Original subtitles

Timing and subtitles brought to you by ⚖Defenders of the Law ⚖ Team @ Viki

["Water and Flame" by Shu Linzuo]

♫ The boundless world is pitch-dark as the night ♫

♫ Your appearance is like a lightning bolt that tore through the night ♫

♫ My birth is neither impure nor pure, neither born nor destroyed ♫

♫ Perseverance is in my heart behaving atrociously, who can comprehend? ♫

♫ The sharp sword that penetrates desire is stained with blood ♫

♫ The season tainted with the hypocrisy of the world is prosperous yet withering ♫

♫ Give me some time, I can change everything ♫

♫ The courageous moth can also extinguish a sea of flames ♫

♫ Sorrow and delight are interweaving with colors ♫

♫ Layers upon layers covered by a dense fog ♫

♫ Numerous obstacles cannot stop me ♫

♫ To uncover the truth ♫

♫ A region of burning fire and deep waters ♫

♫ Calm and blazing both existing ♫

♫ Who will indulge the wicked flames ♫

♫ To boil the deep sea ♫

♫ This is the era of survival of the fittest ♫

♫ Everything will be planned by oneself ♫

♫ Even if it is a proud and aloof predestination ♫

♫ Even if completely incompatible, I’m still here ♫

[🔎👁‍🗨The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty👁‍🗨🔍]

[Episode 8]

Kan tun. Ye Xu. Jing Di.

What's the problem?

What do these words mean?

Someone stays in a quiet yard alone for the whole night until dawn.

Right. What does it mean?

What do you mean?

Someone is asking for help!

Do you think I'm illiterate?

Hold on. Listen to me.

According to Fanqie, a method in traditional Chinese lexicography,

we can get the pronunciation of a new character by using two other characters,

one with the same initial consonant [jing di, ye xu, kan tun]

and one with the same rest of the syllable. [jing di, ye xu, kan tun]

Then we get three new characters,

which is "Trapped in Ji." [kun, yu, ji]

Do you understand?

Trapped in Ji'an. Sui Zhou is trapped.

Guards!

[Kun Yu Ji (Trapped in Ji)]

Yes, Sir!

Drive this lunatic out.

- Go! - Official Wan!

Something really happened to Sui Zhou!

Sui Zhou is in danger.

We can't keep waiting here.

Official Tang, are you sure it's our brother that's asking for help in the letter?

Of course.

Sui Zhou must be in great danger,

or he couldn't have used this method.

Maybe it's a fatal disaster.

We have to set out for Ji'an at once.

How long does it take at least to go to Ji'an from the capital?

Seven days.

- Let's go. - No need to hurry.

I'm talking about my speed.

As for you…

How long will it take for me?

You're a scholar.

You can travel 45 to 75 km at most per day.

Even if you set off right away,

you won't reach Ji'an until at least 15 days later.

What should we do?

Go south along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal by boat

and we'll arrive in Anqing in two days.

After shifting to the Yangtze River,

we'll arrive at Poyang Lake in one day.

Then we'll go to Ganjiang River from Jiaolongkou.

It takes about five or six days in total to arrive in Ji'an.

This is the quickest way.

Why are you here?

Sit down.

I'm here to save you.

How?

Don't worry.

Wait here patiently.

When I get out of here,

I'll report to His Majesty about what happened here.

It's just that...

I don't have evidence right now.

Someone reported secretly to His Majesty about Huang Jinglong.

I need to know who it is to plead with His Majesty.

Only Official Tang knows who it is.

Which Official Tang?

You're not Wang Zhi.

Useless.

Official Huang, I can do anything Wang Zhi can do.

Guards!

I have 100 ways to torture you.

You have to tell the truth sooner or later,

why bear all this?

If you want to drink water, tell me who that spy is.

I'd like to see...

how long you can bear this.

It's so dark.

It's hard to tell where we are.

I'm not sure if we've arrived.

Judging from the time it usually takes, I think it's close.

Right ahead.

We're almost there.

Guys, keep going.

Let's go.

Several hundred good horses prepared by the four tribes

in the northern pasturing area for the opening disappeared overnight.

It's urgent.

Tribes have begun to blame each other.

The Jurchens and the Doyan Guard have gotten into a free-for-all fight.

The Fuyu Guard and the Ujiyed Guard are on their way.

Commander, only traces of humans living are found inside.

There are no traces of horses.

I can't even see any horse dung or horse hoof tracks.

It seems like all horses vanished into thin air.

Right. It must be them.

Where are the owners?

What happened last night?

Tell me the truth.

We were sleeping last night

when we heard some noise outside.

We came out of the tent and found we were surrounded

by some masked guys.

Then, they took all the horses away.

We heard those guys speaking the Jurchen language.

What did you say?

It really is you.

Is there anything you want to say?

Commander Wang, if we had stolen the horses,

why didn't we kill them to stop them from talking nonsense here?

You must've let them escape through an oversight.

Everyone, please calm down.

I'm curious about one thing.

If the thieves can get rid of

all the traces of horse dung and horse hoof tracks,

how could they see you three living persons as an oversight?

What you said is full of questionable points.

Without solid evidence, you made an unfounded attack upon them.

Why did you do that?

I was curious as to why the yard was so clean.

It turns out the three of you stole the horses under your care.

You've plotted everything.

Your Excellency, please find the truth out. We do not dare do so.

- We didn't steal the horses. - We really didn't steal the horses.

Then, why did you lie?

I…

Last night, we were really tired.

We fell asleep after having dinner.

We slept like logs.

When we woke up, everything became what it's like now.

Where are the horses?

Where are the horses?

Where have they gone?

We were afraid we'd be punished, so we ganged up

and planned to pass the blame onto the Jurchens.

Several hundred horses disappeared all of a sudden.

How could it be possible?

Witchcraft. It must be witchcraft.

Right. It's your Jurchens' trick.

It was you!

Nonsense!

Stop talking wildly.

I've been patient with you.

If you keep framing us, don't blame me for talking with my knife next.

Do you still remember why we came to Guangning?

Crossing mountains and rivers,

we traveled thousands of miles to be here

just to reopen the horse market.

And you planned to earn money

by selling those horses to the Ming Dynasty.

I know what you're thinking about.

You think you'd earn more

if I earn less.

Please think it over.

If we fight and His Majesty becomes angered,

the horse market won't be reopened.

Then nobody will earn money.

- But those horses… - Where is this?

Answer me. Where is this?

Guangning Town.

It belongs to the Ming dynasty.

If anything is lost here, the Ming government will get it back.

I'll find the truth and give you all an explanation,

before the market opens.

So, now, please go back.

Commander.

I have something to say to you.

The current situation is chaotic.

The Jurchens are the most likely suspects and also a target for all.

How about taking them into custody to keep everyone quiet first?

It's an obvious fact that

the Doyan Three Guards are ganging up to go against the Jurchens.

Besides, even if we arrest them, without finding the horses,

we can't close the case and the market can't be opened.

Commander, you came from the capital,

so you may not know well about the situation at the border.

In recent years, the Jurchens have grown stronger.

Those lost horses can be used as a good excuse to suppress them.

General Chen, do you think you're wiser than His Majesty?

Let me ask you a question.

According to the present situation,

the Jurchens are powerful enough

to make a diversion from the Three Guards

and stop them from becoming stronger.

If the Jurchens are wiped out, what will you do with the Three Guards?

I've been stationed at the border for years.

I know these tribes' nature well.

The Doyan Three Guards are shortsighted.

We can buy them over with money.

They wouldn't be a threat to us.

But the Jurchens have been coveting our territory for years.

They've been planning to attack the Ming.

Besides, as for the lost horses,

I don't think finding the culprit is important.

We just need to give them a convincing explanation.

If this matter becomes serious,

the horse market may not be reopened.

What's worse, I'm afraid that

the rare peace at the border will be gone.

By then…

Your Excellencies, please show us your official documents.

I'm Xue Ling, Xiaoqi of the Northern Administrative Court of the Imperial Guard.

It's something urgent,

so I don't have my official documents with me.

I hope you can let me pass.

I'm sorry, Official Xue.

We just received an urgent letter from the capital,

that said an official boat was stolen.

So I can't let you go.

You stole this boat?

No, I borrowed it.

Your Excellencies, you have to send a letter to the capital

and ask them to send your official documents here

to prove your identity and your purpose of coming here.

It's really urgent.

There is one more option.

You can go on by land from here

and leave your boat detained at the ferry.

You can take it back after receiving your official documents.

That's the most I can do for you.

Fine. We'll do as you say.

Please let us get on the boat and pack up.

Give it to me!

I caught it!

Give it to me!

Let go!

Give it back!

Give it back! It's mine!

- Give it back! - Loosen your grip!

It's mine!

No one can eat his fill here, so stay out of it.

Why can't they eat their fill?

Because they're serious criminals?

Then, why are you here?

Those two guys were neighbors.

The eaves of one's house were pinned down by those of the other's,

so they fought each other.

Then they were arrested.

The guy who got the mouse used to just idle about.

He was arrested because he stole someone's salted meat.

Actually, few of the people here are unforgivable criminals.

Just like me, they were imprisoned because of trivial matters.

But we're all treated in the same way.

Don't do that.

- It smells good. - It smells good.

It's dinner time.

Come on. Get some for our boss.

Why don't you go eat?

Aren't you hungry?

That's the rule here.

Those guys have meals first.

We can only eat the leftovers.

Leave some to me!

Don't grab!

This is mine!

Don't grab!

Here. Have a bite.

Here. Drink.

Come on. Open your mouth.

Okay. Let me give you a kiss.

Drink more.

Get lost.

Official Huang, you lack a sense of romance.

Come on. Let's drink together.

I warned you.

Don't act ostentatiously.

How dare I ignore what you say?

Didn't you see that I closed the door when there were girls here?

Wang Zhi is a eunuch.

How could he whore?

Official Huang, there is something you don't know.

Wang Zhi is not a common eunuch.

He has invested in Joyous Brothel,

the biggest whorehouse in the capital.

I'll be cautious in the future.

I'll just look and not touch them.

No.

I'll just touch them. No sex.

If I can let you go, then I can also arrest you.

No matter when it is, I can imprison you again.

I know.

I'll die no matter where I am.

You keep me alive just because of my face.

You want to make me a shield or

a scapegoat at the critical moment.

Since I have to die sooner or later,

why can't you let me do what I want while I'm alive?

In this case, I'll be happy to die for you.

How many times has it happened today?

Three times. They fought over a hitching post this time.

How about those who got involved in the first two fights?

They were arrested and then set free. Official Wang's order.

General, what do you think we should do?

- Weird. - Weird?

As far as I'm concerned,

there are several ways to cover horse hoof tracks and horse dung.

But here,

I can't tell at all.

If it were you, how would you hide them?

Such a large amount of horses.

I can't do it.

They can't be common horse thieves.

Commander, the Doyan Guard and the Jurchens are fighting.

The situation is getting worse.

The Fuyu Guard and the Ujiyed Guard

have sent guys back for reinforcements.

I've sent soldiers to stop them,

but we can't stop them forever

even if we can this time.

- I wonder… - Go ahead.

I wonder if we can delay reopening the horse market

and wait till the situation gets…

Re-opening the market is what His Majesty ordered us to do.

If we can't find the truth and leave the case unsettled,

I'm afraid there'll be endless trouble.

If that guy is here, the case will be readily solved.

Which guy?

Tang Fan of Shuntian Prefecture.

Official Tang, let's go to the local government

and ask about Brother's whereabouts.

Not now. We still don't know what has happened to Guangchuan.

Besides, he's here to investigate the local magistrate.

If he's arrested by the local government,

we'll be like sheep entering the tiger's den if we go there.

What should we do?

Where does Guangchuan usually stay when he goes on business?

He stays in inns.

Okay. Let's go to the inns and ask about him.

Let's go now.

No.

What's wrong?

I'm too weak.

I need to eat something.

There is no time to lose, Official Tang.

How about this? You stay here and eat.

I'll be back soon.

Steamed buns!

Hot steamed buns stuffed with meat!

[Xiajiang Rice Noodles]

It's delicious.

It's the first time you're in Ji'an, right?

Exactly.

You ordered the right dish, Cold Rice Noodles in Sauce.

The ingredient is Xiajiang rice noodles which are well known in Ji'an.

That explains why.

I've long heard that Xiajiang rice noodles

don't get mushy or broken even if they're boiled or cooked for a long time.

It lives up to its name now that I've had it.

Judging from your accent, you're from the capital. Right?

People from the capital know what's what.

One of my customers knew all about it, too.

Hold on.

The other day, some people from the capital came here, too?

How did you know that?

That day, the group leader saved a thief

and clashed with officials.

Later, he was taken away by Yamen runners.

Owner, three bowls of rice noodles.

Okay. Just a second.

Sir, what's wrong?

Don't talk to me.

Follow me.

- Something serious happened! - Something serious happened!

What is it?

I went to the inn

and they told me Brother and two of his subordinates

left two days ago,

but I saw his horse in the stable.

So I looked around again and found the homing pigeon cage

he took when he left the capital.

He couldn't have left without these two things.

I saw Wang Zhi just now.

Wang Zhi? Didn't he go to Liaodong?

He should be in Guangning at this point.

What's weirder, Wang Zhi didn't recognize me.

Something must've happened to Sui Zhou.

He must be in the hands of Huang Jinglong right now.

What should we do?

We have to go to the prison and find out.

Wouldn't we be sending ourselves into trouble if we went there at this point?

[First, Second, Third]

Eat the three cakes according to the order.

Now you can eat the first cake.

Eat the second cake this time tomorrow.

When things really don't go right, you can eat the third cake.

What did I say just now?

Repeat it.

Official Tang, I'm not stupid.

I won't forget it.

Are you sure?

Shout out loud!

Catch the thief!

Food is here.

Here is our food.

What do you want?

There is not enough food.

If everyone can have a share, all of us can survive

although nobody can eat his fill.

But if you eat your fill,

someone will starve to death.

What if I don't want to share?

You're still the boss here if you do.

So... you want to fight with me, right?

Brother, obviously, you're not an ordinary person.

How about this? We'll treat you as one of us from now on.

After our boss finishes, we can eat together. Okay?

I know the rules here.

The best fighter has the final say.

I'll show no mercy to you if you don't share.

Okay. Let's fight one-on-one.

Step aside!

Boss, how are you feeling?

Boss.

Who else wants to challenge me?

From now on, we'll share all the food.

Official Wang, sorry to have kept you waiting.

My master asked me to apologize to you.

Can you tell me why you want to see him?

Do you know what this is?

This is the imperial edict that states

I'll be responsible for reopening the horse market.

Seeing this means you see His Majesty.

You should knock your head on the ground thrice at each prostration.

He's neither a man nor a woman. (Jurchen language)

How dare he ask me to kowtow?

Official Wang, my master said you're talented and capable

because you won His Majesty's trust at such a young age.

Ask him to cut the crap.

He asked me to come here just to talk about reopening the market.

But those horses were stolen.

The Doyan, Fuyu and Ujiyed Guards have horses,

but they're too far away.

Only the Jianzhou Guard's horses are close.

Tell him I can sell horses to him,

if he triples the usual price.

Ask him not to pressure me by mentioning the emperor.

He'll be the first one to be punished if the horse market fails to reopen.

He's a eunuch.

Does he really think he's an official appointed by the imperial court?

Showing no respect to the imperial edict

means no respect to Great Ming and His Majesty.

Guards! He's disrespectful to His Majesty.

Flog him 50 times.

What are you doing?

What are you doing?!

- Don't move.- Go.

Wang Zhi, do you know who I am?

100 times.

Be prepared.

Someone will come and drink tea in a bit.

Silence!

Why are you two here?

Your Excellency, I'm Chen Wu.

I passed by Ji'an and stayed in an inn.

But this thief stole my money.

Your Excellency, I've been wronged.

I didn't steal his money.

Who are you?

I'm Kong Liu.

I'm also a passing traveler.

Can you prove you're innocence?

Your Excellency, it's hard for me to do that.

How dare you play tricks on His Excellency?

I don't dare.

Since you can't prove your innocence,

why do you say you've been wronged?

Before answering you, I have a question for you.

Go ahead.

Your Excellency, how will you prove I stole his money?

If you can't, it means I'm innocent,

so I don't need to prove it myself.

You unruly guy. You stole money,

argued irrationally, and despised the court of law.

Imprison him.

Dismissed.

Silence!

Go in!

- What do you want? - Stop!

It's mine.

Why are you here?

I saw your letter, so I'm here with Xue Ling to save you.

Things are not good.

Huang Jinglong is trying everything

to force me to tell him who reported him.

I can't hold on for much longer.

Can you hold on for another month?

15 days at most.

By then, no matter if I tell him, he'll kill me.

[Ji'an Yamen]

[Clarify and Obtain to release me]

Your Excellency, when I went back, I found I've wronged that guy.

I found my lost wallet under the bed.

What? Then you've committed a serious crime.

What crime?

You faked a crime and wronged a good guy.

Now you have two choices.

One is to go to prison.

As for the other,

that unlucky guy has been sentenced by Official Huang.

If I'm in a good mood, I may not punish you.

Which one do you choose?

Think about it before you make a decision.

Your Excellency, can I eat something to get over the shock?

I'm telling you.

You'd better not be playing tricks on me.

Yes, Sir.

[Spend Money]

I'm in a good mood.

Get lost.

Your Excellency, I really don't want to wrong a good person.

It happened because of me.

Could you please set him free?

Set him free? It's not impossible.

But that means Official Huang made a mistake

and you want to reverse the case.

You know, you need to pay a lot for that.

I understand.

Okay. No matter how much it costs,

justice is worth it.

Set him free.

How are you doing? Is brother okay?

We're pressed for time. We need to go to Liaodong.

Okay.

My humble house is honored by your presence.

I wonder what brings you here.

You don't know? Wang Zhi, you beat my son.

Even if His Majesty were here today,

you'd still have to give me a convincing explanation.

Take your time. Sit down and drink some tea.

As for what happened, you should thank me.

Thank you?

Have you heard of Li Manzhu and his son Li Gunaha?

At that time,

Li Manzhu was the most powerful among the three Jurchen guards,

acting as the Associate Military Commissioner.

Neither the Ming nor Joseon wanted to offend him.

It may be said nobody was his match.

I wonder who is more powerful between you and him nowadays.

I'm not his equal.

But pitifully, his son was unpromising.

Li Gunaha was swollen with arrogance.

In the third year of the Chenghua reign, (1467)

when he and Dong Shan, commander of the Jianzhou Left Guard,

went to the capital to visit His Majesty,

he acted wildly and made trouble everywhere.

He asked for a lot of things, even including embroidered robes with patterns of the four-clawed dragon.

As a great power, the Great Ming gave him everything he wanted,

hoping that the Jurchens reconciled the parties concerned.

But on their way back after paying tribute,

Dong Shan and Li Gunaha plundered Guangning.

Our soldiers rose in resistance.

Dong Shan was killed on the spot and Li Gunaha escaped.

Knowing about the battle, His Majesty flew into a rage

and ordered Joseon to join hands with us and suppress the Jurchens.

Yu Youzhao, a Joseon general, was assigned to do it.

Jianzhou was conquered by the Ming and the Joseon army.

Li Manzhu and his son died in battle.

The Jurchens were almost wiped out.

Later, His Majesty forgave and forgot

and kept supporting the Jurchens.

I thought you'd feel deeply grateful, but unexpectedly…

What do you mean by doing that?

I'm grateful for your disciplining my son.

Please tell His Majesty I'd never

repeat the same mistake as Li Manzhu and his son.

You're too polite.

Stand up, please.

Let's get to the point.

As for the horses, everyone thinks the Jurchens stole them.

No matter if you really did it or not, you're in trouble.

Commander, we truly didn't do it.

I'll give you a hand this time.

No matter if the Jurchens stole them or not, I'll clear your name.

I help you and I hope you can help me, too.

You're doing me two favors.

I hope I can have a chance to repay your kindness in the future.

His Majesty ordered me to reopen the horse market in Guangning.

All the Jurchens will do their best to help you achieve this.

Let's go to Liaodong to look for Wang Zhi.

Okay. I'll get several good horses from the Northern Administrative Court.

Xiaoqi Xue, I'm sorry, but Commander Wan personally ordered us

to arrest you because you stole an official boat.

It's okay if you want to arrest me, but brother is in danger

and only Official Tang can save him.

I hope you can let him go.

Official Tang, are you an accomplice of Xiaoqi Xue?

I knew nothing about it.

Commander.

There are so many horses in Liaodong.

I wonder if there is enough fodder available.

Once the horse market is reopened,

all the commerce and trade in Liaodong will be vitalized.

There will be a complete supply system for fodder.

After the horses were stolen, all passes have been closed,

so the horses couldn't be carried away.

Then they'll have to need a lot of fodder.

I understand.

I'll send guys to check all the transactions of fodder in the past ten days.

Brother Tang, you're so not trustworthy.

How can you leave Brother Xue behind like that?

What's most important is to save Sui Zhou.

If I'm arrested, too, Brother Sui will be dead meat.

Fine.

But without Xue Ling, how can I go to Liaodong?

Besides, at this point,

where can I get a good horse?

I know where we can get one.

Timing and subtitles brought to you by ⚖Defenders of the Law ⚖ Team @ Viki

♫ Out of the mud but not tainted with the world of mortals ♫

♫ The sea drifts along while the heart is calm for a fraction ♫

♫ All alone in the world with no love nor hate ♫

♫ Being too slow-witted is also an innate intelligence ♫

♫ The cold fireworks branded the palm lines of predestination ♫

♫ New wounds cannot easily conceal old scars ♫

♫ The naked eye cannot easily break through worldly affairs, it can only hold on to one’s pure inherent quality ♫

♫ Hold his hand, don’t let him sink into degradation ♫

♫ In this mortal world together, both wandering to the end of the world ♫

♫ Brushing past each other, there’s no need to be bothered with the past ♫

♫ A fish leapt over the dragon gate (after becoming successful), you eventually forgot your original identity ♫

♫ I only ask for you to always remember my expression as I gazed back ♫

♫ I only ask for you to always remember my expression as I gazed back ♫