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[Nirvana In Fire II]
[Episode 3]
[Xiao Yuan Shi, Crown Prince of Liang]
[Empress Xun of Great Liang]
Yuan Shi, how do you feel today?
I'm a bit hungry.
Quickly, summon in the meal!
Yes.
It's because Guru Puyang performed the ritual to calm his nerves
that the crown prince has gotten better so quickly.
[Great Liang's Guru, Puyang Ying] Crown Prince is unwell.
It is an illness formed from the malicious aura and the current flu.
The imperial physicians treat the illness while I disperse evil spirits.
We worked together to have this effect.
Guru, you have always been very humble.
You never take credit for yourself.
I'm too flattered.
Prince of Changlin is already heading back to the capital.
Whatever happens in this case...
Whoever takes charge of this investigation
neither you nor the Ministry of War should meddle in it.
We can only hope
that the men we sent out can clean up the mess at Datong Prefecture.
As for the rest, it's meaningless to brood over it.
Master Xun. Master Song.
Master Song's face has dimmed.
There's a sign of decline in your fortune.
The malicious aura is coming from the north.
How has your family been?
What did you say?
It's normal for a person's fortune to have its ups and downs.
Master Song, fret not.
I'll take my leave.
That Puyang Ying...
Although he is respected as the Guru
he is no more than some occultist of the White Cult!
How dare he behave so arrogantly?
All right now.
Although unlike Southern Chu State
we don't completely believe in the White Cult
we have not banned it either.
Since Empress Xun invited him into the palace
His Majesty's asthma and Crown Prince's health have improved.
We can't say that he doesn't deserve any credit for it.
[Datong Prefecture]
Mister Qin, the envoys have already set out from the capital.
You made this trip personally.
Isn't it somehow inappropriate?
Master Song was your mentor.
This is a known relationship.
Why pretend otherwise?
[Duan Tong Zhou, Song Fu's assistant] At the moment, the shipwreck
must be disguised as an accident.
No one must find any solid evidence.
Be honest with me.
Is everything all cleaned up?
Speak!
[Datong Prefecture's Governor Zhang]
There was a small passenger ship right behind the ships.
There were a few doctors from Jifeng Hall.
They saved quite a few men from the water.
I know that since the matter got out of hand
we can't allow that many to live.
I immediately sent my men to clean up the mess.
However...
However?
Although we managed to sink that passenger ship
three of the doctors still managed to rescue one of the ship's captains.
They got away.
They got away?
Have you not found them yet?
We are already searching within the prefecture.
I have also have my men monitoring the clinics in Jifeng Hall in town.
Once they make a move, I'll be alerted.
Monitor them?
Since you know that Jifeng Hall's doctors saved him
why didn't you barge in to search the premises?
Jifeng Hall is a renown medical family.
They are known for saving lives and curing illnesses.
What we are doing now can't be made known to anyone.
How could I justify the search?
We can't be bothered with that now.
Whatever excuses you can make up, search their clinics now.
What are you here for?
Open it up to take a look.
Sir.
Your Grace, are you really going to meddle in this business?
[Xiao Yuan Qi, Marquis of Laiyang] If what they said is true
then this is no trifling matter.
As a member of the Imperial Clan
how can I stand by doing nothing now that I happen to be here?
Your Grace!
Greetings, Your Grace.
Commander Qian, you've worked hard.
You are--
I'm searching for wanted criminals.
Is there a wanted list posted?
These are just some habitual offenders.
Oh... habitual offenders?
I'll leave you to your work.
Your Grace.
The local officers are patrolling.
They claim to be searching for criminals.
They have the entire city surrounded.
Your Grace, you surely understand that the hunt for criminals is an excuse.
They are in fact coming after us.
They killed at night to silence the witnesses.
I didn't believe in such matters.
Yet now...
The three of us are but ordinary doctors.
We thought that we happened to witness a shipwreck.
Hence, we did our best to save a few people from the canal.
If we weren't being hunted along the way
who would have known that behind this accident, is--
Is he the only one left of those you managed to rescue?
Yes, indeed.
If Your Grace hadn't run into us and offered to lend a hand
we might not have managed to get here.
- Exactly. - Don't you worry.
I do at least have quite a status.
I happened to be traveling and arrived here.
I am a total outsider.
No one has noticed this residence yet.
It will be all right.
Thank you, Your Grace.
Your Grace, you can't keep hiding them in here.
This gentleman is right.
How could we allow such a crime to be covered up?
We have to try and escape from here to report this case.
I might be an idle nobility in the capital
but even I would know that such a case involves a great many.
Even if you make it out of Datong Prefecture with some luck
to whom will you report this case to ensure that it isn't covered up?
The provincial governor? The Governor-General?
Or the capital?
Ladies, take care.
Thank you.
Sir, what do you think of this jug?
Stop right there!
We're arresting criminals! You are all to stay put!
Search the front and back. Detain everyone you see!
Yes!
Stand on the side and don't move!
Stand back! Move back!
[Jifeng Hall]
Come.
Miss Lin, I admit that I offended you.
But I've already apologized for it.
You don't have to follow me around.
Since I left Gan Province
you've been right on my heels.
You're not going to tell me that that's a coincidence?
Are you going to follow me all the way to Datong Prefecture?
That night of the shipwreck in Datong Prefecture
besides the three supply ships that sank
a small passenger ship was also knocked over.
There were five doctors from Jifeng Hall.
Two are dead and three missing.
You have your reason for going to Datong Prefecture.
So does Jifeng Hall.
I'm sorry.
I... I really didn't know about that.
Miss Lin, I was just making a joke.
I don't really think that you're following me around.
Good morning.
Shall we?
We have to hurry.
Didn't you say that we're going to where the ships sank?
Why bother coming into the city with me?
I did plan to look for evidence at the spot where the ships sank
but there's no rush.
I'll feel more at ease to see you back in Jifeng Hall.
Come have a look! It's all fresh!
Jifeng Hall is just ahead.
Young man, I heard that the doctors here are really good.
I came to see one in particular.
Why is it closed?
You're down on your luck.
You came a day too late.
A murderer escaped yesterday.
He happened to escape into that clinic.
The local officers barged in to arrest him.
They had a fight in there and everything was broken.
Give it some time.
They need to tidy it up. It will take days before they can reopen.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
There are officers checking identities at the city gates.
Jifeng Hall is in trouble.
It seems that we are both right to have made a trip here.
Let's go.
Miss Lin.
Yun.
Miss Lin, you've finally arrived.
There are people living here?
I know that.
Your Grace, you saw it for yourself.
The local officers have searched all the inns and restaurants.
They will eventually find their way into this residence.
It really isn't ideal to keep them hiding in here.
Even if this shipwreck really was an accident
the capital will send someone here to confirm it.
Not to mention that there are so many suspicious factors in this case.
It's only a matter of time before someone is sent here.
Don't fret. We'll wait for a while.
Your Grace.
The capital is very far away from here.
If the envoys don't get here in time and the officers find them first
what about Your Grace's safety?
Even if the officers end up finding them here
which of them would dare lay a finger on me?
Your Grace!
Your Grace has been righteous to offer us a helping hand.
We're deeply grateful.
If there is no way out of this in the end
we will leave on our own.
We can't implicate Your Grace in this.
Doctor Chen, as a member of the Imperial Clan
I have enjoyed the luxuries of life.
Hence, I should also take responsibility for defending this nation.
This is a serious offense that endangered the security of our border.
Isn't this what a descendant of the royal Xiao family should care about?
I wonder why Doctor Chen thinks this would implicate me.
Your Grace, I have misspoken.
Your Grace, please don't mind me.
Your Grace, when we left the capital
Grand Madam specifically instructed me...
Uncle Tai, are you just like Mother?
Do you think that I'm only capable of idling around?
I can't pull off anything else?
No, not at all. That's not what I meant.
Moreover, it's already too late to say all this now.
I am already involved in this case.
Since it has come to this
we should take action instead of waiting around doing nothing.
Your Grace... What do you have in mind?
From what you just said
it was Commander Qian of Datong Prefecture
who led the officers to search the premises.
He had everyone detained.
But after checking their identities, he didn't arrest anyone. Right?
Correct.
It's obvious that Commander Qian was searching
for the three missing doctors of Jifeng Hall.
However, since he is still searching everywhere
it means that we didn't get here too late.
Yun, tidy up a room for our guest.
Yes.
It's such lovely weather. The moon must be bright tonight.
It's quite suitable for a trip to the prefectural office.
You suspect that the prefectural governor is also involved?
Although it isn't only Governor Zhang
who could order around a fifth-rank commander
I don't think he would be totally unaware of this case
if the commander has had checkpoints in the city every five steps.
How about it?
It's rare to have the moon out so bright.
Miss Lin, should we go and admire the moon tonight?
I'm not joining you.
Why not?
It's the first day of the lunar month.
Why would there be a bright moon?
You can go on your own.
Have those men escaped from Datong Prefecture's jurisdiction?
That's impossible!
The first thing I did that night was to seal off the border.
It's said that the ship's captain suffered a mild injury to his leg.
If they were to escape
my men would have caught up with them.
There's only one possibility left.
They could have snuck back into the city to wait until this dies down.
Those men didn't even return to Jifeng Hall's clinics.
It proves that they are very cautious.
Moreover, they are all locals.
If they mean to hide themselves in such a big city...
It will certainly be difficult to find them.
We had a deal!
The transport officer of the Ministry of War is in charge
of delivering the military rations to my jurisdiction.
If any problems should occur within my jurisdiction
they just need to be disguised as accidents
and I won't be punished too severely!
Once this dies down, my mentor promised to recommend me for other positions.
But now?
Never mind recommending me
if I don't even make it past this critical stage, I'll be dead!
Prefectural Governor, we're only missing a few witnesses.
There are still ways to make up for it.
You're already in a panic.
Isn't that a bit too soon?
What if those men--
There's an assassin!
Catch the assassin!
Who are you?
Leave now.
What great skills.
Mister Qin, that was...
Envoys from the capital couldn't have gotten here so soon.
He must have come from the northern frontier.
The northern frontier?
Are you hurt?
Let me take a look.
I'm all right.
I underestimated my opponents.
That man... he can't be just an ordinary subordinate.
His palm gale only grazed past me.
It didn't hit me.
How did my clothes-- It looks like they were burnt?
Shadowless in the region of ghosts...
The dark flames of hell.
- Duan Tong Zhou? - Duan Tong Zhou?
It must be true.
It must be him.
He ranks fourth in Langya Hall's Pugilist Ranking.
No one knows Duan Tong Zhou's background.
Is it true that no one knows anything about his origin?
Not even Langya Hall?
There are so many people in the world.
How could Langya Hall recognize everyone?
A skilled fighter like Duan Tong Zhou
can't possibly have been hired by just anyone.
It proves that the dark secret behind this case is far darker than I thought.
Who knows which influential characters in the capital are involved?
Who is it?
Yuan Qi?
Commander Qian.
Mister Qin.
Did any suspicious person enter the city during the day?
Since the incident, we have been very strict at the checkpoints.
There aren't any suspicious looking people.
But there is a prestigious visitor.
A prestigious visitor?
Who is it?
Marquis of Laiyang.
Is it His Majesty's nephew, Xiao Yuan Qi?
Prince of Laiyang's posthumous son, the younger brother who died young?
Yes.
He was out traveling and arrived here.
I even met him at the city gates this morning.
When did he get here?
About half a month ago?
Half a month ago?
Yes, I remember now.
When he entered the city, we didn't question him much.
He is, after all, nobility.
None of us dared to offend him.
How strange.
I wonder what scenery is so remarkable within Datong Prefecture
that the young marquis would linger on for so long?
Mister Qin, you mean...
How about this?
When the day breaks, we'll gather our men.
Let's pay the young marquis a visit.
Greetings, Your Grace.
Commander Qian.
I wonder what it is in my residence that could have you knocking on my door
so early in the morning with such a crowd.
The governor heard that Your Grace has been held hostage.
He has sent us to your rescue.
Seeing that Your Grace is safe and sound, I'm very much relieved.
Nothing but nonsense!
Who told you that I was being held hostage?
I am just carrying out the orders.
Your Grace, please forgive me.
You are to arrest all the criminals within the premises!
Be careful not to let those villains hurt His Grace!
Yes!
Check over there.
Look for secret chambers and passages.
Commander Qian, none in the north chamber!
Check inside.
Commander Qian, nothing was found.
- And? - We've searched everywhere.
There's nothing at all.
All right.
Go on.
Your Grace, the tip was incorrect.
We've disturbed you recklessly. Please don't take it to heart.
Let's go!
Ping Jing is really something.
Shut the door.
- Greetings, Your Grace. - Greetings, Your Grace.
- Second Young Master. - Miss Lin.
I've asked the captain of the ship several times.
He said he'd only talk
when Changlin Manor's second young master is here.
What did you say?
You didn't even find one person?
Mister Qin!
This matter has gotten out of hand.
Not only is my life at risk
but also that of Master Song in the capital!
You should come up with a plan.
It has already come to this.
So many innocent lives were lost because of you.
If you wish to survive
you must tell me everything that you know.
Speak now.
This is the second young master of Royal Changlin Manor.
He's the only one who can save you now.
I work for the transport bureau.
I've been steering ships for more than 10 years.
I've always been very meticulous.
However, something came up at home.
My son owed a huge gambling debt.
Commander Qian came to me.
He said...
Look at this carefully.
This sum of money is enough to get your son out of debt
and settle your entire family somewhere for a lifetime.
Of the three cargo ships, yours will lead the way.
As you turn into Tiger Bay
slow down immediately and head south.
Spin your ship 90 degrees.
What?
That... That will result in multiple collisions.
Exactly.
This is what we want. Stranded ships.
That--
We're shipping military rations.
Why are you doing this?
Those high up in the capital are playing their own mind games.
Why do you care?
The prefectural governor will have your back.
Don't worry about anything.
Those high up in the capital?
It seems that there's a greater mastermind behind all this.
Judging from his testimony
I can now understand why Duan Tong Zhou is involved.
These days, while in hiding, I've been thinking about this matter.
Some other parts of the ship must have been tampered with.
Multiple collisions between three ships.
It all got totally out of hand.
I saw the other two ships capsize.
Even mine nearly couldn't make it for long.
There was wind and rain.
It was also at that location.
If the doctors' passenger ship hadn't happened to pass by
no one would have been rescued.
Sadly, we only managed to save them then.
We only hauled up seven or eight men.
We had planned to rush to the next harbor quickly
but just as the day was about to break
we were intercepted by those men who hunted us down.
Those of Datong Prefecture are unlikely to get away
now that we have your testimony.
If only... we could also find some solid evidence.
I've heard that one of the ships can't even be hauled out.
The other two were brought out of the canal but they are totally shattered.
I'm afraid it won't be easy to find any solid evidence.
You mean to say that remains of the ships are still here?
Exactly.
Sir, you need not panic.
Even if we can't catch them
we are only missing the witness.
There's still a chance to defend yourself.
His Majesty is a forgiving man.
He's always handled matters with rigor.
As long as the Royal Changlin Manor fails to obtain solid evidence...
not all is lost.
I hope that it turns out as you said.
As for solid evidence, tell Master Song that he need not worry.
The provincial governor came to supervise the hauling of the ships.
I was concerned that I might be questioned
so I had the remains tidied and cleaned.
There is no trace of any documents.
What did you say?
I said that no trace of documents was left behind.
What hauling of the ships?
They are just fine in the canal.
Why did you haul them out?
I'm not the one who wanted to do that.
This is a huge accident.
Although it is within my prefectural jurisdiction
the provincial governor will still have to look into it.
They sent someone to supervise the hauling of the ships.
How could I hold them back?
- Get my horse. - Yes.
It seems that someone in the prefectural office realized their mistake.
We're still too late.
You said that he rushed over there and burnt everything?
Indeed.
We didn't do anything.
Prefectural Governor, fret not.
I got there in time.
I had everything taken care of.
What exactly did you take care of?
What else needs taking care of?
You're a smart man.
How can you possibly not have figured it out by now?
The deal we had was to cause a small accident
to delay those ships for a few days and that was all.
They just so happened to have met with a rainstorm that night.
Accidentally, it resulted in this because of a mistake in the process!
Could it be that I got it wrong?
Could it be that Master Song had intended to be so ruthless in the first place?
Prefectural Governor.
We're all in this together now.
Saying what it originally was or what the plan was in the first place
is now totally meaningless.
Sir!
This prefectural governor is so strange.
He left those ships by the shore for so long
and then suddenly thought of getting rid of them?
Who cares what his reason is?
The ships are burnt anyway.
Not even a bit is left.
Hold on.
Not everything is cleaned out.
There's still one at the bottom of the canal.
I already asked about it while you were out.
There were undercurrents near where the ships sank.
It's going to be winter soon, so the water is now too cold.
Even the best divers won't dare to take such a risk.
Miss Lin. Yuan Qi.
Do you know what my nickname was at Mount Langya?
I don't know.
You know about the Cold Crystal at the bottom of Lake Han?
You have no idea how many of those I've retrieved with my hands.
That's why I'm very famous at Mount Langya.
They call me the aqua dragon of Lake Han.
What are you laughing at?
I'll stop laughing. Where's your tail?
Aqua dragon?
Did she just smile?
Smile.
I thought that you don't smile.
Sir, will it really be better to send Madam and the young master away?
Every inch of land belongs to the emperor.
I know that it might not save their lives in the end.
I'm just doing it to set my mind at ease for some time.
You must remember accurately where the ships sank.
You mustn't get it wrong.
I will never forget this location.
Ping Jing is now in Datong Prefecture.
I wonder how the situation is.
Although the members of Jifeng Hall are assisting him
they are still small in numbers.
A secret investigation doesn't require full force combat.
It hurts?
Ping Jing went into Datong Prefecture alone.
There's the advantage of taking action in small numbers.
Moreover, that child thinks and acts differently than we do.
He acts more like those in the fighter's world than we do.
I certainly believe that Ping Jing can bring back solid evidence.
However...
What happens after he retrieves it?
There's a huge distance between Datong Prefecture and the capital.
Won't those who plotted all this be brewing another scheme?
Isn't it about time for us to make the next move?
We're not too far away from Qi Province's Shanliu Military Camp.
All right then.
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