Original subtitles

Subtitiles and Timing provided to you by 🎶 The Copper Sparrow 🪶Team @viki.com

Go Ahead Fearlessly Liu Yuning

♫ Grudges and karma, right and wrong ♫

♫ Tears and blood in the past life ♫

♫ A parting lasting for years ♫

♫ Keeps the truth hidden ♫

♫ Fate is full of twists and turns ♫

♫ Misfortune and happiness intertwined ♫

♫ Let the wind take away obsessions and lies ♫

♫ Through storms and uncertainties, I devote myself to you ♫

♫ At least you share my joy and sorrow ♫

♫ Unraveling mystery fearlessly in this dream ♫

♫ Hand in hand with you, I wander this splendid world ♫

♫ My heart remains untainted by the mortal dust ♫

[Melody of Golden Age]

[Episode 24]

The embroidery on your clothes is really exquisite.

I wonder which young lady embroidered

this peach blossom pattern at the neckline for you.

Please don't make fun of me.

I just ordered this ready-made garment

with this pattern because I like peach blossom.

I see. No wonder it looks so familiar.

It turns out that I've seen this pattern in a clothes shop.

This is indeed a trendy style this year.

If I remember correctly, this set of clothes comes with an overcoat.

Why aren't you wearing it?

I must have forgotten it somewhere

because I was too busy tonight.

You were indeed busy tonight.

It's normal to make mistakes in the rush.

Then what is this powder?

If I'm right about the scent,

this must be the Mandragora powder we've heard about.

I-I have never heard of any Mandragora powder.

I don't know why it would be on me. My lord, please look into it.

The abduction of Miss Du has nothing to do with me.

Nothing to do with you?

Mr. Jing.

Xu Jize, we found this overcoat on the road. It's yours, isn't it?

Are you going to say that this overcoat isn't yours?

You threw away your overcoat in panic during the escape,

but you didn't realize that the silver thread on the collar had caught your undershirt.

You also forgot about the Mandragora powder

inside the inner pocket of your overcoat.

And there is also residue on your undershirt.

Xu Jize. You're a repeat offender of drugging the brides.

You are the mastermind of the abduction and you killed your accomplice.

No. It's not like that.

I didn't kill anyone. I swear I didn't kill anyone.

My lord, I did drug the bride. I lusted after her beauty.

But… But my lord, I didn't kill anyone.

What a shameless scoundrel. You're full of lies.

Senior Clerk Yan, say no more.

Put him on the clamps.

Understood.

Governor Mo, allow me--

No, no.

My lord. I confess. I'll confess everything!

Confess everything you've done tonight without holding back.

I used to be pedantic,

believing that one could only find beauty in books.

But once I became a wedding host, I suddenly realized

that I could enjoy real beauty outside of the books.

With just some powder,

the brides from those noble families could all become my beauties.

Because it is something too shameful to talk about,

so I succeed most of the time,

and no one ever speaks of it.

So why did you target Miss Du this time?

I don't have many hobbies.

I just like beautiful women.

I have long heard of Miss Du's beauty.

How could I miss the chance

to spend some time with the beauty of Yingzhou?

What was the name of the deceased, who was also your accomplice?

How did you know him?

He was just a hooligan. I only know him as Er Laipi.

He was an orphan and had been in jail for burglary.

Before the man in black arrived, you were already arguing.

About what?

I decided to stop the criminal act and send Miss Du back.

No, I was mistaken. Let her go.

Are you kidding me?

What's done is done. You have to do it now.

I said I was mistaken. Let her go.

You--

But we suddenly heard something.

I'll take a look.

I suspected that we were being followed and stopped arguing.

Er Laipi stayed to hide Miss Du in the cellar.

I went to look around.

There was nothing. Maybe it was a stray cat.

Er Laipi. I didn't see anything apart from a stray cat in the bushes.

Perhaps the cat made the noise.

I was scared witless. I was scared the killer would come back to kill me.

I was scared the killer would come back to kill me.

So I ran away.

Xu Jize. Are there any other witnesses who can testify to what you've said?

In that case, how can you prove

that you didn't kill him because you had a fallout?

If I had fought with Er Laipi, he would certainly have won.

How can I possibly manage to kill him?

My lord. Please look into it.

I will certainly investigate the case of Er Laipi before giving the verdict.

But there is solid evidence in Miss Du's case.

Guards. Take the prisoner Xu Jize into custody.

Understood.

Let's go.

What? Won't you rest after such a long night?

Is the fearless Senior Clerk Yan so scared to share a bed with her husband?

so scared to share a bed with her husband?

I do want to rest.

But I can't stop thinking about the case when I lie down.

The case was solved smoothly. But I just feel that there are hidden stories.

Smoothly? We chased the killer until midnight.

It took a long time and a little torture for him to confess.

I'm not just referring to the bride's case.

Even if this case is closed, the abductor Er Laipi is dead.

There's a new murder case.

Er Laipi was a burglar. I bet he had quite a few enemies in Yingzhou.

What kind of enemy would make the murder a mystery

by gouging out his eyes after killing him?

Did the murderer happen to be there or was it well planned?

You can't figure it out just yet. Rest first.

I told you I couldn't sleep.

Among Er Laipi's acquaintances, the major suspect must be…

Since you're so energetic,

let's do something else.

What… What do you want?

Something a couple should do, naturally.

A-Are…

Are you crazy?

People call me the White Ghost who always keeps his promises.

How come my wife calls me crazy?

What did you give me?

A sleeping pill. It will help you fall asleep.

Sweet dreams to you, honey.

Great Chief.

Great Chief. A letter from Xiang'an.

What's the rush?

My wife was about to rest. I didn't let you in.

Please forgive me.

But you said that letters from this person are a top priority.

Urgent letter from Xiang'an? Who sent it?

Madam Xu.

There's nothing fancy.

Want to read it first? [Xu Wan to Shen Du]

No, no. I don't want to read your love letters.

I'm going to sleep.

There's nothing between Madam Xu and me.

Besides, I'm in love with someone else.

Yan Xing.

The pill kicked in just at the right time.

We are Half-faced Demons.

When will you find my head?

Give me your head.

Who's there?

Who is it? Come out.

Eyes.

My eyes.

No.

This is the gray messenger pigeon.

The gray messenger pigeon came.

It means that there are informants

of Empress Dowager in Yingzhou who can't show up.

So they reminded me with the pigeon

Sister.

Did you bring this pigeon?

So you're--

No, I saw this gray messenger pigeon flying into your courtyard and wouldn't leave.

Sister. Do you know the legend?

It brings you luck if a gray messenger pigeon settles in your home.

We must keep it.

So I rushed to the main street and bought a birdcage for you.

I see.

So you came to bring me the birdcage.

One more thing. We ran out of deer antlers.

But Gannandao lacks herbal medicine.

I went to the Guangchun Clinic, which is the biggest,

but they haven't heard of deer antlers.

They only have Cistanche.

We might have to get it from somewhere else.

They have Cistanche?

It may be less effective, but it works as a substitute.

The shopkeeper would sell me the last bit, but I didn't buy it.

- Take me there now. Let's get some. - Okay.

- Let's go. - Let's go.

[Guangchun Clinic] Be careful.

Big clinics surely have good business.

They even have to use huge pots to boil medicine.

These are not for boiling medicine.

I think they're used for storing herbs.

Right, Yeyun.

I asked you to keep an eye on the governor's mansion. Anyone suspicious?

I take the task you entrust to me seriously.

I didn't find anyone suspicious.

But I did hear about a suspicious place.

I heard there's a secluded courtyard that nobody is allowed to enter.

But Governor Mo visits it very often.

There are such blooming peonies in the freezing weather of Yingzhou.

Pink peonies.

Great Chief, this way.

Alright.

What is he doing here?

[Jade-like Faint Clouds]

Yingzhou is far north with a lot of snow in winter.

You set up a warm room for flowers.

It must have cost you a great effort.

Senior.

Great Chief.

Do you have to be so distant, senior?

You are a man of status now.

I have been through the turbulences in the officialdom and only want to live in peace.

I do not wish to be linked to you and make things hard for you.

Please forgive me.

You do not wish to be associated with me in public.

I can understand that.

But it's just the two of us here.

Do you have to treat me like a stranger, senior?

Back in the detention center, you suffered greatly.

After all, you were implicated by the officialdom.

So from then on, I wanted you to stay out of the officialdom.

However, you have exceptional talent.

In the end, the Empress Dowager thinks highly of you.

Now you are the Great Chief.

I can only be a subordinate official.

I see.

You are blaming me, senior.

Exceptional talent?

The Empress Dowager thinks highly of me?

All those who knew my father and the Shen family

knew that I sold out my father and drove my mother to death

in exchange for my freedom.

I denounce.

I, Shen Du, the son of the criminal official Shen Bingzhu,

denounce my father.

Such shameful conduct

shall be despised by all,

especially you.

Senior, you must have regretted

kneeling all the way to the palace

to ask for mercy for my family.

Your Majesty. Minister Shen has been wronged.

Your Majesty.

What did the women and children of the Shen family do wrong?

The late emperor spared me and my mother

from the death penalty because of you.

That's how I made it into the detention center.

There is no need to dwell on that.

Your father took me in when my family went broke.

He was a savior to our Mo family and he treated me like his own.

I just did what I had to do by crying out injustice.

Otherwise, I would be disloyal and ungrateful.

You abandoned your bright future

and got exiled here with no hope for promotion

only for a disloyal, ungrateful, and unfilial person like me

to survive and trade my father's reputation for a bright future.

Senior.

If you had known about this,

would you have regretted it?

Looking back,

I have many things I regret.

But I have never

regretted saving you.

You had no choice but to do what you did.

My late mentor would surely understand.

Your mother "drove you out" of the house

only as an act for those scoundrels who were watching.

She did that to protect her only child.

Senior. You really don't blame me?

Do you recognize this flower?

Yes.

It's Xiuxiu's favorite "Child's Face".

Where are we going?

Hurry up.

See, Brother Du is the best, after all.

He grew the "Child's Face" for me.

Du. You're going to spoil Mo Xiuxiu.

It's hard to grow one "Child's Face" out of ten peonies.

Other young ladies are happy to wear peonies on their heads.

But you have to ask for "Child's Face".

What's wrong? I just love "Child's Face".

Brother Du.

This one I'm wearing will wither in a few days.

Remember to get me the best one then.

Rest assured, I have picked one for you

and I'll cut it in a few days.

After Xiuxiu left,

I built this small courtyard full of peonies for her.

Only then did I realize

how difficult it was for you to grow "Child's Face" back then.

Du, how could I blame you?

I was only glad.

I'm glad that you assessed the situation and survived.

Then there is one more person like me

who cherishes Xiuxiu and remembers her.

Life is unpredictable.

I did not expect that

I would never see Xiuxiu again

after we parted in the Imperial City.

If Xiuxiu were still alive,

she would be the same age as Miss Du now.

Senior.

I've been scared to ask you.

How did Xiuxiu die?

I didn't take care of her.

She died of illness due to poor acclimatization.

Xiuxiu.

I remember now.

The rattan piglet and the letter were gifts from Mo Xiuxiu.

That's why he kept them for so long.

Mo Xiuxiu.

What were you writing?

Master, you scared them.

It's nothing.

Keep practicing.

It seems these children

haven't gotten over the trauma of being kidnapped.

Du. Go find some rattan.

Alright.

Master.

My lord.

Let's call it a day now.

Understood.

Kids.

I'm going to teach you

how to make small animals with rattan, okay?

Okay.

Brother, am I doing it right?

Brother.

You're so good.

I also want to make one as a birthday gift for Brother Du.

Can you swap with me?

Okay, take it.

Thank you.

What's your name?

Just call me Liuniang.

It was a gift from Mo Xiuxiu.

That's why he has kept it for so long.

So the person he loves is Mo Xiuxiu.

Why did you insist on meeting with me in private today?

My family was wronged.

You knew what happened.

I was young back then and there are things I don't remember.

I hope you can tell me in detail.

Great Chief.

It's been so many years.

You are a successful man with a bright future.

Do not dwell on the past.

What do you mean?

Ordinary people couldn't have

endured the torment in the detention center.

Du. You have made it out alive.

So don't think about seeking revenge.

I'm not seeking revenge.

I'm merely seeking

the truth for my family.

You have won the Empress Dowager's trust.

You have a bright future as long as you play safe.

Do you truly have the courage to give up everything you have now?

To reopen the old case,

you must give up everything you have now.

Do you think it's worth it?

Throughout history,

those who can overturn old cases are invincible.

But you're married.

Can you truly disregard everything

and burn your boats just for yourself?

I stand by what I said.

Do not dwell on the past.

Great Chief. I've given you the answer you want.

Great Chief,

please think twice.

♫ Through vast smoky waves, groping in the darkness ♫

♫ You pass by, igniting fireworks ♫

♫ For karma's sake, you fall silent and become an Asura ♫

♫ Love is elusive, stinging you and scorching me ♫

♫ Along the way, flowers bloom and fall, heavy rain pours ♫

♫ Lights will intertwine ♫

♫ You are my final destination ♫

[Jade-like Faint Clouds]

He does have a close tie with Mo Qianzhi.

But no matter how you see it,

Mo Qianzhi is an upright and dutiful official.

Oh, pigeon.

How should I report to the Empress Dowager?

- Master Sister. - "Master Sister"?

What did I teach you? Show some manners.

I knew it. My sister is boiling medicine so early.

Who deserves such a good wife in the world?

It's rare to find someone like Madam who fits our Great Chief.

A perfect match.

"A perfect match"?

Listen. Your Great Chief is indeed a mighty leader,

but he doesn't quite make a good husband. Unlike my sister.

She's the top female detective and a role model of feminine virtue.

- How come he is not a good husband? - Shut up.

Do you want anything? Leave me alone if you want to idle around.

Yeah. Who says I want to idle around?

I want to know how well it works with Cistanche instead of the deer antler.

Does it work? After all, it's just a cheap substitute.

If it won't do, let Mr. Jing get some from the neighboring county.

This is medicine for his Great Chief.

- He has to put in some effort. - Stop saying "his" Great Chief.

We're supporting you, okay?

You're training with us. And I'm forced to accept a substandard disciple.

Mr. Jing, I must inform you seriously.

I only want one master, which is Senior Clerk Yan Xing right here.

She's not taking me in

so I reluctantly accepted you as my master.

Speak properly. "Reluctantly accepted me as a master"?

- You started it. - You think I want you as a disciple?

- Speak properly. Make yourself clear. - Get out.

Substitute.

Meeting an old acquaintance on a foreign land,

a lonely man took a woman as a substitute.

Perhaps the romance that I've felt

was due to the fact that I was Xiuxiu's substitute.

Yan Liuniang. How do you have the time for this?

Liuniang.

You mean, Governor Mo has agreed to combine the cases

of the brides and the headless corpse.

Not completed. But he agreed that I could cross-check both corpses

after the initial checking by the coroner.

Combining the cases is possible.

Will you join me for the autopsy?

Alright, let's go now.

Sister, I'll get your toolbox.

Here you go, sister.

Let's go.

Be careful.

[Carrying the sunshine and auspicious energy]

Sister seems to have a lot to talk about with him.

Madam just finds you noisy.

- You're noisy. - You're noisier.

You're the noisy one.

Kid.

No. I can't let them talk.

Where are you going?

Kid.

Any thoughts on the characteristics of the killer?

Not much.

But the entire Yingzhou is abuzz with it.

Everyone speaks with certainty

that the killer is the Half-faced Demon widely known in Gannandao.

They say the Half-faced Demon

eats only one part of the human body at a time.

It does match the previous two cases.

There are many rumors about supernatural beings.

The common people are excused.

But you also believe in it as the top detective?

I don't believe in ghosts and deities.

I just have respect for the rumors.

No matter where these rumors originate from,

there must be a reason they're spread throughout the city.

Perhaps there is an expert behind it.

Or it reflects the local situation.

Do you still remember what the rumor says?

The Half-faced Demon attacks people when they're unconscious.

The victims wake up only to find themselves missing an arm or a leg.

Yeah, this is why we can't

get to the bottom of the cases regarding the Half-faced Demons.

First, there is no threat to life.

Second, everyone fears ghosts and deities.

The victims are terrified and dare not cooperate.

The matter ends up being dropped.

And these two bodies…

These two victims were both beheaded

or had their eyes gouged out alive and ended up dead.

Either the killer was not the Half-faced Demon

or the killer failed to imitate the demon properly.

Only you are brave enough to not fear

ghosts and deities and dare to join me in this muddy water.

What's there to respect about a murderer?

Be it a human or a ghost,

a murderer should pay the price.

Even if it's an evil ghost it should be up to us to judge in place of King Yama.

You…

What's wrong?

There are bruises on the body.

These are external injuries from falling into the cellar.

No internal injuries.

The cause of death is an instantly shattered heart.

The corpse has turned purple and shows signs of decay.

The shattered heart accelerated the decay of the body.

It must be a pile of sludge in his abdomen now.

The wounds are completely different from those on the headless body.

- They're more clean-cut. - Did you find anything?

I can't remember what kind of sharp weapon this is.

But it's definitely not the curved blade from the Western Regions.

It looks more like a customized one.

You mean the one that is used to gouge out eyes?

It's something like that.

But I'm not sure whether such a thing truly exists.

Brass knuckles.

There is such a thing?

This is a weapon worn on the fingers.

It's as sharp as swords and knives.

It's just that this weapon is too sinister.

Only those who practice mischievous arts would use it.

Someone used such a thing on a petty thug.

This is worth our attention.

In that case,

this is not directly related to the headless body.

But I have no idea why the murderer would kill the victim

and take away his eyes.

Take a look over here.

Something is not right.

Above the outer layer of skin,

there are some blue traces that are barely visible.

If you feel tired, go back to rest.

- Leave it to me. - I'm fine.

I just didn't rest well last night and I'm a bit unfocused.

Last night, you…

What's wrong with you today?

Did you get into a fight?

Great Chief is really protective.

She appears to be an ordinary young lady. But every time,

she puts aside all the dreadful smells and images

and immerse herself in the cases she's working on.

Yan Liuniang is truly a remarkable woman.

Mr. Pan.

You can space out in this morgue filled with foul odors.

I am truly impressed.

Space out?

What were you thinking? Any new thoughts on the corpse?

Not really.

It's just that I've never seen a woman who is both

careful and brave like you.

Seeing what you're doing, I truly admire you.

Keep it to yourself if you don't want to tell me.

There's no need for something so far-fetched.

Right.

Had anyone handled the body before we came here?

As far as I know, the body hasn't been processed.

Only some embalming fluid has been applied to the wounds.

Jing Lin, please fetch some embalming fluid.

What?

- I'll go. - You go then.

What is this?

People laugh at the moths flying to the flame, yet they don't know that mayflies

live at dawn and die at dusk, never entering samsara,

while moths survive the fire and await reincarnation.

It's the Huo'e Sect again.

The brother is unlike a brother. The human is unlike a human.

Disrespect of the Huo'e. Disaster comes from the sky.

T-This is cursed.

It's not cursed.

Someone is playing tricks.

How do you know about the embalming fluid?

My master once said that people of the Western Regions

would write with rice soup on sheepskin paper as secret letters.

Once it dries out, the writing turns invisible.

The recipient would then apply embalming fluid to the sheepskin paper.

The writing will turn blue and reappear.

I checked the skin around the neck and found blue traces.

So I tried it.

Rape, pillage, and plunder. Deserving to die.

Disrespect of the Huo'e. Disaster comes from the sky.

To preserve the body, the coroner

uses embalming fluid to moisten the wounds.

The murderer used rice soup that would react with the embalming fluid.

It means that

the murderer never intended to keep the writing a secret.

We can even say that

they want us to see it with our own eyes.

These people aren't scared of us

linking the Huo'e Sect to Half-faced Demon.

The accusation is more like a flaunt,

showing us that the Huo'e Sect has infiltrated

Gannandao much more than we imagined.

As we investigate the case, each and every move is under their surveillance.

Disrespect of the Huo'e.

Disaster comes from the sky.

Subtitiles and Timing provided to you by 🎶 The Copper Sparrow 🪶Team @viki.com

(song credit)

♫ One glance affirms the fate between us ♫

♫ Upon meeting again, I know you're the one for me ♫

♫ Gaze at the stars, dreaming about the old times ♫

♫ We are forever bound ♫

♫ Before the candlelight, do not ask my thoughts ♫

♫ Affection binds us, forever and ever ♫

♫ The evening breeze tells of my deep love ♫

♫ From now on, I have someone to cherish ♫

♫ With deep affection, you are the one for me ♫

♫ I share the autumn moon and spring breeze only with you ♫

♫ Your palm lines ♫

♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is deepening ♫

♫ With deep affection, you are the one for me ♫

♫ I share the autumn moon and spring breeze only with you ♫

♫ Your palm lines ♫

♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is deepening ♫

♫ You are the one for me ♫

♫ Embracing each other, how serious we are about our love ♫

♫ Every moment is treasured ♫

♫ From dawn to dusk ♫

♫ You and I, forever inseparable ♫

♫ You've stormed into my world ♫

♫ Growing immersed, I become reckless for love ♫

♫ I break through obstacles with unmatched resilience ♫

♫ Because you are my responsibility ♫

♫ With deep affection, you are the one for me ♫

♫ I share the autumn moon and spring breeze only with you ♫

♫ Your palm lines ♫

♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is deepening ♫

♫ With deep affection, you are the one for me ♫

♫ I share the autumn moon and spring breeze only with you ♫

♫ Your palm lines ♫

♫ Your gaze ♫

♫ Our love is deepening ♫

♫ You are the one for me ♫