Original subtitles

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

Please hold up.

What's wrong, scaring the guests?

It's fine!

Probably just a rat.

- What's going on? - There's a rat!

It scared me to death!

How come it's always you, making a fuss over nothing?

He's new here and ignorant.

That scream just now was clearly from a woman.

What woman?

There's only this snot-nosed kid.

I got it! Look!

No telling what happened to her.

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Run again and I'll break your legs!

What do you want from us?

What's the rush? You want a beating too, huh?

Niu.

Now that you're here,

don't worry about finding work.

I'll give you a guarantee right now.

- What're you doing? - Move aside!

- What're you doing? - What're you doing?

Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

XIUHONG HOUSE

Come take a look!

Xiuhong House is really odd.

The silks hanging in the courtyard are like a maze,

like there are people hiding everywhere.

Those silk colors are chosen for a reason.

They're to gather qi and draw in money.

And that's not all.

There are pines and cypresses by the hall door

and a peachwood sword on the beam.

These props don't match the décor at all.

They're all meant to boost luck and pull in wealth.

What kind of embroidery house is this?

You can't even spot a single thread there.

Do you remember the face powder in the gutter?

With that much powder, there should be lots of embroiderers here.

No. Embroiderers rarely wear makeup,

because powder falls on the frame and stains the embroidery.

So you mean

Xiuhong House was only dressed up to look like an embroidery house.

Taozhi!

Taozhi…

It's all my fault.

Why did you have to make such a scene?

We ex-palace maids

trying to make it out here already have it hard enough.

We're not like you,

with a brother at court to back you up.

You pulled a stunt,

and all of us got dragged down with you.

How is that Taozhi's fault?

She did it for us too!

How can you be so foolish?

If this were legit work,

why won't they let us leave once we came in?

Now they've locked us up in this place like a cage.

I'd rather starve on the street

than die here without knowing why.

A person's fate, how it turns out isn't just about your birth parents.

It also depends on your adoptive parents.

Hu Da found himself a rich godfather,

so he could lend money in the palace, and nobody dared touch him.

Godfather?

The wealthy merchant Sun Zhiwang.

The one people call Sun "Eight Wards"?

That's him.

They say he's obsessed with birth charts and fate.

He's consulted nearly every fortune-teller in Western Capital.

Even his godson couldn't dodge destiny?

You can't just pick a godfather at random.

Do you remember what Hu Da once said?

Before Hanxiao left the palace, she barely paid back the principal,

and he wiped out the remaining interest.

A businessman, no matter how rich,

wouldn't just erase a debt

and take a loss.

Debts have to be paid.

It's just how you pay.

Besides lending money,

Hu Da also finds jobs for ex-palace maids.

He wants these women to work and earn to pay back the usury?

Right. I heard that before Hanxiao left the palace,

she couldn't pay, and was a wreck day and night.

Then Hu Da found her a job, and she finally relaxed.

Could it be she went to Xiuhong House?

Quit that.

RUYI

You're not getting out.

I got here months before you.

Miss,

what are we doing here, exactly?

Once you get down to the storeroom, you'll find out.

- Storeroom? - Storeroom?

I'll get you out too.

Wannian County offices told me the identity of Xiuhong House's owner.

The name's Chen Youdao.

Have you seen him?

No. They said he went to Suzhou to buy silk.

I checked.

In Western Capital, he only has this one business.

His family is all in Suzhou.

I'm afraid this man doesn't even exist.

Come with me.

Where is Sun Zhiwang from?

Same as the owner of Xiuhong House, Suzhou.

That "owner" was likely hired by Sun Zhiwang to throw people off.

We have to look into this Sun "Eight Wards".

This time, no visit. Let's go straight in and take him.

"Take him" is a bit rough.

If we pay a call and he won't see us,

then we'll make him invite us.

ZUIXIAN HOUSE

Make way!

Get out of here! Stop forcing me to call the authorities!

No need to bother. I am the authority.

FUCHANG COUNTY PRINCESS BADGE

Madam, you came at the perfect time.

This street con man is scamming free food at our place!

What "immortal master" are you, stirring up trouble here?

Immortal Master Wuwang from Mount Shennan.

What immortal master? He's a fraud!

Easy. Let's talk. What happened?

An hour ago,

this guy swaggered in like he owned the place.

I hurried over to greet him.

Sir, what would you like today?

We've got live fish.

He looked like a real immortal!

- What was he holding in his hand? - No idea.

Sir, another crooked "sorcerer" here

to mooch a free meal.

- What bad luck! - I'm not eating!

LIQUOR

Immortal Master, why the sigh?

Immortal Master, please sit.

Please.

What did you see just now?

Could you give us a hint?

Illusion melts away.

Splendor fades to nothing.

This place is full of bad feng shui.

The owner's been having a rough time, no sleep at night.

Evil is stirring,

wrecking fate and draining money.

Soon, there'll be a major disaster.

Immortal Master,

our master cares most about layout.

Look at what we've put here.

Which one isn't meant to bring luck and wealth?

Business here is booming!

Exactly!

If you truly see something,

please tell us plainly.

"Hu"… All in vain…

Has your Master Hu run into any trouble lately?

Nonsense!

Our master's surname is Sun, not Hu.

What should we call you, Immortal Master?

Immortal Master Wuwang from Mount Shennan.

Could you be a bit more specific?

So I can report to my master.

Your master isn't surnamed Hu?

Perhaps I misread it.

Immortal Master, wait.

Quick! Serve the best dishes.

Don't you dare slight him.

- Go! - Understood.

We treated him with full respect,

and what does he do?

Sits there without a word, just eats.

No explanations, and he won't pay either.

And what he said was all so vague and mystical.

He only picked the nastiest things to say.

He even cursed us!

That's when I got into it with him.

You ate their food. Why didn't you pay?

I didn't order any of it.

They brought it over and insisted I eat.

After I finished, they told me to pay.

This money, I can't give.

And I can't afford it.

Fine, you don't need to.

But since you claim their master has evil omens,

then tell us how to fix it too.

I'm not keeping it from you,

but this evil omen is too strange.

It's not something you can fix in a moment.

Or are you just making it up, scamming free food?

Madam,

throw those chopsticks,

and you'll know if I'm a fraud.

Looks like lately,

you haven't had much luck either.

Everywhere you turn, it's a death case.

The clues keep snapping off.

Not bad.

But with just that,

you're not worth one meal at Zuixian House.

Exactly. You leave things half-done.

What kind of skill is that?

What else can you see, Immortal Master?

You really wish to know?

Of course.

Lake over Wind, the Great Exceeding hexagram.

Fool clings to a dream within a dream.

What's sought outside is hard to redeem.

This sign says, "Good things stay out of reach.

Release your grip, and cease to seek."

Seems like you have something

you can't hold on to, yet can't let go of.

You're lost, but you can't tell anyone.

The knot in your heart won't untie.

Does that count as a meal?

They're coming out!

- They're coming out! - He's right on the mark!

Unbelievable. Her face even changed.

Stop staring! Move along!

What's her problem?

- Hey! - All right.

Consider it the Lady covering your meal.

Immortal Master! Immortal Master!

Immortal Master, wait.

We were rude just now.

Our master invites you upstairs for a talk.

Sorry. I can't get involved.

Immortal Master… Immortal Master!

Why's there only chicken and no wine?

Drink less.

You'll drink your brain rotten and turn into a useless old wreck.

How am I supposed to count on you then?

What I said in the divination verse was pure nonsense.

If I offended you, I hope you'll forgive me.

Seems my acting was pretty good.

Even you got scared.

You scared me too.

I thought Mr. Xiao really hit something.

If even you bought it, then everyone there

won't doubt our "Immortal Master."

Well… So the one you click with best now

isn't me anymore.

That's just acting.

Since "Immortal Master Wuwang" was talking nonsense,

I had to make it look real.

Mr. Xiao, what on earth did you say?

Mr. Xiao cast a hexagram

and said Inspector Du asks too many questions,

so he'll end up in Tongue-Pulling Hell.

You little lunatic!

Cut the nonsense, or you'll meet me right there!

Look at her.

What do we do next?

The show's already started.

Don't rush.

Who is it?

- Godfather… - Who?

- Godfather… - Get away!

Give me my life back!

SUN'S MANSION

He took the bait?

We got a bonus.

ACCOUNT BOOK

Disguising the account book like this…

Hu Da really is something.

So many palace maids borrowed money from Hu Da?

And the interest is insane.

On a maid's monthly pay, there's no way they could repay it.

MONEY LENT TO HANXIAO

Then how did these maids pay it off?

Their names were crossed out.

But in the deposit records, their names aren't there at all.

HANXIAO

Found it. Hanxiao's name was crossed out too.

So they really made them work to repay it?

I'll check where these women ended up.

Xiuhong House and Sun's Mansion are far apart.

That day, Hu Da had no time to deliver the account book there.

So it seems Xiuhong House must be tied to Sun Zhiwang.

SUN ZHIWANG, WESTERN CAPITAL'S RICHEST

A ghost!

Master, easy!

There's nothing unusual in the room.

The men thoroughly searched the courtyard.

There's nothing odd.

It was Hu Da! Hu Da is back!

His face was covered in blood, and he tried to bite me!

Where's my peachwood sword? Where's my talisman?

- Hurry! - Bring the peachwood sword and talisman!

- Hurry! - Hurry!

Master, your peachwood sword.

- Realgar wine! Realgar wine! - Bring the wine!

REALGAR WINE

Master.

JIANG TINGWEI, GUARD

The storm outside likely stirred up those troubled dreams, Master.

It wasn't a dream!

Go. Bring that Immortal Master from today to me.

SUN'S MANSION

Take me to see your master.

That day, we were impolite at Zuixian House.

Please don't take offense.

The dead had an unsettled grudge with you.

I was also guided here by fate itself.

No need to worry, Mr. Sun.

Where bright qi stays,

dark shadows creep.

This blame is not the one you see.

From long-held grudges, deeper spite is sown.

What does that mean?

Mr. Sun, lately, your business has run into some trouble, right?

The man's death wasn't due to his destined calamity, but because of you.

One of your properties has too much yin qi,

suppressing your fortune.

First it hits your children, then it harms you.

You must trace it to the source to break the evil.

Immortal Master, can you tell which property it is?

You already have an answer. Why ask me?

Prepare the carriage, now!

Master.

Immortal Attendant,

may you lift your veil and show us your face?

My attendant's face

is not to be shown.

I've never seen an immortal attendant dressed like this.

I'm truly curious.

My attendant's eyes are strange from birth.

Not fit to be seen.

Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Sun.

My servant offended you. Sorry.

Tingwei, how rude!

Immortal Master, then let's set off.

But…

I have one more request.

Covering your eyes is by no means disrespect.

My godson died suddenly.

It has already stirred up quite a storm in Western Capital.

If people also learn that I hired an Immortal Master to drive out evil…

You're worried word will get out,

and guests will get uneasy,

- hurting your business. - Yes.

You see right through me.

XIUHONG HOUSE

Immortal Master.

Please light incense for Immortal Master.

Let's begin.

This estate is quite large.

Immortal Master, I beg you leave no detail unchecked,

and sweep away every evil.

- Don't miss a thing. - Don't worry.

This way, please.

Watch your step.

East four.

South two.

North seven.

We're going in circles.

Watch your step!

There's a lot in the room. Careful.

By sacred decree, the sun ascends the east.

This charm I grant, all ill to cease.

Immortal Master, anything unusual?

My breath exhales the mountain's fire.

The talisman's light seals the door, the space entire.

Sweep specters from on high.

Through ages piled, let plagues pass by.

I take the Vajra's might inside,

subduing all fiends, turning harm to blessings wide.

Immortal Attendant, why aren't you following the Immortal Master?

Make noise again, and I'll kill you!

Immortal Master, there seems to be evil here.

The evil is gone.

Immortal Master, shall we go to the next place?

SUN'S MANSION

You can take the blindfolds off now.

Immortal Master, please accept this.

My bond with you is not for money.

No need to spend.

Such noble virtue from you

only fills me with fear and unrest in my heart.

In that case,

may I ask you for 12 copper coins, to soothe your heart?

Fine!

Fine!

Immortal Master, has the evil been completely cleared?

One step remains.

Tonight at You Hour, it's an auspicious day and time.

You must host a banquet for old guests to bring in lucky joy.

Only then is the evil truly gone.

From then on, you'll prosper, go smoothly, and keep rising.

You Hour?

I'll follow your arrangement.

Please prepare an empty room for me

in the southwest corner of the first floor.

Before You Hour, I need to set up the offerings

in that room.

Then, all the rite to drive out evil

and bring luck and wealth will be complete.

Thank you, Immortal Master.

Farewell.

Sun Zhiwang's guard was so cautious.

It's basically telling us outright Xiuhong House is hiding something.

That strange noise on the second floor must mean trouble.

That room was packed with embroidery frames.

It should be the embroidery room.

Too bad we were blindfolded. I have no idea which room it was.

I secretly scattered incense ash along the way,

but the scent was covered by soapnut water.

Clearly, wherever we walked, they'd clean it up at once.

They're careful.

It's the easternmost room on the south side.

- What? - The embroidery room

is in the far east room, south side, second floor.

Mr. Xiao, have you got magic or a third eye?

Neither.

When we reached the second floor, Jiang Tingwei immediately led us left.

The first time we visited Xiuhong House,

I noticed there are two stairways up to the second floor.

But if you turn left after going up,

only the southwest one connects to the corridor.

So once we got upstairs,

we walked the south corridor from west to east.

When Jiang Tingwei led us away from the embroidery room,

he first turned us east.

Then after just a few steps, he had us turn north.

That means the embroidery room sits at the far eastern end

of the south corridor.

Next time, just say you've got magic.

Someone's following us.

- Split up. - Don't panic.

Put on your fake eyes.

Oh no, my master only gave me one pair.

I don't have a spare.

Immortal Master.

Your master didn't send you, did he?

You're truly something.

It has nothing to do with my master.

What is it?

I have something to ask Immortal Attendant.

Ask away.

Immortal Attendant,

may I see your eyes again?

Actually,

I know a traveling physician who's best at treating eye problems.

I can introduce him to you.

It would be a good deed

and earn me blessings.

So please, do me this favor.

- Ignorant. - What's wrong?

To insist like a rogue, isn't it cruel?

Let's go.

He won't follow again.

Thanks for getting me out of that.

I was getting Jiang Tingwei out of it.

Otherwise, today, he would've had a rough time.

After all that mystic act, I'm starving now.

Earlier, why didn't you take Sun "Eight Wards"'s money?

We could've feasted at Yunchui House.

Sun Zhiwang's guard was already suspicious.

If we took the money, they'd get even more wary.

We're not short on cash.

I want the guilty to pay the real price.

You think far ahead.

But next time, remember to claim my half.

Real silver is what counts.

These copper coins are to pay you back.

Last time at Zuixian House, you covered the bill for me.

They say

diviners take on a share of fate's consequences too.

Taking money helps ward off the bad luck.

Consider this money your fee for reading my fortune.

The divination was just an act.

You took it seriously?

You really aren't tempted by money.

I was being petty.

Thanks!

Thanks!

Idiot!

Last time, you were jumping at shadows and drove an Immortal Master away.

Haven't you learned your lesson?

If you mess this up, can you take the consequences?

Master,

do you really believe that Immortal Master Wuwang?

Not long after Hu Da died, they showed up at Zuixian House.

Isn't that too much of a coincidence?

He said

only after he arrived that he sensed the bad qi.

That divination verse hinting at "Hu"

was something he cast himself!

They could've known Hu Da for a long time.

Hu Da was a nasty piece of work.

He must've offended plenty of people.

You keep a low profile,

but who's to say Hu Da didn't brag everywhere

about his ties to you?

If someone with an agenda noticed,

they might use it to stir trouble.

If it was for money,

I prepared a huge reward earlier,

but he didn't take it.

But if it's not for money,

then he may be after something bigger.

My master said you may remove the blindfolds in this room.

Sir.

The dead man died young, never married.

So we're offering him a virgin girl to soothe his resentment.

You really gave him what he wanted!

Please watch your mouth.

‪YU JIAN ER‪ APOTROPAIC TALISMAN

Put it on the front door. I can't go out.

Please do it for me.

Leave these offerings in the room.

At dawn tomorrow, carry them out.

Find a proper place and burn them.

Then you can rest easy.

It's to ward off evil.

The rite is complete. Please send us out.

This way, please.

Careful.

Peiyi won't be found, will she?

No need to worry. Thanks for your help.

XIUHONG HOUSE

Sun Zhiwang is so superstitious.

He specifically told us to miss no corner

when driving out evil.

So this room right next to the embroidery room

has to be hiding something.

From these two spots, we can watch the carriages coming in and out,

or anyone suspicious.

You take one, I'll take the other.

- Then Her Ladyship-- - She and I agreed.

This time, we only scout the place,

find out what Xiuhong House is really doing here,

and we won't act rashly.

I've arranged it. Once You Hour starts, every ke,

the watchman will call the time outside Xiuhong House.

By the third ke of You Hour at the latest, she has to come out.

XIUHONG HOUSE

I smell incense powder!

Who are you?

I hate people who sneak attack.

You never thought you'd end up as a bench, did you?

Let go of me!

Then answer my question.

Behind the embroidery room wall lies a secret room.

Its entrance is hidden in the east room.

And to cover their tracks,

you've made a hidden door.

Am I right?

If you already know, why waste your breath on me?

Because I've got more to ask.

The banquet's about to start,

yet the whole house is this quiet.

So where did you hide the place

you're hosting your guests?

Who are you, really?

You won't answer a single thing I ask,

yet you're questioning me instead?

Even if I tell you,

do you think you'll live to find it?

Why waste time on threats?

Don't worry. If I die,

you'll keep me company in the underworld.

Your eyes are beautiful,

but they've seen too much filth.

Since you won't spill anything…

Madam, your tea and snacks.

Why's it suddenly so lively there?

The master had a son.

He's in a great mood, so it's on the house for everyone.

Free wine, free dishes, free wedding cakes.

- Waiter! - Coming!

Bravo!

Oh no…

- Your Ladyship… - You know me?

I heard my brother mention you.

Who's your brother?

Gu Lingzhou, Prosecutor of the Court of Judicial Review.

How did you end up trapped here?

Don't be afraid. I'll get you out.

Don't worry about me.

There are other girls. They took them away.

Your Ladyship, please go save them!

‪XIUHONG HOUSE

Make way!

- What's the situation? - The crowd's too thick.

- I couldn't make out - Bravo!

who was coming or going.

It's already past the second ke of You Hour.

She probably can't hear the watchman.

What do we do now, wait for the third ke?