Original subtitles

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

I…

QINGQUAN, PALACE MAID

I know who killed Hanxiao.

Hongshao from the Imperial Housekeeping Service.

Yesterday, I went there to notify them

of the lamp oil Consort Shu will need next month.

That's when I saw the red agate gilded pendant on her chest.

You recognize it?

Of course.

It belonged to Consort Shu.

Once, while Hanxiao was helping Consort Shu get dressed,

she accidentally dropped it and was terrified.

But instead of blaming her,

Consort Shu gave her the pendant as a reward.

Hanxiao was so grateful.

No matter how short on money she was, she'd never sell it,

let alone give it away.

Hongshao must have killed her and taken it.

Go to the Imperial Housekeeping Service.

Yes.

Did I break the law?

Why should I tell you who gave it to me?

Why are you making things so difficult for me?

Clearly, you don't know much.

This pendant is made

of the finest South red agate from Jiannan Circuit.

It's one of a kind.

It belonged to Consort Shu.

You'd better explain where you got it.

If you don't,

you'll be charged with stealing from Consort Shu.

It was Hu Da.

Hu Da from the Palace Registry Bureau gave it to me.

Why would Hu Da give you something so valuable?

A few days ago,

after I'd delivered something to Lady Zhang,

someone stopped me on my way out.

He said Hu Da

from the Palace Registry Bureau wanted to get to know me

and sent this as a gift.

Hu Da is just a secondary ninth-rank supervisor.

Didn't you find it odd he'd be so generous?

Everyone knows Hu Da is free with his money.

Whenever palace maids need funds, they go to him.

Besides--

That man kept saying…

Hu Da truly adored me.

Do you know the man who relayed the message?

Can you recognize him?

It was so dark that night, and he stood in the shadows.

I couldn't see his face.

So no one can vouch for your story?

Not even in my wildest dreams

would I dare steal from Consort Shu.

If I had really stolen it,

I wouldn't dare parade it around, would I?

I'm not looking to get myself killed.

There must be something about him you remember.

I remember now.

He smelled of mugwort,

and his hands were rough.

That's it.

That's all I can recall.

Sweet olive balm.

Good taste, Sister.

Sister, aren't you going to sign the promissory note?

I am.

Sister, why is your hand shaking?

With your hand trembling like that, you can hardly write.

Let me help you.

Supervisor Hu,

I've signed the note.

When will I get the loan?

HU DA, SUPERVISOR PALACE REGISTRY BUREAU

"Supervisor Hu"?

That sounds so distant.

I only lend money to friends.

Hearing you call me that makes me sad.

What do you want?

I want you to treat me sincerely.

What are you afraid of?

Do you really think I'd do anything to you?

Even if I wanted to, I couldn't.

If you don't believe me, see for yourself.

Blind fool, how dare you…!

Princess of Fuchang County.

Supervisor Hu, what refined taste you have.

It's all a misunderstanding.

Outrageous.

You insulted Her Ladyship

and even harassed a palace maid in broad daylight.

Miss, don't slander me.

I thought someone barged in without permission,

so I lost my temper.

Your Ladyship, you are merciful.

Please forgive me.

Besides,

I didn't harass anyone.

She came to ask for help and accidentally knocked over a scroll.

Utter nonsense!

What were you doing on top of her?

Miss, don't ruin a good person's reputation.

Sister Birou fell, so I helped her up.

Don't believe me? Ask her.

Don't be afraid. Tell the truth.

Enough.

Supervisor Hu already said it was a misunderstanding.

I have questions for him. You may leave.

Yes, Your Ladyship.

Sister Birou,

aren't you forgetting something?

I've been wronged because of you today.

Your Ladyship,

I came to borrow money from Supervisor Hu.

I slipped and fell just now,

and he helped me up.

Please, Your Ladyship, don't blame him.

The misunderstanding is cleared up, right?

If Your Ladyship has questions for me,

may I get up first?

You…!

Wait outside.

Yes.

- Who is this? - None of your concern.

Did you know Hanxiao?

After that "flower on the wall" incident, everyone does.

And before that?

Before she left the palace, I'd helped her out too.

You lent her money?

That's right.

She still owed me a tidy sum before leaving.

Luckily, her resettlement payment was just enough

to cover the principal.

What about the interest?

I had to write it off.

I lose money all the time.

Then why do you keep lending?

I'm softhearted.

We're all unfortunate souls.

If someone's in trouble, I help if I can.

How kind of you.

Did you help her after she left?

Your Ladyship must be joking.

The Palace Registry Bureau only places

palace maids in temples after they retire.

Where they go afterward

is not our concern.

So how could I have seen her again?

But come to think of it,

I did see her one more time.

You mean in the palace wall that day?

It's just a joke.

Do you want to be put in a wall and turned into fertilizer too?

That was inappropriate. Spare me, Your Ladyship.

I can spare you.

But someone else wants you dead.

You're trying to frighten me.

Do you recognize this pendant?

That's a fine piece.

I've never seen it,

but I'd wager it belongs to a consort.

Hongshao from the Imperial Housekeeping Service said

you gave it to her.

Nonsense!

That pathetic maid?

This is priceless.

How could I have gotten my hands on something like this?

But she made it very clear.

It was Hu Da from the Palace Registry Bureau

who asked someone to give her this as a token of affection.

Your Ladyship,

I'll admit it. I'm a greedy and lecherous man.

But money comes before women for me,

and staying alive comes before all else.

If you want, bring her here to confront me.

Have her meet every eunuch in the bureau

until she finds this so-called go-between.

It's getting late.

Because of Miss Hanxiao's case,

His Majesty is being extra lenient

and will soon release another group of palace maids.

I still have plenty of work to do.

I can't keep you company any longer.

My apologies. Please understand.

If you suddenly remember anything,

be sure to come to the Palace Investigation Bureau.

I'll cooperate fully with Your Ladyship's investigation.

You don't like reading.

Why keep so many books for show?

I…

Of course, I love to read.

These are all books I read often.

Your Ladyship, take care.

BOOK OF RITES

Hu Da has an errand outside the palace.

You noticed his carriage was ready to go too?

I checked.

There's no mugwort in his courtyard.

And his room had only a delicate scent.

He'd never use mugwort.

Someone's trying to pin Hanxiao's death on Hu Da.

Serves him right.

Even I wanted to hit him.

He must've made a lot of enemies.

He says he helps people out with loans,

but it's really just private lending with outrageous interest.

I should look

into how a secondary ninth-rank supervisor got so much money.

A copy of the Book of Rites is on the third shelf of his bookcase.

If we can get it, there should be some leads inside.

The Book of Rites?

It's the only book on the shelves that's been touched.

I doubt it's because he likes reading it.

Mr. Xiao, you may leave now.

We won't trouble you with tailing Hu Da.

I'm off duty tonight. I'll go with Your Ladyship.

Let's go.

Welcome, sir.

Shadowing people is tedious.

Feel free to head back whenever you like.

Stargazing can be just as monotonous.

Sometimes, it takes months for a star to move even a little.

Then I'm sure you'll be good at this.

But Hu Da was in such a hurry to come out and run errands.

Why is he sitting down for a drink now?

Something's off!

- Where's the man who sat here? - I don't know.

- Is there a back door? - No.

Something's off!

That carriage.

This way.

How do you know which way to go?

That carriage is wider than most.

There are only so many lanes it can take.

We're now in the northeast corner of the ward.

There's only one direction it can go.

The carriage is quick, but we can take shortcuts on foot.

Even at our current pace,

we can intercept him at the entrance of Yanle Lane.

In that case,

let me show you an even faster route.

Come on.

Please go first, Your Ladyship.

I forgot you didn't know martial arts.

Official business. I'm borrowing your horse.

Your Ladyship!

HANGUANG LANE

Roosters for sale!

Big roosters!

‪CHEN'S SPICE SHOP

Roosters for sale!

Who poured that slop? Come out here!

How can you prove I poured it?

It came from your shop.

If not you, who?

Look at my clothes! Pay for the damage!

Blaming me for your own carelessness?

- You heartless woman! - Who are you calling heartless?

You're ruining my business.

You should be paying me!

- Get lost! You stink. - You!

- You're not getting a coin from me. - You can't…

- Sir… - What's wrong?

She won't pay for the damage. Please stand up for me!

- He's the one who… - Enough.

- Sir… - Get lost.

HANGUANG LANE

Stay away!

Mugwort.

Help! Help!

Someone, help!

Help!

Step aside.

Step aside.

Don't move.

Hu Da.

Hu Da. Hu Da?

Hu Da!

Roosters for sale!

- Who poured that slop? - How can you prove I poured it?

- If not you, who? - Can you prove it?

You are making a scene and hurting my business.

- You should pay me back! - But I…

- My clothings are ruined! - Get lost!

Who?

Where did you go?

Someone tried to kill you.

Don't you want to know who?

Plenty of people want me dead.

Who knows which debtor it was this time?

Where did you get the money to lend out in the palace?

The one after you is either someone you've crossed

or someone you depend on.

You've already become the scapegoat for Hanxiao's murder.

I didn't…

I didn't… I…

Hu Da. Hu Da!

Struck on the head, the coachman died instantly.

Witnesses said Hu Da was bitten to death by bats.

He wasn't bitten to death.

He was poisoned to death by the bats.

Your Ladyship, we found this nearby.

Why would bats attack people in broad daylight for no reason?

Hu Da smelled of linglong grass.

That's what drove the bats into a frenzy.

Linglong grass?

From incense in his room?

No, there was linglong grass powder on his clothes.

Someone sprinkled it on him during the commotion.

But where could that many bats have been hidden?

HANGUANG LANE

The rope was cut.

Interesting.

From the moment that slop was poured, Hu Da was in someone's trap.

Mr. Xiao, did you go

to chase after a tall man in a black robe and hood?

Yes.

He was slightly hunched.

He left deeper toe prints than heel prints,

probably from years of hauling heavy loads.

When you rushed to save Hu Da, you brushed past him.

Mugwort.

I smelled mugwort on him.

He's the one who set Hu Da up.

It's a pity I couldn't catch up. I overestimated myself.

Don't sell yourself short.

You picked out the culprit with just a single glance.

He clearly knows this area well.

That's why he got away so fast.

Take Hu Da's body back to the Palace Investigation Bureau.

The killer must be someone from the palace.

- He won't get far. - Understood.

Has Your Ladyship seen a mark like this?

I saw it on that man's cart.

You know the palace well. Have you seen it there?

The lavatories.

Carts and barrels from the palace lavatories all have this mark.

That explains everything.

Night-soil collectors haul carts all year round,

so their footprints are deeper at the front.

They have free access to the palace,

and their status is so low that no one notices them.

And they often use mugwort incense to get rid of the smell.

Mr. Xiao, you really are sharp.

Your Ladyship.

My apologies.

We have a lead. Let's go catch someone.

Your Ladyship,

why were you holding Mr. Xiao's hand in front of everyone?

He was calculating the killer's whereabouts.

Did he really need her hand to do that?

Your Ladyship.

Among the night-soil collectors,

is there anyone who always keeps to himself,

covers himself up from head to toe, and likes to wear a hood?

Your Ladyship, that's Lou Chuo for sure.

Where is he?

He should be out delivering

golden soil from the palace

to the eastern suburbs.

You want it?

Here.

Sir,

do you know a man named Lou Chuo?

No. In this trade, we never ask names.

He's a palace eunuch.

Nine out of ten sellers claim to be palace eunuchs

just to get a better price.

We're not fools. We pay based on the quality.

That's right.

- Time to get back to work. - We still have questions for you.

This is an important seller. We can't make him wait.

He brings nothing but pure palace compost.

It makes top-grade fertilizer. Golden soil.

- Let's go take a look. - All right.

Lou Chuo, right?

LOU CHUO NIGHT-SOIL COLLECTOR OF PALACE LAVATORIES

Lou Chuo.

Boss!

Linglong grass.

Don't let him get away!

You're coming with me.

So ruthless to yourself?

Boss!

You can't escape now.

Your Ladyship, where should we take him?

The Palace Investigation Bureau's cells are full.

Please take him to the Court of Judicial Review.

Your Ladyship, are you handing this case over to us?

I'm just borrowing a cell.

Lou Chuo has the same rash.

Earlier, we found a hard object in the victim's mouth.

After soaking it in hot water,

it turned out to be a ginger slice.

Why would she have that?

Night-soil collectors stuff jujubes in their nostrils

and keep ginger slices in their mouths to fight the stench.

Hanxiao was probably with Lou Chuo before she died.

COURT OF JUDICIAL REVIEW

Your Ladyship,

is it really proper for you to be around him now?

This way, he can't commit suicide or run away,

and we don't have to deal with the smell.

Isn't that perfect?

Count your blessings.

Her Ladyship is letting you enjoy a hot bath.

Now start talking.

You…!

Let me question him today.

Please do, Mr. Xiao.

Hu Da lent money and harassed women in the palace.

He made plenty of enemies.

Did you kill Hu Da because you couldn't repay your debt?

No, that's not it.

Was it because of a woman?

You hated her?

No, you loved her.

Your love turned into resentment.

You're lowly, dirty, and always reek.

To her,

you were like a fly or a rat, something to avoid at all costs.

The more you tried to get close, the further she pulled away.

But at the end of the day, you were both servants.

Neither was nobler or lowlier than the other.

She was just a woman. She deserved to die.

Hu Da was better-looking than you, rich, and generous.

The woman you loved was drawn to him.

You could never be like him in this life,

and you hated him for it.

That's why you killed him.

Kill…

Kill.

Mr. Xiao,

when did you get so good at interrogations?

I'm not.

I just picked up a few tricks.

What a shame. Hu Da isn't dead yet.

How useless you are.

You couldn't get the woman you wanted,

and you couldn't kill the man you hated.

Hu Da is alive and well.

More beautiful women will fall for him.

But you?

The woman you loved is dead.

You'll never get her back.

You have nothing left.

If you tell us how you killed Hanxiao,

I'll let you kill Hu Da before you die.

If you stay silent, I'll still let you live,

but it'll be a fate worse than death.

Your choice.

Fine,

I'll talk.

But if I confess,

will you really report everything as it is?

There aren't many things I dare not do.

Try me.

Your Ladyship.

Lou Chuo,

you filthy wretch.

What a spectacle you've made!

How dare you waste so much of Her Ladyship's time?

Now, with ironclad evidence,

your guilt is clear as day.

Confess at once!

Your Ladyship,

this is certainly

a unique spot for an interrogation.

Lou Chuo,

out with it!

I put Hanxiao in the wall.

I was born the son of a military officer.

When I was little,

my family got convicted, and I was sent to the palace as a eunuch.

I've worked as a night-soil collector all these years.

Dirty and smelly, I was shunned by all.

The magnificence and splendor of the palace

meant nothing to me.

No matter how beautiful the maids or flowers were,

I never looked at them twice.

Every day after work,

I'd return to my tiny room that sunlight never reached.

My only companions were the rats.

But one day, I met Hanxiao.

Night-soil collectors rarely go to the Palace Registry Bureau.

Each month, one of us goes there

to collect pay for everyone,

so as not to draw attention or upset others.

- Ugh. What's that smell? - He stinks.

Are night-soil collectors allowed to collect their pay here themselves?

That was the pay meant for all the night-soil collectors.

I didn't dare lose a single coin,

so I scrambled to pick them up.

Hey, filthy rat, where did you get all that money?

Did you steal it?

I'm talking to you.

Where is all this money from?

Do you have nothing better to do?

If you're so free, help me plant flowers for Consort Shu.

Please, Sister Hanxiao, have mercy.

It's too hot. I'll get heatstroke.

- Then get lost! - Yes.

In all my years in the palace,

that was the first time anyone had stood up for me.

What are you staring at?

Pick up your money and head back.

It was the first time someone had smiled at me.

That person was Hanxiao.

After that,

I'd try to find a way to see her

whenever I finished work.

She worked in Consort Shu's palace.

It was hard to see her,

but I had my ways.

Even a glimpse from afar was enough.

But later, I realized

she looked down on me

just like everyone else.

Sister Hanxiao.

Supervisor Hu.

About the loan you took,

I'll charge you the lowest interest rate.

Thank you, Supervisor Hu.

However…

Come with me.

All right.

She was nothing special.

She was just like the rest, chasing wealth and scorning the poor.

So you killed her for that?

If you don't want to hear it,

I won't bother.

You…!

Chief Justice, please.

Chief Justice.

Lou Chuo, continue.

Later,

I heard she was leaving the palace.

I thought it would be my last chance,

so I secretly wrote her a letter.

She didn't even reply.

I thought we'd never meet again in this life.

But fate is unpredictable.

One day, I found her lying in a gutter,

hair a mess and clothes in rags.

She'd been brought right back to me.

I saved her

and treated her well,

but she still despised me.

I saved her.

Without me, she would've died by the roadside.

I kept her in my room

and made her stay with me.

This time, she didn't resist.

She'd learned her lesson.

And then?

After ten days or so,

she died.

Even toward the end

of her life, all she could think about was Hu Da.

She could never stop saying his name!

But in the end, wasn't I the one by her side?

You killed Hu Da out of jealousy.

Didn't he deserve to die?

But Hanxiao had already yielded to you.

Why did you kill her?

I didn't.

She was too weak.

One day, I came back from work

and found her dead in my room.

It was just as well she died.

At least she'd never leave me again.

But after only three days,

her body started to stink and break out in rashes.

It was awful.

I had no choice but to bury her.

You could've cremated her or dumped her outside the palace.

Why did you put her in a palace wall?

That way,

when I hauled waste and passed by every day,

I could see her.

Could those wounds have formed in just around ten days?

The wounds vary in color.

Clearly, there are both old and new injuries.

The oldest ones are over half a year old.

Hanxiao must have been abused ever since leaving the palace.

Where did she go?

Lou Chuo is still hiding a lot from us.

Go look into Hu Da first.

If it'd been truly just a jealousy murder,

Lou Chuo wouldn't have gone to all that trouble.

Understood.

Yes, a carriage picked them up.

A few girls came out first.

Then your sister ran after them.

Do you know where they went?

The Xuandu Temple only records the departure time,

not the destination.

This should be the place.

Taozhi, look how nice it is here.

Didn't I tell you it'd be fine?

This must be a good place to work.

BAIRONG, FORMER PALACE MAID MULIAN, FORMER PALACE MAID

It really is nice.

LINLAN, FORMER PALACE MAID CUIZHU, FORMER PALACE MAID

What kind of good job could Hu Da possibly find for us?

We should still be careful.

Anyway, now that you know where we are,

you can stop worrying.

Go see your brother now.

Ladies, you're here. Come with me.

Let's go.

This place feels strange.

They provide food and lodging.

Isn't that good?

Yeah.

But the room is so dark.

You'll all be living here from now on.

Now, hand over your travel passes.

- Travel pass? - Well.

My travel pass…

Sir, what kind of business do you run here?

You'll find out soon enough.

Hand it over.

If we're here to work,

shouldn't we get proof of employment first?

Why are you taking our passes?

Why so many questions?

You're taking our passes without explanation?

Something's off!

Does the wage you promised us still stand?

Of course.

As long as you work hard,

you'll only earn more.

No matter the pay, we shouldn't stay.

Taozhi,

I need the money.

You really won't leave?

I'm staying.

Whatever the job is, I have to try it for a few days at least.

You think you can just come and go as you please?

I don't care what this place is,

but in the Western Capital, you can't just detain people.

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

How could you hit her?

Stop causing trouble.

If you break the rules, you take the punishment!

But I never agreed to work for you.

You want to leave?

Fine. Ten guan.

- Ten… Ten guan? - Ten guan?

Ten guan?

What do we do now?

Do you still think this is a legitimate business?

Where did you find Hanxiao?

Didn't I tell you already?

In an alley of Daozheng Ward.

She was lying by a gutter.

There are many alleys in Daozheng Ward.

Which one?

I don't remember.

Did you see anything else on the way back?

Yes.

That was the day Hanxiao and I got married.

How could I forget?

Everyone along the way congratulated me.

Groups of young women chattered,

all gossiping about me.

But they were all just ordinary girls,

nothing like Hanxiao.

She carried a subtle scent,

fragrant from afar

and sweet up close.

That's why I always wanted to be near her.

Anything else?

Yes.

There were flowers,

so many flowers,

more than I'd ever seen in my life.

They were in all colors,

even more beautiful than those in Consort Shu's garden.

Honestly,

only Hanxiao could have made them look so beautiful.

There were also drumming, festive music,

bells ringing,

and people singing.

It was lovely.

Little kids ran over with baskets,

asking for lucky money.

I handed out candy, and they were all so happy.

This is the only canal that runs through Daozheng Ward.

Let's search from north to south.

We've walked so far, but we still haven't seen

flowers, children, or women.

One or two wen for needles, thread,

or floral cloth for your shoes!

Come take a look!

- I want it! - Give it to me first!

Could this be what Lou Chuo described?

There were also drumming, festive music, and bells ringing.

Little kids ran over with baskets, asking for lucky money.

But where are the flowers and the ladies?

If what he called "festive music" wasn't really music,

maybe the "flowers" weren't real either.

Sure. No problem. Take it.

So these are the colorful "flowers."

LANTERN SHOP

Look. These lotus lanterns do look like flowers.

We've found the "flowers."

That stall was the last place Lou Chuo passed by.

Before that, it was this lantern shop.

Let's keep walking.

This must be where he thought people were talking about him.

Groups of young women chattered,

all gossiping about me.

That's so funny.

The gutter he mentioned should be nearby.

‪Look at it! How nice.

It's the smell of face powder.

Strange. This alley is so narrow,

and there are no mansions around.

Who here would use so much powder?

Unless there's a tavern or brothel nearby.

We're here?

Hanguang Lane?

So Lou Chuo ran into Hanxiao near the spot where he killed Hu Da?

According to Hu Da's coachman,

he was only gone for less than an hour each time.

To get back to Linglong Residence in time without being noticed,

he could only have come this far.

This building is within this range.

But the Inner Guards have already checked.

All the taverns and residences claimed they never received Hu Da.

Let's go take a look.

XIUHONG HOUSE

ZHENNIANG

Madam, sir, what brings you here?

Do you sell silk or embroidery here?

Embroidery.

But you don't come to this ward often, do you?

- How can you tell? - We only do business with merchants,

never private customers.

No wonder you can afford such fine benzoin resin incense.

We owe it all to our loyal clients.

Supplying embroidery to merchants must require a lot of embroiderers, right?

- Seven or eight. - That's not so many.

A truly skilled embroiderer can do the work

of ten ordinary ones.

How was Hanxiao?

Who is that?

You don't know her?

Never heard of her.

There was a murder in Hanguang Lane a few days ago.

Did you hear?

Sir, stop. You're scaring me.

- You knew the victim? - No, I didn't.

I've never seen such a grand embroidery house.

Would you mind showing us around?

Though we're open for business,

this is still a private residence.

We only welcome regulars.

We've been here for a while.

Why haven't we seen a single embroiderer?

They just finished a big job a few days ago.

They're all resting.

Do all your embroiderers live here?

Yes.

It's awfully quiet.

They're all young ladies. They're out enjoying themselves.

Please, stay here.

What are you doing? You startled the guests!

It's nothing!

It was probably just a rat.