Original subtitles

[Strange Chronicles of Tang]

[Episode 19]

Today,

Ma Meng was so open and candid in the conversation.

He didn't act like a murderer.

Of course,

as a Constable,

it's wrong for me to ask such questions.

I know

I shouldn't let my personal judgment

influence the direction of the case.

I'm sorry.

Forget what I said.

What you said is exactly what I was thinking.

However,

The Gulou Pastry,

the strychnine,

and those fancy food containers

commonly used in the palace

were all found at the murder scene—

I just had to

have Yingtao investigate him.

I still don't believe

Ma Meng would be the murderer.

[Zheng Residence]

[Clear Brilliance]

[Court of the Imperial Stud Deputy Minister, Zheng Zhong]

Mr. Zheng,

let me help you.

You're not a member of my household.

I am the newly appointed Deputy Director of the Palace Secretariat,

Ma Meng.

The Deputy Director of the Palace Secretariat,

Ma Meng?

I've heard of you.

His Majesty's favorite.

Why wasn't I informed

of such an honored guest's arrival?

Deputy Minister,

I saw you were resting

so I didn't let them wake you.

Your garden is so beautiful.

I took the liberty

to enjoy some leisure time here.

I'm terribly sorry.

I fell asleep earlier.

That was rude of me.

I'll have them prepare wine right away.

The steward has already arranged it.

Good,

at least he knows what to do.

I brought you a delicacy.

If you don't mind,

please try it.

You're too kind.

Gulou Pastry?

Please enjoy it while it's hot.

No,

I cannot eat this.

Guards!

Why are you calling for guards?

I heard that Zhu Ling from the Left Imperial Guard

died from poisoning

after eating a Gulou Pastry.

Is that so?

If you won't eat it,

I will.

Guards!

Guards!

Stop shouting.

They're all busy preparing the banquet.

You really won't eat?

I came to visit you

on His Majesty's orders.

It seems you're determined

to take the Princess's side.

How can you say that?

I once served

Emperor Xiaojing

and recognize the current Emperor as legitimate.

I've sworn to follow him until death.

Then these pastries—

why don't you dare eat them?

It's not that I dare not eat them.

I just

don't like the taste.

[Clear Brilliance]

[Zheng Residence]

Have you called for the coroner?

Coroner Su Chan is on his way.

Take these Gulou Pastries,

the food container, teacups, and teapot

back to the county office.

The people who kidnapped you,

did you see what they looked like?

He knocked me out

from behind.

When I woke up,

we were all tied up together.

We didn't see anyone at all.

[Clear Brilliance]

Sheriff Su.

Sheriff Wei.

Where is the Deputy Minister?

Where did Zheng Zhong die?

This is Wannian County territory.

I'm not here to investigate.

Zheng Zhong was my friend for many years.

I just came to pay my respects.

In that case,

follow me.

Deputy Minister...

Zheng Zhong...

Who could be so cruel

to kill Zhu Ling

and then you?

You and Grand General Zhu

and Deputy Minister Zheng were old friends?

Forty years ago,

we all served in the Eastern Palace.

Were you following Crown Prince Hong?

Yes.

We were all among Emperor Xiaojing's

most trusted men.

Sheriff Wei, when you were young,

did you play polo?

How did you know?

You often followed Crown Prince Hong

to practice polo in the Eastern Palace.

Yes.

Those were Wei Yan's

happiest days of his life.

Zheng Zhong...

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

Enjoy your meal.

Wuming.

It's very hot today.

Would you like some sushan?

Xijun,

could you make some sushan

and personally deliver it to

Palace Secretariat Ma?

Ma Meng?

Yes.

In Ma Meng's office,

there's a folding screen

with a polo painting on it

called "The Lament of the Imperial Scandal."

I don't know who painted it,

but it's remarkably vivid.

I believe you'll like it.

If you could copy this painting,

it would be wonderful.

Will it help with the investigation?

Good.

I'll go right away.

Copying that painting from memory

won't be easy.

I'll count on you.

I'll do my best, Wuming.

[Virtue Permeates Everywhere]

Su Wuming.

I'm back.

Ma Meng never left

the Palace Secretariat office, right?

Yes.

Apart from handling official duties,

he's been reading the "Spring and Autumn Annals."

His meals are very simple, too.

He practices boxing after meals and sword before bed,

quite similar to Lu Lingfeng.

I just saw Xijun.

She went home to paint

and said it will be ready by 9 tonight.

Excellent.

Sheriff Su!

[Virtue Permeates Everywhere]

Sheriff Su.

Why are you back?

A female body was found in Peace District—

she died from strychnine poisoning,

with a bloody hole in her temple, too.

That's Chang'an County's jurisdiction.

It was reported to Yongzhou's mobile tribunal,

who took the case.

We can intervene directly.

Official Lu specifically sent me here

to inform you.

Is the deceased above 60?

That's right.

How did you know?

I also heard that woman

was from the palace.

The District Head confirmed

the deceased was named Bo Cui.

She was a former maid of the Eastern Palace.

She left the palace years ago

and had been living alone here.

Coroner Su Chan has already been there.

She estimates the time of death

was around midnight last night.

As to what weapon caused

the wound on her head

is still undetermined.

Lu Lingfeng.

Take a look at this wound.

Could the weapon possibly be

a polo mallet?

The size does match.

But polo mallets are all made of wood.

No matter how strong the attacker was,

they couldn't possibly cause

a wound like this.

So aren't there any polo mallets

made of other materials?

Like gold, silver, copper, or iron?

There are.

But they're extremely rare.

Those used in polo matches are all wooden.

Those of other materials...

are used for ceremonial occasions.

Ceremonial occasions...

You once said there would be more deaths.

Your intuition was right.

Your instinct told you

Ma Meng wasn't the murderer,

and you were right about that, too.

Since yesterday afternoon,

I had Yingtao

watch Ma Meng secretly continuously

for 12 hours.

He had no opportunity to commit the crime.

Also, Zhu Ling and Zheng Zhong

both served as officials in the Eastern Palace

and followed Crown Prince Hong.

These are all matters

from 40 years ago.

Your investigation is remarkably thorough—

no easy feat.

I didn't intentionally investigate this.

It was Wei Yan who told me

he was once colleagues with these two.

[Wei's Residence]

Wei Yan.

You've practiced martial arts since childhood

and entered service as a jinshi scholar.

In the future, do you wish to serve in court

or lead troops in battle?

Whether it's staying in the capital to protect Your Highness

or leading troops at the frontier

to defend the Tang Empire—

I will follow whatever Your Highness commands.

You are indeed loyal.

[Crown Prince, Li Hong]

After I ascend the throne,

you must be even more diligent and ambitious.

Then you will surely

become a great general or minister.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Who's there?

Sheriff Wei.

It's you.

What brings you here so late?

Sheriff Wei,

carrying a sword so late at night—

have you noticed something unusual?

Unusual?

I, Wei, fear neither heaven nor earth,

much less any demons or monsters.

Lu Lingfeng,

I know your martial skills are exceptional.

Since you came from the rooftop,

why bother knocking?

Rooftop?

Who's there?

Sheriff Su,

it's probably just a petty thief.

Why should I fear?

Someone came from the roof...

Wait!

Please put the teacup back where it was.

Sheriff Wei.

If I'm not mistaken,

this tea has been poisoned.

What?

Look.

The poison dripped from the ceiling

and fell right into this cup of tea.