you're any good.
Do you like it?
Now this is a proper tofu dish!
Don't tell me to eat boiled tofu with some salt.
Wuyun, just the right time.
Do you want to have some tofu?
I don't like tofu.
This bill is for you.
You want me to pay now?
Aha said she was not in a hurry.
But she already charged you interest.
Where is your Aha?
I want to talk to her.
She's been burying her in studying.
Why would she want to do that?
She's learning how to quarrel in Mandarin.
Bye.
It's quite challenging to do business now.
She even has to learn how to quarrel.
Tang.
She's learning Mandarin to quarrel with you.
You go pay her the money.
No, you go.
I don't have the money.
I'll give you money, but you will go to meet her.
You have to do it in person this time.
They helped you at a critical moment.
You have to thank her properly.
Okay, fine.
I need to go asking around about the kidnapping case.
Give the money
to her for me.
You are from a prestigious family!
How could you be so dishonest?
Why did he give me so much money?
Let's go.
Dora.
And this is the money for the traveling expenses I borrowed from you last time.
Sui Zhou was going to come
but he got caught in a last-minute-notice job.
He told me to say thank you
and Wuyun for you guys' help.
Tang, are you OK?
Why do you have that expression on your face?
You're not mad at Dora?
Why would I be mad at her?
And you don't want to seek revenge?
Why should I seek revenge?
There is nothing to seek revenge for.
Adults can be so strange sometimes.
Tang.
I want to eat candied fruit.
Sure!
I want to eat sweet tofu pudding!
Sure!
Bean cake.
Sure!
Why are you so generous today?
Because Sui Zhou is paying.
Sir!
Freshly picked grapes!
They're really fresh!
Sir!
My name is Little Loach.
Chizi asked me to greet you.
Why Little Loach?
Ever since I was a kid,
no one could catch me
as long as I didn't want them to.
I am like a slippery loach,
so everybody calls me Little Loach.
It looks like you are seven or eight years old.
I am eleven.
I just look young.
Sir.
Do you want to know about the children trafficking thing?
It's become a huge news on the streets.
Several kids heard a lot of different theories.
Your Excellency Wang.
Commander Wang. To what do I owe
the pleasure of this meeting?
Your Excellency Su.
Commander Wang. Thank you.
Can I ask
what the meeting is about?
Have you heard that
the son of Assistant Minister Jia went missing?
What do you mean?
Everyone in the royal court
knows you have always been at odds with him.
I beg to differ.
Me and that Jia…
If I were to fall out with Mouse Jia,
it would be that Old Fox Su got the profit.
Don't listen to his bullshit!
Commander Wang, don't believe in
what that old bastard said.
If both Wang and Jia were demoted,
the biggest beneficiary
would be me. I don't deny it.
But even so
I am not that kind of person who spreads rumor and gossip!
Unless someone powerful got their back,
people who normally involve in such dirty things
would ever have dared to kidnap high ranking official's child.
Sir.
What should we do now?
We can only use the stupid method of Tang Fan.
Go asking door to door to
see if there are any witnesses.
You go that way.
OK.
Have you heard of any children missing
in the past few days?
No.
Have you noticed anyone suspicious?
No.
Have you noticed anyone suspicious?
No.
Excuse me. Is there any children missing case recently?
No.
Yesterday a child went missing hereby.
Let's go.
Excuse me.
Sir.
Have you noticed anyone
suspicious nearby recently?
Sir.
I have been focusing on work here.
I never paid attention to anyone else.
This is just a routine inquiry.
You are not getting into trouble.
But if you know something and you don't tell us…
I shall not dare to do so!
Sir.
I once saw some people on the street
who looked like beggars.
But I
never saw them begging for money.
For several times
I saw them lead some children passing through here,
but disappeared
in a blink of an eye.
Maybe it was just some illusions I saw.
Anyway I didn't get a good look at him.
If you see this person again,
can you still recognize him?
I really didn't get a good look…
Yes, I will recognize him.
Sis?
Uncle Fan!
Cheng!
How come you guys come?
What?
We are not allowed to see you?
Of course you are!
Come on.
Sister Tang Yu!
Dong.
I just cooked some Eight Ingredient Porridge.
I'm going to get some for you.
Cheng, do you want to come with me?
I have osmanthus cakes.
Dong is taller than last time I saw her.
How are you?
Pretty good.
Sit down.
Sis.
What happened to your face?
I sat for too long
while doing the laundry one day.
So I lost balance when I stood up.
I fell and bumped my head on the door frame.
It's nothing serious.
Don't worry about me.
You should worry about yourself.
Why aren't you married yet?
Here it comes again.
I think Dong is a good girl.
She's smart and cute.
But she is
still a little girl now.
Not little at all!
Dong is five years older than Cheng.
As the saying goes,
"An older girlfriend gives you tender care like your mother".
You always joke your way out
whenever I mention you should get married.
Look at you.
You are twenty-two year old.
When your brother-in-law was in your age,
Cheng was already two years old.
When Cheng grows up, gets married and has children,
you will become an old bachelor.
When Cheng has children,
I'll be their great uncle.
Isn't that a good thing?
Cheng!
Tang!
Cheng!
Tang!
Cheng!
Do you know what kind of illness
insomnia is?
Insomnia is caused by mental issues
which oral medicine
won't work well.
But I know a good way
to treat insomnia.
Pei, help!
Hurry up!
What's the matter this time?
Cheng!
He ate the Wolf Peach,
I mean tomato!
Cheng!
Doctor Pei?
Sorry, let's do it another time.
Cheng, wake up!
Cheng!
It has nothing to do with tomatoes.
This is epilepsy.
Epilepsy?
Get out of the room.
Cheng, look at Mom!
Cheng, Cheng!
Let's go. He will handle it.
Cheng!
Let's go.
Don't worry.
Pei Huai's medical skills are superb.
Cheng will be fine.
Sis.
Don't hide it from me.
I know you well.
You wouldn't have come to see me without your husband
if nothing had happened.
What happened?
Cheng is ill.
He would act like that
in severe cases
with syncope and convulsion.
I said he was sick
and we needed to ask a doctor to see him.
But they refused to do so.
They said Cheng was possessed by a demon.
And they also said I was an ill-fated woman
to give birth to an abnormal child to their family.
Cheng got sick again a few days ago.
His grandma wanted to tie him up and feed him incense ashes.
But I refused and we got into a quarrel.
And…
He hit me.
I couldn't stand it anymore
so I brought Cheng to you.
He's in a stable condition now.
Fortunately, you sent him here in time.
Thank you, Doctor Pei, for saving him.
You're most welcome.
Who is this?
She's my sister.
Then you're even more welcome.
Tang Fan and I have been good friends for many years.
Moreover
saving people is our job
as a doctor.
Pei.
What's wrong with Cheng?
Epilepsy.
This is a congenital condition.
With current level of medicine,
there is no cure for it.
But we
can use treatments and rehabilitation
to stabilize and even relieve his conditions.
In the best scenario,
he will be basically the same as ordinary people.
So you two don't have to worry too much about him.
Pei.
I am counting on you.
I'll do my best.
Thank you, Doctor Pei.
Don't be afraid.
Why didn't you tell me the first time?
Sir.
That old beggar didn't do it!
He is a good man.
The child would have died from freezing
if it were not for him.
We were also afraid that he might get into trouble, so…
There's one more thing.
Two girls in our gang also disappeared a few days ago.
We are all in panic.
We have been looking for them these days.
That's why we didn't get you enough information on time.
Why are these people even targeting at little beggars now?
The missing children case hasn't been solved for quite some time.
So parents don't dare to
let their kids go outside the house.
No children can be seen on the street.
You need to tell me everything you know as soon as possible.
The rest is not your concern.
Do you understand?
Don't worry too much about it.
I'll get people to find the two girls.
Go to the back door of Huanyi Brothel.
There will be people giving you some winter clothes and food.
It's not safe out there these days.
Always stay in groups.
Watch out for yourself.
Understood.
Go.
Are these people
who you saw that day?
Your Excellency.
Not them.
Are you sure?
I am sure.
Take them away.
Sir!
We beggars
just struggle to survive,
trying to remain alive as longer as we can.
We can't even support ourselves,
so why would we kidnap other people's children?
We also hate those kidnappers.
They are evil!
They would cut the children's limbs and disfigure them!
Those cruel villains!
I found the boy by a water ditch that day.
He was injured.
He didn't wear any outerwear, and he was soaked wet
and looked like he was dying.
I knew it was those villains' evil doing!
I couldn't bear to watch him die there.
So I took him back to take care of him.
These people can testify for me!
So the kid's injury was not because of you?
God!
I would rather starve or freeze to death
than do such an outrageous tyranny.
You mentioned they would cut the children's limbs or disfigure them.
Yes.
Those villains
deserve to rot in hell!
They would break the kids'
limbs, disfigure them,
make them into ugly and scary monsters.
Then they earn money by showing them to people seeking novelty.
They force those disabled children
to beg for money on the street.
Anyway, they do all the evilest things!
Baihu Sui.
Congratulations.
You have done another great deed of merit again.
What I did was finding a missing child at best.
What's the big deal about it?
As long as the son of an assistant minister was found,
it is a big deal.
This case is closed.
But why are you looking somber?
This case
is not over.
Commander Wang, have you heard of how the missing children are physically hurt?
I have.
That's why we're having this conversation now.
Maybe we can take the Assistant Minister's son's thing as
an opportunity to eradicate all members of the serial abduction.
Alright.
Let's go.
Where are we going?
You don't have any clues, right?
I am taking you to find clues.
How did you know that I don't have any?
It's my secret.
They would cut the children's limbs or disfigure them?
They would be cut into pieces alive!
But then again,
you, from the Imperial Guards,
and you, from the Western Depot.
Your names can scare children into crying.
Why did you wait so long before investigating the matter?
Do you know
how many children have been hurt?
Say it!
Don't you feel ashamed?
As a matter of fact,
human trafficking cases should be Shutian Prefecture's job.
But
thanks to your incompetence,
Western Depot and the Imperial Guards
grabbed this opportunity to show people…
Stop!
I think
we need to analyze
what the old beggar said.
Based on what we have learned so far,
I think he was probably telling the truth.
When we found the boy,
he was
holding on to the old beggar very tightly.
If he ever hurt the boy,
the boy wouldn't be so attached to him.
That means
it was another group of people
who kidnapped the missing children.
What are you doing?
Go back and investigate the previous abductions over the years.
Bin.
Don't call my name!
You neglected your duty
and deceived both your superior and subordinates last time. I am not over with you!
You know?
I just scolded you a little.
Then you
hid in the house
and didn't come out for several days!
Do you still have any respect for me
as Governor of Shuntian Prefecture?
Bin.
I'm sorry.
You can hit me or scold me now.
I won't complain!
But I really need your help now.
I want to check the files of all missing children cases in recent years.
Didn't they find the son of the Assistant Minister?
Yes.
Then the case is closed!
Don't get into trouble again.
Ok?
Bin.
I'm trying to help you
to keep your post.
Keep my post?
It's Shuntian Prefecture's job to
solve missing children cases
which happen within the capital.
Now His Majesty's is furious
with the major kidnapping case that just happened.
If we keep pretending to be ignorant,
if our superior department wants to call to account,
we won't get away with it.
What do you mean is
we should take this opportunity
to find out all those who are still at large.
Then we will not only have an explanation to tell our bosses
but also do a great job in their eyes?
Wang!
Call everyone!
Examine
all the files again.
I'll trust you one more time.
Come in.
Your Majesty.
You may rise.
Did you find the child?
Your Majesty.
The child was brought back by the Imperial Guards.
He was wounded when they found him.
But all in all, he was found in time
and he is very likely to recover.
But the kid was in shock,
so he needs to be nursed back to health gradually.
The son of an imperial court official went missing
right in the territory of capital?
This is simply outrageous!
What did you find out?
Your Majesty.
The Eastern Depot is doing everything in our power to investigate.
But no result so far.
Your Majesty.
The Western Depot is going all-out pursuing the culprits.
We will not let them escape!
This matter must be thoroughly investigated.
Yes, Your Majesty.
These are all the files of missing children?
The case files of missing children in the past three years
are all in here.
So many of them?
I know.
So many files.
If we check it one by one,
it will take ages to finish them.
So annoying.
They found the Assistant Minister's son.
But who will look for
these children?
Magistrate Tang, what did you just say?
Put all the files
on the wall
and sort by times and places of the cases.
This is so impressive.
Why are you here?
You haven't been home for two days.
Sister Tang Yu told me to bring some
clothes and food to you.
Tang.
Are these…
That's not for children.
By the way,
how is Cheng?
Doctor Pei has been coming to our door
to give him acupuncture and decoction everyday recently.
I think Cheng has been a lot better.
Sister Tang Yu said she couldn't thank Doctor Pei enough.
Why does Pei come to my home every day?
And also
Sister Tang Yu let me tell you that
she will bring Cheng back to Tongzhou tomorrow.
So soon?
Tell her,
it's totally okay if she wants to stay a few more days.
But if she still wants to go back,
that's ok too.
It's just that there have been children kidnapping cases frequently.
Ask her to look out for Cheng.
When my current work is done,
I will go to Tongzhou to see them.
Tang,
there's something wrong with your classification.
And you too.
Never go out alone.
And don't go to remote places where there are few people.
Tang.
I am telling you about this wall.
Didn't I tell you not to watch?
This is not a matter for you kids to worry about.
Did you hear everything I just said?
Don't think little of kids.
You have a problem with this classification.
You just classify the files by
time, place, and missing children.
Then there will be a lot of paper that you can't classify.
So you have to add other conditions to reclassify,
so that we can put all the papers on the wall…
Alright, alright!
Don't disturb my work.
Go home
and let me finish my meal.
Didn't I let you go?
Wait!
Papers that cannot be put on the wall…
Can't you stay?
I don't want to part with Cheng.
When Tang Fan
comes to Tongzhou,
you're welcome to come, too.
The two of them are working outside every day.
I am so bored at home alone.
Just because they are always out,
you have to take care of this home.
You're doing a great job.
I can take care of them.
Is there anyone home?
I can't knock right now. Open the door.
Dr. Pei.
I heard you are returning to Tongzhou today.
I prepared some herbs for decoction for Cheng.
Should be enough for him to drink for a while.
He's just getting better now.
He must keep taking the decoction.
These are all I got now.
Take them.
I'll find another chance
to send some more to you after a while.
Dr. Pei.
Thanks to you this time.
I really don't know how to thank you enough.
Please accept my gratitude.
Get up, get up!
The pleasure is mine.
Don't be a stranger!
So that will be an extra piece of luggage for you.
So I found a carriage for you.
Go back by the carriage.
Let me see you off.
I'll put the herbs in the carriage first.
Are they back again?
Boil the kettle to prepare for tea.
I brought Guishun Store's snacks.
Why is osmanthus pastry so delicious?
I know.
I can never get enough of it.
Although you are not very likable,
you have good taste for snacks.
I feel sad to hear that.
Why are you at home alone?
Where are they?
Tang thought little of kids.
What kids?
I said that he had a problem with the classification.
He just didn't listen and said I am a kid.
What's wrong with kids?
Yeah!
What's wrong with kids?
I have a lot of jobs done by kids.
I know, right?
Brother Tang wanted to sort those pieces of paper.
But he had too few categories.
So many pieces of paper can't be classified.
What pieces of paper?
Are they
case files?
I think so.
He only sorted them by time,
location,
and so on.
So what do you have in mind?
I think he should add the environment,
what kind of people were around,
what shops were nearby on the street,
what the weather was like that day,
whether it was
a fair day that day.
So we can sort out all the pieces of paper and put them on the wall.
After that
we can get several overlapped locations.
These overlapped locations
must be where the bad guys have kept committing crimes.
I am in awe.
What does that mean?
Just a compliment of your brain.
Tang thought little of kids.
If we do it my way,
pretending to be an ordinary child and walking around at these locations,
we will meet the bad guys!
Do you remember those locations?
Of course I remember.
Terrific.
Then what we need now is a child as bait.