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{\an8}ADAPTED FROM A SHUQI.COM NOVEL
ORIGINAL AUTHOR: SENLIN LU
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Your Ladyship,
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you're reviewing the case late at night?
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Can't we wait until tomorrow
to discuss it with His Majesty?
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Just thinking about Remonstrator Lu
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sleeping through the night
comfortably at home,
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I feel uneasy all over.
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So yes, sorry to trouble you both.
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After all, it's a case
His Majesty personally inquired about.
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Let's have Deputy Director Xiao
take the records.
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Then let's begin.
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Remonstrator Lu, please repeat
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what happened last night at Swallow House.
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I arrived at Swallow House
half past the You hour.
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I was meeting with Liu Ying'er
to go over the score.
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It's this section.
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Could you tell us again
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how you communicated with Liu Ying'er?
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That's improper.
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Your Ladyship,
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since you're handling the case this late,
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why not focus on the key points
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and resolve it quickly?
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What's there to be shy about?
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It would also give us a chance to see
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the talent
of the second-year graduate of Yongtai.
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Last night,
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Liu Ying'er played a new piece.
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I felt it lacked a bit of charm.
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So I composed some lyrics
for the new score.
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"Mist shrouds the silver boat,
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moon halo on the branches,
my heart grows obsessed."
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Nice lyrics!
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Truly beautiful lyrics.
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But I'm quite lacking in talent.
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Could you explain
the meaning of these words?
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It's just a few descriptive phrases
about the night sky.
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At that moment,
I glanced outside the window
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and saw the thick night mist
and the hazy moon halo.
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I casually wrote these two lines.
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Nothing special, really.
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You truly have an elegant taste.
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But how could such exquisite words
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make Liu Ying'er unhappy?
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I said the rhythm of the piece was off,
and it didn't match the lyrics.
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Liu Ying'er disagreed,
and we started arguing.
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At the second ke of Xu hour,
Liu Ying'er ran out in a huff.
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I got up to chase her,
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but accidentally fell down the stairs.
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The people in Swallow House all saw it.
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I really don't know anything
about Xiuhong House,
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and I certainly haven't been there.
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You two must have had quite an argument,
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which is why Liu Ying'er
ran out of the room.
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In your hurry,
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how did you know
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that it was exactly
the second ke of Xu hour?
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Yes.
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Why do you remember it so clearly?
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Because the attendant there
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was repeatedly announcing the time,
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"On the third day of the fifth month,
at the second ke of the Xu hour,
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Mr. Lu claims
'Hundred Birds Return to Nest'!"
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That was the most expensive reward
at Swallow House.
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So your lyrics were written
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before the second ke of Xu hour?
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Correct.
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The moon halo
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was also seen
before the second ke of Xu hour?
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Your Ladyship,
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why are we going back
to those lyrics again?
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On matters of the heavens,
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Deputy Director Xiao knows best.
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Let's ask him.
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According to official records,
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the moon halo appeared
at the fourth ke of Xu hour last night
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and completely dissipated by the Hai hour.
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If Remonstrator Lu saw the moon halo,
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it must have been
at the fourth ke of Xu hour.
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After you wrote the lyrics, argued,
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then fell down the stairs,
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that would've been
at least the sixth ke of Xu hour.
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So, you're lying.
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No, I'm not!
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Everyone, think about it.
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If it wasn't for that attendant
shouting out the second ke of Xu hour,
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how would I know the exact time?
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I arrived at Swallow House
half past the You hour
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to meet Liu Ying'er.
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And I really did see the moon halo.
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If someone is lying,
it should be the attendant.
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Why blame me for it?
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There was no water clock at Swallow House.
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The time was reported
by the nearby watchman.
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If he was in your pocket,
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- the hour was yours to name.
- You…
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With a few coins,
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you bought any time you pleased.
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Speaking nonsense!
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Am I speaking nonsense?
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Once the watchman arrives, we'll know.
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Don't rush.
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We've already caught him.
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He should be here soon.
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Remonstrator Lu,
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Her Ladyship has seen you
at Xiuhong House.
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Can't you be wronged?
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Rather than trying to scheme your way out,
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a honest confession serves you better!
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Alright.
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This case
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involves the inner palace.
It's a serious matter.
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The Court of Judicial Review will assist
the Palace Investigation Bureau
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in investigating it.
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As for Lu Zhenglian,
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once I report it tomorrow,
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His Majesty will decide.
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Understood.
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Prosecutor Gu has found Jiang Tingwei.
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We're short on manpower
and need reinforcements.
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Chief Justice.
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I'll leave Remonstrator Lu to you.
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Understood.
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If we do nothing,
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we'll have no way out.
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Everyone, be sharp.
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Strengthen the defenses.
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- Yes, sir!
- Yes, sir!
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Someone's following us!
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Stay alert!
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Stop right there!
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Now's the time! Move!
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Go save them!
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Taozhi!
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Taozhi.
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It's me.
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Lingzhou…
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It's my fault.
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I came late.
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Capture them alive.
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Everyone, step back!
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Take the alive ones back.
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Understood.
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Move!
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Get up!
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- Taozhi!
- Taozhi!
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Taozhi!
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-Taozhi!
-Taozhi!
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-Taozhi!
-Taozhi!
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-Taozhi!
-Taozhi!
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Taozhi!
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-Taozhi!
-Taozhi…
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Your Ladyship…
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Taozhi…
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Taozhi…
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-Taozhi…
-Taozhi…
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Taozhi…
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I'm here.
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I'm here.
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Don't cry…
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Let's go home…
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Alright.
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I will take you home.
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Let's go home.
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- I will take you home.
- Take me…
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Taozhi…
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Taozhi?
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Taozhi?
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-Taozhi!
-Taozhi!
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Taozhi!
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Taozhi!
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-Taozhi!
-Taozhi!
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Taozhi!
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-Taozhi!
-Taozhi!
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Taozhi…
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Taozhi…
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Taozhi…
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Taozhi…
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Taozhi…
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GOODS HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED
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LI PEIYI FOUND THE "HUNDRED BIRDS
RETURN TO NEST" FROM SWALLOW HOUSE
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Li Peiyi found
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Swallow House's reward,
the "Hundred Birds Return to Nest."
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As expected.
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Lu Zhenglian can't escape now.
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Xiuhong House is no longer an option.
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We can't save Sun Zhiwang either.
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Lu Zhenglian is in the same boat as us.
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A few stern words
should make him hesitate.
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But Sun Zhiwang is a businessman.
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Who knows what conditions Li Peiyi
will offer him?
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He knows a lot.
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Go tell your master,
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whether Sun Zhiwang keeps quiet
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depends on his skill.
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Understood.
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They don't have anything on them
that can prove their identities.
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I checked those
unexploded fire thunder bombs.
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Nothing odd.
200
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They're probably death warriors.
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We got word of it and rushed here at once.
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But those men in black
arrived earlier than us.
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Sun Zhiwang has such big power?
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It couldn't have been him.
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XIUHONG HOUSE
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Seal!
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SEALED
BY THE LEFT GUARD COMMANDANT'S OFFICE
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SUN'S MANSION
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Don't move!
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Your Ladyship,
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I'm telling the truth.
I haven't hidden a single thing.
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Xiuhong House has always
been managed by Hu Da.
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I never interfere.
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00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,960
He abused his position
to kidnap palace maids
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and set up a brothel.
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It's indeed a grave crime!
217
00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,080
Indulging Hu Da was my fault.
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I admit my guilt.
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00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:16,520
But…
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00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,520
as for the clients he found,
how he found them,
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00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,480
I really don't know anything about it.
222
00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,960
Don't be so hasty
to burn your bridges, Mr. Sun.
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00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,560
Think carefully before you speak.
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00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,280
I… Even if you push me to death,
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00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:32,880
I still know nothing about it!
226
00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,040
I… I…
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00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:39,840
So you are holding back.
228
00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,320
Guards, take a good look.
229
00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,440
Remove anything that could injure him
230
00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:46,360
and cause an accidental death.
231
00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,120
Don't try to bite your tongue.
232
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It'll be hard to die that way.
233
00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:54,920
Even if you die, you'll go to hell.
234
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,600
That's terrifying.
235
00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:58,680
Tonight, Mr. Xiao and I won't go anywhere.
236
00:14:58,760 --> 00:14:59,640
We'll just stay with you.
237
00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:02,960
Please… hear me out.
238
00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:04,960
You can't blame me for this!
239
00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:20,280
You're still questioning him?
240
00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:21,760
This isn't your concern.
241
00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:38,880
I won!
242
00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,520
You mistook the pawn.
243
00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,880
It's clearly a black pawn.
244
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,720
Your drawing is unclear.
245
00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:50,720
How can you blame me?
246
00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:54,640
I've been losing all the time.
247
00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:55,560
This is no fun!
248
00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:04,320
Made up your mind?
249
00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:19,320
Lu Zhenglian won't speak.
250
00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:20,600
Sun Zhiwang won't dare speak.
251
00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,600
Looks like the clients at Xiuhong House
are either rich or noble.
252
00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,240
They can't afford to offend them.
253
00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,360
Others, probably,
are like Lu Zhenglian, officials in court,
254
00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:30,840
which makes them so cautious.
255
00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,200
His Majesty has always disapproved
of officials meeting in secret.
256
00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:34,200
If that's the case,
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00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:36,440
they've probably been
working together for a long time.
258
00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:37,480
It'll be even harder to get them to spill.
259
00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:39,200
No rush.
260
00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:40,960
We still need one last push.
261
00:17:17,839 --> 00:17:20,760
Li Peiyi, you're so devious!
262
00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:22,359
I haven't said anything!
263
00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:23,960
Stop shouting.
264
00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:26,560
Your room is at the very end.
265
00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,319
No one can hear you.
266
00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,960
But they'll know Deputy Director Xiao
questioned you for an entire night,
267
00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:32,520
and paper was delivered several times.
268
00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:34,280
They'll also know,
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00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:37,120
after you confessed,
I rewarded you greatly.
270
00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:38,920
The situation is set.
271
00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,080
You can stay silent
272
00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,920
or take this opportunity
to tell me everything you know.
273
00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,520
I'll make sure you stay alive.
274
00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:48,320
- You…
- I'll give you two hours.
275
00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:49,400
Think it over.
276
00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:54,320
Watch him closely. He'll crack soon.
277
00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:55,480
Don't let anyone near him.
278
00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,120
- No one is allowed.
- Understood.
279
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:20,080
Sun Zhiwang has confessed.
280
00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:28,160
He probably hasn't said anything, right?
281
00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:30,320
Is it?
282
00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,040
I thought you had some great ability,
283
00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:37,760
but in the end,
you're just an ignorant woman.
284
00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:39,360
If he really did spill,
285
00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,000
why waste time here with me?
286
00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:45,280
How is it wasting time?
287
00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,400
I just wanted to see your last expression.
288
00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:52,960
It's really interesting.
289
00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,360
Are you really going to blindly trust
Sun Zhiwang's one-sided story?
290
00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,640
Sun Zhiwang's attitude was sincere,
291
00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:03,480
and he spoke in great detail,
292
00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,880
far more convincingly than you.
293
00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:08,680
He's a businessman.
294
00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:10,480
Of course he'll spin the tale
to suit himself.
295
00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:12,440
If… If you can't see through that,
296
00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:13,960
you call yourself an investigator?
297
00:19:15,360 --> 00:19:17,360
Whatever it takes,
I won't let the guilty walk free.
298
00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:19,680
If you're dissatisfied,
299
00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:21,040
it's not Sun Zhiwang's fault.
300
00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,560
Who told you to play dumb?
301
00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:25,280
But I guess,
302
00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:27,560
when facing the executioner,
303
00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,200
you'll understand everything.
304
00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:33,440
Your Ladyship,
305
00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,000
the ladies provided a clear sketch.
306
00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:37,480
Please take a look.
307
00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:51,880
It's Lu Zhenglian.
308
00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:53,920
Your Ladyship recognize him?
309
00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:56,040
He's already been caught.
310
00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,040
Ruyi, do you remember
the appearance of the others?
311
00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,200
These two seniors were there before us.
312
00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:17,440
The sketch was only possible
thanks to them.
313
00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,600
Have you seen any other clients
without their masks on?
314
00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,520
They were very careful,
always wearing masks.
315
00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:29,400
Occasionally, we could catch
a glimpse of their faces,
316
00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,200
but… we didn't know who they were.
317
00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,360
Just tell the artist
everything you remember
318
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:36,440
about what you saw,
319
00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,400
even the smallest details.
320
00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:39,600
Understood.
321
00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:41,880
Emergency!
322
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,240
Prosecutor Gu is storming
the prison with a blade!
323
00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:48,920
Prosecutor Gu, calm down!
324
00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:51,400
Move aside!
325
00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:52,360
No!
326
00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:56,120
Gu Lingzhou!
327
00:20:58,160 --> 00:20:59,000
Don't stop me!
328
00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:08,600
Wuren!
329
00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:11,040
Where is Gu Lingzhou?
330
00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:12,080
Over there.
331
00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,080
Didn't I order that no one
be allowed to approach him?
332
00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:57,160
Why is there something like this?
333
00:21:58,360 --> 00:21:59,640
An… An hour ago,
334
00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,680
Sun Zhiwang
suddenly said he'd figured it out.
335
00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:03,320
He wants to spill everything he knows.
336
00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:04,680
I was coming to find you
337
00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,320
when the duty clerk reported it
to the Chief Justice.
338
00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,320
The Chief Justice knew your orders.
339
00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,000
But eager to close the case, he said,
340
00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,000
"If we can't question him,
341
00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:15,760
let him write it himself."
342
00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:23,120
The Chief Justice had you bring this pen?
343
00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:26,680
No.
344
00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,400
Your Ladyship ordered
that he must not commit suicide.
345
00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:31,480
The Chief Justice had us bring
paper and reed pens.
346
00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:33,240
But after writing for a while,
347
00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:34,840
Sun Zhiwang complained
the reed pen was too soft.
348
00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:36,880
I saw he really wrote a lot,
349
00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:38,360
so I gave him a brush instead.
350
00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,320
I kept an eye on him
351
00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:42,040
until…
352
00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:44,520
until Prosecutor Gu charged in.
353
00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:46,360
I ran out to assist.
354
00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:49,280
But Sun took advantage
of this little bit of time…
355
00:22:58,120 --> 00:22:59,720
The pen was already cracked.
356
00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:01,640
Or it wouldn't have snapped so easily.
357
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:04,120
I…
358
00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,360
I really don't know about this.
I truly don't know!
359
00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,240
This pen was specially prepared by them.
360
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:12,160
It's not just the pen.
361
00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,760
With all the drama here today,
362
00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:16,920
which one wasn't arranged by them?
363
00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:28,320
Your Ladyship.
364
00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,240
Lu Zhenglian, whatever it is, out with it!
365
00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:34,720
All I'm saying is,
366
00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:37,000
Princess of Fuchang County,
367
00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:39,200
your little confession trap
is laughably obvious.
368
00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:45,960
I only drank
and slept around on a workday.
369
00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,040
If you really have the skills
to convict me,
370
00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,400
cut my pay, demote me. I accept it all.
371
00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:56,840
But don't you dare
372
00:23:57,360 --> 00:23:59,040
pin Xiuhong House's filth on me!
373
00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:01,320
Still refusing to talk?
374
00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:02,640
Save your breath.
375
00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,600
Someone has already
passed a message to him.
376
00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:07,000
He won't say another word.
377
00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,600
But just a fine or a demotion?
Don't count on it.
378
00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,240
That wasn't just sleeping around.
379
00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:15,880
It was rape.
380
00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:18,800
If any of those women were married,
381
00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:20,400
add further charges.
382
00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:28,840
Sun Zhiwang confessed
383
00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,680
that he used Hu Da's position
in the Palace Registry Bureau
384
00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:33,400
to abduct ex-palace maids
385
00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,760
and imprison them in Xiuhong House.
386
00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:38,960
He used the embroidery house as cover,
387
00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:41,920
forcing the maids
to commit immoral acts for men.
388
00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:43,520
As for those who came seeking pleasure,
389
00:24:44,120 --> 00:24:46,280
they were all contacted directly by Hu Da.
390
00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:47,360
They used tokens of identification,
391
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:48,960
showing up incognito.
392
00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,520
Now that Hu Da is dead,
393
00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:54,640
Sun Zhiwang has committed suicide,
394
00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,840
how can we find the other clients?
395
00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,120
As for the other clients…
396
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,800
I'm afraid it will be difficult
to track them down.
397
00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,360
How about those maids?
398
00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,400
They have all been rescued.
399
00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:14,920
If that's the case,
400
00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,320
the mastermind has taken their own life,
the victims have been saved,
401
00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,520
and the corrupt officials
have been uncovered.
402
00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:27,720
You've done a good job with this case.
403
00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:31,600
You've really lived up
to His Majesty's expectations.
404
00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,640
Eunuch Guo, don't rush.
405
00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:35,120
This case isn't closed yet.
406
00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,560
Recently, floods in the south
407
00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:42,840
have kept His Majesty awake day and night.
408
00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,160
You should
409
00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,480
help His Majesty share the burden.
410
00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,400
By Your Majesty's grace,
411
00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,160
I will certainly punish them by the law.
412
00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:58,040
Your Ladyship,
413
00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,600
Eunuch Guo has made things very clear.
414
00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,840
The matter has caused quite a stir.
415
00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:06,680
His Majesty needs us to close it quickly.
416
00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:10,280
But while we wait
for His Majesty's decree,
417
00:26:10,360 --> 00:26:13,000
let us continue our investigation.
418
00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:22,160
Who even looks like this?
419
00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:23,760
The two witnesses
420
00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,440
first said one thing, then another,
421
00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:28,480
repeatedly changing their stories.
422
00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:30,000
So the sketch ended up like this.
423
00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:31,840
Think again.
424
00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,440
What did the person you saw look like?
425
00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:38,680
You're driving me crazy!
426
00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:39,960
What good does it do to blame us?
427
00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:41,800
We were very scared at the time.
428
00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:43,360
You were there too.
429
00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,840
Why didn't you have the courage
to take off that person's mask?
430
00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:46,960
Enough.
431
00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:48,480
Come out with me.
432
00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,040
They clearly said they saw him before.
433
00:26:57,120 --> 00:26:58,240
How could it end up like this?
434
00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:00,240
Has anyone come today?
435
00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,000
This morning, people from the Palace
Investigation Bureau came with food.
436
00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:06,560
Then the artist arrived.
437
00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,120
No, wait. In between, an officer
from the Imperial Medical Office
438
00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:11,920
came to change our bandages.
439
00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:13,680
There was no one else.
440
00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:15,920
Wasn't it that female officer
from last night?
441
00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:19,400
You mean the office threatened them?
442
00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:21,080
- Let me go ask them.
- No need.
443
00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:22,720
Those scoundrels
always resort to these tricks.
444
00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:24,400
Don't force them.
445
00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,840
PALACE INVESTIGATION BUREAU
446
00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:44,440
Your Ladyship.
447
00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:50,920
How'd you track me down?
448
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,920
Your master told me
when you're in a bad mood,
449
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:55,520
you like to stay here by yourself.
450
00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,040
You might as well say you're divining.
451
00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:00,800
I don't have such a habit.
452
00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,480
You're here to comfort me, aren't you?
453
00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:08,920
You've been working cases
at your bureau for 15 years.
454
00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:12,440
Losing all leads just when you're close
to cracking one,
455
00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:13,880
that must be nothing new to you.
456
00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,400
That said, at least pretend to comfort me.
457
00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:19,400
It was my oversight.
458
00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:21,600
Forget it.
459
00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:22,920
You didn't have the intention either.
460
00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:26,720
You've found new clues?
461
00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:29,840
When observing the stars
at the Astronomical Bureau,
462
00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:31,680
sometimes we lose track of the stars.
463
00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,080
But the stars move
following their own paths and rhythms.
464
00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,200
If one temporarily
disappears from the sky,
465
00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:39,320
you can find it along the path it took.
466
00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:41,400
It will always return there.
467
00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,720
Investigating a case
might be more complicated than stars,
468
00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:46,720
but the principle is the same.
469
00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:48,960
If a case loses its lead,
470
00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:50,560
you can return
to the starting point to search.
471
00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:53,240
You've thought of that too?
472
00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:55,200
The starting point of all of this
473
00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:57,200
is the flower that bloomed
on the palace wall.
474
00:28:58,480 --> 00:28:59,680
Lou Chuo.
475
00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:02,440
We were originally investigating
Hanxiao's death.
476
00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,880
Lou Chuo deliberately
led the suspicion to Hu Da.
477
00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:08,200
The place where Hu Da was killed
is near Xiuhong House.
478
00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:09,920
If Lou Chuo's words are true,
479
00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,000
it's because he hated Hu Da
that he killed him,
480
00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:14,600
why wait until three months
after Hanxiao's death,
481
00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:16,760
when we began investigating
the "Flower on the Wall" case?
482
00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:19,040
He could have buried Hanxiao
in the palace wall
483
00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:20,240
without anyone knowing.
484
00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,400
No need to go through all the trouble
to kill Hu Da.
485
00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,000
Lou Chuo is still hiding something.
486
00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:34,160
I knew you'd bring something.
487
00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:35,320
Out with it!
488
00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:43,040
The old man must've had
you bring me touhua cakes.
489
00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:46,840
Let's go.
490
00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:03,440
How is Prosecutor Gu doing?
491
00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:05,200
Still in deep sorrow.
492
00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:07,520
But since he hurt a few of the clerks,
493
00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:08,680
he's temporarily detained.
494
00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:11,440
Let him rest for a while.
495
00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:13,480
Make sure he's properly attended to.
496
00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:16,440
Anyone who dares neglect Prosecutor Gu
will be held accountable.
497
00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:18,640
When this case is closed,
I'll settle scores with them.
498
00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:20,400
Understood.
499
00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:24,920
Your Ladyship,
who are you going to question?
500
00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:26,200
Why are you asking around?
501
00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:29,600
I'm going to question Lou Chuo.
502
00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:32,520
From this moment on,
503
00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:35,200
if anything happens to Lou Chuo,
you're held fully responsible.
504
00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:37,400
I don't know who's behind you,
505
00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:39,160
but I know who you are.
506
00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:41,760
Whether or not you're one of them,
507
00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,400
Lou Chuo must live if you want to live.
508
00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:21,560
You were lying.
509
00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:24,360
You didn't harm Hanxiao.
510
00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:26,480
You saved her.
511
00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:43,120
Thank you.
512
00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:57,120
I actually met her
513
00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:01,880
in a narrow alley outside Daozheng Ward,
514
00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:03,360
near Chunming Gate.
515
00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:05,360
At that time,
516
00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:08,320
she lay wounded by the roadside.
517
00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:10,520
I didn't
518
00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:13,080
even know if she was still alive.
519
00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:16,960
Hanxiao?
520
00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:18,680
Hanxiao?
521
00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:24,440
It's…
522
00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:25,840
It's you?
523
00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:29,920
Save me…
524
00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:31,520
I never expected
525
00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:34,720
she would still recognize me.
526
00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:38,080
Hanxiao,
527
00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:39,000
I'll take you with me.
528
00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:40,360
Come.
529
00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:41,800
Take care.
530
00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:43,280
Come.
531
00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:56,480
I admired Hanxiao,
532
00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,000
but I never had
any improper thoughts about her.
533
00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:03,560
I took her back to my place
534
00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,200
and took care of her for three days.
535
00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:10,320
Only then did she regain
a bit of consciousness and speak to me.
536
00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:12,640
Hanxiao told me
537
00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:16,080
she was deceived by Hu Da!
538
00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:19,920
She thought
539
00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:22,280
she could live a decent life
540
00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,160
as an embroiderer at Xiuhong House,
541
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:27,480
but didn't expect
542
00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,200
they would bully and abuse
543
00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:31,840
the ladies!
544
00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:34,520
Hanxiao escaped once,
545
00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:36,960
but before she could reach
the county office,
546
00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:38,560
she was caught and brought back.
547
00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:41,600
Then she was severely beaten.
548
00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:43,320
Later,
549
00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:46,320
one of the clients mistreated her so badly
550
00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,320
that they all thought
she wouldn't survive.
551
00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,400
They planned to bury her out of the city,
552
00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:56,120
but she found another chance and escaped.
553
00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:58,200
Finally, she met me.
554
00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:00,560
But she still didn't make it, right?
555
00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:02,680
Yes.
556
00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:05,960
She didn't make it.
557
00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:08,360
I tried my best.
558
00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:11,080
I really did.
559
00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:14,760
She was just too badly injured
560
00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:17,120
at that time.
561
00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:21,880
What did Hanxiao tell you
about Xiuhong House?
562
00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:23,920
They're a bunch of scoundrels!
563
00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:26,280
They all deserve to die!
564
00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:28,199
They don't even treat
those ladies as human beings.
565
00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,000
Hanxiao was such a good girl,
566
00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:34,280
and until her death,
567
00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:37,199
she was still thinking
about saving others.
568
00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,800
Did she mention to you
who those scoundrels were?
569
00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:45,440
She said she had collected
a list of their names.
570
00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:49,520
But she also said, I'm not their match,
571
00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:51,880
and I shouldn't take the risk.
572
00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,080
So, I could only kill Hu Da.
573
00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:02,160
I'm useless.
574
00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:05,920
I've let Hanxiao down.
575
00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:11,960
I'm just a lowly night-soil collector.
576
00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:14,080
I couldn't do anything.
577
00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:26,320
I've heard
578
00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:28,760
that Your Ladyship is very capable
579
00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,640
and has solved many big cases.
580
00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:34,320
But I couldn't see you.
581
00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:38,040
So you deliberately buried Hanxiao's body
582
00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:39,240
in the palace wall?
583
00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:42,000
I was just waiting for an opportunity.
584
00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:45,240
I didn't even know
where it would come from
585
00:35:46,240 --> 00:35:48,240
or how long I would have to wait.
586
00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:51,440
But Heaven is watching.
587
00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:54,040
Hanxiao's body
588
00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:57,360
unexpectedly bloomed with flowers.
589
00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,720
To make sure Her Ladyship
investigated Xiuhong House,
590
00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:08,800
you went to such lengths.
591
00:36:09,720 --> 00:36:11,440
But since you can even risk your own life,
592
00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:14,320
why not just tell her
593
00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:16,160
the cause of Hanxiao's death?
594
00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:18,240
I am not sure
595
00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:20,160
if the county princess
596
00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:23,000
can really avenge Hanxiao.
597
00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:26,640
Hanxiao told me
598
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:29,200
those scoundrels
599
00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:32,240
are very powerful.
600
00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:35,120
I'm afraid we can't even
601
00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:37,360
protect ourselves.
602
00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:42,640
I'm not afraid of death,
603
00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:45,240
but Xiuhong House
604
00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:47,680
has many other ladies.
605
00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:49,960
They shouldn't die.
606
00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:52,240
I need to know
607
00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:53,160
if Your Ladyship
608
00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:56,360
can truly investigate this thoroughly
609
00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:00,360
and rescue all of them safely.
610
00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:02,280
Only then will I say.
611
00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:06,600
Even when I soaked you in that barrel,
612
00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:08,040
you didn't dare speak up.
613
00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:11,000
I wanted to tell you earlier.
614
00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:12,800
Hanxiao once saw
615
00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:15,360
one of Xiuhong House's clients
616
00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:18,680
at a palace banquet hosted by Consort Shu.
617
00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:22,520
That night, he was drunk.
618
00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:24,160
In the Imperial Garden,
619
00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:26,280
he touched Hanxiao inappropriately.
620
00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:28,800
Hanxiao didn't know who he was.
621
00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:31,400
But during the struggle,
622
00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:33,960
she noticed a large scar
623
00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:36,240
on the inside of his wrist.
624
00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:38,600
It was a burn mark.
625
00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:41,600
The banquet in Consort Shu's palace
626
00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:43,880
is usually only for officials
627
00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:45,640
above the third rank
and their family members.
628
00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:50,480
I only know that his rank is high.
629
00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:54,000
While you were questioning me,
630
00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:56,960
a high-ranking
official suddenly barged in.
631
00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:00,280
I was afraid of him.
632
00:38:02,760 --> 00:38:04,000
So,
633
00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:05,640
I changed my story.
634
00:38:06,240 --> 00:38:07,720
No harm in being careful.
635
00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:12,120
Did that man recognize Hanxiao
at Xiuhong House?
636
00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:14,440
No.
637
00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:18,160
He didn't recognize her at all.
638
00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:23,160
But once, when she was being whipped,
639
00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:25,920
he paid to have it stopped.
640
00:38:27,200 --> 00:38:28,160
Why stop it?
641
00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:31,880
Because…
642
00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:36,960
he said the scars
on a woman's body are disgusting.
643
00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:38,680
Your Ladyship,
644
00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:40,360
he was not being kind.
645
00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:43,520
To him, those ladies weren't even people.
646
00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,200
From then on, fearing him,
647
00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:51,680
they never whipped Hanxiao.
648
00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:55,160
Lu Zhenglian still plays innocent,
649
00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:57,320
denies ever seeing other clients.
650
00:38:57,400 --> 00:38:59,040
That man's rank was even higher,
651
00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:00,880
so Lu certainly wouldn't have confessed.
652
00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:07,040
Your Ladyship,
653
00:39:07,880 --> 00:39:09,200
Sir,
654
00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:10,680
please, I beg you.
655
00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:14,560
Make sure all these scoundrels are caught.
656
00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:16,920
They've harmed so many people,
657
00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:19,080
and they killed Hanxiao.
658
00:39:20,040 --> 00:39:20,920
I beg you…
659
00:39:31,240 --> 00:39:33,160
You've been poisoned. The bat venom.
660
00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:34,920
Your Ladyship…
661
00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:37,960
my death
662
00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:39,800
isn't important.
663
00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:44,080
But we can't just let those scoundrels
get away with it.
664
00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:46,440
I will do everything I can to save you.
665
00:39:47,240 --> 00:39:48,240
If I can save you,
666
00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:50,800
you'll come with me
and help bring them back.
667
00:39:51,720 --> 00:39:52,880
If I can't save you,
668
00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:55,000
I'll send them to join you!
669
00:39:58,240 --> 00:39:59,560
Thank you, Your Ladyship.
670
00:40:03,880 --> 00:40:04,720
Take him back
to the Palace Investigation Bureau
671
00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:05,840
- and take good care of him.
- Understood.
672
00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:15,280
NO GUESSWORK
NO DOGMA, NO RIGIDITY, NO EGO
673
00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:18,840
Don't lose heart.
674
00:40:20,720 --> 00:40:21,640
Why do you say that?
675
00:40:21,720 --> 00:40:23,360
You never comfort anyone.
676
00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:26,800
Lou Chuo is beyond saving,
yet you comforted him.
677
00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:32,880
A star that vanishes
can still be traced down by its path.
678
00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,440
But a person gone is gone forever.
679
00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:40,200
Do we still need to investigate?
680
00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:43,160
Of course, we need to.
681
00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:45,920
Hanxiao and Taozhi
are already dead by their hands.
682
00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:49,560
Who knows how many others died
without leaving a name?
683
00:40:49,640 --> 00:40:51,960
If even I don't continue
the investigation,
684
00:40:52,040 --> 00:40:53,880
who will seek justice for them?
685
00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:55,600
Then I will continue
the investigation with you.
686
00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:58,360
Lu Zhenglian thought,
as long as he keeps silent,
687
00:40:58,440 --> 00:41:00,720
he would only be charged
with sleeping around or even rape.
688
00:41:01,240 --> 00:41:04,160
But Hanxiao died after enduring
long-term abuse from him.
689
00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:06,040
Once a life is involved,
690
00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:08,200
he will surely reveal something
to save himself.
691
00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:11,880
I have a plan.
692
00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:13,600
I've thought of a way too.
693
00:41:24,720 --> 00:41:26,280
- Who is it?
- It's me.
694
00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:35,520
What's this?
695
00:41:36,240 --> 00:41:37,880
The wound on your arm hasn't healed.
696
00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:39,000
You can't identify Lu Zhenglian yet.
697
00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:42,080
My mother used to blend medicinal incense
and apply it in steam treatments.
698
00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:44,000
Strong incenses
699
00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:46,200
can dye the skin for a while.
700
00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:47,640
It will take some time to fade.
701
00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:51,280
Since fresh skin
stains easier than the original,
702
00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:54,280
steaming it will show
the shape of the wound.
703
00:41:56,440 --> 00:41:57,360
Then let's begin.
704
00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:07,800
What is this?
705
00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:09,680
Tattooing ink.
706
00:42:13,640 --> 00:42:14,680
What are you planning to do?
707
00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:17,840
With the original wound,
make an incision in the skin.
708
00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:19,000
Then apply the tattooing ink,
709
00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:21,240
and you'll see the shape of the wound.
710
00:42:21,840 --> 00:42:22,680
Then what?
711
00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:25,040
Then we'll be able
to identify Lu Zhenglian.
712
00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:25,960
But what about your arm?
713
00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:28,560
You plan to carry this tattoo
for the rest of your life?
714
00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:31,480
It's not a big deal.
715
00:42:32,520 --> 00:42:33,400
Don't tell me
716
00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:35,480
about the saying,
"The body is a gift from parents."
717
00:42:36,080 --> 00:42:37,440
My parents are both dead.
718
00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:38,480
They won't blame me.
719
00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:43,000
For Your Ladyship,
720
00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:44,640
the case comes before everything,
721
00:42:45,160 --> 00:42:47,840
your health, even your life.
722
00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:50,920
So diligent, so determined.
723
00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:52,240
That puts me to shame.
724
00:42:52,960 --> 00:42:54,440
But if you're injured
725
00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:56,880
when the next case breaks, what then?
726
00:42:58,560 --> 00:42:59,440
I know my own limits.
727
00:43:01,240 --> 00:43:02,720
Your limits are simply
728
00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:05,400
to act alone as always,
never asking for help.
729
00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:07,880
Is that wrong?
730
00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:09,640
It's simple, direct.
731
00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:11,160
It gets answers fastest.
732
00:43:14,720 --> 00:43:16,480
Have you ever seen a shooting star?
733
00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:17,520
Of course.
734
00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:21,600
Do you know why a shooting star
falls from the sky?
735
00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:27,040
For a star to move along its path,
736
00:43:27,120 --> 00:43:28,840
it's not just relying on itself,
737
00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:32,160
but is guided by the surrounding stars.
738
00:43:32,240 --> 00:43:35,280
Without that guidance,
it will fall from the sky,
739
00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:37,360
be burned by the fire, and turn to dust.
740
00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:39,480
Since you asked for my help
in the investigation,
741
00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:41,840
I must be the star that guides you.
742
00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:43,480
It's not just me,
743
00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:45,240
but your master, Wuren,
744
00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:47,760
Prosecutor Gu, and many others,
745
00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:49,240
who are all connected to you.
746
00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:52,440
You don't need to hurt yourself
in the course of the investigation.
747
00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:54,000
As your colleague,
748
00:43:54,080 --> 00:43:56,800
I will help you come up with other ways
to solve the problem.
749
00:43:56,880 --> 00:43:58,120
Your injury
750
00:43:58,840 --> 00:43:59,880
is my negligence.
751
00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:02,960
How troublesome.
752
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:04,440
I don't mind the trouble.
753
00:44:08,040 --> 00:44:10,720
Because the stars guide each other.
754
00:44:26,360 --> 00:44:27,200
In that case,
755
00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:30,000
I have one more thing to ask you.
756
00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:34,160
When I fell into the lake
757
00:44:34,240 --> 00:44:36,160
in the palace back then,
didn't you see anyone nearby?
758
00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:39,520
When you fell into the water,
I was the only one around.
759
00:44:39,600 --> 00:44:41,640
The palace maids and eunuchs
were gathered on the other side.
760
00:44:44,200 --> 00:44:47,440
But I can be sure
I was pushed into the water.
761
00:44:49,960 --> 00:44:52,400
If I had seen the murderer,
I would never have hidden it.
762
00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:54,520
Even if it wasn't you,
763
00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:56,960
I would never let the murderer
get away with it.
764
00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:01,800
This steam feels quite hot.
765
00:45:06,400 --> 00:45:07,400
Is my arm cooking?
766
00:45:08,080 --> 00:45:09,160
Apologies…
767
00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:23,320
Greetings.
768
00:45:24,840 --> 00:45:26,400
The coroner has confirmed
769
00:45:26,480 --> 00:45:28,320
that Hanxiao died
after enduring long-term abuse
770
00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:29,640
in Xiuhong House.
771
00:45:29,720 --> 00:45:31,440
The scars on her body
772
00:45:31,520 --> 00:45:33,280
match exactly with the whip
of Lu Zhenglian.
773
00:45:33,360 --> 00:45:35,280
Lu Zhenglian is the one
who killed Hanxiao.
774
00:45:36,640 --> 00:45:38,000
Hanxiao?
775
00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:41,120
Wasn't she killed by Lou Chuo?
776
00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:43,040
After Lou Chuo met Hanxiao,
777
00:45:43,120 --> 00:45:44,360
he was seeking medical help for her.
778
00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:45,480
Without his care,
779
00:45:45,560 --> 00:45:46,720
Hanxiao wouldn't have lived
for more than three days.
780
00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:50,040
So, this means
781
00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:52,720
Lu Zhenglian is the true murderer?
782
00:45:53,480 --> 00:45:55,240
He can't be completely convicted,
783
00:45:55,320 --> 00:45:58,040
but he won't be allowed
to live peacefully in prison.
784
00:45:58,120 --> 00:45:59,160
Bring him out.
785
00:45:59,240 --> 00:46:00,280
I'll take him back
to the Palace Investigation Bureau.
786
00:46:00,920 --> 00:46:01,760
Oh…
787
00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:03,320
Hurry!
788
00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:05,560
Go get him back!
789
00:46:05,640 --> 00:46:07,240
- Understood.
- Get him back?
790
00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:08,880
Before dawn today,
791
00:46:08,960 --> 00:46:11,200
Lu Zhenglian was sent back
to his hometown!
792
00:46:12,080 --> 00:46:13,160
Who authorized that?