Original subtitles

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

[Episode 19]

Look at him.

He's terrifying.

Let's go. Stay away from him.

[Jinxiu Textile]

Let's go. Let's go.

He's so scary.

[Jinxiu Textile]

What the hell?

This way, please.

Gosh.

Please come back. Collect it in three days.

You

are the owner of this shop?

Yes, I am.

Who are you anyway?

How arrogant!

You don't even look at me when speaking?

I am the Empire's top assassin—

[Hu Shentong, Assassin]

Hu Shentong.

The top assassin?

But I heard

the Empire's top assassin is called

"Beacon Fire."

He's nothing.

I left out part of my title earlier.

I'm the top assassin of Chang'an's

Ghost Market in the Tang Empire:

Hu Shentong!

Since you're the owner of this shop,

you must be Qian Zheng.

I am he.

So what?

Since you're Qian Zheng,

then... prepare to die!

You really are an assassin?

Who hired you?

That's the rule in this business. I can't say!

Stop!

Who...

Who are you?

I should be asking you that.

Who are you?

How dare you attempt murder

in broad daylight?

Why should I tell you?

You!

Why is he trying to kill you?

Move.

I don't know either!

You!

Why are you trying to kill him?

Why?

I can't say!

It's the rule in this business!

Why are you just standing there?

Tie him up!

Tie him up!

Don't you dare!

You.

Come with me.

Ma'am, where are we going?

I still have business to take care of.

Then don't tie him up yet.

Well...

Can you still stand, assassin?

If you can, then continue finishing your target.

Ma'am,

I'll go with you,

but where are we going?

The Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

Hey, ouch! That hurts!

Slow down!

Kneel!

[A Loyal Heart]

It hurts! You...

Official Lu,

you can begin the interrogation.

[A Loyal Heart]

Which of you wants to speak first?

I have nothing to say.

Insolence!

How dare you show such disrespect in this court!

Then let's start with you,

the top assassin of the Ghost Market.

Tell us,

who hired you to commit murder?

I absolutely won't tell!

Do you know what place this is?

I know.

The Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

But I can't tell you.

I know the rules of the trade!

Are you pretending to be sincere

or truly playing dumb?

I'm not dumb!

I'm not dumb!

I, Hu Shentong,

must not disgrace the name

of an assassin.

I won't talk, no matter what!

Su Wuming.

If you encountered someone like him,

how would you

interrogate him?

If I encountered someone like him,

there's not much I could do.

[A Loyal Heart]

[Fair and Just]

So you're the top assassin of the Ghost Market?

That's what he claims.

[Fair and Just]

I've heard

that the court, to manage the Ghost Market,

has asked the long-retired

Master Feng Tai to return to service

as the Ghost Market Magistrate.

That's right.

The venerable Master Feng Tai

is a dear friend of ours despite the age difference.

Now,

we have no choice

but to speak with him

and have Hu Shentong

expelled from the Ghost Market.

No, no, no! Don't, don't, don't...

Please don't!

We're tied up together!

If you expel me from the Ghost Market,

I won't be able to get any jobs.

I... I'll talk, okay?

[Fair and Just]

You still want to keep taking jobs?

Of course.

Although I failed again this time,

nobody died, right?

After a few days in jail,

you'll have to release me.

Seems like you fail quite often.

What kind of assassin are you?

I took the deposit,

so I had to at least make an attempt, right?

Official Lu,

do you hear that?

He's just an assassin

who specifically cheats people out of deposits.

Why do you have to put it so harshly?

Stop wasting time.

Tell us,

who hired you?

How was I supposed to ask for their name?

I know the rules.

[A Loyal Heart]

Sir! Sir!

Let me say something!

He's an assassin!

Someone hired him to kill me!

I'm the target,

and I haven't committed any crimes.

Why did you tie me up too, right?

Release me now.

I need to get back to my business!

Official Lu,

Miss Pei is here.

Just when I needed her.

[A Loyal Heart]

U-Untie me...

What are you doing?

The district head, Mr. Guang,

has confirmed this portrait.

Hongyao is truly beautiful, like a fairy.

She is kind-hearted,

and all the neighbors in Qinglong District

like her very much.

The portrait is very accurate.

Have you seen her before?

When I went to Qinglong District to handle cases,

I happened to see Hongyao playing the pipa,

so I remember her.

Thank you for your help, Xijun.

This will be useful.

Do you recognize

this woman?

No.

[With Mind and Heart Fully Devoted]

Do you recognize her?

I...

don't.

Today at the Meng Residence,

this is what you asked me.

Excuse me, sir,

is the dead woman inside Hongyao?

Yes.

And I immediately said

that I didn't know anything about

the madam of the Meng family.

I never said the woman in this portrait

was Hongyao, Meng's wife.

Official Lu,

he's not being honest.

That's easy.

Leave him to me.

No need to trouble you, ma'am.

I'll tell the truth.

I'll tell the truth.

[With Mind and Heart Fully Devoted]

Yes.

I do know Hongyao,

but I didn't kill that woman.

Although I hired someone

to investigate her new lover,

I had no ill intentions.

Besides,

how could I bear to have her killed?

Who did you hire to investigate Hongyao?

Cat.

An expert in spying on

and tracking the secrets of wealthy households.

Cat?

Do you know his real name?

Of course not.

When hiring people like him,

I understand the rules.

You can't ask for their real names.

Rules?

Who made all these rules?

Some rules can get people killed.

All right.

While Xijun is here,

have her sketch both Cat

and

the one who hired Hu Shentong.

You are the Chief of Secret Agents.

How do you think

we should investigate these two people?

These two people...

Wait a moment.

Wuming, Lu Lingfeng,

what Qian Zheng and Hu Shentong described

may seem vastly different,

but it's actually quite similar.

That can't be right.

These two people look

completely different,

with different bearings too.

And I think they're

more than 10 years apart in age.

Under different states of mind,

the same person

can present themselves differently.

But the most essential part of a portrait

is to capture the structure around the eyes and brows.

Although I can't be completely certain,

I have a hunch

that Qian Zheng and Hu Shentong

saw the same person.

I suspect

the full beard is a disguise.

Xijun,

can you remove the disguise?

That's exactly what I was thinking.

I'll try to draw another one.

[Impartial] [Remonstrance]

Excellent.

Then, we'll trouble you, Xijun.

How long will you need?

Half an hour will do.

But I need to be

alone to draw quietly.

[Remonstrance]

Wuming, Lu Lingfeng.

Xijun,

you've met Secretary Meng?

A secretary?

Which secretary are you talking about?

The Sushan Shop is doing very well now.

Xijun has been extremely busy,

so of course, she hasn't met Meng Buyi.

Meng Buyi?

That's quite an interesting name.

Official Lu!

Official Lu, Mr. Su, Miss Xijun.

I'm useless.

I lost Meng Buyi

in the Ghost Market.

Did Miss Xijun draw this?

It's very accurate.

Why don't we use this portrait

to apprehend him?

-No! -No!

[Remonstrance]

Have everyone look at this portrait

and secretly arrest Meng Buyi.

Meng Buyi,

you haven't come to my herb garden for tea in a long time.

What's kept you away?

Zhang San, the man who sold lamb soup,

was found dead in my house.

Do you think...

he had some connection

with Hongyao?

Well... Hongyao wouldn't be

having an affair with Zhang San...

He... He was just a scoundrel.

If Hongyao were looking for a lover,

shouldn't she at least be more selective?

It's not right for you to suspect Hongyao like this.

You're right.

I shouldn't have said that in front of you.

After all, you two were once

a perfect match,

destined for each other.

Listen to how jealous you sound.

Back then, why didn't you...

You...

Why what?

When you received your appointment back then,

you left overnight.

Why didn't you take Hongyao with you?

I...

was young back then,

worried that being distracted by romance

would affect my official career.

Now I do have some regrets.

She must have been

very heartbroken back then.

You regret it?

No wonder after you took office in the capital,

Hongyao seemed like

a completely different person.

You two didn't

get back together behind my back, right?

Meng Buyi.

I don't think you came here for tea.

You suspect me, so you came here

to try to trick me into talking, didn't you?

Not really.

It's just that Hongyao suddenly disappeared.

I just wanted to know

if you're hiding her somewhere.

How could I possibly hide

another man's wife?

Besides, you and I are classmates.

What kind of person

do you take me, Yan Junxian, for?

Alright, alright.

It's good that you're not.

It's good that you're not.

It's my fault.

You're not just at fault—

you're sick in the head!

Yes, yes.

I'm sick.

I...

I just have trouble sleeping.

After taking your herbs,

I feel much better.

Meng Buyi, oh, Meng Buyi.

No wonder Hongyao felt aggrieved

about having to marry you.

What... What did she say?

She blames you for deceiving her.

Your position as a secretary

isn't a real official post at all.

Why didn't you explain this clearly to Hongyao?

Then how did she find out?

Secrets can't stay hidden forever.

You're just stubborn.

After passing the imperial examination

and waiting for the Ministry of Personnel's selection test,

who doesn't give gifts to the chief examiner?

You just had to act morally superior.

As a result, the chief examiner said

that your "speech" component in the four evaluation criteria

didn't meet the requirements for clear articulation,

so they gave you a mere secretary position.

Yes.

But there's still a chance.

After His Majesty ascended the throne,

he reorganized the Ministry of Personnel.

You're being too naive.

Your options now are either

to attach yourself

to a high-ranking official—

ideally directly to the Princess,

who can recommend you—

or

to take the corresponding examination.

But this time,

you must give gifts to the chief examiner

to be promoted to an official position.

Otherwise,

you can remain a lowly clerk forever,

and never expect Hongyao

to respect you.

Hongyao really isn't here with you?

She's not!

Keep running!

W-Why should I run?

In the Ghost Market,

didn't you run pretty fast?

That's because they were trying to kill me.

But after I saved you,

you ran even faster.

You're not a criminal.

Y-You're from the Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

Seize him.

Why are you treating me like this?

Official Lu.

Meng Buyi is here.

He's the one who hired me!

Well, well!

Tell me,

why did you hire this

whatever-his-name-is

to assassinate me?

Because I want you dead!

You seduced my wife, Hongyao.

-Shouldn't I kill you? -Wait, wait!

How did you know

about me and Hongyao?

Qian Zheng,

didn't you hire a household spy

to investigate Hongyao?

Yeah.

Someone called Cat, right?

Yeah.

Take a closer look

at his face.

Step back!

Come here!

You are Cat?

It's me.

Do you have proof?

Tell me,

w-w-where...

does she live?

It was you!

You disguised yourself

as that household spy!

What rotten luck for me—

I actually hired you to... to snoop on Hongyao!

Now you know you're unlucky?

What about when you seduced my wife,

Hongyao?

You deserve your misfortune! You deserve to die!

What about your wife?

Now I'm also a victim of Hongyao's...

Hongyao's infidelity.

I'm a victim too.

Shut your mouth!

You slap me!

You don't reflect on yourself,

yet you slap me?

You married Hongyao,

but have you ever cared about her?

You've never even taken her

around Chang'an.

Meng Buyi, that man,

doesn't even give Hongyao money to spend!

She is so beautiful.

Shouldn't she have

the finest jewelry and clothes

to match her beauty?

Yet you slap me!

Hu Shentong,

don't you claim to be

the top assassin of the Ghost Market?

You took my deposit.

Why is he still alive?

Let me be more specific.

I, Hu Shentong,

am Chang'an Ghost Market's

top assassin at bargain prices!

Nothing good comes cheap!

You hired me,

and that's just your bad luck!

Bad luck indeed!

Enough. Take them both away.

Wait!

-He just slapped me, and that's it? -Move!

Move!

Why am I so unlucky?

Meng Buyi, oh, Meng Buyi.

You're a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue,

responsible for handling household registrations, land allocation,

and taxation matters.

You also need to assist your senior officials

in making relevant decisions.

Though not a formal official,

you must be quite busy.

I admire that you can still find time

to write strange tales.

And you even work as a household spy.

Can you manage all that?

Busy indeed,

but I manage.

Just need to sleep less.

Meng Buyi.

You, as a clerk of the Ministry of Revenue,

hired an assassin to kill someone—

do you admit your guilt?

Official Lu,

though I hired an assassin,

the murder was unsuccessful.

Surely, I deserve a lighter sentence.

Besides, my wife is still

nowhere to be found, dead or alive.

And you brought me here.

Why... Why are you interrogating me?

Secretary Meng,

just now in court,

you brawled with a witness.

I could have you beaten with rods right now for that.

Meng Buyi,

since you might

hire an assassin to kill Qian Zheng,

you could also have hired other assassins

to kill Hongyao.

You might have

even killed

your own wife

and hidden her body,

claiming she disappeared!

Is that true or not?

Confess truthfully!

Lu Lingfeng, Su Wuming,

you two once

solved the mysterious Cantian Tower case,

which was a remarkable achievement,

and captured the Demon Lord at Chengfo Temple,

making you renowned throughout Chang'an.

Is this... all you can do?

Letting a mere boy

ramble on without evidence

in this court?

This is ridiculous.

You...

Captain Xue,

you're speaking out of turn.

Secretary Meng, may I ask

what you were doing last night?

On night duty at the ministry office.

But a house-squatter

saw you return home,

climbing over the wall.

I did no such thing.

Shall we summon the witness to confront you here and now?

Bring them in.

Is your witness

this white-haired

little thief?

Was the hair on my bed

also his?

And what's this "house-squatter" nonsense?

I think he's just a thief!

You actually believe a thief?

I'm not a thief.

I really saw you jump over the wall.

I was that close to you.

You left through the door.

You were carrying a stack of papers.

Shut up!

I was on night duty at the Ministry of Revenue yesterday.

I never left the ministry office.

The senior clerk can testify for me.

I, Meng Buyi,

may be just a minor clerk at the ministry,

but at least I'm an upright gentleman, right?

You don't believe me,

but you believe

this white-haired little thief?

He's completely slandering me!

You...

Official Lu,

can your Yongzhou Prefecture Office

do anything useful for once?

My wife has been

missing for quite some time now.

If you're not going to look for her,

fine—

I'll go find her myself!

Stop right there!

Captain Xue!

I'm telling the truth.

I really saw him last night.

Xue Huan.

Keep following him.

Don't lose him.

Yes.

Jiang,

in your previous testimony,

you said that after Secretary Meng left,

Hongyao came out

with another person, right?

Yes.

Do you remember what that person looked like?

I do.

He looked roughly...

Hold on.

You don't need to tell me.

Go tell Miss Xijun.

Remember,

the more detailed, the better.

Yes.

[Integrity and Humility]

Su Wuming.

Let's split up.

You want me to go to the Ministry of Revenue?

Is that really necessary?

I actually think Meng Buyi is trustworthy.

I read his collection

of strange tales.

Someone who can write stories that well

usually has good character.

Like me, Su Wuming.

Alright, alright.

Stop praising yourself.

We don't have any other leads at the moment.

So please, Chief of Secret Agents,

take the trouble to go yourself.

Don't be so formal. Please don't.

After all, I'm still receiving my monthly salary from you.

It's no trouble at all.

I-I-I'll go right away. Right away.

[Remonstrance]

[Remonstrance]

[Strange Tales from the Western Capital, by Meng Buyi]

What Secretary Meng said is true.

He's been assigned night duty for the entire month.

These past three nights,

I've been

telling him stories about snake spirits.

[Ministry of Revenue's Office]

In the story,

there is a green snake,

a white snake,

and a purple snake.

My story is quite captivating.

Secretary Meng praised me...

saying he gained much inspiration from my story.

Here is the beginning of the story...

No need to be this detailed.

It's clearly written here.

[Dutiful and Diligent]

I'll read it slowly myself.

Old sir,

you're advanced in years,

yet you can still stay up all night on duty with Secretary Meng.

You didn't... doze off in between?

[Dutiful and Diligent]

Though I'm old,

I'm still very energetic.

How could I possibly doze off during night duty?

I'm curious, though—

how can a story about three snakes

last three nights?

[Dutiful and Diligent]

Miss,

my story is very entertaining.

Come on, let me tell you about it.

Another day perhaps.

I'm on official duty.

Just the story about snake spirits?

Nothing else?

Oh, right,

Secretary Meng also opened a jar of fine wine

for me to drink.

You didn't drink too much

and fall asleep, did you?

[Dutiful and Diligent]

What are you saying?

Though I'm old,

when it comes to drinking,

I have no equal in Chang'an!

No equal in Chang'an?

[Dutiful and Diligent]

What a coincidence.

I also know an old gentleman

who can drink a lot.

He claims to be...

What was it again?

Anyway, I think

you two should have a contest

to see who can drink more.

Alright.

Where shall we compete?

And who's paying for the drinks?

He'll pay, of course.

He's a business owner.

He just opened the Sushan Shop recently.

Sushan?

I've heard of it.

It's quite famous.

Sushan goes well with wine.

Let's go right now.

Let's go.

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

It's you?

It's me.

Although I'm getting on in years,

I can still drink plenty.

No one in Chang'an can match me!

I, Fei Qiao, Fei Yingjun,

have never gotten drunk in the Tang Empire!

Please!

Please.

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

Boss Fei is having a drinking contest with that man.

You and I should mind the business.

Let's go. Let's go.

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

Everyone,

we appreciate your patience while waiting!

We've added more staff

to prepare sushan.

Just be patient,

and you'll all get to taste this delicacy!

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

-Good! -Yeah!

How is it going?

All done.

Miss Xijun, you're truly amazing.

It looks exactly like him!

Let's go.

Wearing a light crimson official robe...

He's a fifth-rank official.

But why do I have no recollection of him?

There are so many officials in the capital.

Who could possibly remember them all?

Then how should we find this person?

We should go to the Ministry of Personnel, of course.

No need to ask the Minister or Vice Minister—

just talk to those minor officials

who have worked in the ministry for years.

They know everyone.

They know every official's hometown,

family background, talents, hobbies,

which year they passed the imperial examination,

and who their mentors were—

all crystal clear.

You're right.

Your father once served as the Vice Minister there.

Following your advice is definitely the right choice.

Would you accompany me,

Xijun?

Sure.

Fei,

what's going on?

I used the Sobering Orb,

but he passed out after just two bowls.

If I had known,

I wouldn't have needed this treasure at all.

Enough.

There are so many customers outside.

Go back to work.

Su Wuming,

you're just using me and then tossing me aside.

Being a boss is too restrictive.

How about

you manage the business for one day

while I enjoy a good drink?

Just... Just one day.

No.

You have time to read your book, yet you won't help me!

I have a feeling

that the clues to solve this mysterious case

are hidden in the Strange Tales.

Alright, go back to work.

Don't disturb me.

Unmatched in all of Chang'an...

Alright, alright.

You're unmatched, unmatched.

Listen,

if you find anyone else who boasts like him,

bring them to me.

Even without the Sobering Orb,

I've never gotten drunk anywhere in the Tang Empire.

Have you forgotten what happened in Yunding County?

You got drunk,

were kidnapped,

soaked in a pool of wine,

and nearly drowned?

That was because I was tricked by those villains.

That doesn't count. That doesn't count.

Boss,

another serving of red bean sushan, please!

Why is he so full of himself?

Who does he think he is?

Who knows?

Mr. Yan

sure treats that servant well.

He gives him the same food and drink as himself

and never makes him work.

Treats him like a lord.

All day, he just sits in the sun,

chewing mint leaves.

I even saw Mr. Yan

washing mint leaves for Ming Shi himself.

If I had his master,

I'd be happy to be a servant too.

Who wouldn't?

Hongyao?

Hongyao!

Hongyao!

Master,

did you

take Hongyao away?

You really can't let go of that woman.

Have you forgotten—seven years ago,

it was I who stopped you from being with her

all the time

and forced you to study hard,

and that's how you passed the imperial examination?

Otherwise,

you'd still be in the mountains of Lingnan,

worth nothing.

Even if I had married Hongyao,

it wouldn't have affected my...

your political career.

Shut up.

Forget about that woman.

Now you need to

focus on growing gastrodia for me.

It's the Emperor's

favorite tonic these days.

And you...

you're already lucky enough.

As an eighth-rank official,

you're allowed to wear the crimson robe

and are treated as a fifth-rank official,

even above your superior, the Chief Imperial Physician

of the Imperial Academy of Medicine.

All of this is

the result of my careful planning.

Instead of being grateful...

you come to question me?

Master,

I'm begging you.

Hongyao won't hinder my career.

I will do my utmost to become

the Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

That won't suffice.

I want you to climb

step by step—

until you reach the Chancellor position for me.

By then,

I—

a mere herbal merchant with no right

to take the imperial exams—

will become

the shadow ruler of Chang'an.

Okay, okay.

You can be the shadow ruler,

but tell me where Hongyao is.

It must be that Meng Buyi came,

and you feared being exposed,

so you made her move elsewhere, didn't you?

This is none of your business.

Forget about Hongyao

and focus on your official duties.

Don't let my painstaking efforts go to waste.

Ming Shi, you've gone too far!

I, Yan Junxian, have my limits too!

[Ming Shi, House Servant]

[Ming Shi, Herbal Merchant]

You dare to lose your temper with me?

And you call yourself "Yan Junxian"?

Have you forgotten

your real name?

Moorhen!

What are you doing?

Mr. Yan,

this man dared to disrespect you.

We'll teach him a lesson for you.

Beat him! Beat him hard!

Enough. Stop beating him.

Don't think that being a house servant

gives you the right to disrespect Mr. Yan.

As a servant, if you forget your place again,

we'll teach you a lesson anytime!

You may go now.

Go back to work.

Mr. Yan.

-Go! -Let's go.

Master.

I couldn't stop them just now.

-Otherwise, they would've... -Shut up.

Please calm down, Master.

Lately,

I keep thinking about our days in Lingnan.

Before you told me to study

[Yan Junxian, Deputy Chief Imperial Physician]

and prepare for the imperial examinations,

[And Herb Garden Supervisor]

although I was just your servant,

[Original Name: Moorhen; Ming Shi's House Servant]

back then,

life was truly carefree...

You think I enjoy dealing with

those arrogant northerners?

I can't even get fresh lychees here.

Why don't we go back?

Like Zhang Han of the Western Jin,

who longed for home delicacies

when the autumn winds rose.

Well, look at you,

even knowing a literary reference.

Next, you'll say

you want me to let you marry Hongyao,

then have children

and enjoy family bliss, right?

Dream on!

Mr. Yan!

Officials from the Yongzhou Prefecture Office have come.

The Yongzhou Prefecture Office?

Why did they come to my herb garden?

Secretary Meng, aren't you supposed to be on night duty?

It's still so early.

Why are you here already?

I had nowhere else to go, so I came early.

Where's the senior clerk?

In the afternoon,

officials from the Yongzhou Prefecture Office came.

Officials from the Yongzhou Prefecture Office came?

For what?

They invited the senior clerk for drinks.

They were actually quite polite.

I even overheard them

saying something like,

"Sushan goes well with wine."

The one above.

Finally, we bought it.

I'll try it when I get back.

Okay, okay.

Lu, please sit.

Have some tea.

No need for tea.

I'm here

to show you a painting.

A painting?

Who painted this portrait of me?

I did.

But miss, we've never met before.

I haven't seen you in person,

but someone else has.

I painted this based on

that person's description.

Who?

As for that person's name,

I'm not at liberty to reveal it.

However, Official Lu certainly knows.

This matter involves a murder case.

I must ask you to cooperate

and answer my questions truthfully,

without any concealment.

If you feel uncomfortable here

or have any concerns,

you can come with me to the Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

But before that,

I'll need your men to cooperate with mine

to thoroughly search the herb garden

and your residence.

-Greetings, Deputy Chief Physician Yan! -Greetings, Deputy Chief Physician Yan!

[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]

-Stop. -Stop.

Step aside.

[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]

Who's beating the drum?

[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]

Official Lu.

What's your suggestion?

You're asking me?

You're a skilled artist,

and you've been observing

both Yan Junxian and Meng Buyi.

You must have noticed quite a bit

from their expressions.

So,

I'm asking for your advice.

It's just my intuition.

I think they both seem guilty of something.

Since they're old acquaintances

and involved with the same woman...

why not try questioning them together?

We're thinking alike.

You don't really need my advice.

You saw I was exhausted at the shop

and found an excuse

to give me a day off, right?

That's not true.

Without your artistic skills,

how could I have tracked down

Yan Junxian?

Xijun, you are

crucial to me—

not just in assisting me with solving mysterious cases.

I admit it.

Last night...

I went home.

But we have

already sent people to the Ministry of Revenue.

The senior clerk can testify

that you were on night duty all night

and never left.

He kept pestering me last night,

telling me some story about snake spirits.

It was complete nonsense

and extremely boring.

I didn't want to listen,

so I opened a jar of wine for him.

That senior clerk couldn't hold his liquor.

He passed out after just two bowls

and slept for most of the night.

I took that opportunity

to go home.

Because I needed a lot of paper

to continue writing the strange tales,

and using the ministry's paper

wouldn't be appropriate.

Ever since Yan Junxian

returned to the capital for his post,

Hongyao and I haven't been getting along.

So,

I've always suspected him.

After I entered the courtyard,

I saw candles lit in the room.

So I went up and pounded hard on the door.

I just wanted to give them a scare.

Hongyao,

open the door!

Who is it?

Me!

Open up quickly!

Coming, coming!

Weren't you supposed to be on night duty tonight?

Why are you back so soon?

Why are you looking around?

Did you come back to catch me cheating?

Let...

Let me ask you!

I should be the one asking you!

You told me you held a position at the Ministry of Revenue,

but a secretary is just

a minor clerk.

There are 50 or 60 of you in the ministry alone!

Not only is the position lowly,

it doesn't even qualify as a proper official rank!

How much longer do you plan to keep lying to me?

Who's lying to you?

Though the secretary position is minor...

it carries significant responsibilities!

It's still a ninth-rank position!

Come on,

how can an unranked position

compare to a proper official rank?

I...

You've been in the secretary position for seven years.

If you ever thought of me,

you wouldn't spend every day

writing those strange tales

instead of trying to advance yourself!

Divorce me!

What did you say?

Divorce me!

Divorce you

just so you can get back with Yan Junxian?

Not a chance!

Though I didn't confront them directly,

you, Yan Junxian,

were hiding in my house at that time.

Tell me, where exactly were you hiding?

I...

Well...

Meng Buyi,

you claim your wife has been unfaithful.

Do you have evidence?

Yes, I do.

When I entered the room,

I saw a pair of

brown boots

hidden under the bed!

I saw them as clear as day!

These very boots!

Official Lu, I...

Meng Buyi,

do you have anything else to say?

I... I...

Nothing for now.

Deputy Chief Physician Yan, it's your turn.

Since someone drew my portrait...

Hold on!

Official Lu,

what do you mean by this?

You address him respectfully as "Deputy Chief Physician Yan,"

but call me directly by name?

What are you two playing at?

Officials covering for each other?

I am

the current Yongzhou Judicial Official.

Although I can't wear the light crimson official robes,

I have no need to curry favor with him.

After all,

I was

the former General of the Right Imperial Guards

and former Vice Minister of the Judicial Review Court...

But...

But you make a valid point.

I spoke inappropriately earlier.

From now on,

I shall address both of you directly by name.

Yan Junxian,

Meng Buyi suspects

you were in his home last night.

What do you say?

Think carefully before you speak,

because everything you say

will be recorded in the court ledger.

Since someone drew my portrait,

someone must have seen me

entering and leaving the Meng Residence.

Besides,

I didn't do anything

shameful.

Why shouldn't I admit it?

Curse you, Yan Junxian.

You met my wife secretly

while I was on night duty!

So what if I went to your house?

So what if I met with Hongyao?

She was mine to begin with!

How dare you act so disrespectfully

in court!