Original subtitles

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty III: To Chang'an]

[Episode 18]

The weather's changing?

Why is it raining?

And hailing?

Go!

[Zhang's Mutton Soup]

Why is it hailing now?

[Zhang's Mutton Soup]

Who's there?

It's me.

Look at you.

Why didn't you bring an umbrella?

You're soaked through.

It breaks my heart.

Don't do that.

Someone might come in and see us.

Who would come here?

[Qian Zheng, Owner of Jinxiu Textile]

Have you forgotten?

The first time we confessed to each other

was right here

in the Rain God Temple.

Hongyao!

Hongyao! Hongyao! Hongyao! Hongyao!

Have you fallen for another man?

I have a husband.

You know that.

If you harass me again,

I'll report you to the district head.

Wait, you...

Come here!

Let me go!

This umbrella is mine now!

Damn you, Hongyao!

I nearly broke my neck!

Hongyao!

Hongyao!

Don't go!

Hongyao!

I figured it would rain

and specially brought you an umbrella.

Don't rush off!

Getting hit by hail really hurts!

She must have taken a liking to someone else.

I need to find out who.

It's hailing?

What a nap.

Who-who are you?

Who are you?

I...

You're a thief!

A white-haired thief?

I do have premature white hair,

but I'm not a thief.

Not a thief?

Then why are you in my house?

I'm just a house-squatter.

A what?

A house-squatter.

Someone who slips into a house when the owners are out

and lives off the place temporarily.

Sometimes we go in during the day,

sometimes at night,

but we never steal.

And we always leave

before the owner returns.

It's just that today you came home early,

so you caught me.

So you even know when I come home?

Of course.

We house-squatters

always keep track

of the owner's schedule.

Your husband's surname is Meng.

He's been on night duty at the county office

every night this month.

And you go out

at 6 PM

and return at 9 PM every day.

But it's only 8 PM now.

Why are you back already?

I'm really not a thief.

If you don't believe me, search me.

There's nothing of yours on me.

State your name.

My name is Jiang.

[Jiang, House-squatter]

Actually, there are many people like me

in Chang'an.

What kind of people?

Trespassing into someone's home makes you a thief.

I'll report you.

Please don't report me!

I'll do anything you say—

just don't report me.

A cell is nowhere near as comfortable as someone's home.

You really don't seem like a thief.

If you were a thief,

you'd have turned on me

when I mentioned reporting you.

That's right.

You may not be a thief,

but you've still committed a crime.

The newly appointed Judicial Official

went to Qinglong District today

and listened to me play the pipa specifically.

If I report you to him,

he'll punish you severely.

Please have mercy, lady!

I'll kowtow to you!

Have mercy, lady!

I'm kowtowing to you!

I'm kowtowing to you!

Have mercy, lady.

-Alright. -I'm kowtowing to you!

I won't report you.

But you must do something for me.

What is it?

I want you to...

No, no!

I can't do that kind of thing.

I know this is difficult for you,

but there's something in it for you too.

Hold out your hand.

A silver ingot?

There's another one

after the job is done.

Who do you...

want me to kill?

[Zhang's Mutton Soup]

Mutton soup! Mutton soup!

Hot mutton soup!

Would you like a bowl of mutton soup?

No, thanks.

Maybe next time.

[Sifang Tea House]

Mutton soup! Mutton soup!

Hot mutton soup!

[Sifang Tea House]

You're Cat?

That's me.

Did you bring the deposit?

Of course.

I've heard Cat is very skilled

at digging into

people's private affairs.

I want you to look into a woman for me.

I suspect she's behaving improperly.

Your wife

is seeing someone else?

Of course not my wife.

It's a woman I'm seeing.

And now I suspect

she's got someone else.

Do you have any evidence?

Yes, I do.

She ignores me these days.

Wasn't there a hailstorm yesterday?

I was afraid she'd get hit,

so I specially brought her an umbrella.

But she wouldn't let me get intimate with her.

And she even mentioned her husband.

But

she has already expressed her love for me,

and now she still won't let me have her.

She must have found

someone new and forgotten about me.

She was just using her husband

as an excuse.

I can't accept this.

I've given her

my whole heart!

How could she...

How could she be so cruel to me?

So what do you want?

I want to know

who this new man of hers is—

his name, where he lives,

and what he does.

You... you want to know this?

What's the point?

Of course there's a point!

I need to know exactly who

stole my beauty from me.

Bro,

this task...

sounds a bit complicated.

I get what you mean.

Once you find out,

I'll give you two more silver ingots.

However,

I'm afraid you might not be capable enough.

If I didn't have

a good reputation in my line of work,

would you even have found me

through a broker?

That's true.

Alright.

Tell me,

what's the name

of your lover?

Hongyao.

Nice name.

Tell me,

wh-where... where...

where d-does she live?

In Qingshi Alley,

the house at the very end.

Five days.

I only give you 5 days.

Five days later, at this time,

I'll be here

waiting for you.

Is 5 days enough?

How about 7?

Three days!

It's a deal!

[Sifang Tea House]

Zhang San.

Mr. Qian.

A bowl of soup, please.

Coming right up!

Add more meat.

Sure.

[Zhang San, Owner of Zhang's Mutton Soup]

[Zhang's Mutton Soup]

Why aren't you asleep yet?

Aren't you awake too?

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Meng Buyi?

What's wrong with you?

You seem distracted.

Meng Buyi, are you alright?

[Yan Junxian, Imperial Physician and Herbalist]

Don't you remember me?

I'm your classmate, Yan Junxian.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Mr. Yan.

Mr. Yan?

Should I call you

Secretary Meng?

We're best friends.

Why don't you just call me by my name?

Junxian,

how have you been?

I'm doing well.

Why haven't you come

to my herb garden for tea lately?

Did the medicine

I prescribed you last time

help you sleep better?

Much better.

I fall asleep much more easily now.

I'll treat you to a drink another day.

You've been saying you'll treat me to a drink

for years, haven't you?

Ever since we were studying together,

you've been saying that.

I just don't know if I'll ever live to see

you actually do it.

Let's go.

[Mingshi, Servant]

I have some things to attend to.

I'll be off for now.

I'll see you.

[Three Days Later]

Secretary Meng, did you stay up writing all night again?

Have you finished your

snake demon strange tale?

Almost.

I'll read it to you

as soon as it's done.

Time's up.

Work's over.

Don't you have

a beautiful wife

waiting for you at home?

Yes.

I should go home.

[Assassin Street]

Alright, stop pushing!

Step back! Step back!

[Liuhe Frosty Delights]

You can't get in by pushing anyway!

Alright, alright, alright!

We'll make sure everyone gets to eat.

[Liuhe Frosty Delights]

Guys!

Guys!

There are already

more than 50 people in line!

So please,

don't join the queue anymore!

Come another day!

We just don't want

to keep you waiting too long.

I, the owner, Chicken Master of Tang,

Fei Qiao,

offer my apologies!

What?

What's going on?

I'm not leaving!

This is the trendiest cuisine in Chang'an!

Even if it takes time,

I have to get some.

I'm not leaving either!

I had some yesterday.

It really was delicious.

Today, I must get in line

to have a couple more bowls.

Exactly!

Go and make it, sir!

Make a couple extra bowls!

Make way, please! Come on, make way!

Make way! Make way!

Su Wuming!

There's a sea of people outside.

We're going to make a fortune!

Boss!

Coming!

Alright, go now.

Xijun,

this won't do.

We need more staff.

Don't worry, Wuming.

We're already hiring.

That's good.

Coming!

Boss!

Boss!

Boss!

Another serving of Yingtao.

Send it to Table 9.

-Okay, okay. -Table 9!

Yingtao!

Are you calling me?

Why would I call you?

I was saying...

From now on, say "Yingtao flavor."

Don't just call out my name.

I couldn't help myself.

Is the Yingtao ready yet?

Mr. Su!

Perfect timing.

Hurry and help me out!

I'm in my official uniform.

Wuming!

Just...

Wuming, Yingtao flavor.

Table 9.

Alright.

Come on!

Make way, please!

Official Lu wants you

to go to Qinglong District.

I'm no longer a Criminal Investigation Scholar.

Can't you see I'm busy here?

All the coroners in Yongzhou Prefecture Office

have been sent to the counties outside the city

to assist with autopsies.

There's a murder case?

Yingtao!

Didn't I tell you to add

the word "flavor?"

Something's up?

Bring your weapons.

Who found the body?

I did.

I'm the district head of Qinglong District.

[Mr. Guang, District Head of Qinglong District]

Everyone calls me Mr. Guang.

Today at noon,

I came to ask Secretary Meng for clothes.

What do you mean by asking for clothes?

Here's the thing.

Recently, His Majesty

has been promoting new practices in court.

Official Lu,

you've also been implementing new policies

by handling cases in the districts, right?

Therefore,

I suddenly came up with an idea

to launch a new initiative

in Qinglong District—

having everyone

donate the clothes

they no longer wear

to help the poor.

But Secretary Meng is extremely stingy

and hasn't donated anything.

Today I came specifically to urge him.

I called him a few times in the courtyard,

but no one responded.

Then I noticed the door was slightly ajar,

and fearing it might be a burglary,

I went inside.

But then...

What's Secretary Meng's name?

Meng Buyi.

Is this man Meng Buyi?

No.

His name is Zhang San.

He sells mutton soup in this district.

He was quite successful years ago.

But then,

he fell on hard times.

Actually,

he's nothing but a scoundrel,

extremely cunning.

Often when he does something evil,

he makes sure the county office doesn't catch him,

and always escapes punishment.

In short,

he's no decent man.

But why did he end up dead

in Meng Buyi's house?

Well...

I don't know.

I heard Secretary Meng has been

on night duty at the county office recently.

But the body

was discovered long ago,

and we still haven't seen

any sign of Meng's wife,

Hongyao.

Hongyao?

The woman who played the pipa

when we were handling the case in the district.

Excuse me!

Excuse me!

Who died?

What's that question?

Someone died at Meng's house.

If not Secretary Meng,

then it must be Hongyao.

Hongyao?

So who actually died?

It must be Hongyao.

Isn't there a saying,

"Hongyao is short-lived?"

"Hongyao is short-lived?"

That saying is "beauties are short-lived."

You old fool know nothing

and talk nonsense.

Excuse us.

Who says that if someone in the Meng family dies,

it has to be Secretary Meng

or Hongyao?

It could be a burglar.

See? Even a coroner is here.

That makes sense.

Mr. Su,

you're here.

Who is the deceased?

He's not the homeowner.

He's an outsider.

What took you so long?

My horse...

was slow.

The body hasn't been moved, has it?

Of course not.

[Autopsy Record]

Take notes.

The deceased likely died around midnight last night.

There's a sharp cut on the side of his neck,

enough to be fatal.

The blade wasn't the murder weapon.

The wound is very small.

Judging by its shape,

it was probably made by scissors

or a similar sharp tool.

He has bruises on his face...

and clear strangulation marks on his neck.

However,

they weren't caused by a rope.

What happened?

I heard someone died in there.

Make way! Make way!

What happened?

Secretary Meng,

there's been a death in your house.

Go in and take a look!

Hongyao!

Hongyao!

Why did Secretary Meng only come back now?

Hongyao!

Hongyao!

Hongyao!

Stop!

It's...

Mr. Guang,

where is my Hongyao?

I haven't seen your wife.

I'm Lu Lingfeng, Yongzhou Judicial Official.

Greetings, Official Lu.

Secretary Meng, when do you usually return home

after your night duty?

I...

I usually...

get home around nine in the morning.

But today, after I left the county office,

I went to the Ghost Market.

The Ghost Market? What for?

Recently,

I've been writing a strange tale.

Since it involves spirits and ghosts,

I feared it might harm my yang energy.

I heard that

the Yangzhou Liuhe paper sold at the Ghost Market

has exorcising properties

that keep all ghosts away,

so I went to look for it.

Did you find it?

No.

If you ever find it,

let me know

where to buy it. I want some too.

You also write strange tales?

Have you published anything?

Which bookstore sells them?

Secretary Meng,

did you go home last night?

No.

Is there anyone who can verify that?

Lately, it's just been me

in the little hall where I work.

No one else has been there.

The senior clerk can vouch for me.

Last night,

I had a drink with him.

He knows I've been writing a strange tale recently

and has been telling me snake demon stories

these past few days.

Snake demon stories?

Who...

Who is this person?

This...

Zhang San.

Zhang San?

What does...

What does he do?

Why did he die in my house?

Secretary Meng, you don't know this person?

I...

He's the one who sells mutton soup in our district.

How would I know

a mutton soup vendor?

I just want to know

where my wife is.

Could she have gone back to her maternal family?

Impossible.

She's not even from Chang'an.

She doesn't really have a maternal family.

Secretary Meng, how did you and your wife

first meet?

When we met, she was a pipa player

at a brothel.

Later, after I passed the imperial exam

and joined the county office,

I took her out of there.

Then we got married.

Secretary Meng, you often work night shifts

and write strange tales.

It must have taken a lot of your mental effort.

I hope it hasn't turned your hair white from exhaustion.

My hair?

Well...

My hair is perfectly fine.

Look, not a single white hair.

What about your lady, Hongyao?

A few days ago, I saw her when I came

to Qinglong District.

However,

I didn't see her clearly.

Her? That's even more impossible.

She's so young,

and her hair

is black and silky.

Then how do you explain this?

I found it during my routine inspection just now.

What is it?

Whose white hair

could have fallen onto my bed?

It's...

It's...

Who says that if someone in the Meng family dies,

it has to be Secretary Meng

or Hongyao?

It could be a burglar.

Someone's coming out.

Excuse me, sir,

is the deceased

Hongyao?

You know Meng's wife?

I...

don't know her.

I'm just curious.

No comment.

Is it Hongyao or not?

Earlier, there was a young man

with a head full of white hair.

Do you remember him?

-Yes. -Yes.

He was quite talkative.

Find him

and bring him to the county office.

Yes.

There's someone outside.

Keep an eye on him for me.

Jia,

you can move the body back to the county office

and store it in the ice chamber now.

But remember,

cover it with a white cloth when carrying it out.

Don't let anyone know

the identity of the deceased.

Yes.

Secretary Meng.

And you.

You two must keep this confidential as well.

Xue Huan,

search every corner

of the Meng Residence with me

and see if there are any sharp tools,

such as scissors.

Yes, sir.

This...

Official Lu.

What about my wife?

You must help me find my wife!

We can't confirm

that your wife is missing.

If by nightfall we still don't know her whereabouts,

the county office will send people to search for her.

However,

I would like to ask you

to provide more clues.

For instance,

have you and your wife

had any arguments recently?

No, no, no.

We haven't argued.

Do you have any other clues?

Other clues?

There are none.

Official Lu,

you're a crime investigator.

My wife is missing,

and you're asking me for clues?

What clues could I possibly have?

And I have to wait until night.

What if some bad guy

kills my wife?

Official Lu,

I...

You can't just stand by and do nothing.

[Integrity] [Loyalty]

Mr. Su speculated that Zhang San died

from the scissors wound on his neck.

But we searched

the entire Meng Residence

and found no scissors.

That's very strange.

So I roughly conclude

that at the time, Zhang San

was likely hiding in the cabinet

with ill intent.

Hongyao discovered him

and stabbed him to death with scissors.

After killing him,

Hongyao didn't dare report it,

so she fled with the scissors.

How's

Captain Xue's deduction?

It makes sense.

But how do you explain

the knife found on the floor?

Judging by where it landed,

it should have been held by Zhang San.

Perhaps Hongyao caught him off guard,

so he didn't get to use his knife.

The sudden strength of a woman

shouldn't be underestimated.

Then how do we explain

the two white hairs

Official Lu found?

Perhaps

they were left a long time ago.

We can

ask Meng Buyi more carefully

whether an elderly person

had stayed in the house a month ago,

or even six months ago.

Zhang San had bruises on his face,

which indicate he was strangled.

This should be related to

the marks on his neck.

But these marks are very strange.

They weren't caused by rope,

cloth,

or any weapon.

Then tell me,

was Zhang San

strangled to death

or stabbed to death with scissors?

Or perhaps both?

If so, which happened first?

And which was more fatal?

How can we determine that?

Did you learn anything?

Yes, I did.

Mr. Su is impressive.

So what should we do now?

Let's wait until we can catch him and interrogate him.

You didn't tell me to arrest anyone.

Liu and Luo have both disappeared.

And the secret agent Yingtao has been sent out too.

Haven't you noticed?

Catching someone without any leads?

Who?

Silly boy.

It's not that there are no leads.

You just haven't found them yet.

Watch Su Wuming closely

and learn from him.

Xue Huan,

you are Official Lu's apprentice.

Learn more from your mentor.

Yes.

Mr. Su,

may I ask,

who have they gone to arrest?

Who is it?

The hair

is indeed mine.

I stayed at the Meng Residence for half a month.

I didn't clean up properly when I left

and actually left behind some of my hair.

Truly embarrassing for us house-squatters.

House-squatter?

Can giving yourself

such an elegant name

really make you different from a thief?

If you see something

you like,

you would probably just help yourself, right?

Absolutely not.

Otherwise, wouldn't it tarnish

the reputation of our line of work?

Official Lu.

Chang'an

really does have so-called house-squatters.

Most of them are homeless and jobless.

A few have homes and jobs,

but, due to some eccentricity,

choose to sneak into other people's houses to live.

That's a different matter.

You-you really know your stuff.

Are you also a...

Let me ask you.

When was the last time

you stayed at the Meng Residence?

Three days ago.

It was hailing that day.

Hongyao came back early,

so she caught me in the room.

Who are you?

You're a thief!

A white-haired thief.

Please don't report me.

I'll do whatever you ask.

But Zhang San's death

truly has nothing to do with me.

When did I ever say

the deceased was Zhang San?

Jiang,

confess everything now!

I'll talk!

I'll tell you everything!

A silver ingot?

There's another one

after the job is done.

Who do you... want me to kill?

The one who sells mutton soup in the district,

Zhang San.

Hongyao asked you to kill Zhang San?

Yes.

But now that Zhang San is dead,

I can't explain myself.

Jiang,

if you didn't kill him,

Official Lu wouldn't wrongly accuse you.

But you must tell us

everything you know

and everything you saw.

You must not hide anything.

Yes.

Let me ask you.

After taking the silver ingot from Hongyao,

did you kill Zhang San?

I've never killed anyone.

And I don't even know how.

I hesitated for 3 days

and then found a butcher's knife.

But the moment I saw Zhang San,

I got scared.

I didn't dare kill him directly.

So I thought

I'd sound him out first

and figure out

what exactly he did to offend Hongyao.

[Zhang's Mutton Soup]

Take care.

Alright.

San!

I'm here to help.

You brat, whose house

have you been sleeping comfortably in this time?

No one's.

Lately I've had nowhere to sleep

and nothing to eat.

San,

do you need any help here?

Wait.

San?

[Zhang's Mutton Soup]

Who are you to call me San?

You should call me Mr. San!

You're carrying a knife?

You've grown bold?

Are you done being a house-squatter

and now turning into an assassin?

N-no...

Then why are you carrying a knife?

If you're an assassin,

someone must have paid you a deposit.

Let me see how much they gave you.

A silver ingot?

You really are an assassin now?

H-how would I have the guts,

Mr. San?

Don't... don't you know me?

Where did the money come from?

Speak!

I'll kill you if you don't tell me!

I didn't dare tell Zhang San

that Hongyao sent me to kill him,

so I could only say

I borrowed it while staying at Hongyao's house.

Borrowed?

We house-squatters sometimes steal things

under special circumstances.

But we don't call it stealing.

We call it borrowing,

which means that if we ever become successful one day,

we'll return to stay

and sneak it back.

But as far as I know,

no one has ever returned anything,

because no one has ever become successful.

What about the silver?

He took it.

He actually grabbed my silver.

It was so humiliating.

At that moment, I really wanted to kill him.

But he took my knife too.

So I had no choice but to follow him secretly.

Then I found out

he went to Hongyao's house.

He must have gone there to steal silver.

I know him too well.

At that time, I thought,

I definitely couldn't beat him,

but I could ambush him.

I planned to wait until he came out,

catch him off guard,

and kill him with a stone.

Then I could keep

the silver he stole

and go to Hongyao

to get the other silver ingot.

That way

I, Jiang, would be rich

and never have to be

a house-squatter again.

However,

before Zhang San came out,

I saw...

What did you see?

I saw Secretary Meng come back.

Meng Buyi?

You know him?

Of course.

As house-squatters,

we always have to figure out

who the homeowner is.

Meng Buyi went home last night?

Yes, he did.

But he was acting quite strange.

Strange how?

What happened next?

Later,

I heard someone knocking on the door.

Not long after that,

Meng Buyi came out.

He was carrying a roll of paper.

He climbed over the wall again?

No.

He came out through the door.

And then

something even stranger happened.

But honestly,

I shouldn't tell you this.

After all, Hongyao was the first person

who ever gave me a silver ingot.

If you hide anything...

I dare not!

At this point,

I can only let Hongyao down. Wait.

Wait.

Did you say that when Meng Buyi left,

he didn't close his door completely

and left a small gap?

And Hongyao didn't come out to close it?

No.

I hesitated then.

Was that bastard Zhang San

not there to steal?

Could he actually be Hongyao's lover?

That would really be a flower

stuck in cow dung.

Zhang San's character

is even worse than mine.

You're getting off track.

Just tell us what you saw.

Right, right. Seeing is believing.

About 30 minutes later...

Let's go.

He was lying on the ground?

Was he injured?

No.

Did you see it clearly from outside the window?

I may have premature white hair,

but my eyesight is perfectly fine.

He really had no injuries on him.

Bold Jiang!

To take back the silver ingot

Hongyao gave you,

you rushed into the house

and killed Zhang San with scissors!

No, no!

You're still trying to deny it?

Do you want to experience

Yongzhou Prefecture Office's severe punishment?

Sir,

you look even younger than me.

Why are you so impatient?

You...

Can't you just

let me finish talking?

As you said,

I did have that thought.

But before I could enter the house...

Hongyao?

It was Hongyao?

Jiang,

do you know this is

the West Hall of Yongzhou Prefecture Office?

Lying here is considered

as serious a crime as murder and plunder.

I dare not hide anything!

I'm telling the truth.

I swear on my honor

as a house-squatter.

Your honor as a house-squatter

is worthless.

If I discover during the investigation

that you've concealed anything

or deliberately fabricated anything,

your punishment will be increased.

Take him down!

-Yes. -Yes.

Jia.

Yes?

Hurry up and invite Miss Xijun

to Qinglong District.

Have her make a portrait of Hongyao based on

the descriptions of the district head and the neighbors.

Yes.

Secretary Meng returned home last night,

yet he deliberately hid it.

There must be something suspicious.

Official Lu,

what should we do?

Ask Su Wuming.

Mr. Su, what should we do?

Meng Buyi is indeed suspicious.

But we shouldn't alert him.

Here's what we'll do.

Keep watch on him in secret.

Hu Shentong!

Sirs,

has anyone seen Hu Shentong?

Didn't he take your job?

He left early to kill.

You remember me?

Of course.

I can remember

everyone who hires Assassin Hu.

What's wrong?

You want to back out?

You want to take back your deposit?

No.

Dream on.

Deposits are non-refundable.

That's the rule in Assassin Street.

I'm not here to get my money back.

I...

I have another job.

Who wants to take it?

Who's the target?

It's not a kill job this time.

I...

want you to find someone.

Find someone?

And you came to Assassin Street for that?

Are you messing with us?

You're insulting us assassins!

Sir, sir.

-I'll kill you! -Don't get me wrong.

Don't get me wrong.

Let me put it this way—

say

I want to kill my enemy,

but I don't know

where he is right now. What...

What should I do?

Of course, you should find him first,

then kill him.

Exactly!

So...

I just want you to

do the first step.

How is that

messing with you?

Who do you want to find?

I can't tell you yet.

For just the first step,

how much...

would you charge me?

At least half.

Come on,

half isn't reasonable.

Finding someone should be cheaper than killing them.

I think at most...

20 percent.

No way.

What about 25 percent?

I can't go any higher. And...

it should be based on the price

Hu Shentong and I agreed on.

How about that?

I...

-Are you messing with us? -No, no, no.

I'll kill you!

Who are you?

Mind your own business!

Just a boy?

Move!

[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]

I'm a captain of Yongzhou Prefecture Office,

Xue Huan!

He's...

He's an official.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Let me borrow this.