[English subtitles are available] [Pledge of Allegiance] [Ten years ago] In the 25th year of Hong Wu's reign, the Crown Prince died of sickness. The Crown Prince's position was vacant and the situation was unpredictable. [Investigation Bureau] [Imperial Prison] In the Imperial Prison, a tragedy was in play. [Song Heming] Where is he? Now that no one is here, I'll go back to find him. Me too. Just go! Go! [Young Lu Zheng] [Young Li Wu] Li Wu is the name of this young thief who killed my father. Stop! Stop! Since then, after I was indicted, I have a new name. Lu Zheng. [Episode 1] [Ten years later, Capital City] [April 24, third year of Jianwen's reign] [Ji'e Alley] Thief! Catch that thief! Hide here. He escaped? Thank you, big brother. Brother. I know I was wrong. Stealing is wrong. The beggars and thieves of Yingtian Fu have to become my apprentices and work as my spies. I'll take this as your fee. Remember. Don't steal anymore. There won't be a second chance. I've just saved your life. You should thank me in a better way. I'll take this as a thank you gift. Crying won't work on me. Just go. You treated him to food despite being so poor. What were you thinking? I hope in the future, when he meets a poor kid like him, he can do the same thing as me. The map of Wang Kegong's Mansion. One mace? Just have some wonton soup. Uncle Wang, here. Let's drink. And then let's have a tray of buns. That's enough. It's Uncle Wang. I don't care who that is. I'll pay you later. No. Just a tray of buns. No, I said no. Let's go. You... Thank you, big brother. Thank you. Thank you. Look at your dirty skin. You must have done a lot of sneaky things. Let's go. Come with me to the government office. Tie him up. Yes. No, my lord. Let me go. Let me go. Go. Go. Go! Just treat me as a piece of shit. Sir, I was wrong. Please forgive me. Cut the crap. Go. Let's go! No. Let me go. If you don't behave, I'll give you a good beating. Go! Go! Stop! Young Master, I finally found you. No wonder we couldn't find you after searching the entire Yingtian Fu. Why did you change clothes with a beggar? If I can't find you, I'll have to offer my head to the Deputy Commander. Wait. My lord, why didn't you bring your weapon when going out for business? Is it not enough to just talk with me? Do you want to talk to this Xiuchun Dagger? I'm sorry. I'm ignorant. I have offended you. My lord, just think of me as trash and let me go. He is the grandson of the Deputy Commander. He ran away from home. I was ordered to find him. Please forgive me. Please forgive me, my lord. Next time, be more careful. Yes. Come back. I found the grandson, but what should I tell the Deputy Commander? His lordship will not be happy when he sees him like this. [Zhang's Silk Store] My Lord, Young Master, please. Please. Change. Change. The garments of Zhang's Silk Store are of the highest quality in Yingtian Fu. This one looks so-so. But... this is not in Young Master's size. This one is in your size. Young Master is still young. You are the one who has a say in things. Young Master said he wants them all. Here. Tomorrow, come here to see Meng. She needs an extra hand. Tell her Li Wu sent you. From now on, don't steal anymore. It's over if you grow up like me. I think it's good to be you. If you didn't save me... I came to check out Ji'e Alley. I'm here to steal from Wang Kegong's Mansion. In the silk store, I lied to get this peacock robe in order to better sneak into the mansion. Everything I did was for my own benefit. I am a person who suffered losses and hardships. I never believed that anyone would sacrifice themselves for others. So I suggest from now on, you should do the same. Alright. Next, it's time for business. You have to help me find someone with a knife wound on his back. Why are you looking for him? The knife wound on his back was caused by me. It's been ten years... I wonder what he's up to now. I don't remember his face anymore. But I can't seem to forget the knife wound on his back. I hired young beggars to act as my spies, hoping that one day I can meet him again. But it's likely that he died ten years ago. That night, after he was indicted. [April 25, the third year of Jianwen's reign] Father. You burn incense and drink here on your birthday every year. Don't you think it's bad luck? Who are you worshiping? In the third year of Jianwen's reign, April 25, at 10.30 p.m. Detective Lu Zheng, got drunk and missed night duty again. It's not 10.30 p.m. yet. I haven't recorded it yet. Now that you're awake, you should leave. Your father left some food for you. You can work better after eating. I don't like dumplings. How did you know that? The stains on your clothes. White is the flour and black is vinegar. Sticky fingers. Did you peel garlic? No wonder you don't have friends. What did you say? No wonder you became a Detective at such a young age. I also know you ate the ones with leek fillings. How did you know? Teach me. What? Isn't April 25 your birthday? I hate writing. [Court Entertainment Bureau] What should I say when your father asks? Tell him we went to Mingshi Fang for work. Last time it was Mingshi Fang. He won't believe it, right? Then tell the truth. We hung out at the Court Entertainment Bureau. I really hope that's true. Where's Lei Zhen? Detective Lei is working inside. Lord Lu, you shouldn't bother him. Detective Lei's father is the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of War. It's not too late for you to leave now. What if we don't? Then I'll show you the way. Show you the way. Help. Help, my lord. Help. In the third year of Jianwen's reign, April 25, Detective Lei Zhen from the Investigation Bureau imprisoned three women from the Court Entertainment Bureau in the name of handling cases, and abused them. These three women said that another woman was tortured to death by Lei Zhen. The exact number of women harmed by him in the past is unknown. How much are you involved in Detective Lei's cases? My lord, I didn't know. Lei Zhen is such a two-faced fiend. My lord, please have mercy. Please have mercy. Get lost. Okay. [Investigation Bureau] Detective Lu Zheng greets the Chief Commander. Why aren't you wearing your official hat again? And your sword... How was Mingshi Fang? I didn't go to Mingshi Fang. It's fine as long as you don't go to the Court Entertainment Bureau. My lord, I found out that the son of Lord Lei Xianming of the Ministry of War imprisoned civilian women and tortured them. He even... Lord Lu. Lord Lu. Lu. Lei. I've been waiting for you. Lu, you're too kind. Detective Lei Zhen greets the Chief Commander. Lei Zhen, don't stand on ceremony. After work, let's call each other uncle and nephew. My son, Lu Zheng. Zheng. You're reckless. In the future, you should learn more from Lei Zheng. No one in Yingtian Fu is better than you in dealing with your colleagues. I heard that you like torture tools. If the late emperor hadn't sealed the Imperial Prison, that place suits you more. Are you done? Sit down and have a drink. Please. Please. Tear it. Slowly, slowly. The wine is good. The wine. Yes. I'm fine. Go down first. What's wrong, Lu? The Prince of Yan rebelled. The front lines are having a hard time. The Ministry of War must be very busy. Lu, a deputy commander from the Jinan Investigation Bureau received a secret edict and entered the capital. Recently, a Sergeant came from the North. He's called Li Dongfang. He's been taking care of everything and insisted on keeping his original title in the capital. At this critical moment, he has... Detective Lu. I'm sorry. The position of Sergeant that you desired is mine. An adoptive father is not as good as a real father. And Detective Lu, I must compensate you with a new log book. No matter how much you recorded, you still have to tear it up. Sergeant, I dare not record on it anymore. That's right. If you like those women, you can keep them. I'll get new ones from the Bureau tomorrow. The log book is not meant for this type of person. Sergeant, where are we going? Back to the Court Entertainment Bureau. I haven't had enough fun. Arrange some ladies for me to enjoy too. Sergeant. Sergeant? Lu, it's over for you. You and your father are doomed. Wait until I tell my father. What? Wait until I tell my father. Why do you think you can still see your father? Detective Lu. Stop... Stop joking. We are colleagues. Both of us want to be the Sergeant but there is only one position. An adoptive father is not as useful as a real father. Right? Lu... Lu Zheng. Are you crazy? Is the position of a Sergeant that important? Yes. Lord Lu! Lord Lu! Please forgive me. From now on, your surname is Cao. You're an exiled soldier assigned to the North. For the rest of your life, you will dig stones in the North. No one can find you. This document is your only identification. Reflect on your actions when you're doing labour. In the next life, be a good person. Lord Lu! Lord Lu! Lord Lu! Lord Lu! Lord Lu! Lord Lu! The position... I'll give it up, okay? I quit. Your father and my father are old friends. Lord Lu! Lord Lu! Lord Lu! Lord Lu! Lord Lu! [Memorial Tablet of late brother Song Heming] That's enough, Chief Commander. It's been ten years. You still won't call me father. Forget it. Just burn incense and kowtow to your father. Ten years ago, I released a child who killed my father. Ten years later, I swear I will not spare a single person who commited evil. No matter if they are from the court or just a small thief, even if they're just a child, I will catch them. In this world, people are not entirely innocent. If you want to have a clear conscience, you have to live a different life. Raise a child and protect the child. Protect a family. Lord Song. Lord Song, here. Here. You're drunk. Here. Lord Song, I'm sorry. Done? Done. My lord. Actually, you are still young. You can get married again. Get lost. It's time! Close the city gate. Yes. Wait. The city gate is closed today. Come back tomorrow. How dare you! Arrest him! I didn't know he's a friend of yours. Of course you can. Please come in. Night Scout Spy, Xie Kengran, greets Colonel Li. [Li Dongfang] April 26, the third year of Jianwen's reign, at 10.30 p.m. Detective Lu got drunk again and missed the night shift. Is it 10.30 p.m. yet? No. Drinking is more interesting. Night duty is so tedious. Is it more tedious than tellinig on me to the Chief Commander? I'm like a daughter-in-law of the Lu family. Don't you think it's hard on me too? You went to buy fabric in Danfeng Street? I don't know if it's a boy or a girl. So I bought a blue cloth and a flower cloth. How did you know it was Danfeng Street? I also know it's from Zhang's. You followed me? It's written on it. [Zhang's] I'm going on patrol. Let's eat something first. Let's go. Sir, your noodles. -10.30 p.m. -This is yours. 10.30 p.m. Aren't we on night duty? I brought you here for night duty. According to our spies, some deserters arrived at Ji'e Alley. From their accent, they are from the North. Of course, there is another purpose. Treating my subordinate to a meal to improve our relationship. Aren't you afraid of alerting them? That's the goal. I want to see what's their next move. Officers, I've been delivering goods all day. I'm a little hungry. Can I sit down with you? Northern accent. Thank you. Northern accent. Boss, a bowl of noodles. Sir, where did you deliver your goods? How can there be no place to eat on the way. To be honest, the capital city is too big. The employer didn't give me enough time. Capital city? Thank you. I must answer the call of nature. Sir, can I borrow the paper? Night Scout Spy, Chen Xi, greets Major Shu. Why didn't you kill those two guards? Major, please take a look. Wu Mu, means Colonel Li. Xiu and Ce stands for Major Shu and my subordinate respectively. This secret letter indicates that we arrived in the capital. The Brocade-clad Guards are aware of our names. Send a message to Colonel Li. Tell him that Shu Tang met our allies at Ji'e Alley. Ask him if he's following the plan to meet at Wang Kegong's Mansion. Enjoy your meal. I’m leaving. That porter is definitely fishy. How did you know that? Intuition. I hate your intuition. Just now, at the stall, I knew that he wasn't a local nor a porter. Locals refer to Yingtian as 'Yingtian Fu' and never as the 'capital city.' Yingtian is only mentioned as the capital city in official documents. What if what you mentioned is just a coincidence? As an official, you should know that there are no coincidences in this world. Sir, please come in. Sir, this way. This way. Sir, you must be tired. Lord Wang Kegong's guests live here? They all live here. Sir, are you here to rest or stay the night? To wait for someone. Thank you, sir. Sir, this way. Enjoy. Master Li, what would you like to eat? Just let me know if you need anything. Lord Xie has already informed me in advance. Master Li, let me serve you more dishes. Master Li, please keep the invitation to the mansion well. [Luck and Prosperity] Steward Wang of the mansion only acknowledges the invitation. Keep it well. Thank you, Master Li. Surname Li? Bad luck for you.
