Original subtitles

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

The fetus already has bones.

At least four months along.

But Lady Wang's medical record has no note about this.

The powder on the wings was smeared on by someone.

Flint powder. This kind of butterfly feeds on rot,

usually near damp marshes.

But the Sepulchral Hall sits high up,

dry and well-ventilated.

Someone released the butterfly inside.

They really planned this well.

What happened here?

Oh no.

I… I have to report this.

If you report it now,

this year's Lantern Festival, you'll be using the gold ingots

your family burns for you.

Your Ladyship,

what… what are you trying to do?

One foot's already in the underworld, and you're still asking what I'll do?

What a hassle.

By protocol, a consort's coffin is catalpa.

But Lady Wang's coffin was river willow.

And it was stuffed full of pine shavings.

It seems meant for damp and odors,

but in fact, like river willow, it's highly flammable.

Plus, there is that easily ignited flint powder.

Lady Wang's body being destroyed was thanks to all of this.

This servant only guards and buries.

I don't know what you mean…

Then I'll put it in words you understand.

You were lax in oversight.

The coffin in the morgue was swapped, and you noticed nothing.

You failed at guarding it,

and Lady Wang's body was burned.

If you rush to report it,

you're walking straight into a trap.

You really think you can dodge all responsibility?

Please enlighten me, Your Ladyship.

I know you've done your duty.

So I'm giving you a chance to make amends.

How do I make amends?

Is everyone here?

All on night duty today are here.

Everyone, hold out your hands.

Do exactly as he says!

Your Ladyship,

what… are you checking for?

There was flint powder on their wings.

In theory, if it was done by these people,

someone's hands would be covered in it.

And in the dark room, there'd be a big patch of green glow.

Unless someone was working with an outsider

and didn't do it themselves,

just…

Who is it?

Wang Dejun?

You're not on duty tonight.

What are you doing here?

Liang Weishan told me to come.

He took leave today, so I'm covering for him.

Liang Weishan really didn't come.

When did you arrive?

About one ke ago.

You remember that clearly.

Seize him.

Yes, madam!

This trick is both merciful and vicious.

Only you can came up with this way.

It's all thanks to Mr. Xiao.

He won't let me use torture, but he still wants a confession.

Let go of me!

Come on.

Let's go question this "butterfly gentleman."

Who told you to do it?

Do what?

What did I do?

The butterflies flew in through the vent window of the Sepulchral Hall.

They were drawn by the rot

and circled over the body.

The flint powder smeared on their wings

fell onto the corpse.

It was muggy tonight.

The coffin was full of foul gas.

Flint powder ignites with heat,

and the wood shavings and coffin

are both highly flammable.

The fire flared up in an instant,

and the body was burned to ash.

Those butterflies were released through the vent by you.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I didn't do anything.

You're framing me,

setting me up,

and using these disgusting bugs to force a confession.

I'm not admitting anything!

Bluffing.

You've got no experience being questioned, huh?

Butterflies aren't easy to find.

We finally lured some moths in for you,

and you call them disgusting?

If we could question you, we won't wrong you.

Flint powder is common in a graveyard.

You were terrified of leaving any trace of it.

So that bath-bean scent on your hands can be smelled from five paces away.

I just like being clean. I happened to wash my hands.

You can't just use that to pin this on me!

Fine.

Then answer me one more thing.

Why did you cover a shift today?

Actually, I meant to get medicine today.

I hadn't agreed to switch with Liang Weishan yesterday.

But the physician left town early, so I figured

I'd cover his shift and earn a bit more.

Then why didn't you report when summoned?

After I got here,

I was busy cleaning the front rows of tombstones.

It took a full ke.

I never heard any summons.

You've rehearsed your lines well,

but when you say them, they're stiff.

Let me teach you a questioning trick I just learned.

When Her Ladyship asks you,

"Why did you cover a shift today?",

a normal person says,

"I happened to be free, so I covered for extra pay."

Then if she asks,

"Why didn't you report when summoned?",

a normal person says,

"I was working. I didn't hear."

Someone with nothing to hide

answers exactly what's asked.

Only when pressed further do they explain the details.

She asked you one question,

and you spilled the whole story, start to finish.

You expect us to believe you're innocent?

I…

Learn from Mr. Xiao.

Next time you're caught doing something shady,

don't be so obvious about it.

Words aren't proof!

Chase them down!

Who? Who is it?

Who's trying to kill me?

Ask yourself.

Who wants you dead?

It was… a woman.

Dressed in black.

She gave me a box of butterflies.

She said if someone came to view Lady Wang's body,

I should release the butterflies.

They were so hard to keep alive.

More than half of them died.

If you'd come a few days later,

I'd have had none left to release.

Anything else about her?

She was extremely cautious,

face under the hood,

even hands inside the robe.

I… I couldn't see her features.

You didn't see anything,

and you still took the job?

How could I know she wanted to burn the body?

I thought it was just releasing butterflies

for a string of coins.

Your Ladyship, we didn't catch them.

You didn't?

An assassin in the palace, and you couldn't catch them?

We've asked what we needed. Let him go.

No, don't let me go!

If I step out now, I'm dead for sure!

Lock me up!

I still have more to tell!

What you've said isn't enough to convict you.

I can only let you go.

I… I have physical evidence!

That box for raising butterflies looked valuable.

She told me to burn it after it was done.

I couldn't bring myself to.

So I hid it under the corridor outside the Sepulchral Hall.

- Go find it. - Yes, madam.

Now can you lock me up?

You helped by providing evidence.

All the more reason to let you go.

No!

Help!

Boss, that arrow I shot matched Prosecutor Gu's, right?

Not bad. You're improving.

Did that kick you gave him blow off some steam?

Good enough.

So Lady Wang really was pregnant?

Why sneak about? We're just talking about the case.

I'm used to talking palace secrets.

HANLIANG HALL

After His Majesty granted her the title, he never shared Lady Wang's bed again.

So it seems

Lady Wang had an affair

and got pregnant.

The child's father feared it'd be exposed, so he killed her.

A consort having an affair is a grave crime.

We can't lightly pin that charge on her.

When was the last time the Medical Officer took her pulse?

Over a month ago.

A pregnancy pulse is easiest to tell.

So, she couldn't have hidden it.

That Medical Officer must know something.

Your Ladyship, Mr. Xiao.

Have something to eat.

Hanliang Hall is so remote.

If your lady wants to visit other palaces,

it'd be a hassle.

It is remote,

but my lady only goes

to the Music Office sometimes to tune and restring her ruan.

She rarely goes out.

My lady is proud and aloof.

She doesn't like socializing.

Then,

she could easily offend people.

She keeps to herself.

She'd have no chance to offend anyone.

In the palace,

she either chants sutras or plays the qin.

Those consorts and ladies

probably don't even know there was a selected lady like her.

Before she died of a chill, did anything seem unusual?

Two months before she died,

Consort Wei came to see her.

Consort Wei knows music well.

She admired my lady's talent, considering her a kindred spirit.

She even gifted her a ruan.

Does that count?

What your lady ate and drank

all passed through your hands?

Yes.

If someone wanted to poison her a little at a time,

wouldn't you be the easiest route?

Your Ladyship, what do you mean?

We haven't served my lady for long,

but she's been very kind to us.

How could we ever dare poison my lady?

Besides you,

who else had the chance?

There is one thing that doesn't go through our hands.

Her medicine.

The Medical Officer prescribed it to soothe her nerves.

It was clearly in there. Where did it go?

Looks like they acted fast.

This begonia

- was moved from beside the table? - Yes.

Why move it?

This begonia used to grow well.

Starting last month, it suddenly began to wither.

I thought putting it by the window to get more air might help,

so I swapped the two pots.

However,

it didn't get better,

and the other pot is wilting too.

Your Ladyship, can you tell what this is?

White peony root.

Mulberry mistletoe.

Honey-fried licorice.

This isn't a calming decoction.

It's a pregnancy tonic.

A pregnancy tonic?

But my lady wasn't pregnant.

Why would this be here?

Could this kind of medicine make plants wither?

No.

The medicine was poisoned.

Did Lady Wang usually like to drink wine?

When she first arrived, my lady was in low spirits.

She did drink to drown her sorrows.

But later, I didn't see her drink anymore.

Could it be…

This killer is truly ruthless.

The Medical Officer's ship sank on his way home.

They never even found his body.

From when Yushu fell ill to when she died,

he was in charge, right?

Yes.

What are these? Where did you find from?

Our sharp-eyed Mr. Xiao found them in flowerpots,

the pregnancy tonic used to poison Yushu.

How did you find it?

Begonias are easy to keep alive, and it's the blooming season.

Yet this pot was nearly dead.

That's highly abnormal.

And on a plant, the sunny side usually grows thicker and fuller.

But on this begonia, the sunward side

was sparse instead, even more abnormal.

Sure enough,

Ruisheng said this begonia had been moved.

And then?

I checked the other plants in the room.

Aside from the begonia,

only the one by the table was a bit wilted.

And Ruisheng said

the begonia was moved from beside the table.

Two pots kept by the table withered one after another.

That can't be a coincidence.

And the table is the most used spot in the room,

so I had a suspicion.

Mr. Xiao,

just tell Wuren the truth already.

How did you figure it out?

I…

cast a divination.

You're unbelievable.

So what now?

This medicine's been boiled and dried out for so long.

Can the poison still be identified?

It's tricky, but not impossible.

Hard to detect, slow-acting poison.

Unbearable pain marks the end.

The corpse shows red, flower-shaped blotches.

TREATISE ON FEBRILE DISEASES, VOL. 2

Can't tell by smell.

From now on, don't investigate by hurting yourself.

As your partner,

I'll think of other ways to solve the problem.

You getting hurt is my failure.

You little rascal…

My good master, can you tell what it is?

It's Yunxiang Powder.

Yunxiang…

You crazy girl.

I actually believed you'd grown a conscience,

bringing all this fine food and wine to honor your old master.

Turns out you're trying to poison me, so you can feast at my funeral.

Old man, why paint me that evil?

I came to ask you for help.

Couldn't you just ask?

Why poison the soup?

I didn't want it to sway your judgment.

Xiao's already gone to check.

Why should I suffer for this?

We had to confirm it.

Besides, who knew you'd react this hard?

Lady Wang took it for a month before it kicked in.

Exactly.

So why am I reacting this hard?

I brewed it a bit stronger.

One day you'll kill me with your own hands!

Mr. Du.

The medical text says

after taking Yunxiang Powder, you mustn't drink.

So, you'd better drink cold water.

So you really found it.

What does the book say?

I found three poisons that can leave

red, flower-shaped marks on the skin.

One comes from the Western Regions.

It's extremely potent.

Just a tiny dose and you cough blood and die on the spot.

Another one comes from Changbai Mountain,

but it reeks.

Lady Wang would have noticed it straight away.

It's likely not the one.

That leaves Yunxiang Powder.

Yunxiang Powder is produced in Annan.

It was originally used as medicine,

but taken long-term,

it becomes poison.

No symptoms day to day,

only at the very end

it causes unbearable pain.

By the time it flares up,

the poisoner is already long gone.

This drug

is rare now.

But you must know where to find it.

I don't.

Old man,

are you really going to let this case

go unsolved just because you're mad at me?

Bring brush and ink.

GHOST MARKET

Here.

Don't mention my name before the shop owner.

Sir,

Du Zhixing sent me to find you.

What,

Du Zhixing isn't dead yet?

What, you want him killed?

How much are you paying?

HEIYA, APOTHECARY OWNER

Come with me.

What kind of business are you two in?

I came to see you,

so, of course, it's a business of human lives.

With your skills,

you still need me to kill someone?

Killing with blades is always crude.

- You want something elegant? - Yes.

Elegant, tragic,

and killing without a trace.

Poison.

But ordinary poison won't do.

If you get the bleeding, the blue face…

What a sight!

I've got something here

you'll definitely like.

Let's hear it.

Yunxiang Powder.

What's so special about it?

Colorless, tasteless.

Delayed onset.

Agony at death,

but afterward, it looks like they're just asleep.

Any poison that can be traced isn't a good poison.

It takes seven days after death

for signs of poisoning to appear.

Hard to detect.

And the body will surface

flower-shaped marks.

Beautiful, really.

You'll love it, my lady.

Such a fine poison.

How have I never heard of it?

Anything everyone knows, I don't sell here.

If it became famous,

how could it kill without a trace?

You're right.

And you, sir, what do you think?

Talk is cheap.

This way, please.

Shorty!

Attempted murder before the deal is even struck?

If you don't die,

I'm the one who dies.

You're still alive?

Come with me!

Give me your hand.

A bloody handprint on you!

There's something mixed into this blood.

No wonder the alligator only attacked you.

He must've left it when he pushed me in.

That shorty is vicious.

Like it? I'll add a little extra.

Freshly mixed Softening Powder.

Lucky you.

Who told you to do this?

You kept not showing up,

so I kept worrying.

Now that you're here,

I finally feel at ease.

So you still want to live.

Tell me who sent you to kill me,

and I'll spare your life.

If you won't talk,

come back with us to the Palace Investigation Bureau.

Step into the Ghost Market,

and you belong to it for life.

You're not taking me!

Careful!

I said it…

You're not taking me…

Wait for me outside.

- I need to find something. - No.

Half a ke at most.

Find it or not, I'll come out.

Take care.

You started the fire?

It was probably that shorty.

Before he went in,

he lit a fuse hidden somewhere outside.

If he killed us and got away,

he could put it out in time.

If he couldn't get out alive,

then it's mutual destruction.

Let's get out of here first.

DU'S MANSION

You made it back alive?

Old man, you set me up!

Right back at you.

Dealing with Heiya took you this long?

He had an alligator.

I made it back alive, and you can't even praise me?

You burned down his den.

What's there to praise?

It wasn't me.

He did it to himself.

He's dead?

What, you'll miss him?

He did have plenty of good stuff.

Shame it couldn't see daylight.

The goods all burned up?

Not all of it.

Oh, Yunxiang Powder.

What about the buyer?

You didn't find the ledger?

The ledger was burned.

But not completely.

Evidence, after all.

You've got to save what you can.

But the writing on this…

When you work a case,

you can't rely on ordinary methods…

alone.

Of course.

But if people found out, it wouldn't look good.

Spit it out.

How do I get it?

Didn't I already give it to you?

I mean the key to the hidden compartment.

When I retired,

I turned it in.

Fine, so be it.

Where are you going?

Back to the Bureau to file the evidence.

At least let me see what it says.

You're retired. You don't get to.

Here!

You little rascal.

You're messing with me again?

How is that messing with you?

Not bad.

A load off my mind.

Old man…

ELEGANCE AND BLESSINGS

Mr. Xiao,

why is this sachet in your hand?

Lady Wang dropped it at the Music Office.

Someone picked it up.

When it went missing,

my lady was so upset.

We turned the whole place upside down and still couldn't find it.

Over this sachet,

my lady scolded us harshly for the first time.

Do you know what it once held?

My lady never said.

Did Lady Wang

ever meet someone alone,

especially at night?

Even if my lady wasn't favored,

she couldn't be left unattended.

My lady had no time alone.

Except…

when she chanted sutras.

This altar was set up by your lady?

Yes.

When my lady was alive,

she tended it herself.

Now,

I think it's best

not to let the incense go out.

My lady chanted here every night.

At that time, she didn't need attendants.

She'd have me and Fangsheng rest for a while.

Every night?

Not every night.

Before chanting, she'd have us light the incense and candles.

Once they burned down,

she'd be finished.

Right about an hour.

An hour?

That's not ordinary candles.

They're ghee lamps meant to burn long.

Your wound isn't healed. Rest today.

Just a scratch.

And with the old man's medicine,

I'm fine.

One ghee lamp burning out takes far more than an hour.

So her chanting actually took over two hours.

It didn't feel that long.

When you steal a break,

time seems to speed up.

So Lady Wang

probably used that two hours to slip out

of Hanliang Hall alone.

Then,

we've got the time.

Next we need the place and the person.

With just two hours,

if she was meeting someone,

the round-trip walking time

should be within an hour.

Hanliang Hall sits in the southeast corner.

Let's search west and north.

To the north is the garden.

His Majesty's consorts often go there for a stroll.

So it's probably not there.

Then let's search west.

CHENG'EN PALACE

Cheng'en Palace is under repair.

But it's been over a year, and it's still not finished.

It's not Xingqing Palace's best location,

but it's still an auspicious site.

How could it be left this desolate?

Cheng'en Palace being abandoned is definitely suspicious.

But isn't an abandoned and quiet palace

perfect for a secret meeting?

Mr. Xiao, look.

In all of Cheng'en Palace,

only this side room is kept in perfect order.

So it's not ordinary.

This place was probably cleared out recently.

But something feels off.

What feels off?

Locking the door is useless.

Trying to kill and silence someone in the palace

is pure delusion!

Enjoy yourself, Your Ladyship.

Mr. Xiao, what's wrong?

Why is your forehead burning?

Something's wrong with this room.

What's wrong?

The candles…

Lust-inducing fumes!

We underestimated them.

Once my honor's on the line,

no matter how capable I am,

I will be severely constrained.

You're not an ordinary woman.

But if a woman's disgraced,

it drags down more than just her.

Tie me up,

and they'll have no rumors to spread.

Mr. Xiao.

For once, you're both clever

and simple.

This room…

is too dark.

Your Ladyship?

Your Ladyship?

Your Ladyship?

It's so hot.

Should we…

clear the air?

The air between us?

Your Ladyship, come help me.

If we air it out, it should ease the smoke.

I inhaled it too.

I'm out of strength.

Your Ladyship,

come here.

Fresh air helps a lot.

I'll help you over.

Mr. Xiao,

forgive me.

Last night at Cheng'en Palace,

we opened the door

and the County Princess

and Mr. Xiao on the bed, stark naked!

Eunuch Liu was scared out of his wits!

Fuchang County Princess has always been willful,

but to act like this before marriage

is outrageously bold.

I heard they say she keeps a man by her side all day.

I knew something was off.

I never thought she'd be this unrestrained.

Yulan, right?

I was looking for you.

Looking for me?

Someone asked me to pass you a message.

The Imperial Guard at south side gate said

he understands your feelings,

but he's already betrothed.

So he really can't accept your affection.

He threw away the handkerchief you gave him too.

He says don't do this again.

Feelings?

A handkerchief?

Hey…

What are you talking about?

What Imperial Guard? What handkerchief?

Oh, besides,

he also said from now on,

don't sneak out while you're on night duty.

If someone sees you, it won't end well.

Nonsense! Which idiot is spreading this?

You're Yulan, new in Consort Shu's palace?

With an orchid pattern on your handkerchief?

Yes.

Then it's you, no doubt.

Let me give you a warning.

Keep a lower profile from now on.

If this gets reported to Consort Shu,

you'll be kicked out.

What…

- Let's leave. - What are you even saying?

I didn't do anything! Why would I be kicked out?

You like spreading rumors, don't you?

Then you can be the lead this time.

Hey…

Boss. You're awake?

Where's Mr. Xiao?

At a time like this,

you're still worried about Mr. Xiao?

He was sent back to the Xiao's Mansion.

Boss,

no matter what, you're still a young lady.

Next time you investigate at night,

take me with you, okay?

A man and a woman alone in a room,

no matter what, it sounds bad if it gets out.

I was set up while working the case.

Of course I know. But…

others won't care about that.

Royal secrets?

The more thrilling and wild it sounds, the better.

Let's hear it. How wild?

They…

They said

you used the case as an excuse to meet Mr. Xiao,

then lit "Love Incense" and used too much of it.

I can't stand those gossips.

If I cared that much about what people say,

how could I live?

As long as you believe me, I'm fine.

Of course I believe you.

Those gossiping have nothing better to do.

How did they find me?

A eunuch

heard strange noises at Cheng'en Palace

and saw ghost lights. He insisted it was haunted.

After the Hanliang Hall case,

everyone in the palace was on edge.

So that eunuch led a squad of Imperial Guards

to search Cheng'en Palace inside and out.

Then, in the innermost room,

they found you and Mr. Xiao.

So the whole palace must've heard.

Yes.

Good.

Good?

Boss, you did it on purpose?

Of course.

Only if it made a big splash

could they openly probe for news.