Original subtitles

[Strange Chronicles of Tang]

[Episode 20]

It really is poisonous.

And it's definitely strychnine.

This is my

and Official Lu's friend,

Chicken Fei,

a disciple of the King of Medicine.

A disciple of the King of Medicine would never lie.

In that case,

I thank you all for saving my life.

No need for thanks.

Let's go see the painting first.

I've long heard about this painting,

but never had the chance to see it.

I never expected it to be so lifelike.

I painted this from memory,

copying as best I could.

I had little time, so it's not very good.

I must seem ridiculous to you, Sir.

No, no.

It's very well done.

Look here.

This is Emperor Xiaojing.

This one

is me.

I was the Director of the Imperial Stables then.

Then this officer

must be Zhu Ling.

Yes.

At that time, Grand General Zhu

was the Crown Prince's Left Guard

and Ranking Officer of the Crown Prince's Guard.

This is Zheng Zhong.

He was the Deputy Director of the Imperial Catering then.

What about the others?

This is a palace maid.

Because of her strong arms,

Emperor Xiaojing taught her to play polo.

Do you remember her name?

Something with Cui, I think.

Bo Cui?

Yes, that's the name.

What about this person?

His back is turned.

How could I recognize him?

However,

this one catching the polo ball by the pool

is a young eunuch.

He was very clever.

Emperor Xiaojing called him Xi.

A few years ago, I saw him on the street

once.

He had become a beggar.

I believe he was expelled from the palace

for stealing.

Sir,

please wait a moment.

I'll be right back.

You two,

stop speaking in riddles.

Are you trying to drive me mad with anxiety?

Three days ago,

a body was found in Wannian County.

According to the examination,

death was caused by strychnine poisoning,

and there was a blow to the head.

I just re-examined the body and discovered

that he was a eunuch.

Xi?

How can this painting

be so eerily connected?

I'm afraid the murderer deliberately

killed according to this painting.

This reminds me

of the Stone Bridge Painting from Nanzhou Prefecture.

If that's the case,

this unidentified person in the painting

might be the murderer.

According to Ma Meng,

in the entire Palace Secretariat,

no one knows

who the artist of this painting is.

Therefore,

the identity of this figure with his back turned...

The old archives of the Ministry of Personnel

should contain

records of officials who served

in the Eastern Palace back then.

I just remembered someone else—

the current Ghost Market Magistrate, Feng Tai.

He likes to collect

all sorts of strange curiosities.

Emperor Xiaojing was also playful,

so he often invited him to the Eastern Palace.

Go find him.

Perhaps,

he can recall events from those days.

In that case,

we'll split into 2 groups.

I'll trouble you two county sheriffs

to make a trip to the Ghost Market.

Yingtao, you protect them.

Xue Huan, Xijun,

come with me to the Ministry of Personnel

to search through the archives tonight.

W-What about me?

We've all been busy lately.

You've been running

the sushan shop all by yourself.

You must be exhausted.

Go home and get some rest.

I am rather tired.

Wait.

This can detect poison.

And also...

This one.

If the poisoning isn't severe,

it can save lives.

Thank you.

By the way,

give me the painting.

[Ghost Market]

Let me take a look.

You've certainly found the right person.

[Feng Tai, Ghost Market Magistrate]

Forty years ago,

I often visited the Eastern Palace.

That's right.

This is Crown Prince Hong.

When he died,

I wept for 3 days and nights.

I thought the Tang Empire's fortune

would decline from then on.

Unexpectedly, it has continued until today

and shows signs of growing prosperity.

Look.

Isn't this you?

Yes.

Magistrate Feng.

We wanted you to identify

who this person is.

This man

is Tutu Wenzhen.

Yes.

It's him.

He was

Emperor Xiaojing's most trusted palace attendant.

How could I have forgotten about him?

Thank you, Old Master Feng.

Let's hurry back

to find Tutu Wenzhen's whereabouts.

No need to search.

He's right here in my Ghost Market.

After retirement, he had nowhere to go,

so he became my clerk at the Ghost Market.

Behind the Earth God Temple in the Ghost Market,

there's a house.

He works, eats, and lives there.

Perfect!

Please lead the way.

Move aside.

Why isn't he opening the door yet?

If I hadn't received the temporary residence permit,

which can be exchanged for a long-term residence permit after a year

to register as a citizen

after 3 years in Chang'an,

I wouldn't bother with this damn permit.

Since we've waited so long,

let's wait a bit longer.

Maybe the old eunuch

had too much to drink,

so he's not waking up?

Yingtao.

Magistrate Feng.

Sit on the news.

Tell them Tutu Wenzhen is dead.

And the office is arresting the murderer.

Understood.

[The Lament of the Imperial Scandal]

Lost in thought again?

Ritual embodies righteousness.

Trust preserves ritual.

Punishment rectifies evil.

If the law can't correct evil,

then someone will take matters into their own hands.

As they say, those who do many wrongs

will bring about their own demise.

Evil people must be punished.

Liu.

Two quotes from the "Spring and Autumn Annals" in one sentence.

[Liu Zigui, Ma Meng's Classmate]

No wonder those exam candidates

all refer to you

as the Confucian Master of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

I don't deserve such praise.

I recall that previously,

the one honored as the Confucian Master of the Spring and Autumn Annals

was Emperor Xiaojing's teacher,

Guo Yu.

He was a true Confucian Master.

I can't even hope to catch up to him.

I'm leaving.

[The Lament of the Imperial Scandal]

Liu.

What have you been busy with lately?

Busy with what I should be doing.

Can you share some details?

Confucius said,

"As in piling up earth to erect a mountain,

if, with only one basketful short of completion,

I stop,

I have stopped.

As in filling a ditch to level the ground,

if, having dumped in only one basketful,

I continue,

I am progressing."

I, Liu Zigui,

will never fail when success is at hand.

You still haven't told me what you've been doing.

You'll know when the time comes.

The sentence just now

isn't from the "Spring and Autumn Annals."

It's from the "Zi Han" chapter of "The Analects of Confucius."

[Unwavering Integrity]

You old fool,

you're already prepared.

Ma Meng?

Deputy Director of the Palace Secretariat?

Now it's good you know

I'm from His Majesty's side.

Since I'm here to take your life,

it means His Majesty demands your life.

This is bestowed upon you by His Majesty.

Take it.

The "His Majesty" you speak of

isn't the current Emperor, is he?

You old fool.

It seems you still remember

the evil you've done.

You're right.

I'm here on Emperor Xiaojing's orders

to claim your life.

You jerk,

playing tricks!

I'll capture you

and avenge Zhu Ling and Zheng Zhong!

[Unwavering Integrity]

Old fool,

you still think of revenge?

Sheriff Wei, you may take a rest!

I'm Chu Yingtao, a secret agent of Yongzhou Prefecture.

I'm here to capture the criminal!

A woman?

I won't fight you—

don't throw your life away.

We'll see who dies today!

Who goes there?

I'm Lu Lingfeng from the Yongzhou Judicial Office.

Surrender now.

I've heard much about you.

It seems

I've fallen into a trap.

I can't fail when so close to success.

Have at you!

Using hidden weapons before me?

Yingtao, don't!

This person is involved in multiple murders.

The 3 judicial departments must jointly interrogate him

and record his confession.

You want to interrogate me?

Dream on!

I'm the Deputy Director of the Palace Secretariat,

from His Majesty's side.

What can you do to me?

Deputy Director of the Palace Secretariat?

You don't really think

you are Ma Meng, do you?

Secretariat Ma,

come out now.

How have you transformed

into my appearance?

If I'm not mistaken,

this is a kind of

extremely thin mask.

The mold

must be made from the real person's face.

Secretariat Ma,

you need to carefully recall

who would have such an opportunity.

Having just arrived in the capital,

I don't have many friends.

Only my classmate Liu Zigui

is particularly close to me.

I drank with him

and listened to his exposition on the "Spring and Autumn Annals."

Once I got drunk, I stayed at Liu's Mansion.

Liu,

it can't really be you, can it?

Ma Meng,

you were born into a humble family,

with mediocre talents,

yet you had the chance to become Deputy Director of the Palace Secretariat.

On the contrary, I am

a descendant of a famous Confucian,

well-versed in the "Spring and Autumn Annals,"

yet I received no recognition.

It's all because the current Emperor is incompetent.

If Emperor Xiaojing were still alive,

I would have become

the chancellor by now.

Liu Zigui!

Drop your disguise now!

I refuse.

If you can't capture me,

I certainly won't confess.

Last night at the Ministry of Personnel,

while reviewing the Eastern Palace's files,

I discovered a name,

Guo Sigong.

If Emperor Xiaojing

hadn't suddenly passed away,

this man would have entered the Eastern Palace

and

would have been entrusted with important duties.

Also,

Old Master Feng, Ghost Market Magistrate,

also saw "The Lament of the Imperial Scandal"

and recalled a past event.

So you're Grand Tutor Guo's son.

Do you play polo?

No.

That's rather unfortunate.

Although I don't play polo,

I've been skilled at painting since childhood.

I would like to

[Guo Sigong, Son of Guo Yu]

paint a polo scene for you, Your Highness.

That's a good idea.

When the rain stops,

I'll call them

to play polo with me.

I'd like to see

how well you can paint.

This painting

will surely be remembered for generations.