Original subtitles

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

[Episode 29]

[Tongji District]

Yingtao, go knock on the door.

Yongzhou Prefecture investigation.

Get the district head here at once.

Yes.

Where should we go next?

After causing such a stir,

don't tell me you don't know where to go.

I really don't.

You...

I am the district head.

I heard you're from the Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

May I know

who you are, Officer?

I'm the Yongzhou Judicial Official,

Lu Lingfeng.

Let me ask you,

who is the most famous

and wealthiest merchant in your district?

There isn't one.

The Tongji District

is east of Zhuque Avenue,

on the east side of the second street,

the thirteenth district from north to south,

and also the last district.

Just south of here is the city wall,

so it's pretty desolate here.

Why would a wealthy merchant

want to live here?

Really?

Wait, let me think.

In the Tongji District,

there are virtually no residences of high officials

or famous people.

The only somewhat famous old residence

belonged to one of the Five Leaders of the Shenlong Coup,

Huan Yanfan.

That house

has changed hands several times.

Recently,

a man named Chen Chong has bought it.

Right, he seems to be a merchant,

a boot seller.

He has a very large business.

Where is his residence?

Ancestor.

[Ancestral Virtues and Legacy]

Ancestor.

Please forgive me.

Ancestor.

I, Chen Chong, am so incompetent.

Ancestor,

I have disgraced you.

Ancestor,

you were the most renowned scholar of the Later Han,

but in my generation,

I didn't follow tradition to become an official

and instead went into commerce.

I now have a small reputation in Chang'an

and have been invited to join the Jinguang Society.

But its members are mixed,

and some often engage in shady dealings.

I have never involved myself in any of them.

I have not disgraced my forefathers.

Ancestor,

may your spirit in heaven

bless the Chen family with great wealth and status

and many descendants.

Ancestor.

Ancestor.

Who's there? Stop right there!

Y-You brazen thief,

how dare you break in to steal?

Turn your head away.

If you see me, you'll die.

W-Who are you?

If you don't want to die, turn away!

You're not a thief.

I was rude just now.

Please forgive my disrespect.

Please forgive my disrespect.

My apologies.

[Chen Residence]

Ancestor, bless me. Ancestor…

Based on mere imagination,

you pretended to be me in the middle of the night

and went to the Tongji District.

When did our mentor ever teach you

to solve cases like that?

Su Wuming didn't mean to impersonate you.

It's just that he has no official position.

If he hadn't said he was you,

how would the district head have cooperated?

Making assumptions, disturbing people at night,

and even alarming the Imperial Guards!

You've not only disgraced the Yongzhou Prefecture Office

but also brought shame to our mentor, Master Di!

-I... -How could you say that about him?

Just before we arrived,

Chen Chongzhen was nearly assassinated!

You are so certain of this,

but did you see it with your own eyes?

No!

But I heard it directly from Chen Chong!

Is that credible?

What if Chen Chong had an ulterior motive

and fabricated this assassination attempt?

You…

Lu Lingfeng,

how could you speak to Yingtao like that?

My apologies, Miss Chu.

I need to have a serious talk with Su Wuming.

Xijun,

please excuse yourselves, alright?

Su Wuming.

You've gone too far!

What makes you say that?

Let's not talk about

whether the list the High Priest, Shi Qiansui,

provided is authentic or not.

Even if it is authentic,

why didn't you consider

[Imperial City] [Yanfu District] [Yong'an District]

Yanfu or Yong'an Districts?

[West Market] [Yanping Gate] [East Market] [Yanxing Gate]

[Kaihua District] [Anren District] [Anyi District]

[Yanfu District] [Yong'an District]

This is the character that means "inch."

It symbolizes your shortsightedness!

Why didn't you consider

that Yanfu District and Yong'an District

would each have a murder case?

[West Market] [East Market]

[Yanshou District] [Yong'an District] [Datong District]

[Kaihua District] [Anren District] [Anyi District]

[Yanfu District] [Yong'an District]

This is the character that means "thirty."

If you just use your brain a little,

you could create many more characters

on this map.

But you didn't think about it at all.

You decided that the murderer

intended to write the character

that means "gentry" in Chang'an.

You're prejudiced against the gentry!

I indeed failed to catch the killer,

but was my investigative approach

really so bad that it made you

fly into such a rage?

Compared to one's background,

I believe a person's virtues,

aspirations, and talents are more important.

Some people are born into the gentry,

yet they do not see themselves

as nobler than the commoners;

they only see the suffering of the common people.

In that case, he is

nobler than the average gentry.

Some people may be born into common families,

but they care about the nation and the people.

They are therefore worthy of respect.

You're praising yourself, aren't you?

My dear Official Lu,

the river of time flows ceaselessly.

Ever since the former Sui Dynasty

abolished the Nine-Rank Official System,

the era of the gentry

has already passed.

You need to accept this reality.

You're a Metropolitan Graduate,

so naturally you dislike the Nine-Rank Official System.

Of course, the Nine-Rank Official System

had its drawbacks.

But if the court

had committed to reforming it,

it would still have been

an excellent system for selecting talent.

That's why at the beginning of Tang,

Emperor Gaozu restored this system.

But after Emperor Taizong took the throne,

didn't he abolish it again?

Therefore, whether one is born into the gentry

is no longer that important.

The gentry are not that important?

Let me ask you,

the texts and classics that represent

the cultural lineage of China—

through whom were they passed down?

I admit that.

Many ancient classics

were passed down to the present day

precisely through the gentry.

Moreover, many gentry families

rose to prominence by annotating classics,

including your Lu family of Fanyang.

It's good that you admit it.

The gentry value refinement.

What is refinement?

It's not about holding high positions

or how much money one has,

but rather

excellent family education and traditions.

In short,

refinement is the love for books.

But Lu Lingfeng, have you considered

whether this, in itself,

is a kind of privilege?

The vast majority of common people

simply do not have the chance to become literate

and read books.

If one day,

in the Tang Empire,

those classics

were available for every commoner to read,

wouldn't it mean

that whoever loves reading is noble?

You're twisting words.

Lu Lingfeng,

you were born into the gentry,

but since you traveled south with me,

I have clearly seen

that you care deeply for the common people.

I am an orphan who grew up

in the Chongnian Temple in Luoyang.

I have always

cared about the common people.

I am also a gentry member.

I have the duty to defend

the dignity of the gentry.

In today's Chang'an,

there is indeed friction between the gentry and merchants.

But when a merchant is dead,

you, without any evidence,

point the finger at the gentry.

What are your intentions?

I have not locked onto a murderer.

Is it not true that we have no new leads?

I simply connected those districts,

and when I looked at them,

they looked like the character "gentry."

You…

Look me in the eye.

Do you dare to say

that the killer you're imagining

isn't from the gentry?

Lu Lingfeng.

Su Wuming.

Come with me.

Yingtao, let go.

Yes, I admit it.

That's exactly what I think.

So you admit to your slander.

The gentry

should have the world in their hearts.

How could they possibly

kill innocent people as you imagine?

You think your Metropolitan Graduate status

is more honorable than a hereditary appointment?

Let me tell you.

Many of today's Metropolitan Graduates

possess only superficial literary talent.

They have no real ability to govern the state.

They only know how to pass the exams,

and their sole purpose of taking exams

is just to gain a salary from the court.

But the gentry have family learning

and are familiar with court protocols.

If the court were to reform

and rebuild the gentry,

removing their old, corrupt flaws

and forging a new spirit for the Tang gentry,

wouldn't that be a good thing?

I previously thought you only aspired

to protect the Tang Empire

and its people.

But to my great surprise,

you, Lu Lingfeng, also have

plans to become the Chancellor.

This has nothing to do with what position I hold.

I, Lu Lingfeng,

am proud to be from the Lu family of Fanyang.

Also,

I care about the common people.

The gentry aren't wrong.

They're wronged by misunderstanding!

Lu Lingfeng is truly unbelievable.

He showed you no respect at all.

Perhaps this time, I truly was wrong.

I mean my approach to the case.

Both he and I

are committed to the ideals in our hearts.

Therefore, a debate is quite normal.

But today,

I've realized that Lu Lingfeng

has great aspirations.

He might truly become

the new hope for the gentry.

I'm genuinely happy for him.

He just lashed out at you,

and you're still happy for him?

Su Wuming,

are you a fool?

I'm a fool?

Then you're an even bigger fool.

You didn't catch up to him?

He ignored me and just rode off on his horse.

Men, you know.

If he wants to be angry, let him be.

Sometimes,

you don't need to mind them too much.

Oh no! I left Mr. Fei

at the Ghost Market yesterday.

I wonder if he's come back.

The Ghost Market?

That place is very dangerous.

Mr. Fei.

Master Fei.

Master Fei!

You're back.

Yingtao was so worried about you.

I'm Boss Fei, after all.

If I don’t come back, who will run the shop?

Mr. Fei…

Yingtao, haven't you

had sushan in days?

I'll personally make one for you.

A cherry-flavored one!

If I want one, I can make it myself.

It's not the same.

Master Fei,

I have a favor to ask.

Who are you trying to catch?

It's not catching someone.

It's saving someone.

[Wei Mansion]

I'm scared.

It's alright, Jia.

I don't want to see strangers.

I don't want to see strangers, Sister-in-law!

I don't want to see strangers. I don't want to.

I don't want to see strangers.

Okay, no strangers.

You won't see anyone.

I don't want to.

I don't want to.

Please, have some tea.

What kind of incense do you use here?

Just ordinary sandalwood.

It's not ordinary; the scent is quite unique.

Xijun, I am truly sorry.

My sister…

As you saw just now,

she acts like that whenever she hears

she has to see a doctor.

I'm afraid she may have a sudden episode

and hurt the old gentleman.

That won't happen.

Sir, you must not be careless.

After all, during the examination,

you'll be too close to her.

Some illnesses

require close examination,

but your sister does not.

I got a grasp

of her situation just now.

How about this?

I'll write a prescription.

After you give her the medicine,

she will soon fall into a deep sleep.

While she is asleep,

I'll perform acupuncture on her.

She'll get better within five days.

As for a full recovery,

that will take 49 days.

My sister has been ill for many days.

We've consulted all famous doctors in Chang'an,

but none had a good solution.

You believe there is still a chance for her to fully recover?

Of course.

Otherwise, I would not

have said so.

After all, a famous doctor is not necessarily a miracle doctor.

And a miracle doctor like me,

though nameless...

Juniang,

Master Fei's medical skills are superb.

He has saved countless people.

I saw it with my own eyes

when we traveled south and west.

You flatter me.

That's truly wonderful!

However,

she'll need acupuncture for 49 days.

Having you come here daily

would be too much trouble for you.

That's true indeed.

After all, I, Boss Fei,

am very busy these days.

Why don't we have the patient

come to the Sushan Shop daily?

No.

Jia cannot leave the house.

I can't explain the reasons.

Please understand.

That…

I have an idea.

I learned acupuncture when I was young.

I just didn't know

acupuncture could cure such a stubborn illness.

Miracle Doctor Fei, if you don't find me too dull,

could you teach me the acupuncture techniques?

How about I, on your behalf,

perform the treatment on my sister?

T-That's…

If you're willing to teach me,

I'll offer three teals of gold

and become your disciple.

There's no need for gold.

I'm not short of money.

Your husband

is friends with Lu Lingfeng after all.

Besides,

Xijun sees you as a sister.

You said you once learned acupuncture.

If you only know the basics,

then teaching you

would be quite difficult.

How about this?

You seem healthy enough.

I'll just pick a random acupoint

on your body and test you.

Bring strong liquor.

Yes.

You're a pro.

Can you learn this technique?

I will try.

Come on.

Try it on me.

That's…

It's fine.

If you don't try it on me,

how will I know

if your technique is up to par?

Alright.

Now, prick my Sibai acupoint

and Dicang acupoint.

Who taught you these techniques?

My parents know a bit of medicine.

Your parents are...

Master Fei,

Juniang is from the Du family of Jingzhao.

The Du family?

I never heard of

any famous doctors from the Du family.

They don't practice medicine.

It's just part of our family education.

These prestigious families

really are different.

You truly wish to be my disciple?

Then I've hit the jackpot.

-Master, please accept my… - Wait a moment!

Master,

please accept my respect.

Master, please have some tea.

Congratulations, Master Fei.

Congratulations, Juniang.

Juniang,

I'll teach you a set of needle techniques.

If you can perform acupuncture on the patient

once in the morning and once in the evening every day,

then a full recovery

won't even require 49 days.

In that case,

when my sister is fully recovered,

I'll surely bring her to thank you in person.

Good, good.

I never thought that

I'd actually take on a female disciple.

Yingtao,

why didn't you come inside just now?

That's the residence of a gentry family.

As a woman of the martial world,

I'd better not enter.

Mr. Fei, you're amazing.

Even Du Juniang, who's now Mrs. Wei,

has become your disciple.

That's nothing.

The Grand Princess of the Tang Empire

personally presented me

with the gold plaque "Chicken Master of Tang."

Didn't you see it?

Master Fei, you're extraordinary.

You can mingle with nobles

and also roam the Ghost Market.

Oh right, I've strived

in the Ghost Market for decades, but…

The owner of Sifang Cane Shop is a Song.

He is hiding inside the Ghost Market.

The man's over 100 years old.

If you were to capture him,

it'd surely be as easy as pie, right?

Mr. Fei, are you unwilling to help me

because I am not from the gentry

or because I'm not your disciple?

I can become your disciple too.

I, Chu...

Is that old man

surnamed Song?

Wait for me.

[Yongzhou Prefecture Office]

Notify the officials of Chang'an and Wannian.

Due to the serial killings of merchants

and multiple suspected disappearances,

from today onward,

all related cases

will be investigated by the Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

-Yes. -Yes.

[Mortuary of Chang'an County]

Sheriff Wei.

Yongzhou officials are here.

Why wasn't I informed in advance?

You're now

one of them too.

[Law Stands Above All]

Sheriff Wei.

Mr. Su.

After the second autopsy,

have you found anything new?

The murder weapon was not a standard issue.

It was also extremely hard

and irregularly shaped.

Similar to a large, sharp stone.

That's strange.

It seems

our understanding of the An Society

is still quite limited.

Why? Do you suspect the An Society, Sheriff Wei?

[People Are the Foundation]

He Qian and Hua Fu

were both members of the An Society.

I hear there is a lot of internal conflict,

with each district competing

to be the leader among merchants.

This constant vying

could lead to revenge killings.

To be honest,

besides these two murder cases

in Chang'an County,

there are also multiple cases of missing merchants.

But because no bodies were found,

under normal circumstances,

they are not treated as criminal cases.

Thus, they have not been reported to the Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

That is in accordance with the regulations.

Mr. Su.

[Law Stands Above All]

Sheriff Wei is here too.

Several merchants have disappeared.

Sheriff Wei already knows about it.

Speak frankly.

A body was found in Shanhe District.

Initial identification suggests

it's a missing merchant from that district.

Take me to examine the body now.

Yes.

[No Harm Shall Come]

Sheriff Wei,

Official Lu has decided

to combine the merchant murder and missing cases

and hand them over

to the Yongzhou Prefecture Office for investigation.

Those in Wannian County

have already been notified.

Do you have any objections?

Of course not.

Good.

[Shanhe District]

Write this down.

The victim's face, neck,

chest, abdomen, and limbs

show no wounds.

The injury is on the back of the head.

Razor.

Mr. Su,

a body was found in Chonghua District.

Though somewhat decomposed,

judging from the clothing,

it should be the missing merchant from that district.

Let's go perform another autopsy.

Yes.

Mr. Su, you're truly remarkable.

Wherever you say there's a body,

there is one.

I'm impressed.

This morning in Da'an District,

we didn't find any body.

I must have been careless.

I'll go back and search again.

I'll go with Luo to search.

Let's go.

My master

[Anren District]

has indeed disappeared.

It's been seven days already,

and still no news of him.

Who else is in the household?

He has no children.

His wife has passed away from illness.

Does he have any

close friends?

My master has so many friends.

Being a merchant,

if he didn't make many friends,

how could his business expand?

Especially after joining the Jinguang Society,

he often had evening banquets with friends.

Sometimes,

they'd party until dawn.

Jinguang Society?

I've heard that name

several times recently.

What kind of organization is it exactly?

I'm not sure about that.

It seems to be

an organization within the An Society.

Ordinary merchants cannot join it.

One must be like my master,

extremely wealthy,

to qualify as a member.

Captain Xue,

stay in Anren District

and do your best to find the missing merchant.

Focus the search on spots near this residence

where a body might easily be hidden.

Yes.

[Zhaoguo District]

[Jinchang District]

[An Society]

The Zhao and Zhu families in Jinchang District

have each received one bag of grain and one jar of wine.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Don't thank me.

Thank the An Society.

Right. We thank the An Society.

Alright, take care.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

What's happening over there?

The An Society

gives handouts once a month.

This month, they're giving out wine too.

Yes, the An Society is benevolent.

Right.

What the heck?

It's deliberate provocation.

-Let's go. -Let's go.

Let's go.

Thank you.

-I'd like a share too. -I'd like a share too.

You're from Zhaoguo District, aren't you?

Yes.

The Zhaoguo District

is home to high-ranking gentry families

and the Zheng family of Xingyang.

The food and wine from the An Society

are only for commoners,

not for your kind.

You...

What?

Sir, though I live in Zhaoguo District,

I'm only pretending to be a Zheng.

My real surname is Niu.

How can you prove it?

Look at me—

impoverished and miserable.

My family can barely afford to eat.

Please, have mercy on me.

Then you must swear

that you're not a Cui, Lu, Li, Zheng,

Wang, Wei, Pei, Liu, Xue, Yang, Du,

Xiao, Dou, Xing, Feng, Gao, Yuan,

Yuwen, Dugu, or any such surname.

I swear I'm not.

Alright then, take it.

Thank you.

I don't want the wine.

Could I

have another bag of grain instead?

Give it to him.

Thank you.

What's wrong with you?

I...

The Zheng family of Xingyang

has produced officials and famous people for generations.

For these two bags of grain,

you begged this rabble

and even denied your ancestors?

Beat him up!

Stop!

This is a family affair.

It has nothing to do with outsiders.

You are openly hitting someone.

This isn't inside your ancestral hall.

I, an outsider,

insist on intervening!

Sheriff Du.

It was them!

They deliberately provoked us.

Please punish them, Sheriff Du.

How did they provoke you?

They're distributing grain and wine

but deliberately exclude

those born into the gentry.

They're intentionally creating conflict.

[An Society]

It's the An Society.

They're helping the poor.

They are providing the supplies

and can give them to whoever they want.

All of you are from high-ranking families.

Whether you're doing well

or going through a difficult time,

letting such a trivial matter upset you

and fighting publicly in the street

is your fault!

I, the county sheriff,

officially reprimand you.

-Yes. -Yes.

You may go.

Sheriff Du.

I'm not afraid of being embarrassed,

but my family

truly has nothing to eat.

Go.

Thank you, Sheriff Du.

Thank you, Sheriff Du.

Official Lu,

what brings you here?

Just passing by.

Sheriff Du, what's your view on this matter?

Didn't I just

say my opinion?

But the An Society's behavior is indeed inappropriate.

It should not be ignored.

[An Society]

Who's the man in charge here?

The officer from Yongzhou Prefecture is here.

Step forward and speak.

Greetings, Officer.

It is certainly correct for you

to provide food and wine for the poor.

But why discriminate based on background?

I apologize,

but I'm just following orders.

Look, I have a list here.

Districts where the gentry are concentrated, such as Buzheng,

[Buzheng, Chongren, Taiping, Wuben, Xuanyang]

Chongren, Taiping, Wuben, Xuanyang,

Guangde, Zhaoguo, Jinggong, and others,

are not included in the relief effort.

What can I do about it?

Who made this rule?

It was Chief He Bi.

I happen to know

where Chief He is right now.

Where?

At He Qian's residence,

arranging his brother's funeral.

But

I can't accompany you there.

Today, the magistrate

ordered me to punish those who litter.

So I can only take my men

and patrol the streets, checking for garbage.

Look, look.

To think I'm a constable.

Sheriff Du,

I was the one who combined the murder cases

with the disappearances

and brought them to the Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

I have no objections,

and I'm not complaining.

I just hope you solve the cases soon.

Also,

without the murder cases weighing on me,

I feel much more at ease.

In three days, I'm hosting a gathering at my home.

Would you honor me with your presence?

Thank you for your kind invitation,

but I'm truly too busy lately.

What?

The Wei family of Jingzhao is worthy of your company,

but the Du family isn't?

What do you mean by that?

The merit-record pillars.

As the Wei family unearthed their merit pillar,

my Du family

also unearthed a record pillar.

This family banquet I'm hosting

is to celebrate

my family's merit-record pillar seeing the light of day again.

If you could attend,

I

and my clansmen from the south of the city

will be very grateful.

The An Society helping the poor is an act of charity.

[He Qian's Residence]

It's not easy for merchants to earn money either.

We have no reason

to give food to those high-ranking gentry families.

Besides, even if we wanted to give it,

would they even accept it?

It's your money,

so of course you decide who to give it to.

However,

intentionally escalating the conflict between the gentry

and merchants is not right.

If guilty, make amends. If not, strive to do better.

I heard that within the An Society,

there's an organization called the Jinguang Society.

Yes.

I am the founder.

Could you tell me about it?

Among the gentry, farmers, artisans, and merchants,

though merchants are ranked last,

they also make essential contributions

to Chang'an.

Among merchants,

there should be role models.

Therefore, the Jinguang Society was founded.

Only those who run the best businesses

and earn the most money can join.

This also indirectly encourages

young people new to commerce

and those who are half-hearted

and not serious about their trade.

May I ask, was Hua Fu

a member of the Jinguang Society too?

Yes.

What about Ma Kui?

Ma Kui was also a member.

What about your brother He Qian?

M-My brother was also a member.

By the way,

several other members

have mysteriously disappeared.

Is the Jinguang Society…

Your ancestor

was from a famous family in the Han and Wei Dynasties,

the progenitor of the Chen family of Yingchuan,

respectfully referred to as Chen Taiqiu.

Taiqiu's grandson

was Chen Qun, an important official of the Wei Dynasty.

He created the Nine-Rank Official System

and personally ushered in

the era of the gentry.

Indeed.

But I

have brought shame to my ancestors.

Last night,

a thief really came to your residence?

It didn't seem like a thief.

It should have been an assassin.

But for some reason,

he didn't attack me.

Thinking about it now,

perhaps my ancestor was protecting me.

Could you tell me

exactly what happened?

[Chonghua District]

Write this down.

No injuries on the body.

Heavy blow to the back of the head.

Non-standard weapon,

likely a sharp, heavy object.

It's the same killer.

The cloth sack must have contained the murder weapon.

Based on your description,

it sounds like an iron weight,

or…

a large stone.

Yes.

That sound was muffled and heavy.

It could be a stone.

You've built quite a business

selling boots.

I hear you're the top seller in Chang'an now.

So you must have joined the An Society, right?

Yes.

And you've joined the Jinguang Society too?

You know about that too?

Yes.

The society leader approved it a month ago,

so I joined the Jinguang Society.

What does the Jinguang Society usually do?

Actually,

we just gather at the society hall

for evening banquets,

eating, drinking, and exchanging information.

But you see,

several people have died recently,

so we've stopped meeting.

It also happens that the Jinguang Society

is expanding its villa in the south of the city.

Once it's completed,

we'll gather there for several days.

Official Lu,

the location of this villa

is truly blessed.

As soon as construction began,

they unearthed the merit-record pillars

of the Wei and Du families of Jingzhao.

Wait.

Both families' merit-record pillars

were dug up there?

Yeah, I guess.

That's just what I heard.

I don't know anything else.

I've said too much.

[Jinguang Society]

Come.

Good.

Lift it up.

Put it here.

Good.

Careful.

Put it here.

Good.

Come.

Come.

I was passing by the East Market

and brought you some snacks.

Why?

Do I really have to say it out loud?

You don't have to, Official Lu.

I shouldn't have lost my temper like that.

I apologize to you.

It's fine.

You don't need to apologize to me.

But Yingtao was quite upset with you.

Su Wuming will soothe her.

Besides,

she's a secret agent of Yongzhou Prefecture.

We have different views

on investigation approaches.

Arguments are inevitable.

How about

you help me apologize to her?

All right. When she returns,

I'll share these snacks with her.

She'll surely smile then.

Come in and have a seat.

Who is this person you've drawn?

Ms. Wei Jia.

She's only two years older than me.

We used to play together as children.

She's one of the most beautiful women

in the south of the city.

I remember that

after she married into the Dou family of Fufeng,

her husband became a county magistrate through family connections.

Unfortunately, just a few months after their wedding,

her husband died of illness.

Is that

why she went mad?

Sit down.

I don't think so.

I heard

she later remarried a merchant.

This caused quite a conflict

with her family.

A merchant?

Rumor says

he was one of the biggest merchants in Chang'an.

That's not quite right.

He Bi is one of

the biggest merchants in Chang'an.

He looks down on Ma Kui.

What's wrong?

Don't you know Sheriff Wei?

Of course I do. We're even relatives.

It couldn't be He Bi, could it?