01x23 - Episode 23

[bunniefuu]

♫ The falling snow ♫

♫ Is bitter cold ♫

♫ My sigh ♫

♫ Misted the path in front of me ♫

♫ The moonlight knows my intention ♫

♫ I just want to make a place for me
in your heart ♫

♫ I laugh and I cry ♫

♫ Quietly building a pond in my heart ♫

♫ I accept all the gifts from sorrow ♫

♫ I can't let down my regrets ♫

♫ I won't admit defeat ♫

♫ I slowly chew
on the bitterness of life ♫

♫ The fragrance remains the same
after the bleak winter ♫

♫ Awaiting spring
to color the way back home ♫

[The Double]

[Episode 23]

His Majesty's edict is here!

His Majesty's orders.

Jiang Li's case of freeing a prisoner
and Xue Huaiyuan's corruption case

will be trialed together
at the Court of Judicial Review.

Duke Su will be appointed
as the imperial commissioner

to judge the case on behalf of His Majesty.

Ten days later, the case
will be presented before His Majesty.

His Majesty will judge the case.

Long live His Majesty!

Old Madam, don't worry.

Have some pear soup.

My dear,

was it going well?

- What did His Majesty say?
- His Majesty wouldn't meet me at all.

That's...

What did His Majesty mean?

His Majesty is forcing me
to avoid arousing suspicions.

Don't worry too much, my dear.

Tomorrow, I'll enter the palace
to ask Consort Li about it.

I'm sorry to trouble you
for running around because of this.

What are you saying?

Although I'm just a homemaker,
I know what's at stake.

This is not only about Li's life,
but also the Jiang family's reputation.

I will never stand by.

It's great for you to think that.

It's pitiful that Li is locked up
at the Court of Judicial Review,

which will also ruin
the Jiang family's reputation.

I've also heard some rumors even staying here.

They said the children of the Jiang family are
no longer pure after they've been locked up.

Even the Jiang family won't be innocent.

Mother. It's not that I don't want
to save her, but she is really...

That's...

We are not completely helpless in this case.

What do you mean?

Previously, there was a rule
of the ya men in the capital.

If a woman commits a crime, as long as
she doesn't k*ll her husband or children,

she can be taken care of back home
by her husband or family members

and await for her summon.

The Court of Judicial Review might be great,

but it is still a ya men
in the capital after all.

Since Li is not married, she can be
taken care of by us at Jiang's Residence.

Good.

I'll write to the Chief Minister
of the Court of Judicial Review.

There's no need for you to write.

You've worked hard and long
to deal with the Dingzhou issue.

It's better, for the women of the
Jiang family to do something like this.

You mean...

Don't worry. I will bring Li back.

[Court of Judicial Review]

You've been reminding me
to stay calm over and over again,

but I still failed to do so.

I guessed it,
but I didn't guess you'd be so pitiful.

Aren't you a particular person?

Don't you find this place dirty?

I'm tired, so I'll be resting here.

I heard you've been appointed
to supervise the trial.

But you haven't asked anything about the case.

Aren't you afraid
that His Majesty will punish you?

You've been asking me questions
since I came inside.

Aren't you tired?

Yes.

I'm quite tired.

The Dengwen Drum was struck,
and His Majesty is going to judge himself.

You are forcing them to back you into a corner.

You've tried too hard.

It's not my first time doing this.

No need to do that this time.

Duke Su, do you know anyone
who died because of injustice?

Father, wake up!

Father!

Father!

Wake up, Father!

If you were given an opportunity,

would you strike the Dengwen Drum
at the Chang'an Gate for them?

♫ The falling snow is bitter cold ♫

♫ My sigh misted the path in front of me ♫

♫ The moonlight knows my intention ♫

♫ I just want to make a place for me
in your heart ♫

♫ The snow falls eternally ♫

♫ Who can escape
the humiliation of time? ♫

I think you would.

Enough.

The trial is over.

- That's all?
- Yes.

Haven't you said all you need to say?

I'll be leaving.

Rest well.

♫ Quietly building a pond in my heart ♫

♫ I accept all the gifts from sorrow ♫

♫ I can't let down my regrets ♫

♫ I won't admit defeat ♫

♫ I slowly chew
on the bitterness of life ♫

♫ The fragrance remains the same
after the bleak winter ♫

♫ Awaiting spring
to color the way back home ♫

This is not a place where you should come.

As the wife of the Secretariat Director,
it's not right for you to show yourself here.

Don't restrict me with these words.

I've been managing the Jiang's residence
for more than a decade.

Although I can't see most things in the ya men,
I still heard about many things.

Now that you have my daughter here,

do you think it's unreasonable
for me to ask about her?

If you just want to see the criminal,
I can help you with that.

However, you are here to take her away.

Forgive me for not allowing that.

I just want to ask you two questions.

First. Do you follow the
law of the Great Yan?

Naturally.

Second. When a woman commits a crime,

as long as she doesn't
m*rder her husband or children,

she can be taken home to be taken care of
by her husband or family members

while waiting to be summoned before the trial.

Is this one of the laws of the Great Yan?

Well...

Yes.

In that case,
why can't I set foot in this place?

I came here today because I
insisted on picking up my daughter.

I want to see who dares stop me.

Someone!

Yes.

- Bring Second Lady Jiang here.
- Yes.

I'll be waiting here then.

Duke Su.

What is it?

The Chief Minister
of the Court of Judicial Review

asked us to hand over the criminal
to be taken care of by her family.

We are here to take her out.

Mr. Zhou, she's here.

Mrs. Jiang.
According to the law of the Great Yan,

she will be handed over
to the Jiang family to be taken care of.

If she goes missing or is hidden,
you will be punished.

Thank you, Mr. Zhou.

Don't move.

Just leave with me.

Mother, why are you here?

I don't know why you insisted
on overturning the magistrate's case

after you returned to Luyang,

but I know your father has grown
a lot of grey hair because of you.

You let your father and the Jiang family down.

As your mother, I can't ignore your father,
and the honor of the Jiang family.

When you return to the Jiang family, you
can explain it to your father and Old Madam.

You are right, Mother.

Grandmother, I have returned.

Good.

Sit.

Do you know why your father
isn't going to meet you?

I'm sure Father was very worried
about me regarding the Dingzhou issue.

I caused such a big trouble.

I'm sure Father is angry at me.

You are not related
to the magistrate from the Xue family.

Why would you get yourself involved
in such a case?

You even brought so many folks
back to the capital, and risked your life

together with the future of the Jiang family.

Magistrate Xue's daughter, Xue Fangfei.

She was my savior.

When I was in Zhennyu Hall, I was mistreated
by the Chief and almost lost my life.

It was Xue Fangfei who saved me.

Something like that happened?

I went to Luyang not only to visit my
relatives, but also to meet my savior.

However, she passed away at a young age.

Her father was in danger
and I couldn't ignore him.

Li, I won't stop you if you want
to repay a debt of kindness,

but did you have to do that this way?

I know.

I am a part of the Jiang family.

Every move I make will affect the Jiang family.

So, it wasn't my intention to act recklessly.

I only wanted to go to Huaixiang
to meet my savior at first.

After I arrived at Huaixiang, I accidentally
discovered that the new magistrate

was lawless and exploited the people.

You didn't see it.

Huaixiang was a prosperous place,

but it fell to a state where people
dared not step out during the day.

It was very sad.

Grandmother, you told me about
the family rules set by Grandfather.

Protect justice and righteousness
instead of being greedy for temporary fame.

It was exactly
because I am a part of the Jiang family

that I couldn't ignore the people
who were aggrieved and suffering.

I'm very happy to see you have such integrity.

However, you could tell your father,
and let him handle this.

You don't need to put yourself in danger
again and again.

I had no choice.

The new Huaixiang magistrate I told you
about just now colluded with the Li family.

What?

In the Soochow Brocade incident
of the Ye family in Luyang,

someone purposely poisoned the cloths
to frame the Ye family.

I wrote a letter to inform Father about that.

I also found clues in Luyang.

The Li family is most probably
the mastermind behind this.

Are you going to overturn the case next?

Since ancient times,
there have been countless wronged cases.

Only a few could be overturned.

If you help a death row prisoner escape, and
can't overturn the case, you'll be ex*cuted.

Grandmother, I've gotten
Xue Huaiyuan's case dossier.

The case is a mess and full of flaws.

Besides, if Magistrate Xue is guilty,

there won't be so many people entering the
capital with me to bring this to His Majesty.

The new magistrate supported by the Li family
bullies the people and is nefarious.

The people hate him.

I'll tell your father about this.

Thank you, Grandmother.

What?

The magistrate of Huaixiang
really works for the Li family?

Exactly.

The Li family and the Jiang family
never see eye to eye.

Over the years, the Li family
has been nurturing its faction.

Meanwhile, the Jiang family
is not as powerful as it used to be.

I'm sure you know this better than anyone else.

The Li family has made their move now.

Are we going to turn a blind eye to it?

No wonder Li Zhongnan
wrote the memorial himself.

He wanted Jiang Li dead.

You've finally understood.

If Xue Huaiyuan's case can be overturned,
it'd be a setback to the Li family indeed.

However, Li Zhongnan
will also have a grudge against us.

When he gets an opportunity in the future,

he will take revenge
on the Jiang family like crazy.

If you don't do anything,
will the Li family stop hating us?

They started the whole thing,
and they've even harmed the Ye family.

The Ye family is our in-laws.

If we don't do anything,
how will the people view the Jiang family?

Although Li does things with her passion alone

and seemed reckless
in hitting the Dengwen Drum,

His Majesty said
he would judge the case himself.

That means His Majesty also thought there
was something fishy about Xue Huaiyuan's case.

Doesn't that give us a chance to counter?

Shuran has brought Li back now.

We have nothing to be afraid of.

Since it has come to this, we should
help Li and make the Li family pay.

Did you miss out?

What do you mean?

I thought you came back late because
you went to the Court of Judicial Review

to see Jiang Li who looks
the same as your late wife.

Hold it!

You are so boring.

You can't be teased at all.

Help me take a look,
and see which outfit makes me look better.

Help me take a look.

Which outfit makes me look better?

All bright colors suit you.

Don't you prefer plain colors?

That's because I'm lowly.

All right.

I'll choose the red outfit.

I'll wear it to meet Second Lady Jiang.

Your Highness, why are you
going to the trial tomorrow?

To rub salt into the wound, of course.

I hope you don't start a fire,
and end up burning yourself.

Shen Yurong,
I've tolerated you for a long time.

Your Highness, please turn around.

I'll help you tidy your sleeves.

I've always wanted to know
that if given another chance,

would you bury Xue Fangfei or k*ll me?

I'd rather die in Your Highness' hands.

[Taiji Hall]

Second Lady Jiang.

Why isn't Jiang Yuanbai here with you?

So you've gotten used to the prison
in the Court of Judicial Review.

You've become brave now.

I'm sure you are Grand Chancellor Li.

Thanks for your concern,
I've been released from the prison.

The Secretariat Director
has always been a steady man.

I didn't expect her daughter to be courageous.

Now that you've become capable,
it's really surprising.

I'm flattered, Grand Chancellor Li.

It seems like you're confident.

Are you sure they will find out about me today?

That's why you don't feel scared at all?

What are you thinking?

Are you thinking about how I know about this?

Let me tell you this, Second Lady Jiang.

There's nothing in this world
that I don't know of.

You are too naive if you plan
to play tricks in front of me.

Even your father dares not do that,
but a young girl like you acts so greedily.

Are you not afraid that you might
die a terrible death in the end?

Are you telling me to leave you a way out,
and not back you into a corner?

Second Lady Jiang, you are really brave.

You are so much better
than the two incapable sons of mine.

I just wonder how long
can you keep your bravery up.

After today's ruling by His Majesty,

I'm afraid Jiang Yuanbai
will have no choice but to abandon you.

Grand Chancellor Li.

Duke Su, you are early as well.

I was standing far away
and couldn't hear you clearly.

What were you saying
to educate Second Lady Jiang?

She even said something
about leaving you a way out.

I was rude.

Miss Jiang, what you said
comes from the Art of w*r.

It's aggressive.

If you meet someone old
like Grand Chancellor Li in the future,

you must speak cautiously.

Understood.

Duke Su, you sure take good care of her.

Not really.

I'm just better at teaching others than you,
Grand Chancellor Li.

We still don't know the results
of today's trial.

Second Lady Jiang is confident now.

I hope she can still smile the way
she does now when the trial is over.

If you will excuse me.

Duke Su, thanks for helping me
get off the hook again.

That was not a hook for you.

However, at least, I can see
that Li Zhongnan comes prepared.

In that case, I have to tell
you something in advance.

Relax.

I'm not planning to hand you
over to the opponent yet.

If that's the case, I'll need to offer
my gift to express my gratitude.

I've been trapped at home recently.

The handkerchief you asked me to sew is done.

You have great embroidery skills.

My embroidery skills cannot be compared
to the one who sewed your handkerchief.

I didn't even dare sew it at first

because I was afraid
I would ruin the work of the deceased.

You've learned about my background?

Duke Su, your father, General Xiao,
was a famous general of our kingdom.

He was a soldier his whole life.

The whole country knows that.

Madam Yu and he were deeply in love.

She was also a woman to be respected.

What about your father?

What about me?

Grand Chancellor Jiang.

Grand Chancellor Jiang, I'm sure
you work hard, and love the people.

I have something to say to my daughter.

Father.

- You've suffered.
- I thought you would never forgive me.

You are my daughter after all.

Your grandmother told me all of your thoughts.

Don't be scared later.

Just say anything on your mind.

I have your back.

Thank you, Father.

His Majesty is here!

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Everyone, stand up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Regarding the magistrate of Huaixiang,
Xue Huaiyuan's corruption case,

it was judged by the prefecture ya men,

and the dossier was handed to
the Ministry of Justice to be closed.

Due to the people of Huaixiang doubting
the result of the case, and appealing for him,

His Majesty cares for the people
and ordered the Ministry of Justice

to hand it to the Court of Judicial Review.

It will be hosted by the Chief Minister
of the Court of Judicial Review

and judged together by the Ministry of Justice.

The trial today will be
supervised by His Majesty.

Zhou, you may begin.

Yes.

Summon Second Lady Jiang.

Summon Second Lady Jiang!

Summon Second Lady Jiang!

I, Jiang Li, greet Your Majesty.

Get up and speak.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Miss Jiang, did you bring the
people of Huaixiang into the capital

for the corruption case of Xue Huaiyuan,
the magistrate of Huaixiang?

Chief Minister Zhou, half a year ago,
the magistrate of Huaixiang, Xue Huaiyuan,

was accused by an officer of the local ya men,
Feng Yutang, for embezzling the money.

He was judged to be ex*cuted by the Ministry
of Justice, and was awaiting his execution.

I went to Huaixiang to visit a friend

and accidentally discovered
something suspicious in this case.

According to my understanding,
all of you barged into the Huaixiang Yamen

on the day when Xue Huaiyuan would be ex*cuted,
and took him away forcefully.

Do you admit that?

I do.

Do you know that this is a serious crime?

I do.

It was a last resort.

But if we hadn't done that,

Xue Huaiyuan's grievance
and the suffering of Huaixiang's people

would never been known by the country.

I will take responsibility
for the crime I committed.

But I hope Your Majesty and everyone here

can redress the injustice
for Magistrate Xue before convicting me.

Who was in charge of Xue Huaiyuan's case
at the Ministry of Justice?

I was.

I remember the dossier of this case
was not complicated.

Ten crates of silver were found
in Xue Huaiyuan's residence,

which totaled 5,000 taels.

And a private ledger was found.

Along with the testimony
from the yamen's officer, Feng Yutang,

we had both evidence and a witness.

There was nothing strange
as Second Lady Jiang mentioned.

Second Lady Jiang went to Huaixiang personally.

I think she has discovered
something unknown to others.

Since you are trying
to overturn the case for a criminal,

please present new evidence
in front of His Majesty, and let us judge.

I have no new evidence.

How dare you.

Since you have no new evidence,

how dare you trick the people into coming
to the capital to sound the Dengwen Drum

and force His Majesty to retry the case?

Miss Jiang, you're so
disrespectful to His Majesty.

My daughter is not done talking yet.
Why the rush?

Since I can't present new evidence,
I will change my request.

Your Majesty, I came all the way with the
people of Huaixiang to sound the Dengwen Drum

not to help Xue Huaiyuan get acquitted,
but to ask Your Majesty to convict him!

Silence!

Convict him?

What do you mean?

As you all know,

there's concrete evidence for the embezzlement
of the magistrate of Huaixiang, Xue Huaiyuan.

He is a vermin of the country.

Your Majesty prioritizes integrity.

How dare a mere magistrate
of Huaixiang be so daring?

Imprisonment and execution
cannot appease the angry people.

I think he should be punished by
slashing with a thousand knives.

Didn't she say
she was going to overturn the case?

Is she admitting defeat
because she has no evidence?

Xue Huaiyuan might have a lowly position,
but he was still an official of the Great Yan.

He had been an official
in Huaixiang for a decade.

He only got found out
with corruption last year,

and the evidence was just a mere 5,000 taels.

Ten years and only 5,000 taels.
I don't think the number is right.

How is it wrong?

For ten years, has he been an official with
integrity, or has he hidden himself too well?

Perhaps he was working with someone else
to transport the stolen money.

The last 5,000 taels left
was only the leftover amount.

Where's the other money?

The Ministry of Justice did not investigate,
and it was not recorded in the dossier.

Perhaps he used the money
to purchase soldiers and horses.

Then, he should be suspected of treason.

The Court of Judicial Review
wants to k*ll him without investigation.

If you think carefully, aren't you worried?

We must investigate it in detail.

However, we have no new
evidence to reopen this case.

What should we do?

That is why I brought the
people of Huaixiang to the capital.

I want to summon witnesses.

Approved.

Summon the witnesses!

Kneel!

Regarding the Magistrate Xue Huaiyuan's
corruption case, what do you have to say?

Your Majesty, I don't know about
Magistrate Xue's corruption case.

I only know...

Raise your head and speak.

I only know that both my daughter and I
would be bullied, and have nowhere to live

if it wasn't for Magistrate Xue's help.

After my husband died,
I was raising my child alone.

When we had our most difficult time, Magistrate
Xue used his own salary to subsidize us.

He Jun, help them clean the place.

If someone dares bully them,
punish them according to the law.

- Yes.
- Ping'an.

Go and thank Magistrate Xue.

Hurry.

Thank you, Mr. Xue.

All right.

It's fine now. No one dares bully you again.

If Magistrate Xue hadn't sponsored me,
I might still be illiterate.

My family was poor,
and I couldn't afford tuition.

Magistrate Xue was
generous and gave me money,

so I could return to the
academy and become a scholar.

Elder Gu. Give him money to study.

Get the money from my salary.

- Yes.
- Mother.

- My boy.
- I can study again.

Yes! That's great!

They said the pork I sold would cause death.

If it wasn't for Magistrate Xue, my ancestors'
assets would've been taken by the bullies.

Stop!

I wanted to pay Magistrate Xue, but he refused.

Your Majesty, please investigate it.

Magistrate Xue will never commit corruption.

Magistrate Xue is a good person.

- Yes!
- Magistrate Xue is a good person.

- He wouldn't do something like that.
- Yes!

These are just their testimonies.

What if they were paid
to speak for the corrupt official?

That could be a possibility.

Mr. Zhou, you need to be careful.

Vice Minister of Justice, you are right.

A corrupt official wouldn't have
done so much for the people.

I'm sure these people were
bribed and spoke nonsense.

Please summon other witnesses.

Summon the witnesses.

Kneel!

Magistrate Xue paved my entrance's road.

There was a flood, and Magistrate Xue
did not return home for three days.

Magistrate Xue gave me money
to treat my illness.

- Magistrate's Xue's grace...
- Magistrate Xue's kindness...

If it wasn't for Magistrate Xue...

Your Majesty, please investigate it!

Your Majesty, please investigate it!

What they said sounds touching.

They remind me of the corruption case
three years ago by the magistrate of Qingzhou.

The magistrate embezzled
a huge amount of money back then

and used a small amount of money
to help the people.

When we seized his assets, there were
also many people who knelt and plead for him.

You supervised the case.

- Have you forgotten, Mr. Zhou?
- Of course not.

Grand Chancellor Li, you are right.

He spent a small amount on the people,
and a big amount on buying lands, right?

The Great Yan does have such greedy officials.

And Feng Yutang is one of them.

Half a year after Feng Yutang
became the magistrate of Huaixiang,

he bought furniture for himself.

His family members were wearing jewelry.
They lived a lavish lifestyle.

Xue Huaiyuan worked there for ten years.

I'm sure he had more assets than him.

Half a year ago, Xue Huaiyuan was imprisoned,
and his assets were seized.

I request the censorate to announce
the assets seized from the Xue family

and the Feng family.

Show everyone how much worse
Xue Huaiyuan is compared to Feng Yutang.

Censorate, please present
the two magistrates' assets.

The former magistrate of Huaixiang,
Xue Huaiyuan,

had no houses or lands when he was in office.

The amount of money seized from his residence

and his total assets
amount to a total of 5,000 taels.

The current magistrate of Huaixiang,
Feng Yutang,

has more than 40 houses when he is in office.

The land he owns is too much to count.

After investigation, his houses, fields,
and savings, exceed a total of 200,000 tales.

What? Over 200,000 taels?

He has more than 200,000 taels?

A complicated 200,000 taels
and a clean 5,000 taels.

In that case,

Magistrate Xue didn't even leave himself
a piece of roof tile in Huaixiang.

He only embezzled 5,000 taels.

And the money was all exchanged into ingots,
and put into crates in his own residence,

waiting for the Ministry of Justice
to seize them.

He is indeed an example of corrupt officials.

Stop using your eloquent words.

No matter how much and how
he got the money, he is still corrupt.

Chief Minister Zhou,
please summon other witnesses.

Summon the witnesses.

Your Majesty, we were the officers of
Huaixiang when Magistrate Xue was in charge.

Magistrate Xue stayed in Huaixiang
for ten years.

He was never corrupt.

After he was imprisoned, all of us who
knew the truth were confined in a mine.

Your Majesty!

We are willing to swear on our lives

that if we tell a lie,
our clans should be annihilated.

We are willing to swear on our lives

that if we tell a lie,
our clans should be annihilated.

We are willing to swear on our lives

that if we tell a lie,
our clans should be annihilated.

We are willing to swear on our lives

that if we tell a lie,
our clans should be annihilated.

We are willing to swear on our lives

that if we tell a lie,
our clans should be annihilated!

No matter what,
it is true that Xue Huaiyuan was corrupt.

As Second Lady Jiang mentioned, he
should be punished with a thousand slashes.

Hold it.

Jiang Li, go on.

The magistrate of Huaixiang,
Xue Huaiyuan, committed a crime.

His crime is that during the ten years
he was in charge,

apart from embezzling
the disaster relief funds,

he had almost no desires and he
was loyal, responsible, and upright.

It's hard to find a corrupt official like him.

So, when he was on duty, he must've
had many schemes and evil actions.

When he was on duty, where did his money go?

Building dams and footpaths
and benefiting the people.

He was trying to embarrass the good officials
in the capital who live a lavish life

and own millions of mu of land.

He was shameless and arrogant!

Xue Huaiyuan's crime must not be forgiven.

I request Your Majesty to punish
Xue Huaiyuan with a thousand slashes.

In that case, Xue Huaiyuan did not
commit a crime, but contributed instead.

I request to bring Xue Huaiyuan to the court.

Xue Huaiyuan is a witness as well.

I want Your Majesty to see what
Magistrate Xue looks like now.

Approved.

Summon Xue Huaiyuan.

Your Majesty, this man is Xue Huaiyuan,
the magistrate of Huaixiang.

He was imprisoned by Feng Yutang
and was tortured.

He is now mentally confused
and behaves like a child.

What a pity that an upright official
ended up like this.

If news of this spreads, how many
upright officials will feel disappointed?

How many people will
swear loyalty to Your Majesty?

How dare you, Jiang Li?

How dare you doubt His Majesty?

Second Lady Jiang's
statement is similar to mine.

Sincere advice may be unpleasant to the ear.

Second Lady Jiang's words might be
out of line, but they sound reasonable.

If we abandon the upright officials,
and only use the corrupt officials,

the country will be in ruins.

Duke Su is right.

I'm not someone who can't take sincere advice.

Jiang, you raised your daughter well.

Such an upright official who loves the
people was falsely accused and sent to prison.

Now, he is in such a pitiful state.

This is my fault and a loss for the Great Yan!

We are to blame!

Rise.

Wei Qian!

You misjudged a case. Do you admit your guilt?

I deserve to die!

I didn't know there was such a
nefarious person like Feng Yutang.

Zhou Dezhao!

I order you to reinvestigate
Xue Huaiyuan's corruption case.

Those who were involved in framing
Xue Huaiyuan should be punished severely!

Yes.

Jiang Li, you are brave and wise.

You impressed me once again.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

You may rise.

Xue Huaiyuan's name has been cleared.

Mr. Zhou, you should judge Second Lady Jiang's
case of freeing the criminal.

Your Majesty.

My daughter may be reckless.

But after hearing the truth
about Xue Huaiyuan's case,

I'm reluctant to punish her
for what she did that day.

A good official's death
would not just be a tragedy to himself

but a hit to every official's loyalty.

My daughter made a grave mistake, but
she saved a good official whom I couldn't save.

At the hall today, I... I feel shameful.

We are shameful!

We are shameful!

We are shameful!

We are shameful!

We are shameful!

We are shameful!

We are shameful!

We are shameful!

We are shameful!

Zhou Dezhao, what do you say?

Your Majesty, since Xue Huaiyuan
was wronged in his case,

that means he is not a criminal.

So it's not a crime for
Second Lady Jiang to free him.

It is reasonable.

Jiang Li, you are acquitted.

You may close your case at the Court
of Judicial Review and go home.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Stand up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Does Xue Huaiyuan have children and
family members? I want to compensate them.

Xue Huaiyuan has a son and a daughter.

As far as I know, his son, Xue Zhao,
was k*lled by bandits in the capital.

His daughter, Xue Fangfei,
was Mr. Shen's wife who had passed away.

This is too cruel.

When I found out my father-in-law was corrupt,

I was shocked.

Now that I've learned that he was framed,
it pains me now that I recall.

Father-in-law.

Father-in-law.

It must've been tough for you.

Ye Shijie.

Magistrate Xue, it's all right.

It's fine now.

Magistrate Xue, it's all right. It's fine now.

Mr. Shen, please forgive him.

You've not met Magistrate Xue for a long time.
I'm afraid he can't recognize you anymore.

Mr. Zhou, Magistrate Xue is in shock.

Can I take him back to rest?

You may leave.

Who wrote this script?

- It's really cruel.
- What do you mean?

The father is corrupt.
The daughter had an affair.

The son was m*rder*d.

The family of three suffered tragic fates
one after the other.

Isn't this common in storybooks?

- What storybook?
- Framing and k*lling a witness.

Framing?

Was Mr. Shen's late wife framed,
for having an affair as well?

I don't know.

Duke Su is bold.

He dares say anything.

Duke Su, I'll leave this to you.

Investigate the truth
behind the deaths of the Xues

and clear the Xue family's name,
so Mr. Shen can be relieved.

Yes.

Interesting.

How interesting.

Such an interesting court trial.

Why didn't Your Majesty ask me to join?

An investigation is not child's play.

Why did you come here?

I have something important to inform you.

Second Lady Jiang has a sharp tongue.

She has successfully
overturned the Xue family's case.

While Your Majesty was feeling indignant
about your upright subject being framed,

I wonder if you felt that you
were also fooled like a donkey.

Wanning, don't speak nonsense.

What a coincidence.

I heard Mr. Shen's wife
was Huaixiang's most talented lady,

so I got curious and went to take a look.

Indeed.

Mrs. Shen has a unique face.

It was rare indeed.

I was shocked when I saw Second Lady Jiang.

Because she looks exactly
the same as Xue Fangfei.

♫ If there are no happy memories ♫

♫ How can we traverse
the forbidden land of sorrow? ♫

♫ Two cold and unfeeling bodies ♫

♫ Holding hands,
can we get through the snow season? ♫

♫ In the cold wind, in the long night ♫

♫ Embracing the remaining warmth ♫

♫ The depth of the sea, unfathomable ♫

♫ Can it bury yesterday's sighs? ♫

♫ Continue to love,
cherishing it with my life ♫

♫ Continue to live,
even with only a glimmer of hope ♫

♫ Whether in sorrow or joy,
I believe in you ♫

♫ I'd rather be trapped
in the world's extremes ♫

♫ Continue to live,
exhausting all courage ♫

♫ Continue to love,
until the breath runs out ♫

♫ Traversing half a lifetime
of loneliness, just to meet you ♫

♫ After the hardships,
never to part again ♫

♫ After the hardships,
never to part again ♫