Original subtitles

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

Your Ladyship,

you're reviewing the case late at night?

Can't we wait until tomorrow to discuss it with His Majesty?

Just thinking about Remonstrator Lu

sleeping through the night comfortably at home,

I feel uneasy all over.

So yes, sorry to trouble you both.

After all, it's a case His Majesty personally inquired about.

Let's have Deputy Director Xiao take the records.

Then let's begin.

Remonstrator Lu, please repeat

what happened last night at Swallow House.

I arrived at Swallow House half past the You hour.

I was meeting with Liu Ying'er to go over the score.

It's this section.

Could you tell us again

how you communicated with Liu Ying'er?

That's improper.

Your Ladyship,

since you're handling the case this late,

why not focus on the key points

and resolve it quickly?

What's there to be shy about?

It would also give us a chance to see

the talent of the second-year graduate of Yongtai.

Last night,

Liu Ying'er played a new piece.

I felt it lacked a bit of charm.

So I composed some lyrics for the new score.

"Mist shrouds the silver boat,

moon halo on the branches, my heart grows obsessed."

Nice lyrics!

Truly beautiful lyrics.

But I'm quite lacking in talent.

Could you explain the meaning of these words?

It's just a few descriptive phrases about the night sky.

At that moment, I glanced outside the window

and saw the thick night mist and the hazy moon halo.

I casually wrote these two lines.

Nothing special, really.

You truly have an elegant taste.

But how could such exquisite words

make Liu Ying'er unhappy?

I said the rhythm of the piece was off, and it didn't match the lyrics.

Liu Ying'er disagreed, and we started arguing.

At the second ke of Xu hour, Liu Ying'er ran out in a huff.

I got up to chase her,

but accidentally fell down the stairs.

The people in Swallow House all saw it.

I really don't know anything about Xiuhong House,

and I certainly haven't been there.

You two must have had quite an argument,

which is why Liu Ying'er ran out of the room.

In your hurry,

how did you know

that it was exactly the second ke of Xu hour?

Yes.

Why do you remember it so clearly?

Because the attendant there

was repeatedly announcing the time,

"On the third day of the fifth month, at the second ke of the Xu hour,

Mr. Lu claims 'Hundred Birds Return to Nest'!"

That was the most expensive reward at Swallow House.

So your lyrics were written

before the second ke of Xu hour?

Correct.

The moon halo

was also seen before the second ke of Xu hour?

Your Ladyship,

why are we going back to those lyrics again?

On matters of the heavens,

Deputy Director Xiao knows best.

Let's ask him.

According to official records,

the moon halo appeared at the fourth ke of Xu hour last night

and completely dissipated by the Hai hour.

If Remonstrator Lu saw the moon halo,

it must have been at the fourth ke of Xu hour.

After you wrote the lyrics, argued,

then fell down the stairs,

that would've been at least the sixth ke of Xu hour.

So, you're lying.

No, I'm not!

Everyone, think about it.

If it wasn't for that attendant shouting out the second ke of Xu hour,

how would I know the exact time?

I arrived at Swallow House half past the You hour

to meet Liu Ying'er.

And I really did see the moon halo.

If someone is lying, it should be the attendant.

Why blame me for it?

There was no water clock at Swallow House.

The time was reported by the nearby watchman.

If he was in your pocket,

- the hour was yours to name. - You…

With a few coins,

you bought any time you pleased.

Speaking nonsense!

Am I speaking nonsense?

Once the watchman arrives, we'll know.

Don't rush.

We've already caught him.

He should be here soon.

Remonstrator Lu,

Her Ladyship has seen you at Xiuhong House.

Can't you be wronged?

Rather than trying to scheme your way out,

a honest confession serves you better!

Alright.

This case

involves the inner palace. It's a serious matter.

The Court of Judicial Review will assist the Palace Investigation Bureau

in investigating it.

As for Lu Zhenglian,

once I report it tomorrow,

His Majesty will decide.

Understood.

Prosecutor Gu has found Jiang Tingwei.

We're short on manpower and need reinforcements.

Chief Justice.

I'll leave Remonstrator Lu to you.

Understood.

If we do nothing,

we'll have no way out.

Everyone, be sharp.

Strengthen the defenses.

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

Someone's following us!

Stay alert!

Stop right there!

Now's the time! Move!

Go save them!

Taozhi!

Taozhi.

It's me.

Lingzhou…

It's my fault.

I came late.

Capture them alive.

Everyone, step back!

Take the alive ones back.

Understood.

Move!

Get up!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi…

Your Ladyship…

Taozhi…

Taozhi…

- Taozhi… - Taozhi…

Taozhi…

I'm here.

I'm here.

Don't cry…

Let's go home…

Alright.

I will take you home.

Let's go home.

- I will take you home. - Take me…

Taozhi…

Taozhi?

Taozhi?

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

Taozhi!

Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

Taozhi!

- Taozhi! - Taozhi!

Taozhi…

Taozhi…

Taozhi…

Taozhi…

Taozhi…

GOODS HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED

LI PEIYI FOUND THE "HUNDRED BIRDS RETURN TO NEST" FROM SWALLOW HOUSE

Li Peiyi found

Swallow House's reward, the "Hundred Birds Return to Nest."

As expected.

Lu Zhenglian can't escape now.

Xiuhong House is no longer an option.

We can't save Sun Zhiwang either.

Lu Zhenglian is in the same boat as us.

A few stern words should make him hesitate.

But Sun Zhiwang is a businessman.

Who knows what conditions Li Peiyi will offer him?

He knows a lot.

Go tell your master,

whether Sun Zhiwang keeps quiet

depends on his skill.

Understood.

They don't have anything on them that can prove their identities.

I checked those unexploded fire thunder bombs.

Nothing odd.

They're probably death warriors.

We got word of it and rushed here at once.

But those men in black arrived earlier than us.

Sun Zhiwang has such big power?

It couldn't have been him.

XIUHONG HOUSE

Seal!

SEALED BY THE LEFT GUARD COMMANDANT'S OFFICE

SUN'S MANSION

Don't move!

Your Ladyship,

I'm telling the truth. I haven't hidden a single thing.

Xiuhong House has always been managed by Hu Da.

I never interfere.

He abused his position to kidnap palace maids

and set up a brothel.

It's indeed a grave crime!

Indulging Hu Da was my fault.

I admit my guilt.

But…

as for the clients he found, how he found them,

I really don't know anything about it.

Don't be so hasty to burn your bridges, Mr. Sun.

Think carefully before you speak.

I… Even if you push me to death,

I still know nothing about it!

I… I…

So you are holding back.

Guards, take a good look.

Remove anything that could injure him

and cause an accidental death.

Don't try to bite your tongue.

It'll be hard to die that way.

Even if you die, you'll go to hell.

That's terrifying.

Tonight, Mr. Xiao and I won't go anywhere.

We'll just stay with you.

Please… hear me out.

You can't blame me for this!

You're still questioning him?

This isn't your concern.

I won!

You mistook the pawn.

It's clearly a black pawn.

Your drawing is unclear.

How can you blame me?

I've been losing all the time.

This is no fun!

Made up your mind?

Lu Zhenglian won't speak.

Sun Zhiwang won't dare speak.

Looks like the clients at Xiuhong House are either rich or noble.

They can't afford to offend them.

Others, probably, are like Lu Zhenglian, officials in court,

which makes them so cautious.

His Majesty has always disapproved of officials meeting in secret.

If that's the case,

they've probably been working together for a long time.

It'll be even harder to get them to spill.

No rush.

We still need one last push.

Li Peiyi, you're so devious!

I haven't said anything!

Stop shouting.

Your room is at the very end.

No one can hear you.

But they'll know Deputy Director Xiao questioned you for an entire night,

and paper was delivered several times.

They'll also know,

after you confessed, I rewarded you greatly.

The situation is set.

You can stay silent

or take this opportunity to tell me everything you know.

I'll make sure you stay alive.

- You… - I'll give you two hours.

Think it over.

Watch him closely. He'll crack soon.

Don't let anyone near him.

- No one is allowed. - Understood.

Sun Zhiwang has confessed.

He probably hasn't said anything, right?

‪Is it?

I thought you had some great ability,

but in the end, you're just an ignorant woman.

If he really did spill,

why waste time here with me?

How is it wasting time?

I just wanted to see your last expression.

It's really interesting.

Are you really going to blindly trust Sun Zhiwang's one-sided story?

Sun Zhiwang's attitude was sincere,

and he spoke in great detail,

far more convincingly than you.

He's a businessman.

Of course he'll spin the tale to suit himself.

If… If you can't see through that,

you call yourself an investigator?

Whatever it takes, I won't let the guilty walk free.

If you're dissatisfied,

it's not Sun Zhiwang's fault.

Who told you to play dumb?

But I guess,

when facing the executioner,

you'll understand everything.

Your Ladyship,

the ladies provided a clear sketch.

Please take a look.

It's Lu Zhenglian.

Your Ladyship recognize him?

He's already been caught.

Ruyi, do you remember the appearance of the others?

These two seniors were there before us.

The sketch was only possible thanks to them.

Have you seen any other clients without their masks on?

They were very careful, always wearing masks.

Occasionally, we could catch a glimpse of their faces,

but… we didn't know who they were.

Just tell the artist everything you remember

about what you saw,

even the smallest details.

Understood.

Emergency!

Prosecutor Gu is storming the prison with a blade!

Prosecutor Gu, calm down!

Move aside!

No!

Gu Lingzhou!

Don't stop me!

Wuren!

Where is Gu Lingzhou?

Over there.

Didn't I order that no one be allowed to approach him?

Why is there something like this?

An… An hour ago,

Sun Zhiwang suddenly said he'd figured it out.

He wants to spill everything he knows.

I was coming to find you

when the duty clerk reported it to the Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice knew your orders.

But eager to close the case, he said,

"If we can't question him,

let him write it himself."

The Chief Justice had you bring this pen?

No.

Your Ladyship ordered that he must not commit suicide.

The Chief Justice had us bring paper and reed pens.

But after writing for a while,

Sun Zhiwang complained the reed pen was too soft.

I saw he really wrote a lot,

so I gave him a brush instead.

I kept an eye on him

until…

until Prosecutor Gu charged in.

I ran out to assist.

But Sun took advantage of this little bit of time…

The pen was already cracked.

Or it wouldn't have snapped so easily.

I…

I really don't know about this. I truly don't know!

This pen was specially prepared by them.

It's not just the pen.

With all the drama here today,

which one wasn't arranged by them?

Your Ladyship.

Lu Zhenglian, whatever it is, out with it!

All I'm saying is,

Princess of Fuchang County,

your little confession trap is laughably obvious.

I only drank and slept around on a workday.

If you really have the skills to convict me,

cut my pay, demote me. I accept it all.

But don't you dare

pin Xiuhong House's filth on me!

Still refusing to talk?

Save your breath.

Someone has already passed a message to him.

He won't say another word.

But just a fine or a demotion? Don't count on it.

That wasn't just sleeping around.

It was rape.

If any of those women were married,

add further charges.

Sun Zhiwang confessed

that he used Hu Da's position in the Palace Registry Bureau

to abduct ex-palace maids

and imprison them in Xiuhong House.

He used the embroidery house as cover,

forcing the maids to commit immoral acts for men.

As for those who came seeking pleasure,

they were all contacted directly by Hu Da.

They used tokens of identification,

showing up incognito.

Now that Hu Da is dead,

Sun Zhiwang has committed suicide,

how can we find the other clients?

As for the other clients…

I'm afraid it will be difficult to track them down.

How about those maids?

They have all been rescued.

If that's the case,

the mastermind has taken their own life, the victims have been saved,

and the corrupt officials have been uncovered.

You've done a good job with this case.

You've really lived up to His Majesty's expectations.

Eunuch Guo, don't rush.

This case isn't closed yet.

Recently, floods in the south

have kept His Majesty awake day and night.

You should

help His Majesty share the burden.

By Your Majesty's grace,

I will certainly punish them by the law.

Your Ladyship,

Eunuch Guo has made things very clear.

The matter has caused quite a stir.

His Majesty needs us to close it quickly.

But while we wait for His Majesty's decree,

let us continue our investigation.

Who even looks like this?

The two witnesses

first said one thing, then another,

repeatedly changing their stories.

So the sketch ended up like this.

Think again.

What did the person you saw look like?

You're driving me crazy!

What good does it do to blame us?

We were very scared at the time.

You were there too.

Why didn't you have the courage to take off that person's mask?

Enough.

Come out with me.

They clearly said they saw him before.

How could it end up like this?

Has anyone come today?

This morning, people from the Palace Investigation Bureau came with food.

Then the artist arrived.

No, wait. In between, an officer from the Imperial Medical Office

came to change our bandages.

There was no one else.

Wasn't it that female officer from last night?

You mean the office threatened them?

- Let me go ask them. - No need.

Those scoundrels always resort to these tricks.

Don't force them.

PALACE INVESTIGATION BUREAU

Your Ladyship.

How'd you track me down?

Your master told me when you're in a bad mood,

you like to stay here by yourself.

You might as well say you're divining.

I don't have such a habit.

You're here to comfort me, aren't you?

You've been working cases at your bureau for 15 years.

Losing all leads just when you're close to cracking one,

that must be nothing new to you.

That said, at least pretend to comfort me.

It was my oversight.

Forget it.

You didn't have the intention either.

You've found new clues?

When observing the stars at the Astronomical Bureau,

sometimes we lose track of the stars.

But the stars move following their own paths and rhythms.

If one temporarily disappears from the sky,

you can find it along the path it took.

It will always return there.

Investigating a case might be more complicated than stars,

but the principle is the same.

If a case loses its lead,

you can return to the starting point to search.

You've thought of that too?

The starting point of all of this

is the flower that bloomed on the palace wall.

Lou Chuo.

We were originally investigating Hanxiao's death.

Lou Chuo deliberately led the suspicion to Hu Da.

The place where Hu Da was killed is near Xiuhong House.

If Lou Chuo's words are true,

it's because he hated Hu Da that he killed him,

why wait until three months after Hanxiao's death,

when we began investigating the "Flower on the Wall" case?

He could have buried Hanxiao in the palace wall

without anyone knowing.

No need to go through all the trouble to kill Hu Da.

Lou Chuo is still hiding something.

I knew you'd bring something.

Out with it!

The old man must've had you bring me touhua cakes.

Let's go.

How is Prosecutor Gu doing?

Still in deep sorrow.

But since he hurt a few of the clerks,

he's temporarily detained.

Let him rest for a while.

Make sure he's properly attended to.

Anyone who dares neglect Prosecutor Gu will be held accountable.

When this case is closed, I'll settle scores with them.

Understood.

Your Ladyship, who are you going to question?

Why are you asking around?

I'm going to question Lou Chuo.

From this moment on,

if anything happens to Lou Chuo, you're held fully responsible.

I don't know who's behind you,

but I know who you are.

Whether or not you're one of them,

Lou Chuo must live if you want to live.

You were lying.

You didn't harm Hanxiao.

You saved her.

Thank you.

I actually met her

in a narrow alley outside Daozheng Ward,

near Chunming Gate.

At that time,

she lay wounded by the roadside.

I didn't

even know if she was still alive.

Hanxiao?

Hanxiao?

It's…

It's you?

Save me…

I never expected

she would still recognize me.

Hanxiao,

I'll take you with me.

Come.

Take care.

Come.

I admired Hanxiao,

but I never had any improper thoughts about her.

I took her back to my place

and took care of her for three days.

Only then did she regain a bit of consciousness and speak to me.

Hanxiao told me

she was deceived by Hu Da!

She thought

she could live a decent life

as an embroiderer at Xiuhong House,

but didn't expect

they would bully and abuse

the ladies!

Hanxiao escaped once,

but before she could reach the county office,

she was caught and brought back.

Then she was severely beaten.

Later,

one of the clients mistreated her so badly

that they all thought she wouldn't survive.

They planned to bury her out of the city,

but she found another chance and escaped.

Finally, she met me.

But she still didn't make it, right?

Yes.

She didn't make it.

I tried my best.

I really did.

She was just too badly injured

at that time.

What did Hanxiao tell you about Xiuhong House?

They're a bunch of scoundrels!

They all deserve to die!

They don't even treat those ladies as human beings.

Hanxiao was such a good girl,

and until her death,

she was still thinking about saving others.

Did she mention to you who those scoundrels were?

She said she had collected a list of their names.

But she also said, I'm not their match,

and I shouldn't take the risk.

So, I could only kill Hu Da.

I'm useless.

I've let Hanxiao down.

I'm just a lowly night-soil collector.

I couldn't do anything.

I've heard

that Your Ladyship is very capable

and has solved many big cases.

But I couldn't see you.

So you deliberately buried Hanxiao's body

in the palace wall?

I was just waiting for an opportunity.

I didn't even know where it would come from

or how long I would have to wait.

But Heaven is watching.

Hanxiao's body

unexpectedly bloomed with flowers.

To make sure Her Ladyship investigated Xiuhong House,

you went to such lengths.

But since you can even risk your own life,

why not just tell her

the cause of Hanxiao's death?

I am not sure

if the county princess

can really avenge Hanxiao.

Hanxiao told me

those scoundrels

are very powerful.

I'm afraid we can't even

protect ourselves.

I'm not afraid of death,

but Xiuhong House

has many other ladies.

They shouldn't die.

I need to know

if Your Ladyship

can truly investigate this thoroughly

and rescue all of them safely.

Only then will I say.

Even when I soaked you in that barrel,

you didn't dare speak up.

I wanted to tell you earlier.

Hanxiao once saw

one of Xiuhong House's clients

at a palace banquet hosted by Consort Shu.

That night, he was drunk.

In the Imperial Garden,

he touched Hanxiao inappropriately.

Hanxiao didn't know who he was.

But during the struggle,

she noticed a large scar

on the inside of his wrist.

It was a burn mark.

The banquet in Consort Shu's palace

is usually only for officials

above the third rank and their family members.

I only know that his rank is high.

While you were questioning me,

a high-ranking official suddenly barged in.

I was afraid of him.

So,

I changed my story.

No harm in being careful.

Did that man recognize Hanxiao at Xiuhong House?

No.

He didn't recognize her at all.

But once, when she was being whipped,

he paid to have it stopped.

Why stop it?

Because…

he said the scars on a woman's body are disgusting.

Your Ladyship,

he was not being kind.

To him, those ladies weren't even people.

From then on, fearing him,

they never whipped Hanxiao.

Lu Zhenglian still plays innocent,

denies ever seeing other clients.

That man's rank was even higher,

so Lu certainly wouldn't have confessed.

Your Ladyship,

Sir,

please, I beg you.

Make sure all these scoundrels are caught.

They've harmed so many people,

and they killed Hanxiao.

I beg you…

You've been poisoned. The bat venom.

Your Ladyship…

my death

isn't important.

But we can't just let those scoundrels get away with it.

I will do everything I can to save you.

If I can save you,

you'll come with me and help bring them back.

If I can't save you,

I'll send them to join you!

Thank you, Your Ladyship.

Take him back to the Palace Investigation Bureau

- and take good care of him. - Understood.

NO GUESSWORK NO DOGMA, NO RIGIDITY, NO EGO

Don't lose heart.

Why do you say that?

You never comfort anyone.

Lou Chuo is beyond saving, yet you comforted him.

A star that vanishes can still be traced down by its path.

But a person gone is gone forever.

Do we still need to investigate?

Of course, we need to.

Hanxiao and Taozhi are already dead by their hands.

Who knows how many others died without leaving a name?

If even I don't continue the investigation,

who will seek justice for them?

Then I will continue the investigation with you.

Lu Zhenglian thought, as long as he keeps silent,

he would only be charged with sleeping around or even rape.

But Hanxiao died after enduring long-term abuse from him.

Once a life is involved,

he will surely reveal something to save himself.

I have a plan.

I've thought of a way too.

- Who is it? - It's me.

What's this?

The wound on your arm hasn't healed.

You can't identify Lu Zhenglian yet.

My mother used to blend medicinal incense and apply it in steam treatments.

Strong incenses

can dye the skin for a while.

It will take some time to fade.

Since fresh skin stains easier than the original,

steaming it will show the shape of the wound.

Then let's begin.

What is this?

Tattooing ink.

What are you planning to do?

With the original wound, make an incision in the skin.

Then apply the tattooing ink,

and you'll see the shape of the wound.

Then what?

Then we'll be able to identify Lu Zhenglian.

But what about your arm?

You plan to carry this tattoo for the rest of your life?

It's not a big deal.

Don't tell me

about the saying, "The body is a gift from parents."

My parents are both dead.

They won't blame me.

For Your Ladyship,

the case comes before everything,

your health, even your life.

So diligent, so determined.

That puts me to shame.

But if you're injured

when the next case breaks, what then?

I know my own limits.

Your limits are simply

to act alone as always, never asking for help.

Is that wrong?

It's simple, direct.

It gets answers fastest.

Have you ever seen a shooting star?

Of course.

Do you know why a shooting star falls from the sky?

For a star to move along its path,

it's not just relying on itself,

but is guided by the surrounding stars.

Without that guidance, it will fall from the sky,

be burned by the fire, and turn to dust.

Since you asked for my help in the investigation,

I must be the star that guides you.

It's not just me,

but your master, Wuren,

Prosecutor Gu, and many others,

who are all connected to you.

You don't need to hurt yourself in the course of the investigation.

As your colleague,

I will help you come up with other ways to solve the problem.

Your injury

is my negligence.

How troublesome.

I don't mind the trouble.

Because the stars guide each other.

In that case,

I have one more thing to ask you.

When I fell into the lake

in the palace back then, didn't you see anyone nearby?

When you fell into the water, I was the only one around.

The palace maids and eunuchs were gathered on the other side.

But I can be sure I was pushed into the water.

If I had seen the murderer, I would never have hidden it.

Even if it wasn't you,

I would never let the murderer get away with it.

This steam feels quite hot.

Is my arm cooking?

Apologies…

Greetings.

The coroner has confirmed

that Hanxiao died after enduring long-term abuse

in Xiuhong House.

The scars on her body

match exactly with the whip of Lu Zhenglian.

Lu Zhenglian is the one who killed Hanxiao.

Hanxiao?

Wasn't she killed by Lou Chuo?

After Lou Chuo met Hanxiao,

he was seeking medical help for her.

Without his care,

Hanxiao wouldn't have lived for more than three days.

So, this means

Lu Zhenglian is the true murderer?

He can't be completely convicted,

but he won't be allowed to live peacefully in prison.

Bring him out.

I'll take him back to the Palace Investigation Bureau.

Oh…

Hurry!

Go get him back!

- Understood. - Get him back?

Before dawn today,

Lu Zhenglian was sent back to his hometown!

Who authorized that?