Original subtitles

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

Where is Li Peiyi?

Tell me. I can give you the antidote.

What are you saying?

You think I'll lean in close

and give you a chance to kill me?

Inspector Du, try whatever you want.

I see right through it.

I know your blade is poisoned.

But I added one more herb.

Now, it's already reached your eyes.

If you don't take the antidote in time,

you and I will walk the road

to the underworld together!

I stopped Peiyi

from reopening that old case 15 years ago,

not because I don't want to.

It's because you hid too well.

If we don't find who's behind this,

she'll never be safe.

Let me see

which old acquaintance this is.

Old man?

Old man, wake up!

Where's the antidote?

Where is it?

Old man? Where's the antidote?

Where is it?

Don't scare me.

Don't fall asleep.

Don't scare me. Old man?

Don't leave me…

Don't leave me…

Don't leave me…

Don't leave me…

Why?

Why…

the one still alive…

is…

me?

Peiyi?

Peiyi?

Peiyi?

Old man…

It was you.

You remember now?

Yes.

Good.

Fifteen years ago…

behind the rockery… you saw it all?

No.

Don't think I won't kill you!

You can kill me…

but I didn't lie to you.

I also wish I'd seen it.

My lord. It's time.

Clean this place up.

Understood.

What about after that?

How did you get me out alone?

Who took me into the palace?

I carried you on my back

and climbed the wall out of the Prince of Duan's manor.

Huaijin!

Huaijin. Huaijin.

Huaijin. What's wrong?

Give her to me.

Hurry! Hurry!

Let's enter the palace.

After that, I passed out.

But I truly cannot recall

what happened after that.

Peiyi!

You can't forget.

How can you forget?

I'm sorry.

Mr. Xiao,

think again… Think again.

Did the man who killed my father say anything?

What did he sound like?

Was he tall or short? Fat or thin?

Any birthmark? Any scars?

You never forget a face.

There's no way you don't remember!

I'm sorry.

What I saw and remember

isn't any more than you do.

Peiyi, I'm sorry.

Don't say sorry…

Don't say sorry…

Think again. Tell me something else.

Anything you can remember.

Anything. I'm begging you!

Please, leave me alone.

Old man…

Look…

I'm a cursed lone star.

I couldn't find the killer.

And I got you killed.

Your Ladyship.

Should we send Inspector Du's body back to Western Capital?

He didn't like the capital.

He'd hate being worshiped too.

He lived free and easy.

He used to swing a spear and drink.

Then it was chess and pitch-pot.

Find a high place with a view.

Bury him facing the capital.

So he can see how I'll avenge him.

Understood.

I know you didn't like the capital.

It's quiet here.

No more of me bothering you.

I'm going back for revenge.

The trail is cold, so what?

I've got time and patience.

If you still have a conscience,

watch over me, will you?

Father.

Go home and see your mother.

I have something to tell Her Ladyship.

Mr. Xiao, please leave.

Don't worry.

In rank, in skill, and in words,

I won't humiliate Her Ladyship.

Your Ladyship, please.

You've always kept quiet

about that tragedy at the Prince of Duan's manor.

And you don't want Deputy Director Xiao to be deeply involved with me.

But I know

you were not the killer.

So you'd better tell me something I don't know yet.

Otherwise, there's no deal left to talk about.

I'm not trying to make you agree

to any conditions.

I'll tell you everything I know.

As for the rest, Your Ladyship, you decide.

That night,

I heard something happened at the Prince of Duan's manor,

so I summoned the Crown Prince's guards.

But it wasn't the Prince of Duan going mad and hurting someone.

It was said

when he campaigned in Jianning,

his Jianning Iron Army

left their post and slipped into Western Capital

on Lantern Festival night.

So you thought my father

going mad and hurting people wasn't enough,

and you had to pin treason on him too?

I know the Prince of Duan was always loyal.

He came back to the capital early that year

to return his command tally.

But that night,

more than a dozen Jianning Iron Army men

did enter the capital without orders.

This matter couldn't be faked.

Do you think someone plotting rebellion

would make lanterns with his daughter

and watch the moon with his wife on the very night?

If I didn't find it suspicious,

why would I go to the Prince of Duan's manor that night?

But when you arrived…

The tragedy had already happened.

The Prince of Duan's manor was surrounded by the Imperial Guards.

No one could come or go.

I knew it was serious.

The Crown Prince's guards

must not be seen.

So I had them split up and leave by another route.

I meant to go to the manor to check the situation.

However,

I ran into Huaijin and you.

So, you sent me into the palace?

No. It wasn't me.

- Let's enter the palace. - Right now?

That's too risky.

If the Imperial Guards stop us, what do we do?

If not the palace, where else can I take her?

After that, how will you explain to His Majesty?

No matter what, you shouldn't have shown up here tonight

and, even less, saved her.

Take her back to my manor first,

or find somewhere to settle her for now.

Sir, no one knows what's happening inside Prince of Duan's manor,

nor how His Majesty will rule on this.

If you get tied to this,

it'll ruin the Xiao family

and the Crown Prince too…

Then what?

Leave her here?

Will she even live to wake up?

Everyone has their fate.

Young Master got her out.

That's already a slim chance.

What comes next isn't for you to decide.

Sir, look.

This is the only way.

I know. I shouldn't drag you into this, Inspector Du.

But she is the only child of the Prince of Duan and his consort.

Only by sending her into the palace could we keep her safe.

But the one who takes her in can't be me.

Her Ladyship is fated for a hard road.

If you're willing, escort her partway.

If you're not…

Then what?

Leave her here to die?

Well, leave her here.

Me?

I don't have much virtue.

Benevolence, righteousness, rites, wisdom, faith…

I can live without any of it.

Mr. Du, you can't just watch her die!

Hypocritical scholar.

Well said, Mr. Du.

I can take her into the palace.

But after tonight,

you and I are strangers.

This child's life was saved by you and your son.

However, from now on, you may never hear her thank-you.

I'm deeply ashamed. I'm not worthy.

Mr. Du, I'll leave her to you.

Keeping her alive

shouldn't be hard. Come.

Won't you ask why I came tonight?

I've seen all kinds of people.

I've never misjudged one.

Mr. Du, you're a man of honor!

Inspector Du reported to His Majesty

that he had found you in a corner of the Prince of Duan's manor.

He suggested you had fainted from the shock

of the sudden chaos in the manor.

His Majesty and the entire court

were waiting for you to wake up,

each harboring their own intentions, waiting to hear from you

what happened that night

at the Prince of Duan's manor.

But I didn't remember anything.

I only remembered Father making lanterns with me before bed.

I woke up an orphan.

Even that alone

was enough to get you killed.

Inspector Du and I were always on guard.

Your fall into Moonlit Pond was no accident.

But the scariest part

wasn't that they dared to hurt you.

It was that

they did it on purpose right in front of you and Deputy Director Xiao.

They knew you'd saved me.

I was not sure, and I couldn't prove it.

Whether they knew or not,

to me, that was a warning.

They were warning you

not to get involved with me and never dig into the Prince of Duan's case.

All I could hope was you'd never remember.

At least then, you'd be safe.

And Huaijin and I would be safe too.

I just never expected

you'd remember anyway.

I dragged down your family

and got my master killed.

I can't change the past.

From now on, I will sever all ties

with your family and Deputy Director Xiao.

I came to you

not to protect my family.

Huaijin is gentle, kind-hearted,

but as stubborn as you.

He's made up his mind to investigate.

Even if you cut ties with him, he'll keep digging.

Let fate take its course

for my family.

But all this started because of me.

I can't do nothing.

Then please trust him.

Huaijin never meant to hide it.

Back then, he was only a teenager.

These past 15 years,

he's tried desperately to forget that night

and hoped you would too.

Because he knows the pain

of waking from nightmares night after night.

But upon learning your resolve to uncover the truth,

he forced himself

to relive that night, over and over.

He'd throw himself back

into that nightmare repeatedly,

if only to remember the smallest detail.

I admit I had my own motives.

For my family, for the Crown Prince,

for the situation at court, I might hold things back.

But Huaijin never did.

From start to finish,

he only wanted to keep you safe,

just as he did that night.

You bought this sachet for your sweetheart, right?

What sweetheart? Stop talking nonsense.

She's been tailing us all day.

JIN NIANG

You're really heartless.

Hey…

Peiyi.

Pardon my rudeness.

I'm the one being rude,

calling you by name like that.

Your master used to call you "that girl"

all the time,

in a tone that was half annoyed,

half proud,

like you were his own daughter.

Old man never said a kind word about me?

He was a good man, just with a sharp tongue.

So I picked up his bad habits.

When I first met him,

he was a general's son,

and I was just a merchant's daughter.

He always looked after me,

and I…

I had feelings for him too.

But later,

his father was convicted.

As a traitor's son, he entered the palace

and joined the Palace Investigation Bureau.

Your Ladyship, you should know

women like me have to survive somehow.

That's enough.

I understand. I was out of line.

Truth is, after he entered the palace, we never lost touch.

He still took care of me.

But…

But I knew

we could never be.

He told me

he wasn't alone anymore.

Now there was someone

he was wholly devoted to protecting.

He was barely able

to save himself,

yet still tried to shield others.

This sachet

was his gift to you.

Now that he's gone,

I'm giving it back.

Keep it as a memory.

No, you keep it.

It's all he left you.

But my skills, my nasty temper,

and this sharp mouth of mine all came from him.

If you're avenging him, count me in, okay?

Don't get involved.

You may look down on me,

but people like me have our own channels.

You don't know me, but you know the old man, don't you?

I'm the same as him.

If I looked down on you,

I wouldn't waste one more word.

This is truly dangerous.

If you need anything later, this sachet will be your pass to see me.

I heard someone is asking about sudden eye trouble.

Is it you

who are hunting Mr. Du's killer?

Don't worry. You haven't been exposed.

I pieced it together after I knew Mr. Du's death.

My ways of getting news aren't exactly clean,

but they can still be useful.

Then I'll leave it to you.

Please, stay safe.

You must take greater care.

He worried about you the most.

I failed.

Du Zhixing showed up out of nowhere and let Li Peiyi get away.

But since Du Zhixing is dead,

it will be hard for Li Peiyi to trace us.

What's wrong with your eye?

It was hurt by Du Zhixing.

I haven't treated it yet.

If it can't be cured,

won't it be easy to track you down?

I'll do everything I can to treat it!

Until it's cured, I won't show my face again!

Before you disappear, make sure everything is settled.

No more mistakes.

Before Li Peiyi returned to the Western Capital,

she met someone.

You couldn't find out who?

No. But… besides us,

someone else is watching her.

I'll look into it.

Tell me,

if you die,

Li Peiyi will have no way to trace us, right?

PALACE INVESTIGATION BUREAU

Boss.

What are you doing?

Stacking grapes?

Yeah. Look.

This second grape can barely stay on.

But the moment I add a third, the whole thing collapses.

Sounds like me, doesn't it?

Boss, just put the third one on.

Now even the second won't hold.

What case has dragged on this long?

Boss, you won't believe it.

The plants by Penglai Pool

have been dying lately with the season change.

Even the magnolias His Majesty gave Brilliant Lady Dou have lost a few.

But she insists someone sabotaged them,

using dead magnolias to curse her.

She demanded I get to the bottom of it.

I worked day and night for three days,

and no one went near those plants.

Then I asked the chief gardener at the Bureau of Gardens.

She said this season, plants dying is normal.

I was about to close the case, but then…

But then a magnolia fell over right in front of me.

The soil around the tree was clearly disturbed.

I've had men guarding near Penglai Pool. It can't be.

What are you doing?

Helping you fix your problems.

Boss, help me fix mine too.

This is really creepy.

What if one day I die too?

You'll still have to solve cases yourself.

Boss!

Can you stop saying that?

It's been a month.

If Inspector Du knew you were like this every day,

he'd crawl out and curse you out.

I'd love that.

Boss, I really don't know what to do.

I can't say what happened before.

But these three days, me and the guards

have been watching day and night.

And that tree still toppled straight over!

Brilliant Lady Dou is arrogant.

If someone set her up,

that's not exactly shocking.

But His Majesty gave her nine magnolias, meant to last long.

This past month, four have already died.

Now, only five are left.

What's wrong with five? Isn't five good?

Five reads the same as none.

Brilliant Lady Dou is furious.

She insists we drag that person out.

And if we can't find them?

If we can't,

then I'm done for too.

Then our bureau is done for.

Where's your county princess?

Have her come out and see me!

My lady,

Her Ladyship is resting.

At a time like this?

Something this big happened, and she can still rest?

Peiyi?

Li Peiyi? Get out here!

- What are you doing? - She came for you. Where are you going?

None of your business.

Fine, I won't meddle.

We were partners, and now you're selling me out?

We were partners, and now you're ditching me?

My lady, you're here.

Peiyi, I know what you're like.

No one in the capital

can make you do anything.

So…

My lady, what are you trying to do?

Today I'll show you exactly what I'm like.

Are you trying to see

how long I can camp here?

Are you thinking, "Fine, I'll just walk away?"

Back when I made a mistake,

His Majesty swore never to see me again.

I was just a helpless woman, with no family backing

and no special talents.

I had only one thing left,

persistence. Even the hardest heart can be moved.

His Majesty isn't made of stone.

And I can tell you aren't either.

No worries.

I can wait.

In all of Xingqing Palace, only you can find who harmed me.

If you won't help me,

I'll ask help from His Majesty.

Someone dares stir up trouble in the inner palace?

I'll fight them to the end!

You're using Consort Shu to threaten me?

Peiyi, what are you saying?

From start to finish, when did I ever mention Consort Shu?

If I don't help you investigate, you'll take it to His Majesty.

If someone's cursing in the inner palace,

the blame will naturally fall on Consort Shu.

How could it?

Everyone knows the one His Majesty favors most is Consort Shu.

I've seen how you are.

Fine. I'll take the case.

That easy?

Then I'll wait for your news.

Anything wrong on Consort Shu's side?

The Right Chancellor messed up.

No idea what it was, but it made His Majesty furious.

Lately, His Majesty hasn't visited Consort Shu at all.

Even Brilliant Lady Dou dares use her.

It can't be small.

Then what do we do?

Tomorrow, take men to fertilize the plants by Penglai Pool.

Don't miss an inch of soil.

If anyone asks,

tell them you'll do whatever it takes to save Brilliant Lady Dou's magnolias.

I meant the Right Chancellor.

Want me to go sniff around?

You can even dig into court matters?

What's so hard about that?

Unless it's something only His Majesty and the Right Chancellor know.

As long as a third person knows, I can find out.

Everyone knows you're my man.

And I was raised by Consort Shu. So…

So…

It's not me prying into court secrets.

It's Consort Shu.

I was wrong, Your Ladyship.

I'll have people fertilize right away.

All of you, eyes open.

Don't miss a single flower or tree.

- Understood. - Understood.

Boss, you don't have to camp here every day.

That person hasn't shown up lately.

They probably know you're on it

- and don't dare make a move. - Sweet talker.

Because your grapes are sweet.

One more gross line, and you will solve it yourself.

Okay. I'll stop.

I just don't want you waiting here.

Before, when Brilliant Lady Dou had you investigate,

they still kept doing it.

So either they were sure they wouldn't get caught

or they had to come, no matter what.

After all this tight guarding, they should be itching to act.

So they'll come tonight?

Not sure, but we can try our luck.

Ma Xiaoran,

have everyone look around. See anything unusual.

Understood.

Your Ladyship, right here.

This is insane.

No way.

We've been guarding nearby.

There's only one path here.

How is this possible?

Once we catch them, we'll ask and know.

Don't go in.

These are… footprints!

Where'd they come from?

From someone

slipping in under your nose, leaving tracks behind.

We caught them!

Where are they?

You'll see in a second.

CHENXIANG PAVILION

It's cold. Warm your feet, everyone.

Go on, warm up!

- What? - Secretary Pan, so it was you.

Hold him down!

What's going on?

The flowerbeds were just heavily fertilized.

The fertilizer was mixed with actinolite and alum clay.

Anyone who dug in the beds would get them on their soles.

Heat those two together,

and they'll pop like fireworks.

But the beds were all fertilized.

I patrolled here all night.

I stepped on it by accident.

That's normal!

Fair point.

Soles alone prove nothing.

But if you dug, you used your hands.

A little heat will tell.

Heat them.

It was me!

It was me…

Talk.

What are these?

If you won't say, then I will.

This is no common fruit.

They're ginseng seeds.

The Imperial Medical Office supplies them only to His Majesty.

Few in the entire palace have access to such medicine.

Where did you obtain them?

I…

I dug them up under the tree.

Why were ginseng seeds buried under a magnolia tree?

What's the charge for stealing royal property?

High treason.

- And the sentence? - Strangling.

Steal something valuable or serious enough,

and your clan gets dragged in.

- How many clans? - At least three.

If it's worse, nine.