Original subtitles

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

[Episode 34]

Zhong Shizai,

what other crimes have you committed?

Confess truthfully!

I haven't!

Mr. Geng already anticipated

you would say that.

When I first saw him back then,

he was covered in blood,

with multiple wounds on his body.

It was clear that these injuries

resulted from violent fights with others.

[Speak and Seek Truth]

My wife passed away many years ago...

and left me with no children.

Zhong Shizai was the first disciple

I ever took in.

I treated him

like my own son,

caring for him and teaching him.

But eventually, I discovered

he wasn't suited to be a coroner.

It's because he killed people when he was young.

In our line of work,

we constantly deal with corpses

and murder weapons.

What we see and perceive

can also stir up

the desire to kill within us.

Now you understand

why Mr. Geng had to

expel you from his tutelage, right?

Zhong Shizai's skills as a coroner

may rank

[Speak and Seek Truth]

among the top in Chang'an,

but he's far from securing

a top-three position.

He is extremely shrewd

and excels at using others' strengths against them.

[Speak and Seek Truth]

He's even better at employing deceitful schemes.

Therefore,

when I discovered that Dong Yue's death

wasn't as simple as it appeared,

I began to suspect him.

He thought

that by eliminating Coroners Dong and Zheng with one scheme,

he could ensure

his place among the top three.

I lied and said

that I'd participate in the Coroners' Contest myself,

and I wrote this in advance...

waiting for him to come.

"If I'm murdered,

the killer is Zhong Shizai."

You anticipated everything beforehand.

I taught him myself.

I'm deeply ashamed.

I was once a servant,

but was fortunate enough

to study and practice martial arts alongside my young master.

The young master was dull-witted,

or rather, he was a fool.

Whether it was reading and writing

or horsemanship and combat skills,

he was inferior to me!

The master became angry because of this

and often beat and scolded me to vent his frustration.

I could only endure it

in order to continue my studies.

But my endurance

did not earn me kind treatment.

The master became increasingly cruel

and nearly beat me to death several times!

I couldn't bear it anymore,

so I killed all three members of that family

and disguised it as a night raid by bandits!

I wounded myself as well

to deceive the constables

and escape.

That is how I've survived until today.

My mentor was right.

I've long been weary of

being a coroner.

Because every time I see a corpse,

a murder weapon,

or a murder scene,

I'm reminded of

who I once was.

Sheriff Su!

Sheriff Su!

There's been a beheading case.

The victim is a young woman—

head and body separated!

Is an autopsy necessary?

Coroner Zhong Shizai is here!

Shame...

I won't have a chance

to perform an autopsy again.

Fortunately, we didn't ask Xijun to come.

Sheriff Su,

there are no more coroners available.

Go invite Mr. Geng.

Tell him I sent you.

Yes, sir.

Sheriff Su has just taken office.

Please do him this favor.

It's not that I don't want to help,

but as you can see, I'm old and sick.

I really can't leave home anymore.

Well...

Suchan,

go with Captain Xu.

Tell them you'll examine the body on my behalf,

and ask Sheriff Su if he would permit it.

What?

Haven't you always wanted

to become a coroner yourself?

But I'm a woman.

Can I really be a coroner?

A woman examining a female corpse

is more convenient than a man doing so.

Besides,

Su Wuming is Master Di's disciple,

so he won't be bound by outdated conventions.

Perhaps this is your chance.

Take my autopsy kit

and go.

Go.

I...

I've never examined a corpse before.

There's a first time for everyone.

Please proceed.

Sheriff Su, you're really allowing me to examine the body?

Since Mr. Geng sent you here,

you must have learned his skills well.

Also,

Yingtao can keep a record for you.

In that case, thank you for your help.

[Soap pod] [Musk]

Record:

[Autopsy Record]

The skin below the neck is contracted.

Both sides of the cervical vertebrae protrude.

There are spatter-pattern bloodstains in the surrounding area.

These indicate that the victim was hacked while still alive.

[Autopsy Record]

The head lies four feet to the right of the shoulders.

[Autopsy Record]

The severed surface of the head is clean

and can be aligned with the body.

Therefore, I deduce

it was likely

cut off by a sharp weapon such as a sword or knife,

and the killing was accomplished with a single strike.

We should immediately find the relatives

and ensure the head

and body belong to the same person.

The time of death.

Judging from the wound, it should be around 9-11 PM,

no later than midnight.

Sheriff Su,

I don't know

what else needs to be examined.

You've examined it thoroughly,

with clear reasoning

and accurate judgment.

You will surely be able to inherit

Mr. Geng's legacy as an excellent coroner.

Captain Xu.

Yes, sir.

As the coroner suggested,

find the deceased's relatives immediately.

Today, Coroner Suchan

shall receive the highest autopsy fee.

Furthermore,

in the future, the county office

may call upon Suchan

whenever a coroner is needed.

Yes, sir.

Suchan, well done.

Your examination was just as thorough

as Sheriff Su's.

Congratulations on becoming a female coroner.

Actually, you're not the first.

We've met more than

one female coroner before

in Shiyang County.

So, you're not alone.

You've seen the body now.

Can you confirm the identity?

It's my daughter!

She was fine yesterday.

It's all your fault.

When our daughter picked up that cursed money,

you should have thrown it away!

But you!

You thought it was a blessing!

Found some money?

Mother, look.

-Who lost it? -Well...

Who...

Who dropped this pouch?

Not mine.

That's not mine.

Quick, count them.

[One]

[One]

Have you seen a money pouch?

About this big

and red in color.

Haven't seen it.

Never seen it.

We haven't been to

the crossroads today.

Right, haven't been there lately.

Sheriff Su,

we've asked around all the nearby streets.

Nothing like this has ever happened before.

I've heard of people losing money,

but I've never heard of anyone admitting they found it.

If such good fortune really happened,

no one would speak of it openly.

-Yeah. -Right.

Have any of you seen this pouch before?

Everyone, come and take a look!

Have you seen this red pouch?

-No. -No.

Haven't seen it.

Senior Yin!

You were scared, right?

It's made of wood.

When I have free time,

I practice my makeup skills on it.

Look at this place.

It hardly looks like a home anymore.

You can admit it now.

You stopped being a coroner

and moved out of the house

because you were jealous

that Father treated Senior Shizai better than you.

Back then, both the Ministry of Justice

and the Court of Judicial Review asked Father for a coroner.

Father recommended Senior Shizai,

not you.

Are you still angry at Father for that?

It's all in the past.

Come have a bowl of soup.

The Three-Fruit Bone Broth

that I made myself.

Isn't that the famous broth from the West Market?

The one that nobles drink?

You can actually make it at home?

What's so difficult about that?

You just need to boil juice from Terminalia chebula,

Phyllanthus emblica,

and Terminalia bellirica,

and then cook it with pork bones.

Then I must try it.

Here.

It's really good.

I have some good news

to tell you.

Early this morning, I heard

that Senior Shizai was arrested by the county office.

I feel terrible about it.

What good news could there possibly be?

Indeed.

Compared to what happened to Senior Shizai,

whether I become a coroner or not

doesn't seem important anymore.

You're going to be a coroner?

Sheriff Su permitted it.

I examined

a decapitated female corpse.

I don't know

whether I should be happy for you or...

Why wouldn't you be happy for me?

The work of a coroner is steeped in death.

You're a young woman.

It's not suitable.

But I've been waiting for this day

for so long.

Senior Yin, you don't know.

Since you moved out,

Father has been teaching me

the autopsy formulas every day.

You've been studying autopsy for three years now?

Yeah.

Although I've studied for three years,

Father often scolds me for being stupid.

Because in his heart,

the most talented one is you, Senior Yin.

I can see

how deeply saddened Father is

over Senior Shizai.

So I came today

to ask you

to return to the coroner's trade.

Isn't there going to be

a Coroners' Contest?

You're the best, Senior Yin.

You'll definitely win first place.

That way,

you can serve in the county office,

and Father will surely be proud of you.

I'll become

the best mortician

in all of Chang'an too.

I'll visit our mentor often.

May he live a long and healthy life.

Well, I must go now.

Before you came,

someone just asked for my services

to apply makeup to a deceased person.

They said it was a violent death.

The head was cut off.

I wonder

if it's the same body you examined.

Suchan,

thank you for the soup.

It's delicious.

[Funeral]

You're the mortician, right?

The passing ceremony,

soul-calling ceremony,

bathing,

and changing of clothes for my daughter

have all been completed.

Once you apply her makeup,

she can be placed in the coffin.

No rush.

"Through solemn rites, we mourn the nation's sorrows;

through funeral rites, we mourn death."

Nothing in funeral rituals should be omitted.

Before applying the final makeup,

our morticians have certain rituals to perform.

The tradition of burial camphorwood dolls began with Yu Qing,

burial garments with Zuo Botao,

and funeral songs with the rope-pullers' chants.

The ritual of mortuary makeup

shall begin with me, Yin Yao.

♪ I bind cassia branches as I gaze into the distance ♪

♪ My longing swells until I can't bear it ♪

♪ What power does worry hold in the end? ♪

♪ I wish things could remain as they are today, untouched by loss ♪

♪ Yet every life follows its appointed course ♪

♪ Who can control meeting or parting? ♪

[Funeral]

Less than 20 zhang

out the back door

is where the crime occurred.

Given that the deceased's chamber

is next to her parents',

that they

heard no sounds,

and that there are no signs

of struggle or scratches on the deceased's body,

we can conclude

she was not forced out by any intruder;

rather, she

left voluntarily.

What exactly did she see?

They say the courtyard where the deceased was found

has been abandoned for many years.

It's rumored to be haunted.

Neighbors never go there.

Going there in the dead of night—

wasn't she asking for trouble?

Respect the dead. Don't speak carelessly.

My daughter!

Stop crying!

Let our daughter rest in peace.

Don't be like this.

Please, don't be like this!

Quickly pull her back!

My daughter!

You've

made my daughter look so beautiful.

How can I ever thank you enough?

It's simply my duty as a mortician.

No need to thank me.

And your payment...

I remember you mentioned

50 coins.

You think... that's too much?

No, no.

I think it's too little.

This is the proper price for funeral services?

This is the price.

Giving the deceased a beautiful appearance,

allowing them to depart

with dignity and peace,

is itself a virtuous deed.

Charging you 50 coins

is just to cover the cost of rouge,

white lead powder, and other materials.

In that case,

I bow to you on behalf of my daughter!

The makeup is truly wonderful.

I didn't expect to

run into you here again, Sheriff Su.

The case remains unsolved.

I'm here for a routine investigation.

Have you found any leads?

Not yet.

However, having witnessed it today,

I now have a deeper understanding

of the significance of your work.

Earlier, I was thinking

of persuading you to go back to being a coroner.

But now I see

that's no longer necessary.

Thank you, Sheriff Su.

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

Business at Sushan Shop has been good lately.

By the end of the month, we can divide the profits again.

Really?

But I haven't been

helping at the shop lately.

How could I

shamelessly take a share?

Besides,

the salary from Yongzhou Prefecture is quite generous.

I can't even spend it all.

Just count me out.

You all divide it among yourselves.

Well now, Su Wuming!

Look at you, all dejected.

What?

Without my help,

being county sheriff

is too much for you, huh?

Stop teasing me.

By the way,

you've lived among the common folk for a long time

and know a lot.

Come here

and help me take a look at this.

What is it?

[One]

Whose is this?

It belonged to a beheading victim.

Did the murdered person

pick it up at a crossroads?

Mr. Fei, how did you know?

This is a life-borrowing pouch that someone left behind.

It's used for borrowing someone else's lifespan.

Borrow lifespan?

[Dong's Coffin Shop]

Master,

your kindness to me was as great as a mountain,

[Dong's Coffin Shop]

and I never got the chance to repay you.

If I could choose,

I'd gladly give my life to you.

Master.

[Dong's Coffin Shop]

Master!

Is your spirit here

to collect money?

Master!

May you rest in peace!

Whose money pouch is this?

This happens often in the Ghost Market.

When someone is about to die

and their loved ones desperately

want to make them live longer,

they put money in life-borrowing pouches

and leave them at various crossroads.

If someone picks up the money,

it's as if they've lent their lifespan

to the dying person.

But killing the person who picks up the money—

that's not borrowing lifespan.

That's stealing lifespan.

Even in the Ghost Market, such acts are extremely rare.

So, this character "one" means

borrowing one year of life?

That depends on how seriously ill

the dying person is.

If the illness is severe,

it might mean

borrowing only one day.

Killing one person to borrow one day of life?

That's too cruel.

The person who wrote this character

may be skilled with the brush,

but... the character is written rather poorly.

Wuming, look.

The final stroke is pressed too heavily.

You can tell the person was never formally taught.

[Dong's Coffin Shop]

Sheriff Su.

The young assistant at the coffin shop—

Dong Yue's disciple—

committed suicide in front of his master's body.

This sword

usually hung there.

Supposedly to ward off evil.

Speaking of which, Dong Yue

worked as a coroner his whole life—

there was something eerie about him.

He died unjustly.

That must have left him with unresolved grievances.

So he had to take his disciple

to accompany him in death.

Captain Xu.

How can you be sure it was suicide?

Isn't it obvious?

He... He just...

Summon a coroner.

Yes, sir.

Go to Coroner Geng's house and request Suchan.

Yes.

That red pouch...

Who put it there?

Where?

As soon as I received the report this morning,

I sealed off the coffin shop

immediately.

No one except us has entered since then.

It must have been

there all along.

Yingtao, come count these.

[Three]

Seven times seven, 49.

Three.

[Three]

I observe

that the deceased's mouth and eyes are open.

Note it.

I observe

that no wounds are found on either hand of the deceased.

That should be recorded separately.

My mistake.

I find

no visible wounds on the deceased's left hand.

[Autopsy Record]

Done.

I find

[Autopsy Record]

no visible wounds on the deceased's right hand.

I observe

that the wound is on the left chest,

penetrating completely through.

The sword is dull.

Therefore, I deduce

the assailant

must have had considerable arm strength,

[Autopsy Record]

and struck when the victim wasn't paying attention,

killing him with a single blow.

How can you be sure there was a killer?

Why couldn't he have been possessed

and committed suicide?

If it were suicide,

given the deceased's arm length,

he couldn't possibly have reached the hilt.

If he had gripped the blade

to stab and penetrate his chest,

then his palms

would certainly show wounds.

Moreover, given how dull this sword is,

suicide is simply impossible.

Suchan,

have you noticed

that the bloodstains on the floor

are quite strange?

I noticed that too.

I was about to examine them carefully.

Father,

were there any mistakes in the autopsy

I just reported?

No.

If only you could

come with me.

You could guide me in person.

A pouch

with a total of 49 coins?

Yes.

The beheaded woman from earlier

also found a pouch of coins like this.

Don't touch it.

I'll do it myself.

There's strychnine in this bag.

Strychnine?

Father,

why are you keeping

something so poisonous here?

Though highly poisonous,

when used in proper doses,

it's simply a medicinal herb.

It can reduce swelling, relieve pain,

improve circulation, and purify blood.

More importantly,

it alleviates suffering from sores.

So,

Father, you've been using it to treat your sores.

Just to

ease the pain a little.

[Fair and Impartial]

Sheriff Su,

Geng Wushang is here.

Sheriff Su, you've given my daughter the opportunity

to perform autopsies twice in succession,

making her a proper coroner.

I, Geng Wushang, have come specially to thank you.

Mr. Geng,

you personally trained

such an excellent coroner.

It should be I who thanks you

on behalf of the county office.

You're too kind. You're too kind.

[Integrity and Harmony]

Mr. Geng, please enjoy.

Sheriff Su.

So,

Mr. Geng, you want to see

those two life-borrowing pouches?

Of course,

I have no such authority.

But as a coroner

who has worked alongside constables for decades,

I naturally care about the case

and am somewhat curious.

So...

This is exactly what I want.

I was hoping you would take a look.

Yingtao, bring them here.

Father.

[Integrity and Harmony]

Seven times seven, 49.

It's a number of extreme yin energy.

Perfect for suppressing the souls of the dead.

Killing to borrow life

is not unprecedented.

Twenty years ago in Chang'an,

there was a similar case.

A merchant, instigated by a sorcerer,

killed four people in a row

to extend his father's life.

He put the characters "one," "three," "six,"

and "nine" in those life-borrowing pouches.

I remember Yao

was less than 10 years old then

and had just become my disciple.

When he helped me with the autopsies,

he was so frightened that he couldn't stop crying.

The county sheriff at that time, Du Shenyan,

based on the autopsy findings from the county office,

quickly found the murder weapon,

identified the suspect,

and caught the killer.

In the end, both the killer and the sorcerer

were sentenced to waist-cutting execution by the court.

This life-borrowing sorcery

is nothing but a trick

for the wealthy and powerful to buy lives.

Now that we've found characters "one" and "three,"

characters "six" and "nine" will surely appear.

Doesn't that mean

two more people will be killed?

There are numbers in the pouches too?

Yes, right here with me.

Please take a look, sir.

[One] [Three]

Father, are you all right?

I'm fine.

Go find Yao.

Tell him

I'm inviting him over for a meal.

[Geng Residence]

I'm old now.

I've been a coroner all my life.

Yet in the end,

I'm about to break

the rules of our profession.

Master, what do you mean?

The coroner's art is passed down orally

and never written in books.

Do you know why?

I've heard you explain this before.

Because since ancient times,

damaging corpses has been a grave taboo.

Once written down,

people might follow the book

and practice on corpses.

This could lead to corpse desecration.

Therefore,

coroners never document their methods—

this has been a tradition for thousands of years.

For the past three years,

I've poured my life's experience

into my book, "The Autopsy Chronicles."

Tell me,

is this right or wrong?

I believe it's right.

If we don't document

autopsy techniques in writing,

some skills will be lost forever.

How would that help future generations seek truth

and uphold justice?

It seems you both support me.

However,

I've run into a problem.

In my vision,

"The Autopsy Chronicles" will consist of 20 volumes,

with 100,000 words.

I've now written the last chapter

of the final volume.

But I can't decide what I should write

to wrap up this book.

Yao,

give me some advice.

Me?

How could I offer advice to you, Mentor?

You're being too modest.

You came to me

when you were just a child.

Though you couldn't read,

you were extremely intelligent

and had great potential.

As for the ancient Red Umbrella Autopsy Method

and the Plum Cake Autopsy Method

recorded in the books,

I completed them

with your assistance.

The Open-Pit Bone Steaming Method

even originated from your suggestion.

Not at all.

That method was created by you, Mentor.

My random suggestions

didn't count for much.

My only true original creation

is the Nine Poisons Verification Method.

Nine Poisons Verification?

That is the method I developed after you left,

drawing on the teachings of the ancients

and my own experience

in examining corpses.

Yao, you want to learn it?

I've already left the coroner profession,

so I no longer have the right to read

"The Autopsy Chronicles" that you're writing.

Not necessarily.

What if I invite you

to be a co-author of this book?

Master, what did you say?

I invited you to dinner today

because I wanted to tell you

that I want to list "The Autopsy Chronicles"

as co-authored by us, master and disciple.

How could that be appropriate?

That is your life's work.

How could I claim part of the credit?

Senior Yin, please don't refuse.

Father has had this intention for a long time.

Back then, when the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review

asked Father for coroner recommendations,

he recommended Senior Shizai.

It wasn't because he thought little of you,

but because he treasured your talent.

He wanted you

to stay by his side for a few more years

and help him complete this book.

I see.

I've wronged you, Mentor.

Father.

I was going to persuade you to go back to being a coroner,

but recently I've heard you're doing very well

as a mortician.

When I walk down the street,

people come to thank me—

because you, my beloved disciple,

beautified the appearance of their deceased relatives.

I've gradually come to understand something:

giving the deceased a beautiful appearance and dignity

and revealing the truth behind their sudden death

are equally important.

Therefore, I've decided

to respect your choice.

Whether you go back to being a coroner or not

doesn't matter,

and it has nothing to do

with being my co-author

on the book.

Mentor, I...

Get up first.

You don't need to rush to decide anything.

After all, the Coroners' Contest

will not close registration for another three days.

But there's something that needs to be handled right now.

I have already written

the notice expelling Zhong Shizai from my tutelage.

The reason I'm doing this

is to prevent

the soon-to-be-published

coroners' manual from being disgraced.

Do you understand?

I understand.

Zhong Shizai is impatient in his pursuit of success

and two-faced.

You should have expelled him long ago.

But according to the rules of our profession,

this notice

must be signed by both of you, my disciples.

Yao, you couldn't read or write as a child,

but I've heard

that you've learned now.

Yes.

In the three years since leaving the coroner profession,

besides working as a mortician,

I've been studying

and practicing calligraphy.

You're so diligent, Yao.

I just hope that one day,

when I inherit your legacy, Mentor,

people won't say I'm illiterate.

Good.

Come with me then.

[Notice of Expulsion for Zhong Shizai]

[Witness: Suchan]

Look.

[Mentor: Geng Wushang]

I have already signed,

and Suchan has signed too.

Now we just need you.

[Witnesses: Suchan; Yin Yao]

Write down the date.

June 23rd.

Mentor,

are you alright?

I'm fine.

I know.

Senior Shizai has followed you for many years, after all.

But Master, you needn't be sad.

It's not that you're heartless.

It's Zhong Shizai himself—

he brought this upon himself.

I've already decided

what to write for this final chapter.

I'll write about

why a coroner must not kill.

Master,

forgive my frankness,

but isn't that rather obvious?

No one may kill.

Please reconsider.

There must be a better topic

to conclude "The Autopsy Chronicles."

But my health...

Don't worry.

You still have many years ahead of you.

How would you know?

Although I've moved out,

don't I visit you

every three days?

Actually, every three days,

I also go to the temple

to pray for your longevity.

I was granted a divine revelation long ago,

foretelling that you still have many years to live.

Senior Yin, you're so filial.

I, Suchan, don't measure up.

Su Wuming!

There's been another murder!

A beggar

also picked up a life-borrowing pouch!

Summon Coroner Suchan.

Coroner Suchan has come to examine the body!

All unrelated personnel,

step back!

[Six]

Father, I'm back.

Father!

Father!

Su Wuming!

Didn't you say you wanted to eat sushan?

I brought some for you!

Quick, come with me to Coroner Geng's house.

[Geng]

[Geng Residence]