01x10 - Episode 10

[bunniefuu]

Mast! Lay down the mast!

Hurry up and get the rope!

Bow and stern face the banks! Quick!

Thousands of homes are brightly lit,

and the doors to them are wide open.

This is East Capital.

New wine from Sunyang Restaurant!

Welcome to enjoy it!

​If you want to know what happens next,

wait until next time.

People from all over the world gather here,

and envoys from various countries come to communicate with the authorities.

[Riverside Code at Qingming Festival]

[Adapted from Ye Wenbiao's Novel Series of the Same Name]

[Episode 10]

[The interaction of yin and yang gives rise to all things. All things thrive,]

[and their transformations are endless. Zhou Dunyi, Northern Song]

What's going on?

I caught the Hat Demon!

How did you catch it?

Look, it... it's coming over!

It stopped moving.

Why did it stop moving?

Why isn't it moving?

It's completely still.

How can she pick it up with her hands?

She's got some nerve.

It's real human hair.

There's blood on it.

I'm not sure if it's human or animal blood.

It smells awful.

Mo,

do you know

how the Hat Demon can fly?

There's gunpowder inside.

It's said that during the reign of the founding emperor,

a military officer once added gunpowder

to crossbow arrows.

It made the arrows fly faster.

I didn't expect you

to be not only handsome

but also so knowledgeable.

Thank you for the compliment, Lady Zhang.

My brother has been diligent since childhood.

He's still young.

Since we have understood the principles,

I believe

that I'll catch the culprit soon.

Perhaps, Lady Zhang, you should return home

and wait for my news.

Going back is too boring.

Your whole family is delightful.

So interesting.

You're just my kind of people.

It's just a pity

that our house

is too small

to accommodate such an esteemed guest like you.

It's fine.

I'll just squeeze in with you two.

I replaced the bed in your room

with a new one.

You don't mind, do you?

No...

Lady Zhang, if you're really

so casual about it,

come inside with me.

Sure.

Zhao Buyou,

come in.

Shall I come in?

The space is a bit small,

but make yourselves comfortable.

Where is the original furniture in this room?

I had the servants

move all that old junk to the back gate.

Wen Yue.

You stay here.

Buyou, your wife is really strict with you.

Yue always has the final say with you.

I'm so envious.

Lady Zhang,

please stay out of our private matters.

Don't meddle in our affairs,

all right?

Once Yue comes back,

let's have a proper chat:

how are

the three of us supposed to sleep on it tonight?

Come on,

maybe the two of us shall squeeze in first.

You...

You've got some nerve.

Someone hired me to k*ll you.

This is the bounty.

The deadline is in two days.

Just as I suspected.

How much did he offer you?

I'll pay you ten times that.

I never planned

to take this money.

Then what do you want?

I want to find out who sent the order.

That person must be connected to the Hat Demon case.

Plenty of people want me dead.

How will you find them?

Do you have a lead?

No.

But I've made up my mind.

I'll be your bodyguard.

That won't do.

Don't interrupt.

They sent you to k*ll me,

but you're here to protect me instead?

Like I said,

I only want to find the person who sent the order.

So,

you want to use me as bait.

What if you suddenly change your mind

and decide to k*ll me while you're close?

Wouldn't that be even easier?

My wife isn't that kind of person.

Quiet.

I already said I don't want the money.

Lady Zhang,

sometimes,

a woman's promise

is more reliable than a man's.

Don't you think?

What about the Hat Demon case?

My husband will continue investigating.

He'll catch the culprit.

You two split the work, one inside, one outside.

Seems like I have no better option.

Besides,

if I keep you around,

Buyou

will surely put in the effort.

So we're even.

I use you as bait,

and you use me as leverage.

Deal?

Deal.

Did you hear that clearly?

I heard it clearly.

Deal.

Well then,

it's getting late...

I'm tired.

I'll sleep here tonight.

How are the three of us supposed to sleep on it?

This bed is so small.

How can it fit three people?

Yue, are you still awake?

I knew you weren't asleep.

Tell me,

as a woman like you,

married into this kind of family,

how do you live like this?

I live just fine.

Whether a woman is happy or not isn't about what she says.

It's like they say:

you alone know if the water you drink

is warm or cold...

Dry weather, be careful with fire!

Dry weather, be careful with fire!

It's not even dawn yet,

and you're already up cooking?

My wife is going out today,

so I wanted to make her something nice.

Aren't there servants here?

Let them do it.

Why bother doing it yourself?

My wife cooks for me every day.

This water is so cold.

No wonder your wife's hands

are so rough.

My wife's hands

used to be beautiful too.

But after marrying me,

with my younger siblings still small

and me being useless,

she worked day and night in the umbrella shop

just to help make ends meet.

The bamboo needles

pierced her hands over and over.

Then my father's health got worse,

and his mind grew weaker.

My wife

even had to wash his clothes.

In the winter,

the water was freezing cold.

She wouldn't spend money on hand balm,

taking on all the dirty and heavy work herself.

So what if her hands are rough?

Even if they are,

I still love holding them.

I want to hold her hands for a lifetime.

I once did all these things for someone too.

But in the end,

he sold me out.

I haven't slept this well in a long time.

Buyou,

I'll take Yue with me now.

Wen Yue,

be careful with everything.

Don't worry.

You two,

listen to your elder brother

and take good care of father.

Do you two have time?

No.

I want you to help me

with the Hat Demon case.

Sure!

[Day Four after Taking the Task]

I'm not someone you can just arrest at will.

Inspector Gu,

what's so urgent that you need me?

Hurry and find the key!

Before Kang Qian died,

someone was drinking with him.

That person

has been brought back.

Quickly!

Who is it?

Let me go!

Commander Tao, who locked you in here?

Hurry up!

Find the key!

I'm looking.

Commander Tao,

who locked you in here?

If I find that brat,

I'll send him to your house

so you can interrogate him yourself.

- Find the key! - I'm looking for the key.

Where could the key have gone?

Stop talking and search!

- I'm on it. - I won't let you off so easily!

Boss.

Your Excellency!

What's going on?

What are you doing here?

Mr. Zhao.

Inspector Gu.

They're treating me like a criminal.

You've had a hard time.

- Please sit down. - They're treating me like a criminal.

What kind of nobleman am I now?

We at Kaifeng Court are just doing our job.

I never expected

they'd bring you in.

Oh...

- Hurry up! - What's the meaning of this?

Find the key quickly

and bring it here!

- Got it! - The key is on its way.

The key isn't here yet.

Please sit for a moment.

Let's have a chat.

It's all because of that wretched Kang Qian.

Ever since he died,

I've been scared out of my wits.

Kang Qian was drinking with you,

so how did he...

how did he suddenly die?

Inspector Gu,

Commander Tao is one of us.

The way you're asking

makes it sound like he's a suspect.

I...

I didn't mean that.

How could I have k*lled Kang Qian?

The two of us

were just having a drink.

Still drinking?

You'll ruin your health with that habit!

I... I only have this one little vice.

Your vice

is far from little.

Mr. Zhao, you understand me best.

Mr. Gu is one of us.

He won't make this hard for you.

Just tell us what you know.

Once we're done, it's just routine,

and you'll be free to go. Sound good?

Really?

Kang Qian and I have known each other for years.

Usually,

he holds his liquor pretty well.

But this time,

he had just a little to drink

and started feeling sick.

In a hurry,

he ran straight to the bathroom.

You all know what happened after that.

It was absolutely terrifying.

Did Kang Qian

have any enemies?

What do you think?

With all the things he and Zhang Qiniang did,

how could he not?

What exactly did Zhang Qiniang do?

Speak up.

In East Capital,

she bought and sold land and properties

using some despicable tricks.

The Hat Demon

was entirely

Kang Qian's creation to scare people!

Tell me more about it.

This all started

five years ago.

Back then, rumors of the Hat Demon

spread like wildfire

throughout the capital.

Naturally, our Imperial Guards kept an eye on it.

That Hat Demon

didn't cause chaos anywhere else.

It only caused a fuss around Yanglou Street.

Because of it, property values

on the entire street dropped.

Then

Zhang Qiniang showed up.

In one swoop,

she bought up most of the street.

Not long after that,

there was news

- that they'd build - Write down everything he said.

a garden for some noble on this street.

And what happened?

The Hat Demon suddenly disappeared.

Property prices

skyrocketed overnight.

Buying low, selling high,

how much do you think the Zhangs made?

What a scheme!

So what you're saying is

there was never a Hat Demon case.

They spread the rumors themselves

to scare the commoners,

drive down the prices,

and then profit by flipping the land.

Since you knew,

why didn't the Imperial Guards stop it?

Stop it?

How could we?

Do you know who backs Zhang Qiniang?

That person

could move mountains!

Who could dare interfere?

To think that a rumor

from five years ago

has turned into reality today.

And now,

Kang Qian actually died at the hands of the Hat Demon.

I guess that's karma.

These people

are really monsters!

- Inspector Gu, Zhao Buyou! - What happened five years ago

and what's happening now

- Let me go! - must be connected.

Let's head to Kang Qian's house now.

But Kang Qian just died,

and only his wife remains at home.

It's not appropriate for two men to go.

Let's bring Zhao Ban with us.

All right.

I... I didn't k*ll anyone.

Yes.

Of course not.

Your Excellency!

Did you find the key?

We found it.

Quickly!

Let me out of here!

We have a key,

but it's in the prison.

We can't get it.

Come on! Carry Commander Tao into the cell!

- I... - Yes, sir!

I...

I'm not going into the cell!

I... I won't go!

- Don't worry... - I won't go into the cell!

- We'll free you there. - I won't go in there!

- You'll be free there! - I won't go!

[Memorial Tablet of the Late Husband, Kang Qian]

[Chun Xi, Kang Qian's Wife]

Mrs. Kang,

may I ask where you were when your husband

had his accident yesterday?

I was at home.

My late husband valued propriety.

I rarely leave the house.

Did someone inform you?

Last night,

someone suddenly ran in and told me

that my husband had an accident.

He was just going out to drink,

but I never expected the Hat Demon...

Officers,

my husband died such an unjust death.

Please, sirs, seek justice for him.

Mrs. Kang,

please get up.

Ban.

I'll help you up.

What's wrong?

It's nothing.

Mrs. Kang,

would you mind if we looked around the house?

So many powders and cosmetics here.

Mrs. Kang,

may I take a look at these?

This is a new kind of facial balm.

Yours is much better than mine.

These things aren't mine.

They belonged to my late husband.

Ban.

This is the first time I've seen

such a large bronze mirror in someone's home.

This bronze mirror

was also custom-made by my husband.

It seems that Kang Qian, in life,

paid a lot of attention to his appearance.

My late husband worked for the Zhangs.

The Zhang household has a rule:

everyone in the manor

had to appear pleasing

to Zhang Qiniang.

Otherwise, they would be punished.

Over time,

my husband became obsessed with his appearance.

Whether he was going to the Zhangs' estate,

meeting guests, or going out,

he would dress himself up carefully.

I see.

What about the room over there?

What is it used for?

It's the bathing room.

This is...

Fourfold Noble Incense.

Mrs. Kang,

we won't trouble you any further.

Buyou!

Dear guests,

I rarely leave the house,

so I won't see you off too far.

Please stop here, Mrs. Kang.

Buyou, I'm heading back.

All right.

Inspector Gu,

I'll head to the autopsy room now.

Ban,

if you discover anything,

have Yao He report to me immediately.

Got it.

Don't eat anything in the autopsy room!

If Ban

gets promoted,

will she report to you directly?

Yes.

How much is the monthly salary?

Aren't you asking a bit too much?

What are you looking at?

Someone is watching us.

Let's go have some tea.

Madam,

do you have good tea?

Ah, two esteemed officers!

Please sit.

Yes,

we have fine tea.

Madam,

do you know the Kang family?

Of course I do.

We're all neighbors.

Does Mrs. Kang of the Kang family

rarely ever leave the house?

Yes.

Mr. Kang

was working in a wealthy household.

He was always so polite.

His wife, Mrs. Kang, too,

whenever she stepped out,

she always covered her face with a fan,

so dignified.

Such a pity.

It truly is.

Madam,

are you burning incense here?

Yes,

it's lit inside.

This incense smells nice.

And the burner is exquisite.

Is this incense

the Fourfold Noble Incense?

Yes,

how do you know that?

This is...

Fourfold Noble Incense.

That's the same incense as the one at Kang's house.

This incense isn't cheap.

A single tael of Fourfold Noble Incense

costs more

than your tea stall earns in a month.

That expensive?

Where did you get it?

Officers,

don't misunderstand.

It was given to me by Mr. Kang.

Why would he give you incense?

He didn't just give it to me.

Mr. Kang

was a generous man.

He often gave us neighbors

fancy food

and new trinkets.

The Kang Qian we knew

wasn't so generous.

Did he ask you for any favors?

His wife is beautiful

and often home alone.

Mr. Kang

was afraid the street th*gs

would disturb her.

Anyone visiting his house

was watched closely by us.

So were there often strangers

visiting the Kang household?

No!

Mrs. Kang

always hired a few

regular errand boys

for her shopping.

She's very proper.

However,

just earlier,

I saw three strangers,

two men and a woman,

go inside.

That was us.

You'd better keep a close eye on things.

Now then,

let me serve you some tea.

- All right. - I'll bring you the finest tea.

She's hiding something.

Which "she" are you talking about?

I'm talking about...

Mrs. Kang.

Exactly.

I meant Mrs. Kang too.

Why do you think she's hiding something?

Just a feeling.

What about you?

Just now,

there was a burn mark on her arm.

Did you notice?

It was caused by a branding iron.

When Ban helped her up,

her upper arm, back...

her whole body was in pain.

This proves that the branding iron burns

are not just that one.

Who do you think

would use a branding iron

to burn a woman like that?

If the shopkeeper was right,

and Kang Qian

was very particular about his wife's going out,

then it could only be him.

Exactly.

Anyone who works for Zhang Qiniang

is bound to have issues of their own.

Judging by these burn marks,

Kang Qian abusing his wife

is undeniable.

That being the case,

Mrs. Kang now has a motive for m*rder.

However,

the Hat Demon case

couldn't have been planned by her alone.

That's right.

Here's what we'll do.

Send someone immediately

to keep an eye on Chun Xi day and night.

Watch who she associates with.

How do you know

I don't already have people

watching her?

The tea is here!

Here, sirs,

please enjoy.

This is Seven-Treasure Tea.

Seven-Treasure?

Good tea!

It's definitely poison.

Can you identify what kind?

I examined

the food, drink, and dishes

last used by Kang Qian and Commander Tao.

None of it was poisoned.

No poison?

Then how was the poison administered?

What is it?

Lip rouge.

It's definitely lip rouge.

Lip rouge?

So many powders and cosmetics here.

Kang Qian's dressing table had everything.

But there was no lip rouge.

Yet he had lip rouge on his lips.

This means...

It means someone deliberately

took the lip rouge from his table.

The lip rouge was poisoned.

I've figured it out.

Before Kang Qian entered the restaurant,

his lips were already painted with lip rouge.

But as long as he didn't eat or drink,

the poison wouldn't enter his body.

When he drank wine,

the poison from the lip rouge mixed with the wine,

entered his mouth,

and triggered the poisoning.

And the poisoned lip rouge

was hidden afterward.

Whoever managed all this

could only be...

Upon further investigation,

these three errand boys

regularly do shopping for Chun Xi.

Aside from them,

Chun Xi rarely goes out

or interacts with anyone else.

Speak up.

What are your names, and how old are you?

Answer!

I'm Zhang Siwu.

I just turned 14 last month.

I'm Yan Shun,

also 14.

I'm Chen Xiaoyi.

I'm 15 this year.

I have checked the household registry.

They're all classified as child laborers.

The first two are residential workers,

and the last one, Chen Xiaoyi,

is a transient worker.

Recently,

what have you bought for the Kang family,

and when did you buy it?

Speak!

Speak up!

- I... - I what? Just say it!

Just tell the officer

what you told me!

He won't eat you!

Boss,

they're terrified

because they heard this incident

is related to the Hat Demon case.

They're scared out of their wits.

Being able to state their names

and ages clearly

is already quite something.

However,

I've already prepared the deposition.

It's three pages in total.

Here,

one,

two,

three.

Show it to him.

Did you manage

to get all their purchases

from the past year clear?

From the past three months.

I figured it out within half a day.

Get to the point.

Right, I'm getting to it.

I checked every single item on the list.

Get to the point.

There's no poison.

Zhao Buyou.

See anything unusual?

The records confirm there was no poison.

So the poisoner must be someone else.

Wan Fu,

these three errand boys are innocent.

Release them.

Zhao Buyou.

- You're ordering me to release them? - Release them.

Get lost!

Take your things.

Leave, hurry up!

Zhao Buyou.

Which one do you suspect?

Xiaoyi.

Wan Fu.

Have someone tail those three errand boys.

Focus on Xiaoyi.

Are you sure about this?

I'm almost certain.

Fine.

Alright.

Alright.

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

This is the blade

I used in battle before.

No wonder. It feels different.

Is it heavy?

It's pretty heavy.

I mean, does it have a heavy scent of blood?

It's a fine blade.

Why him?

You mean Chen Xiaoyi?

Yes.

This is Chun Xi's purchase list

for the past three months.

Besides everyday necessities,

it includes

some burn ointments

and injury treatments.

Kang Qian abusing her.

It's no surprise she bought these.

Among those errands,

there's only one person

she always trusted to buy her medicine.

It shows Chun Xi trusted him.

You could say that.

Sit.

So you're saying

Chen Xiaoyi was responsible

because if Chen Xiaoyi

bought the poison for her

but didn't leave a record,

it's possible.

That's possible.

But to plan

a m*rder using the Hat Demon,

she couldn't

have done it alone.

She must have an accomplice outside.

So my guess is

Chen Xiaoyi is the key.

Boss!

You're still here?

Boss,

Just as I suspected.

Guess which of those three errand boys

has a problem?

Isn't it...

Isn't it Chen Xiaoyi?

Exactly, it's Chen Xiaoyi!

I followed all three of them.

The other two errand boys

took any job offered.

But Chen Xiaoyi

wouldn't take any job.

Even when they offered more money, he refused.

That's when I knew something was off.

So I kept following him.

And then?

Where did he go?

He went home.

What?

Inspector Gu,

I'll go take a look.

Much obliged.

Judge Wan,

why do you think

only Chen Xiaoyi among the three

is suspicious?

Isn't it what you said?

I just don't like him.

Fair enough.

Were you busy making money?

How many errands did you run yesterday?

Only ten.

Ten? What about you?

Not many,

but today's better.

All right, I'll head out too.

You...

Oh, it's you, sir!

Xiaoyi.

I just

happened to pass by.

I'm a bit thirsty.

Would you mind if I ask for a bowl of water?

Of course not. Have a seat.

It's pretty simple here.

Please don't mind.

It's fine.

It's actually quite pleasant.

Thank you for helping me out earlier.

We common folks get nervous

when we see officials.

We can't even talk straight.

Xiaoyi!

Bo.

I heard Kaifeng Court took you away.

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

See? Perfectly well.

Thanks to this sir. He helped me out.

Thank you.

Mr. Zhao!

You are?

I'm Sun Bo.

Sun Bo?

Do you know each other?

I used to be classmates with Mr. Zhao's brother,

Zhao Mo.

It's been so many years since we last met.

You're doing errands too?

I've got no skills,

just trying to make a living.

You're not right.

This is a skill.

Mr. Zhao,

I heard from them

that you solved the case

and cleared my name.

Thank you.

It was nothing.

Since we're here by chance,

I'll prepare some food.

Let's sit down and have a good chat!

I'll pass.

Mr. Zhao, I haven't finished my delivery yet.

I need to get going.

I'll visit you another day.

All right.

Come to my home sometime.

Sure!

All right.

Bo, take it slow.

Mr. Zhao, please sit.

It's such a coincidence that you two live together.

You wouldn't know.

When I first came to East Capital,

I had nowhere to stay and no work.

If Bo hadn't taken me in,

I don't know where I'd be now.

You've already looked around

every inch of my place, haven't you?

So,

what do you think of my house?

The house is too big

with too many vulnerabilities.

Any assassin

could find seven or eight ways to get in.

Then I really did find the right person.

So stop running around.

A personal bodyguard

is supposed to stick close to me.

Don't take a single step away from me.

The deadline to k*ll you hasn't come yet.

Other than me,

no one else should come after you.

Don't forget about that Hat Demon.

If Buyou

fails to uncover the Hat Demon,

it's still uncertain who will make the first move

between us in the end.

Then you can try me.

Mrs.,

I was just joking with you.

Look at you,

always so serious.

Since there's nothing to do,

how about I help you dress up?

No, thank you.

I don't like heavy makeup.

So Buyou prefers

someone as plain as a chrysanthemum?

I've never thought about what he likes in me.

This is just who I am.

Which man doesn't love beauty?

Buyou once said

his feelings for you turned from love to fear.

But where did that love come from?

It must have been your beauty that captivated him at first.

If you had ever been truly loved,

you wouldn't say such things.

With my looks,

my figure,

and my status,

how could no one admire me?

I just don't want to be loved by one person.

I want to be loved by many, many people.

Loved by so many...

aren't you tired?

It's like when I already have plenty of money,

but I still want

more and more money.

No matter how much I have, it's never enough.

You're so greedy.

Is greed a crime?

Greed isn't a crime.

But greedy people are greedy

because they always want

what they can never have.

[The Academy of Painting]

Mr. Zhao,

did you come here

to see my paintings?

These are scenes I recently painted

while traveling around East Capital.

They're truly breathtaking.

The streets you painted

look exactly like what I see every day.

All things in the streets change in an instant.

If you want to capture them,

you must work diligently

and you have to paint with care.

Good.

I need to borrow one of your paintings

to find someone.

Are you solving a case again?

Have you found the culprit behind the Hat Demon case?

Not yet.

I've been around Yanglou Street lately,

chasing that Hat Demon.

Whenever the Hat Demon appears,

I draw it.

You've drawn it all?

Look.

When was this painting done?

It was the day we saw it

before the demon hunt event.

Yes.

That's where we met.

This is Kang Qian's house.

So the person standing behind that door must be Mrs. Kang.

You even captured the plum blossom fan

in her hand.

Mr. Zhang,

do you remember

who was visiting

when Mrs. Kang opened the door?

No one visited.

I remember very clearly.

The Hat Demon was causing chaos at the time.

Everyone looked up at the Hat Demon,

except for this errand boy and Chun Xi.

They were staring into each other's eyes.

That's true.

They were the only two who didn't look up.

Mr. Zhang,

why does the food box

held by that errand boy have an extra mark?

Mr. Zhao,

that's the red knot on the food box.

A red knot?

I've got no skills,

just trying to make a living.

I know who it is.

[Fashion in Song Dynasty]

[Song Dynastypedia]

[The Legal Profession in the Song Dynasty Was Far Ahead of Its Time]

[Narrator: Zhang Yao]

[Litigation]
Do you know why my brother

changed careers to become a litigation master in the drama?

During the Song Dynasty,

[Litigation Guild]

with the rapid development of the commercial economy,

people's awareness of protecting their rights grew,

and so did the demand for litigation support.

[Litigation]

Litigation masters, similar to modern lawyers,

mainly provided judicial assistance

to ordinary people,

such as writing legal documents and participating in lawsuits.

[Familiar with Legal Codes]
They needed to know legal codes,

[Understanding Legal Procedures]
the procedures of lawsuits,

[Having Excellent Writing Skills]
and have excellent writing skills.

They could also earn a living from it.

So, it was perfect for my brother, who is under pressure to buy a house.

And the person Wen Yue took Buyou to meet

was the head of the guild.

Internally, he oversees the whole guild,

[Assisting with Hiring]
assists with hiring,

[Negotiating Prices]
negotiates prices,

[Connecting Trades]
and connects trades.

Externally, he can represent the guild

in negotiations with other professions and the government.

[Litigation]

Now, do you understand the inner workings?

♪Had it not been for the auspicious sign, who would stir such resentment?♪

♪Granting both glory and ruin, riches and poverty alike♪

♪How could one defy the heavens beneath a conical hat?♪

♪Who would carry a satchel and make a wish?♪

♪As bonds shatter, the plot unfurls, and the dagger emerges♪

♪The chill pierces to the bone, suffering without cause♪

♪It cannot be severed, yet remains entangled♪

♪Not whole, nor complete♪

♪Looking up, the flowers bloom, but the moon wanes♪

♪The one I loved most has gone, never to return♪

♪Neither seen, nor scattered♪

♪If I linger between close and distant, I accept it willingly♪

♪Could it be you?♪

♪The one who once roused me, yet left things unresolved♪