Closed Captions were added by Moxi Media. Executive Producer: Yin Chao. Produced by: Wu Jing, You Zai. Ying Haoming, Xiu Jiekai. Nan Sheng, Wu Yang, Li Wei. Directed by: Xue Wenhua. Screenplay by: You Zai, Xu Weiyi. Minister Zhou. Come in. Minister Zhou. Only you and I are in this room. The manners are not necessary. Sit. My younger days are gone. Just like the morning of a day has passed. Since the last time we met, it has been three years. I have the traitors' plan to rebel. Tomorrow, I will visit His Majesty. And expose everything. The world nowadays is no longer black or white. You're not in that position. you don't have to consider the political agenda, Minister Zhou. The world is like the dirty water that washes the tea leaves. It's muddy. But you wash it again and again. Eventually, someday, It will become clearer. From muddy to clean. It has been three years. Can you, for yourself, let it go? Then may I ask you, Minister Zhou? You're going to visit His Majesty tomorrow, knowing that you won't come back alive. Would you like to let it go? This man's name is Guo Qian. He is quite good at changing appearance. You must be vigilant. Dad. Sir. Report to the government. Light all the lanterns. Minister Zhou. Dad. Minister Zhou. Come on. Protect... Protect... Dad. Minister Zhou. Minister Zhou. Dad. You... I'm Liu Mian from the military department of five cities. The patrol reported that there was a fight in your residence. Yes, yes. Come. Who was at the scene when it happened? I was. Who are you? A visitor. What was so urgent that made you visit in the late night? Give me what you have in your hand. Who are you? You're not a visitor. You're the traitor, Li Yi. Find a chance to take her away. I don't think you're an officer, either. Get him. Fast. Catch him. Don't be afraid. Come with me. Go. Li Yi. Are you certain of what you saw? I witnessed with my own eyes. You didn't kill them all. Why should I keep you alive? I will bring his head to you. With what? With his greed and desire. Use the bite to draw out the fish. Before the bell rings tomorrow morning, tell all the people in the city. The traitor Li Yi conspired with Miss Zhou. The two collaborated from the inside and the outside. They killed Miss Zhou's father. Go. Mengdie. Have some water. Stay here tonight. When the city gate opens tomorrow, I'll send you out of the city. Out of the city? Father just died. Why don't we report to the government? The enemy moves cautiously. He is definitely not just an ordinary killer. Since he could kill Minister Zhou, I'm afraid they're already prepared. Who did such a malicious thing? This thing. Have you seen it before? Father never let me ask him about those things. But in the capital, he had some acquaintances. Perhaps... As long as we want to stay alive, we cannot count on "perhaps". If I can't get revenge for my father, what's the point of staying alive? I swear with entire sincerity. To carry on the good traditions of the great ancestors and devote my life. Be loyal to our emperor and the Ming Empire. Stop. Minister. The former Inspector Minister Zhou Xin was killed with his entire family. It is said that the killer is Zhou Xin's daughter Zhou Mengdie. And... Li Yi. Go. Let's go to Zhou's residence. Get out of the way. His face is black and purple. I'm afraid he died of poison. There is residue of the poison in the throat. But no in the stomach. That means... That means Minister Zhou didn't die of poison. Minister Zhou's neck is broken. Zhou Xin died from suffocation. Why did the killer fake it? Minister Cao, there are some traces. During the process of killing, the killer was interrupted by an external force. But where did the third person in the room go? Without my permission, no one can enter Zhou's residence. Yes. This vicious man Li Yi is said to be the murderer of Minister Zhang Ji years ago. Don't comment on government's issues. The government doesn't say it clearly. We can only guess. There is an old saying. The most loyal men are usually the butchers, while the traitors are mostly scholars. Some things can only be understood quietly, but cannot be spoken out. I want to see what the notice says. Don't rush. It seems we can't get out of the city gate. I'll take you away from here. Go. Catch them. Get out of the way. Stop. Fast. This way. Chase them separately. Li Yi, come back with me. Turn yourself in now. It's not too late. I didn't kill Minister Zhang. Get out of my way. If anything bad happens to Yinger, you will become the accomplice. If you don't regret, don't blame me for not showing mercy. You can't tell black from white and you regard the traitor as your master. From now, you and I are no longer buddies. Go. Go. Is it a royal guard? It is the killer. Zhang Heng. Zhang Heng. Go and catch Li Yi. Ok. Wait for me. Go now. Stop. Minister. We caught a royal guard. Minister. We only found this from him. Mr. Li. This is... This is the reason why I keep going. Xiaoying. Have you found the killer? After so many years, I'm afraid the killer is already dead. If he is alive, I must kill him with my own hands. If he is dead, I must dismantle his body. My father was an honest man of integrity all his life. He devoted himself to the benefit of people. I really don't know who would kill him so maliciously. Life has no root. Floating like the dust on the road. Let go of the obsession. When your heart is good, they will be fine, too. When your heart is evil, they will also go bad. My life was saved by Minister Zhou. Don't worry. I will definitely help you find the murderer. Thank you. From now, you and I are no longer buddies. Minister Cao. How did it go? Say it. Only Zhang Heng got back. Zhang Yan is missing. Missing? What happened? They found Li Yi and Zhou Mengdie during the daytime. When they followed the two, Li Yi knocked Zhang Heng out. Zhang Yan has gone missing. I suspect that Li Yi has something to do with Zhang Yan's missing. How dare he touch our royal guards? I've always shown mercy to him because of our old friendship. He doesn't deserve it. Minister Cao. He is like a homeless dog now. I'm afraid... Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. How have you been since the last time we met? Where is Zhang Yan? Who is Zhang Yan? You never give up until you see your own doom. I didn't know you could be so arrogant and willful. I didn't kill Minister Zhou. Your ability to lie is just like three years ago. No matter you killed him or not, go back to the royal guards department first. You only know the rules and regulations. You don't know what justice is. Three years ago, if you hadn't regarded the traitor as your master, how could Yinger have died? I'll tell you one more time. I'm not the murderer. The murderer knows my name. I have proof. Three years ago, I followed Yinger and jumped off the cliff. I was saved by Minister Zhou. Since then, I've buried my name. Li Yi doesn't exist in this world anymore. But the killer that visited Zhou's residence that night knows my name. They pretended to be police officers. They killed Zhou's whole family and wanted to frame it on me. Since you have proof, you should go back to the royal guards department with me. This is the bag of poison that I found at the scene. In two days, there will be a funeral for Minister Zhou. Then, about who the killer is, you will know naturally. Li Yi hurt the royal guards, and ran away with Zhou Mengdie, which further confirms their crime. Nice move. It's just that it was such a big mess during the daytime that Cao Jian was alerted. Greed makes a mess. A mess leads to defeat. Don't be so eager to get the trapped pawn. Make Zhou Xin's funeral a big ceremony. This net ought to be pulled together now. Wise, Your Majesty. I have a gift to present. I will be an honest officer my whole life, and an honest ghost if I die. I will make your life a living hell. And you won't become a ghost if you die. Stop talking. Whether you want to kill me or torture me, help yourself. Your personality is like Cao Jian. You royal guards, from top to bottom, are all helplessly stupid. You... You're only an ant that lives in the shadows. You don't have the right to criticize our royal guards. Don't you forget. You're only a dog raised and kept by Ji Gang. Tomorrow, Minister Zhou will be buried under the ground. What is gone will never come back. When I was a kid, every time the tea trees in the mountain bloomed father would teach me how to make tea. He said... When you lost something, don't have obsession. The only thing you can do is not to let yourself forget. When your heart is good, they will be fine, too. When your heart is evil, they will turn bad, too. Since when has the funeral procession become our royal guards' business? When Minister Ji arranged the job, why didn't you object? Minister Cao. Minister Cao. I want to see what exactly he is going to do. You mean... If Zhou Xin wasn't killed by Li Yi. Who do you think it would be? It's hard to say. If Li Yi isn't the murderer, it must be someone who wants to kill Li Yi. All the people in Zhou's residence were killed by a sharp sword. But there was no sign of struggle. If that wasn't done by Li Yi... Anyway, tomorrow at Minister Zhou's funeral, the killer will definitely show up. I'm just worried. Since we're going into the mountain, don't fear the chance of bumping into a tiger. When the wind blows, Reed marshes swing lightly. Like his hands. Sometimes tenderly, sometimes restlessly. When it rains, it's like the ground beneath my feet. Dusty and gentle. And then it's you. With your light steps. You walk slowly towards me. Lightly. Talking in secret. When you miss me, I'm the wind. The supreme god commands. Release your lonely soul. Ghosts, spirits, and every being. All forms of beings are by god's grace. The ones that have heads will be released. Those who jumped into the water and those who were hung. Those who died in broad daylight and who died in the darkness. Those who died in grievances. The death of the whole family of Zhou, you heard about it? Yes. Today is the funeral procession. The master said that Minister Zhou died very oddly. I'm afraid that something is going on. The wanted order has been posted. What can happen? Man or woman, become yourself. Rich or poor, it's your own decision. Release and save you all. To your next life immediately. Release and save you all. To your next life immediately. Release and save you all. To your next life immediately. Show yourself. Enter the body. If the coin falls on Kun, it means there is a murder. If the coin falls on Zhen, it means there is revenge. The murder is on Kun. It seems the murderer is around you. Who are you? Royal guard, Cao Jian. Minister Cao. What do you want from me? What do I want from you? You know it clearly yourself. Go. Say it. Who commanded you to stage such a drama here? What do you mean by drama? You're disrespecting Minister Zhou's soul. Minister, spare my life. I took somebody's money, so I took care of the trouble for him. Our line of business values rules. Even robbers have their rules. You're still not saying. Who arranged it? Minister, I'll tell you. It's Liu Mian. Liu Mian arranged it. Liu Mian? Guo Qian. Hurry up. Minister Ji. Li Yi is very good at martial arts. I'm afraid... Even if he has three heads and six arms, he won't be able to get out of my net. Li Yi. No. Liu Mian. Li Yi. You didn't die? You... Nice to see you again. Officer Liu. You asked that man to pretend to be a master of Dao and set the trap. But you miscalculated. You didn't expect that Li Yi would step into your trap intentionally. You sent the person to kill Minister Zhou. But you didn't expect that Li Yi broke in and ruined your plan. Then you played along and framed the crime on Li Yi. But you didn't know you would be followed. Who are you exactly? Why did you kill Minister Zhou? Cao Jian. I didn't know that your royal guards collaborated with the traitor Li Yi. Nonsense. Let me ask you. Where is Guo Qian? I'm just an ant. I don't understand what you're talking about. I'm asking you for the last time. Where is Guo Qian? Say it. Guo Qian... Guo Qian is Ji Gang's trusted man. Ji Gang wants to become the emperor. After Queen Xu died of the disease, when selecting concubines for His Majesty, he selected two teenage girls. One of them was my sister. They kept her in a secret room and forced me to be a killer. From the top ministers to the common people at the bottom, anyone who disobeyed him slightly, would be killed. Ji Gang? Minister Zhou took something that he shouldn't have. Ji Gang sent his killer to kill him. And you showed up. Why did you kill my father? What did he take from you that got him killed so cruelly? Why? Miss Zhou. Is it this thing? This... It's the private seal forged by Ji Gang. In his residence, he built a secret tunnel and an underground palace. This secret tunnel has multiple exits that lead to important places of the royal court. Ji Gang is a commander during the daytime. During the night, in the secret palace, he tastes his emperor dream. As long as I can rescue my sister, I will do anything. She and I have been dependent on each other since we were kids. I won't let her be tortured by that traitor there. Ji Gang knows I'm dead now. Then his next target is... Let's report this to His Majesty now and catch this traitor. Only through this seal? Ji Gang doesn't take this seal seriously. I'm afraid before you meet His Majesty, you will be regarded as traitors and caught. Just like that year when he staged everything to hunt Li Yi. Then you tell me. When Ji Gang told you to go to Minister Zhou's residence, what did you look for? A map. Keer, protect Miss Zhou. To keep it as a secret, Ji Gang killed all the people that participated in building the underground palace. But he didn't expect the constructor would draw a map of the underground palace secretly. The constructor knew that his would be dead soon. So, he gave it to Zhou Xin. Only by getting the map can we prove that he conspires against the empire. Go. Brothers. Ji Gang has betrayed the empire. Don't get deluded by him anymore. Follow me. Catch Ji Gang. Protect our Ming Empire. Where is your evidence? You're with the traitor Li Yi. And you're trying to smear Minister Ji. You don't deserve to be our leader. Brothers. Go. Kill them both. Cao Jian, are you all right? I'm all right. They are royal guards. You're the vice commander. Decide it yourself. Once I hold the Embroidered Spring Blade, I must kill the rebels and annihilate the traitors of our Ming Empire. Let's go. Help. Help us. Help us out. Minister Zhou was an honest officer. If it hadn't been Ji Gang... You shut up. For your sister, your hands are full of the blood of innocent people. What's the difference between you and Ji Gang? I have Minister Zhou's confidential object. I think I should return it to you. What did you say? Where is it? It's in the inner pocket of my clothes. Li Yi. If you kill me, you will never see Guo Qian again. Where is Guo Qian? Ten years. I've waited for ten years. Why isn't it mine? If officers of our Ming Empire are all malicious and cruel like you, how can our people live on? Ji Gang. You don't deserve my trust and my obedience. If it hadn't been me. how could you have replaced Li Yi and become the vice commander? I'm asking you. Where is Guo Qian? Li Yi, Li Yi. I didn't know you were so stupid. Guo Qian was only a dog that I raised. Want to know where he is? Spare my life for the secret. Keer. Keer. Since the day you saved me, I've always wanted to be by your side forever. Now, I can't do it. Promise me. Live your life well. Don't let yourself get hurt again. All right? Keer. Keer. Keer. Guo Qian. You killed my wife and child. Today I'm going to make you pay with your life. Do you really know the truth? Thirteen years ago, Ji Gang killed my mother. He imprisoned me like a dog in the well without water. The children fought each other. Whoever won could be his shadow. In order to survive, I killed everyone else Three years ago, you disobeyed Ji Gang. He chose you to be the scapegoat for killing Minister Zhang Ji. He asked me to kill you. But unexpectedly, Cao Jian went to you before I did. I thought you were dead after you jumped off the cliff. But surprisingly, you showed up in Zhou's residence three years later. I played along and used you two to kill Ji Gang. Everything is over now. I'm coming to you. Xie Xiaoying begged me not to kill her before she died. She said she wasn't afraid of death. But she was afraid that her husband would seek revenge and destroy his life. You're really not going back to the royal guards department with me? I belong to wherever my heart is at ease.
