Timing and subtitles brought to you by ⚖ Defenders of the Law ⚖ Team @ Viki
["Water and Flame" by Shu Linzuo]
♫ The boundless world is pitch-dark as the night ♫
♫ Your appearance is like a lightning bolt that tore through the night ♫
♫ My birth is neither impure nor pure, neither born nor destroyed ♫
♫ Perseverance is in my heart behaving atrociously, who can comprehend? ♫
♫ The sharp sword that penetrates desire is stained with blood ♫
♫ The season tainted with the hypocrisy of the world is prosperous yet withering ♫
♫ Give me some time, I can change everything ♫
♫ The courageous moth can also extinguish a sea of flames ♫
♫ Sorrow and delight are interweaving with colors ♫
♫ Layers upon layers covered by a dense fog ♫
♫ Numerous obstacles cannot stop me ♫
♫ To uncover the truth ♫
♫ A region of burning fire and deep waters ♫
♫ Calm and blazing both existing ♫
♫ Who will indulge the wicked flames ♫
♫ To boil the deep sea ♫
♫ This is the era of survival of the fittest ♫
♫ Everything will be planned by oneself ♫
♫ Even if it is a proud and aloof predestination ♫
♫ Even if completely incompatible, I’m still here ♫
[🔎👁‍🗨The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty👁‍🗨🔍]
[Episode 6]
Long live, Your Majesty!
Get up.
Why are you all here today?
Her Majesty brought a magistrate.
I was worried, so I came to have a look.
Magistrate?
Mother Empress, what magistrate?
The magistrate from Shuntian Prefecture.
There he is.
Your Majesty, I'm Tang Fan, a lower 6th rank magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture.
It's you! I remember you.
You should be on duty in Shuntian Prefecture,
why are you here?
Your Majesty, Official Tang
is now very well-known in all prefectures.
With extraordinary wisdom and unique skills of detection,
Official Tang has solved a number of tough cases.
So people will ask Official Tang for help
once they have some tough cases.
The case about Marquis Wu'an
was solved by Official Tang in association with Baihu Sui.
Great, great!
It seems that the No. 1 Scholar candy I awarded to you was not in vain.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
I really don't deserve this!
Do you still like the No. 1 Scholar candy?
Then I'll award you more.
You can eat as much as you like,
and we'll see whether it can help
cultivate a new Detective Di Renjie for the Ming dynasty! (T/N: a very well-known Sleuth of the Tang and Zhou Dynasty)
Thank you, Your Majesty, for the candy.
I'll do my best to live up to your expectations!
Great, great!
Tang Fan, how bold you were!
Do you know that you almost died just now?!
Do you really think His Majesty remembered such things as the candy?
Was it that terrible?
I could tell that His Majesty was willing to talk about the interesting things in the past with us,
and the atmosphere was smoothed over. Right?
You were just a little lucky.
His Majesty didn't want to see Queen Mother quarreling with Noble Consort,
so he intentionally changed the topic.
Then I did my job well
to help His Majesty out of the predicament.
Baihu Sui, I can understand his ignorance,
but even you can't see it?
What's the Forbidden City? The forbidden place!
How dare you come at will and even inquire about the crown prince?
Any careless mistake would make you lose your head!
Well, Commander Wang,
I remember you've said that the timing for the poison used on Han Zao
could be accurately controlled. Right?
Yes.
Reckoning from the time of his death,
if there had not been the traffic jam that day,
he would have died at the Han Mansion.
And according to the dose of poison in his body,
he could only be poisoned in the palace.
Yes. If it were not for that,
they would have made a big fuss over this case already.
And the first to be suspected
should be Noble Consort who had given him the mung bean soup.
This is not the right place. Let's talk about it somewhere else later.
Well, Commander Wang! Do you have the Tancha Powder?
Why do you need it?
To help with solving the case, of course!
Well, listen! The Tancha Powder is extremely poisonous
and there's no antidote to it.
Don't worry. I'll never take it.
Colorless and odorless…
It's the highest grade of poison.
What should we do now?
Making clear of its properties and effect, of course.
- How old was Han Zao? - Ten.
Height?
About four chi. (T/N: "chi" - about 13 inches or 32cm)
Ten years old, about four chi tall. (T/N: four chi - about 52 inches or 4'4" feet)
Judging from his height and weight,
we can make an assumption
that the poison was mixed in the mung bean soup.
As for the period from him taking the soup to the toxic attack, let say two hours;
the lethal dose of two hours.
That's it.
- You sure? - No.
So what should we do?
Let's just try it.
What is he going to do?
Trying the poison?
How?
Brother! You're a real man!
To be clear about its toxicity, there's no way
but to try it.
There was Shennong who had tasted hundreds of herbs, (T/N: a mythological Chinese deity who died while experimenting properties of plants by eating them)
and now there is Pei Huai who will try hundreds of poisons.
Hundreds of poisons! That will kill you!
There's no antidote to it!
Why didn't you tell me earlier?
How are you feeling now?
Are you all right?
No.
Your dear Old Pei is going to die.
My stomach aches...
and my vision is starting to blur.
My heart rate is more than doubled. Chills...
and cold sweat.
No, it's too dangerous.
Stop it.
Pei Huai, are you crazy?!
Cut the crap. Listen to me.
Sui Zhou, light the second joss stick.
Tang Fan, record it.
Hurry!
Record it. Heart rate: faster by three and a half times.
Indistinct diffusive pain: three cun above the stomach.
Vision gradually blurs with hearing loss,
but still conscious.
Sense of burning at three cun above the back waist.
Muskmelon Pedicel Powder! White!
Muskmelon Pedicel Powder!
Open it!
Pour!
Again!
- Tang Fan, drug! - Drug? Where is the drug?
- The medical chest! - Medical chest…
- Which one? - White, lower right corner.
I understand your pursuit of the spirit of Shennong,
but don't do that again. Okay?
Although you're not dead this time,
we were both almost scared to death!
Now I can infer that the poison
was taken during the hours in which the mung bean soup was taken.
If Han Zao didn't take any other food during this period,
I can infer that the poison
was mixed in the mung bean soup.
Besides...
Besides, the toxicity increased with the increase of the dosage.
According to my personal experience just now,
a half of the dose would cause diarrhea at the most,
but a full lethal dose
would surely cause one to die within two hours.
So it was not an accident.
The murderer must have calculated the dosage
deliberately according to the height and weight of Han Zao.
What are you doing, Aunt Dong? He hasn't eaten the noodles yet!
How can he eat the noodles after throwing up like that?
It's just a waste of food!
Who is the gentleman that is throwing up?
I'm Pei Huai.
Commander Wang, have you made any progress with the case?
I just found the little eunuch who had carried the Tancha Powder into the palace.
The clue was broken after his death.
But I still found out that after he moved to the capital,
he bought a property in the capital and opened a tofu pudding shop.
Do you have the address?
Of course.
But today, you've been asking me questions.
So can Official Tang and Baihu Sui provide me with some information?
Pei Huai tested the poison himself.
According to his analysis, the problem was in the two bowls of mung bean soup.
I…
Did the mung bean soup come from Noble Consort?
Have you investigated people around Noble Consort?
Investigating my people?
I'd rather you take me to the Western Depot for an investigation!
Your Highness!
Don't call me that!
I've been taking good care of you since you were a child,
and now that you're older, you dare investigate me?
Commander Wang.
I'll never forget your kindness to me.
I always firmly believe everything you say,
but I also hope you can trust me.
This case has been imperative.
It is better that it's me who's investigating and not someone else.
Otherwise, if someone with concealed intentions strikes first,
we'll be so passive.
Commander! Have mercy on me, Commander!
For Her Highness' sake, please have mercy on me!
We both serve Her Highness, so I don't want to make things difficult for you.
Therefore, I want you to answer anything I ask you, without any concealment.
Yes, yes!
I'll answer anything you ask me, Commander!
Mung bean soup.
That day, it was hot and Her Highness ordered me
to send two bowls of mung bean soup to the crown prince and his studying companion.
I personally supervised the imperial kitchen to make the soup
and sent the soup to the Prosperous Literature Hall.
During that period, did anyone else touch the soup?
No one.
And I also saw Eunuch Liu taste the soup as he usually did,
proving there was no problem in the soup, Commander!
Liu Xiang? Did he taste both bowls of soup?
Yes, yes! Both bowls.
[Tofu Pudding Shop]
Give me all your money.
You earn a lot a year, and you only carry one hundred coins?
How much do you need for tofu pudding?
Ten taels of silver.
Just help yourself.
I'm an imperial guard, and I need ten taels of silver to handle a case.
You ruffian, you should make some preparations before you come swindling.
I advise you to prepare the costumes and paraphernalia for an imperial guard first,
such as the flying fish dress and the Xiuchun Knife.
Silver, hurry!
Your Excellency, please pardon him.
He's seen nothing of life and can't recognize you!
- Yes, yes. - Your Excellency, the silver is just to show respect to you, you don't need to return it.
And if you need more, just come again!
I only need ten taels, and I'll repay you in a few days.
I'll give this to you as collateral.
Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Don't do that!
Your Excellency! Your Excellency!
It's my last piece of candy, don't lose it.
Sir, it's such a big ingot, and we cannot give you change.
Just keep the change.
Fulin was a friend of ours,
and we've learned about what happened to him.
It's just a small thing that we can do for you.
Please don't be so grieved.
Thank you. Thank you!
Thank you!
If Fulin could see it,
he would be gratified.
He is already gone, so please don't be so grieved.
Thank you!
It was the luck of Fulin to have friends like you.
Thanks.
After his death,
Godfather Liu also sent people to come by and handle everything.
Godfather Liu?
[Western Depot]
Commander.
[Fulin encountered disasters at the age of ten and was sold to traffickers who then sold him into the palace; he is lucky to have these kinds of friends.]
[Imperial guard needs ten taels of silver to handle a case; gave badge as collateral; ]
[we came from inside; friends with Fulin; Godfather Liu already sent people to come by; Godfather Liu?]
Godfather Liu?
In general, when a little eunuch enters the palace, he will find a backer,
who is usually called their "godfather."
So, no matter which office of the inner palace Chen Fulin entered,
we just need to find out the eunuch surnamed Liu he knew in his early days there,
then we can know who Godfather Liu is.
Exactly.
I have another question.
Why don't we ask Wang Zhi for help?
This case involves Noble Consort,
so I cannot trust Wang Zhi.
I found it.
Are you okay?
Look.
Chen Fulin entered the palace in the eighth year of the Chenghua Reign.
And he changed five offices in only six years.
And the only eunuch surnamed Liu who had been in contact with him was this one.
Now that you're here,
why not have a seat inside?
So you'd made such deliberate plans
just to frame Noble Consort?
Fifteen years ago,
I worked at the imperial library,
when there was a court lady surnamed Ji in the library.
She was knowledgeable, clever,
and quick-witted.
One day, His Highness the Crown Prince came to the library,
chatting with her about the Lesser Court Hymns in the Book of Odes.
She answered the questions elegantly and fluently,
His Majesty lost his heart to her.
His Majesty slept with Pure Consort Ji,
and soon after, Pure Consort Ji became pregnant.
However,
this affair was known by Noble Consort.
Pure Consort Ji also knew that she was going to die.
So she voluntarily went to the Noble Consort,
hoping to keep His Highness safe
with her own life.
I understand your situation.
So now that the crown prince is safe,
you want to take revenge?
Not revenge!
Everything...
Everything I did was for His Highness the Crown Prince.
As long as the evil woman still lives,
His Highness...
will never live a peaceful life.
You've devoted yourself to serving your master,
for loyalty.
And you want to avenge Pure Consort Ji,
for righteousness.
You are a man of loyalty and righteousness.
Although we serve our own masters,
I respect you.
If you really think that,
I just want you to do me a favor.
Just say it.
As long as I can do it, I'll do everything I can.
Commander Wang, from now on,
please take care of His Highness.
His Highness will be the emperor of the Ming dynasty,
the genuine successor of the throne.
I, Wang Zhi, will make every effort
to serve the Ming dynasty.
You can go back.
I'm handling the case as the imperial guard.
The chief plotter of the case has died.
- But this case is obviously not… - This case involves a lot!
If you keep investigating,
things will go beyond what you two can handle.
How can you, Western Depot, close the case?
This case is closed.
Yes, Your Majesty.
All right, get up.
You've solved two cases
involving the imperial family and the nobility,
which will surely cause arguments among the ministers.
You'd better hide away for some time,
in case they continue to make trouble for you.
Yes.
It's unpeaceful in Liaodong, pacify it for me.
Chen Yue, Censor of Liaodong, just reported
that he wants to re-open the horse markets in Liaodong.
Check it out and report to me as soon as possible.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Remember...
problem-solving is the top priority.
Your Majesty, I'll not let you down!
Unhappy?
A case that was to be solved ended in this way,
would you feel happy?
In fact, Wang Zhi was right.
A secret affair of the palace is beyond our capacity.
Moreover, the chief criminal is already dead,
so justice has been served anyway.
The innocent Han Zao was killed
without even an explanation, you call this justice?
Lin Chaodong just wanted to save his lover out of hardship,
but he was killed, leaving the murderer still at large.
Do you call this justice?
I can't answer your questions.
But I know that in these two cases,
everyone who is guilty has been punished
and the cases have been solved.
So we can call it an end.
Congratulations to you for solving the case!
What a coincidence!
No, it isn't.
I'm here to say farewell.
I'm setting out for Liaodong tomorrow.
I'll ask for a bowl and chopsticks,
and give you a farewell dinner.
No, thanks.
I feel guilty towards you two about the case of Han Zao.
So this meal will be my treat, as an apology.
Put this meal onto my account!
Sure!
Please enjoy it while it's warm.
It won't be as delicious when it's cold.
What's this dish?
- The Golden Rice Cakes. - The Golden Rice Cakes?
A special cuisine of Jiangxi.
Jiangxi?
Yes, Jiangxi.
What's the case?
Someone reported that in the prison at the Ji'an Government of Jiangxi,
three hundred and eighty-seven prisoners have died of diseases
since the 11th year of the Chenghua Reign.
It is suspected that there has been torturing of the prisoners in the guise of diseases.
So I order you and Tu Xun, Official of the Ministry of Punishments,
along with the censorial inspector Bing Dubu for a joint investigation.
Joint investigation of three departments?
This is an order from His Majesty.
You also know that after the case of the crown prince's studying companion,
you were formally promoted
to such a high position for your age,
and everybody in the court
knows that you're very promising.
So if a representative is to be chosen from the imperial guards,
you're the only choice.
Isn't it, Baihu Sui?
Yes, Sir.
Your Excellency.
Why is it you?
I've been waiting for you for a long time.
Let's have a talk elsewhere.
Excuse me, sirs, your wine.
I don't understand.
I know you're a good person.
So?
I don't have many friends nor someone to trust.
So I can only ask you for help.
Just tell me what you need.
Please deliver the gold to my wife,
and tell her that Jia Kui has been executed.
Tell them to leave this place and live elsewhere.
Why?
I cannot explain more about it.
I just want you to believe that
I have no other choice.
All right.
But I have something to ask you.
Please go ahead.
Taking you out of the prison
with a special amnesty document of the imperial palace,
I can think of no one but His Majesty.
If you really want to know the truth,
I will tell you.
However, after telling you the truth,
I'll have to kill you.
Dong'er, now that you seem to be idle every day,
I'll teach you to read today.
I know you can't read.
This book is especially for beginners.
After you've mastered it,
I'll teach you the Three Character Classic,
the Thousand Character Classic,
and the Four Books and Five Classics.
I remember that you showed great talent
and great memory at court the other day.
So from now on, I'll start teaching you to read.
This book took me only three days to master.
Brother Tang, the book is upside down.
Three days. [Hundred Family Surnames]
Well, that's all for today.
If you have any questions, just feel free to ask me.
No.
Don't be so proud, little girl.
I'll give you some more days.
When you can recite it, I'll give you an exam.
I don't need several days, just two hours.
Don't boast, little girl.
You'll get beaten if you fail the exam!
Beaten?
With this!
Have you been beaten by it?
I've only been beaten once, which made me the best student
among my classmates.
Besides…
Yue, Shuai, Gou, Kang, Kuang, Hou, You, Qin,
Liangqiu, Zuoqiu, Dongmen, Ximen, Shang, Mou, She, Nai,
Bo, Shang, Nangong, Mo, Ha, Qiao, Da, Nian, Ai, Yang, Tong,
Diwu, Yan, Fu: end of Hundred Family Surnames.
You little girl, you did learn to read. Right?
Three days, right?
Beaten once, right?
Amazing!
Unbelievable!
What's unbelievable?
Why are you here?
I came to pack things up. I'm leaving on a business trip later.
Just go!
Then there won't be someone who doesn't make a noise when walking, which is scary.
But before I leave,
I have to set three rules for you.
- What rules, Brother Sui? I'll supervise him. - You—
First, don't ever randomly mess with my house again.
When I come back, everything should be kept intact.
It's for you!
Second, don't bring any living things back.
It's for you!
What's wrong with me?
The sheep was given by your Aha!
- It's your Aha! - Your Aha.
- Your Aha! - Enough!
These include sheep, cows...
I seem to have forgotten something…
It's me.
Where're my cloak?
Where's my Aha's cloak?
Here.
You said the cloak for chopsticks.
That hole was made by yourself.
Miss, what's the matter?
It can be mended.
My heart is broken.
Do you really care about it?
I'll let you try this feeling!
You bastard, I'll kill you!
It's just a pair of chopsticks.
I'll ask the silversmith to repair them for you.
Here, have some congee.
Repair? You know nothing about it.
Why are you so angry after Brother Sui left?
Do you miss him?
Then, why didn't you tell him then?
When did he say he'd be back?
Half a month, or more than a month, or two months at the most.
That long?
Why can't he be here when I need him?
Forget it!
I'll take revenge by myself.
How is it? Is this mighty enough?
It's just too heavy.
How about this?
Looks cool.
Are you okay, Brother Tang?
Brother Tang, are you dead?
Open your eyes!
Am I that weak?
Are you going to fight someone?
I suggest you wait for Brother Sui to come back.
Listen! I've found the most suitable weapon for me.
You must give me an explanation!
I won't bother to be entangled with a woman.
I don't want any compensation, I just want an apology!
He said he wants your apology.
- Aha said… - What?
Don't blame me for hurting you!
Not in the face!
Timing and subtitles brought to you by ⚖Defenders of the Law ⚖ Team @ Viki
♫ Out of the mud but not tainted with the world of mortals ♫
♫ The sea drifts along while the heart is calm for a fraction ♫
♫ All alone in the world with no love nor hate ♫
♫ Being too slow-witted is also an innate intelligence ♫
♫ The cold fireworks branded the palm lines of predestination ♫
♫ New wounds cannot easily conceal old scars ♫
♫ The naked eye cannot easily break through worldly affairs, it can only hold on to one’s pure inherent quality ♫
♫ Hold his hand, don’t let him sink into degradation ♫
♫ In this mortal world together, both wandering to the end of the world ♫
♫ Brushing past each other, there’s no need to be bothered with the past ♫
♫ A fish lept over the dragon gate (after becoming successful), you eventually forgot your original identity ♫
♫ I only ask for you to always remember my expression as I gazed back ♫