Original subtitles

ADAPTED FROM A SHUQI.COM NOVEL ORIGINAL AUTHOR: SENLIN LU

Of course…

and you, too.

Peiyi.

How do you think Father

will treat me?

Like he's gotten me back,

or will he hate having a rude, unfilial daughter like me?

His Majesty is gracious and merciful.

No matter what, you're still his daughter.

PALACE INVESTIGATION BUREAU

Your Ladyship. Inspector Du wants to see you.

- I'm not in the mood. - Your Ladyship, you should go.

I haven't seen him that scary in ages.

Why are you kneeling?

Master, you called for me. It must be because I messed up.

What did you do wrong?

I was too aggressive.

I had no sense of limits.

I overstepped my authority.

Enough.

All these years,

I've spoiled you too much.

From today on, stop taking cases.

That Palace Investigation Bureau badge, hand it over.

Why should I?

Because, as an Inner Guard,

after you found the killer,

you didn't bring her to justice at once.

It looks like you were covering for her!

At best, you neglected your duty.

At worst,

you bent the law for personal ties!

Hand it over!

PALACE INVESTIGATION BUREAU BADGE

But I didn't take Wanshun out of the Western Capital.

You didn't take the last wrong step

because Her Highness knew the bigger picture.

If Her Highness had insisted on leaving,

right now, would you already be on a boat heading south?

If every enforcer were like you,

how could the law work?

Today someone covers for you,

tomorrow you cover for them,

and the law becomes meaningless!

If I've done wrong, I'll take my punishment.

But she's Wanshun.

She must face justice too!

People aren't made of wood.

Who can be without feelings?

But you're the one enforcing the law.

To rule and punish, you can't shield your kin.

Your duty is to find the truth,

not judge right and wrong.

If you can't even understand that,

you can't shoulder this badge anymore!

I know you reported everything truthfully.

From here on,

let His Majesty decide.

ZICHEN HALL

Heed His Majesty's decree!

"Left General of the Imperial Guards, Lin Ning,

lusted after Princess Ningyuan's beauty

and secretly bought black powder to stage an accident.

He took advantage of the chaos to kidnap Her Highness,

but Cui Manshu, niece of the Right Chancellor,

and several others stumbled upon it by chance.

Lin Ning saw his plot exposed and brutally killed them.

He fled in fear of punishment.

Princess of Fuchang County, Li Peiyi,

and Deputy Director of Astronomy, Xiao Huaijin, saw it all clearly

and killed him as he fled.

You two acted without hesitation, brave and smart.

Princess Ningyuan was quick-witted

and escaped safely.

All shall be rewarded."

Accept the decree!

Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness.

Her Highness is still recovering.

In three days,

His Majesty will host a banquet at Penglai Terrace

in Her Highness's honor.

You two may come as well.

- Understood. - Understood.

Stop!

Come. Come to my side.

PENGLAI TERRACE

Please, Your Highness.

I'm sorry to worry you, Father.

Come.

Wanshun.

I know you were wronged. I know it all.

Father…

You're so generous and kind,

yet for my own selfish gain,

I stirred up such chaos.

My child, you've suffered.

I won't let any child of mine be wronged.

I'll prepare another generous dowry for you,

so you'll marry in peace,

with no worries.

Congratulations, Princess Ningyuan!

Your Majesty, what boundless favor!

In Uyghur,

Her Highness will be

the most honored, noblest queen.

Thank you, Father.

Don't be rash.

Please withdraw your order, Your Majesty.

Wanshun is a daughter of my Li family,

a princess of Great Tang.

If your father and mother were still alive,

they'd surely explain the sense of it all.

But since they're gone,

I don't have to understand it.

Peiyi.

Your Majesty,

Her Highness was blessed by your grace and turned disaster into luck.

Her match with Prince Wutele

is fated to be.

Peiyi…

Let me speak to His Majesty myself.

Your Majesty, if you're still in the mood,

may I offer a dance,

the Zhezhi Dance Mother once performed for you,

to thank your grace?

PENGLAI TERRACE

For 18 years,

I never had the chance to speak with you.

Today is a rare opportunity.

I want to say what's in my heart.

Or later,

I may never get the chance.

I'm lucky to be your daughter.

But my luck is also limited.

In 18 years,

you only saw me three times.

The first time,

I was still little.

You were checking the princes' and princesses' lessons.

You praised me for my talent,

so I studied hard.

From then on,

I never had another chance to show you my work.

The second time,

at your birthday banquet,

I embroidered for you "Dragon Soars Across the Seas."

You praised it greatly

and finally remembered

you had a daughter born of a desert dancer.

So I kept improving my embroidery.

Your Highness, please.

Your embroidery has gotten even better.

Give it to His Majesty before the spring hunt.

He will surely be pleased.

But my patterns

never had another chance to be shown to you.

The third time

was this betrothal.

This might be

the best fate for me…

as your daughter.

But it's not so bad.

Father,

you won't forget me again.

- Wanshun! - Your Highness!

Wanshun?

Wanshun…

Peiyi…

You're so stupid.

Why would you do this?

Because…

this way…

no one can force me again to do what I don't want.

PENGLAI TERRACE

Stop acting.

Who keeps staring at a flower all day?

His Majesty didn't see you.

Those palace maids didn't see you either.

You just tripped.

Don't mind it.

But it's fine.

I saw it all, every bit.

His Majesty asked me to give you this.

Since you already finished that horseback piece,

why didn't you tell me sooner?

Then I could help you get it to His Majesty before the spring hunt.

He would surely want to see you.

It wasn't well done.

Next time.

These gold bangles are the prettiest.

One for you, one for me.

I hope someday

we'll meet again.

The ones who killed Wanshun…

Lin Ning is one.

Cui Manshu is one.

I'm one.

And…

Who else?

Your Majesty,

the county princess has been tirelessly working.

And she lost her closest friend today,

overcome with grief.

Please allow her to rest for a few days.

His Majesty is considerate.

Your Ladyship, rest well.

Stay away from the hall,

or seeing things there will stir old feelings

and make you upset again.

ZICHEN HALL

VIRTUE SHINING, EVER-PROGRESSING

Your Majesty, the matter you ordered has a lead.

Speak closer.

A STAR HAS APPEARED IN THE GIRL MANSION IT IS A MOST OMINOUS SIGN

ON THE WUWU DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH THE STAR HAS APPEARED

This paper was found in Princess Ningyuan's residence.

Wanshun must have been misled by that traitor Lin Ning

to come up with such a foolish move.

Lin Ning could move freely in the palace.

Getting a secret memorial into the palace

was not difficult task.

Now that Wanshun has passed,

has the omen come true?

I dare not presume Heaven's will.

But it seems this matter doesn't involve the former dynasty.

Your Majesty needn't worry.

TANG

PRINCESS ZHAOYUAN

Wanshun paid with her life to escape that road.

In the end, someone still has to walk it.

There's something I must confess to Your Ladyship.

Before the banquet that day,

I met the Fifteenth Princess.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Deputy Director Xiao,

I have a question.

I wouldn't dare.

Do you think the stars above

can truly foretell human affairs?

I only know the stars don't cause conflicts.

But people use star omens to stir up trouble.

Then, in your view,

was the chaos of the Lantern Festival

caused by an omen

or by people fabricating one?

Every matter has its reason

and a whole story behind it.

Your Highness being safe is what matters most.

So you already knew.

Looks like you don't believe in fate.

I do.

But we mortals

can see what fate looks like

only at the end of life.

Thank you.

You saw that secret memorial?

You must've guessed it was me and the Princess together.

At the Princess's residence,

I found clues tied to that secret memorial.

But the Princess alone

couldn't have gotten that memorial into His Majesty's study.

It's a pity that even after seeing such a dire omen,

His Majesty still wouldn't change his mind.

Congratulations, Deputy Director Xiao.

Why congratulate me?

Back then, you agreed to help me with the case

because you wanted the chance

to help His Majesty find who delivered the secret memorial.

Now the Princess's case is solved.

The matter you wanted to check is clear as day.

Isn't that worth celebrating?

His Majesty believes

this was all Lin Ning talking the Princess into it.

Mr. Xiao.

Law and loyalty…

How can you have both?

The law is where rule begins.

A gentleman is where rule is rooted.

I'm odd and unruly.

I'm no gentleman.

But I'm no villain either.

I don't really know you,

so I can't judge,

and I won't accuse you.

Farmers have their hardships.

People in the deep palace have theirs.

I just had a bit of luck,

played a few clever tricks,

won a little favor, and only then stood back up.

Wanshun was another me.

A me who never stood back up.

His Majesty has ordered a lavish burial for the Fifteenth Princess.

Posthumous title, Zhaosi.

His Majesty still cherished the Fifteenth Princess.

You and I both know what "cherish" means.

"Soaring past clouds,

the soul ascends."

Good thing

she's already gone to the place she wanted.

You're not a cold, rigid man of law.

I know that when you came back from the temple,

you didn't go to see His Majesty.

PALACE INVESTIGATION BUREAU

XIAO

XIAO'S MANSION

Huaijin is usually on duty at the Astronomical Bureau

and rarely comes home.

Looks like you came for nothing.

It's fine.

The cakes you made are even better than the palace ones.

I didn't come for nothing.

Your Ladyship, so you like touhua cakes?

When I was little, I'd throw a fit.

Only touhua cakes could cheer me up.

They're soft, sweet.

One bite and I'd feel right.

Then I'd calm right down.

Madam, your scent is different from Mr. Xiao's sachet.

That kind of sachet

was made just for him and his father.

My own incense is mostly floral.

You make your own incense?

Bring me my incense.

None of these are what Mr. Xiao uses.

They've used theirs up, and I haven't made more yet.

These scents don't include the one you like?

In Mr. Xiao's sachet, there are sandalwood and myrrh.

I really like it.

Princess Consort of Duan also likes men's incense.

Your Ladyship is so dashing.

You really do look like her in her youth.

I misspoke.

I've offended you.

Please forgive me.

The case at my home 15 years ago was too tragic.

It's no secret.

But these 15 years,

everyone's been afraid to offend me.

So, about my parents, they all keep it hush-hush.

I thought no one remembered Prince of Duan or his consort anymore.

Hearing you praise my mother just now,

I'm truly comforted.

Madam, don't be so stiff.

I'd actually like to hear more about my father and my mother.

When I was young,

I met Princess Consort of Duan once

at the Shangsi Festival.

Her Highness

was stunning,

bright and bold.

Unforgettable at first sight.

Prince of Duan was brave in battle,

his name known far and wide.

Heaven…

is always so unfair.

Yes.

From that Lantern Festival on,

I could never reunite with my parents again.

That Lantern Festival,

Huaijin

was on night duty at the Astronomical Bureau

and didn't come home.

My husband and I kept Old Madam Xiao company.

She was used to keeping vigil and chanting sutras

during the Lantern Festival.

She only slept after midnight.

That night, my husband had official business,

but to honor his filial duty,

he stayed with Old Madam through the Zi hour,

then hurried out.

The Zi hour?

Early the next morning, my husband came home.

Only then did I learn

something terrible had happened.

I was too young back then.

I don't remember that night at all.

For some things, to forget

is a blessing in itself.

Move.

So you finally visited the Xiao's mansion.

How else would I find the killer?

If you can find the killer here,

I'll call you Master.

Why can't I?

So you really are hiding something from me!

Yes.

I hid it from you. I drank great wine at Zuixian House.

And I ate a plate of top-notch braised lamb.

So what did you find?

Looks like you found nothing.

My guess is,

on the Lantern Festival night 15 years ago,

they haven't sent anyone to visit your family.

Clearing suspicion is still a gain.

Peiyi,

let it go.

Clinging too hard makes you see enemies everywhere and clouds your mind.

What was clear and simple will turn hard to grasp.

But if I can't even trust myself,

who can I trust?

Don't worry.

Whatever I said back then,

today I'll say the same.

Do you think

she truly forgot?

She is sharp and quick.

She came today

for more than just liking that incense.

If she remembers, we must find a way to handle it.

If she doesn't…

We must stop her from remembering.

If she doesn't get the answers she wants here,

she likely won't come again.

Thank you, Mother.

I'm going back to the Astronomical Bureau.

Your father will be back soon.

- See him before you go. - No need.

And today's matter needn't be told to Father.

I'll be going now.

SPRING OF THE 13TH, YEAR OF DALI

XINGQING PALACE

So there really are such special flowers in this world.

I thought it was an exaggeration.

Your Majesty, look.

When the breeze blows,

they glimmer with light.

Like droplets of water.

They aren't like the peony, so grand and noble, so bold and open.

But they're delicate and enchanting.

And their scent is faint, yet there.

It makes you want to lean in.

No wonder they're called "Hundred Charms."

Your Majesty, this lady truly is so beautiful

that it shames the moon and flowers.

These flowers should be given to a beauty.

This servant will pick them for you at once!

The wall! There's something inside the wall!

Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty! - Hurry!

Get Consort Shu back to her palace, now!

Get Consort Shu back to her palace!

I deserve death!

I deserve death!

In Xingqing Palace, such cruelty happened!

Summon the Palace Investigation Bureau to thoroughly investigate it!

This servant obeys!

Thanks for covering for me, Deputy Director Xiao.

That robe… Let me burn it for you.

Much obliged.

Hurry!

FLOWER ON THE WALL

Your Ladyship,

you just got your post back. Don't do anything rash.

By the order of His Majesty, you are forbidden to examine the body.

Keep your voice down. Then no one will know.

"Hundred Charms"?

More like "demon charms."

What did the Assistant Director here say?

Tried to be clever, scared stiff,

he couldn't say a word.

Take him back. We'll question him tomorrow.

- Understood! - Understood!

Your Ladyship,

I heard there's a man-eating flower in the South Sea.

Its seeds are tiny as sand, light as dust,

hard to notice.

If it lands on someone, it takes root right away,

feeding on flesh as soil, marrow as fertilizer.

By the time you notice, it's already too late.

You can only be drained alive

and die in agony.

Xiang embroidery…

It must be from the palace.

The seeds in the sachet sprouted,

using the soil inside the wall and the spring rain,

and bloomed into flowers.

Director of Embroidery, take a look.

Is this stitching Xiang embroidery?

Your Ladyship, it is Xiang embroidery.

And workmanship like this can only be Birou's.

Get her out here.

Birou isn't with the Palace Workshop Service.

She serves Talent Wang.

Please wait.

Your Ladyship, are you saying…

the owner of this sachet is already dead?

BIROU, PALACE MAID

Your Ladyship,

I gave this sachet to Hanxiao.

Hanxiao from Consort Shu's palace?

Did Hanxiao have any identifying marks?

On the inside of both ankles, she had cinnabar moles,

perfectly symmetrical, very distinctive.

Your Ladyship,

did that body have them?

PALACE INVESTIGATION BUREAU

I found Hanxiao's exit record in the Bureau of Palace Ladies,

dated half a year ago.

His Majesty cares for the palace maids.

Every maid released gets a resettlement payment,

so they can marry and make a living.

She already collected the money.

Her exit date and household register are all here.

Chang'an County…

Is this the Cai household?

Yes.

Miss, you're from the palace?

Do you know my elder sister Hanxiao?

So, you're Hanxiao's younger sister?

Yes. My name's Zhenzhen.

Miss, do you have any news of my sister?

Who is it?

Mother! They're from the palace!

So, do you have any news of Hanxiao?

Hanxiao was my best friend in the palace.

After she left the palace, we lost touch.

I came to Chang'an County on business today, so I thought I'd check on her.

How could she go missing?

Outside the palace, did she have anyone close?

She never talked to us about that.

So I don't know.

Miss, I heard

the court gives those leaving the palace

a resettlement payment.

Is that true?

Of course. It's a lot of money.

Then…

can we… claim it?

Why? Is your family short on money?

My husband has been sickly.

He can only mind a shop for others and earns next to nothing.

But everything costs money at home.

Thankfully, we had Hanxiao.

She landed a position in the palace and supported us all.

She was our backbone.

If you rely on Hanxiao to support you,

shouldn't you find her first?

We…

We will!

But our whole family has to live, too.

Madam, it's been so hard on you.

This is all the money I have. Here.

Oh…

Well…

I just don't know where else to get news of Hanxiao.

We have letters she sent before.

Go get them, now! Hurry!

The really old ones are gone.

These are from the past two years,

up until she went missing.

I kept them all carefully.

Miss, take a look. Maybe they'll help.

I'll come again another day.

If you remember anything else,

tell me right away.

Yes!

Hanxiao was blessed to have friends

like you two.

Truly blessed!

Miss!

Miss!

If you find my sister, please tell her

I'm grown up now.

I can fold 500 paper ingots and earn one wen.

I can help the household.

She doesn't have to work so hard.

And…

if she really doesn't want to come back,

then let her go.

I won't beg her to return.

I just want her safe.

Hide it well.

Don't let anyone find it.

If your parents try to send you into the palace

or force you to marry,

take this jade token

to the Palace Investigation Bureau in Xingqing Palace.

Remember?

Promise me, and I'll help you find your sister.

ZUIXIAN HOUSE

Money for her father's medicine,

money for her brother's schooling,

money to fix the stove,

money for coal and winter clothes…

These letters are basically about the family asking for money

and Hanxiao sending money.

That family is playing poor, squeezing their daughter dry.

You paid so much for these letters.

You're encouraging their habit of extortion.

Look again.

Do they say anything else?

Where she'd go after leaving the palace,

whether she needed her parents to meet her, anything.

There are lots still unopened.

I'll read them one by one.

Even if there is, it's not worth that much.

This lamb is so tender.

Try some.

What I gave Hanxiao's family was tribute silver.

The moment it hits the market, someone will report it.

The money will come back fast.

So these letters didn't cost anything.

I checked both the Capital Prefecture and Chang'an County offices.

In the past half year, there's no record of Hanxiao registering.

She left the palace,

yet her body ended up back inside.

Looks like the killer can move freely in the palace,

go anywhere without suspicion,

and even come and go from the palace.

What kind of status would that be?

And they can hide a body in the harem.

Mr. Xiao has the qilin badge. He could do it.

Or maybe it's not someone important,

but someone low enough that no one notices them.

Did you spread the word I told you to?

I did.

Hanxiao got along with people.

Hearing she died so horribly,

some palace maid will surely come with clues.

Didn't His Majesty order a quiet investigation

to avoid panic?

His Majesty also ordered we solve it fast.

I'm done eating.

Let's go back to the Palace Investigation Bureau and wait.

We already have a lead so soon.

Your Ladyship, blessings.

I'm Qingquan from Consort Shu's palace.

I…

I know who killed Hanxiao!