1 00:00:01,501 --> 00:00:04,921 ORIGINAL STORY BY NATSU HYUUGA 2 00:01:33,885 --> 00:01:35,386 {\an8}THIS STORY IS A FICION, AND ALL NAMES OF FIGURES ND ORGANIZATIONS ARE FICTITIOUS. 3 00:01:35,470 --> 00:01:36,805 {\an8}MOREOVER, THE STORY HAS NO RELATION TO REAL-LIFE INCIDENTS AND EVENTS. 4 00:01:39,015 --> 00:01:41,309 {\an8}- Yeah. - I think so. 5 00:01:41,392 --> 00:01:42,560 {\an8}He's very suspicious! 6 00:01:42,644 --> 00:01:45,021 {\an8}Then there's a new problem, right? 7 00:01:50,527 --> 00:01:53,363 Alcohol... Bring me more alcohol... 8 00:01:53,446 --> 00:01:56,616 He's changed so much. 9 00:01:56,699 --> 00:02:00,120 Looking at his face makes alcohol taste bad. 10 00:02:00,203 --> 00:02:02,038 I agree completely. 11 00:02:10,296 --> 00:02:12,090 Huh? Thanks... 12 00:02:20,974 --> 00:02:23,393 How long are you going to sulk like that? 13 00:02:23,476 --> 00:02:24,686 I'm not sulking. 14 00:02:24,769 --> 00:02:28,064 Please don't forget, you're at work right now. 15 00:02:28,148 --> 00:02:29,315 I get it. 16 00:02:31,109 --> 00:02:32,402 He doesn't get it. 17 00:02:33,361 --> 00:02:37,657 A man like Sir Jinshi does not respond like a child like that. 18 00:02:38,533 --> 00:02:42,370 A man like Sir Jinshi does not get attached to his toys like that. 19 00:02:43,663 --> 00:02:45,874 Here's more work for you. 20 00:02:49,961 --> 00:02:54,799 That day, I struggled in getting details of what happened from Concubine Gyokuyou. 21 00:02:56,968 --> 00:02:59,554 - She couldn't stop laughing. - A misunderstanding? 22 00:02:59,637 --> 00:03:03,641 She explained the payment for the surety was a meeting with a popular courtesan. 23 00:03:03,725 --> 00:03:06,728 To think that that girl had such connections... 24 00:03:06,811 --> 00:03:10,148 And what sorts of things did my master imagine? 25 00:03:11,274 --> 00:03:12,817 Youth is a scary thing. 26 00:03:14,944 --> 00:03:18,531 But to think that he finished his work so quickly so that 27 00:03:19,282 --> 00:03:20,742 he could go meet the girl, 28 00:03:22,577 --> 00:03:24,996 only to learn she had gone home with another man... 29 00:03:25,788 --> 00:03:28,499 It must've been quite the shock. 30 00:03:35,882 --> 00:03:38,843 Why can't they use their heads a little more? 31 00:03:39,552 --> 00:03:44,140 Many bureaucrats try to propose laws that only benefit them. 32 00:03:44,682 --> 00:03:49,103 I do feel pity that his workload is increasing from such nonsense. 33 00:03:56,444 --> 00:03:57,320 Sir Jinshi! 34 00:03:57,403 --> 00:04:00,615 Work hours have ended. Can't this wait? 35 00:04:00,698 --> 00:04:04,702 No, this isn't about work. The thing is... 36 00:04:09,666 --> 00:04:10,541 Sir Kounen is...? 37 00:04:10,625 --> 00:04:12,794 - Sir Jinshi. - Let's go, quickly! 38 00:04:16,631 --> 00:04:18,800 Oh, my. That's terrible news... 39 00:04:19,509 --> 00:04:22,303 Apparently, some high-up bureaucrat has died. 40 00:04:22,387 --> 00:04:24,305 This may be a bit harsh, 41 00:04:24,389 --> 00:04:28,434 but I'm not so sentimental as to mourn someone who's a complete stranger. 42 00:04:29,060 --> 00:04:31,104 He was in his fifties, and the cause of death 43 00:04:31,187 --> 00:04:33,231 was over drinking. 44 00:04:33,314 --> 00:04:34,983 He brought this onto himself. 45 00:04:37,568 --> 00:04:38,903 But if this person 46 00:04:38,987 --> 00:04:43,491 went out of his way to get the head lady-in-waiting to leave, then... 47 00:04:43,574 --> 00:04:46,828 Apothecary. Do you really think the cause of death was alcohol? 48 00:04:47,829 --> 00:04:49,289 I knew he would ask that. 49 00:04:50,873 --> 00:04:52,583 Anyone who enjoys alcohol 50 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:55,962 would know that drinking too much is bad for your body. 51 00:04:56,045 --> 00:04:59,340 Over-drinking for many years causes your organs to deteriorate. 52 00:04:59,424 --> 00:05:03,261 Drinking a large amount at once could cause death in some cases. 53 00:05:03,344 --> 00:05:06,931 I heard that he was at a banquet and drank a large amount of alcohol. 54 00:05:07,015 --> 00:05:08,558 In that case, he would die. 55 00:05:09,475 --> 00:05:12,061 But Sir Kounen holds his liquor well. 56 00:05:12,145 --> 00:05:13,646 I don't believe he died from over drinking. 57 00:05:17,358 --> 00:05:19,277 The dead man's name was Kounen. 58 00:05:20,111 --> 00:05:23,031 He was a vivacious soldier who could chug an entire bottle, 59 00:05:23,114 --> 00:05:24,782 and he was well-liked. 60 00:05:24,866 --> 00:05:26,868 - Gaoshun. - Yes, sir. 61 00:05:27,618 --> 00:05:30,371 This is the alcohol he was drinking at the banquet. 62 00:05:32,415 --> 00:05:34,167 Alright, alcohol! 63 00:05:34,250 --> 00:05:36,669 The bottle containing Sir Kounen' drink. 64 00:05:36,753 --> 00:05:39,213 It was knocked over and all of it spilled out. 65 00:05:41,132 --> 00:05:45,386 So we wouldn't know if that bottle contained poison. 66 00:05:45,470 --> 00:05:47,096 Exactly. 67 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:52,226 He's lacking energy today. He probably knows he's asking for a lot again. 68 00:05:52,310 --> 00:05:55,438 He should be his usual glittering self. 69 00:05:55,938 --> 00:05:58,274 These days, I can't help but see Sir Jinshi 70 00:05:58,357 --> 00:06:00,526 as much more child-like than he used to be. 71 00:06:05,782 --> 00:06:08,951 There's a mix of sweet and salty flavors. 72 00:06:09,035 --> 00:06:12,455 It tastes like someone added salt to an originally sweet alcohol... 73 00:06:13,206 --> 00:06:16,167 - What's wrong? - It has a unique taste. 74 00:06:16,250 --> 00:06:18,669 Yes. It's sweet, right? 75 00:06:18,753 --> 00:06:21,089 It's what Sir Kounen liked. 76 00:06:21,172 --> 00:06:22,507 He loved sweets more than anything. 77 00:06:22,590 --> 00:06:27,261 He wouldn't touch even the most expensive smoked meats or rock salts. 78 00:06:27,345 --> 00:06:28,429 I see. 79 00:06:28,513 --> 00:06:30,723 He used to like spicy things, but he said 80 00:06:30,807 --> 00:06:33,392 he suddenly developed an appetite for sweet things. 81 00:06:34,018 --> 00:06:36,437 Even his meals were mostly sweet. 82 00:06:36,521 --> 00:06:38,314 That would cause diabetes. 83 00:06:38,397 --> 00:06:41,776 Don't bring my memory back to reality. 84 00:06:41,859 --> 00:06:45,780 - You're still drinking? - Spice-lover turned sweet-lover, huh? 85 00:06:47,323 --> 00:06:49,283 Was there salt at this banquet? 86 00:06:49,367 --> 00:06:54,539 Yes. They served rock salt, moon cakes, and dried meats. 87 00:06:55,373 --> 00:06:57,083 Should I prepare the same things? 88 00:06:57,166 --> 00:07:00,211 No. I'll finish drinking before it's ready. 89 00:07:00,294 --> 00:07:01,838 That's not what I was... 90 00:07:01,921 --> 00:07:05,883 Can we get our hands on the bottle Sir Kounen was drinking from? 91 00:07:05,967 --> 00:07:08,261 It's shattered into pieces. 92 00:07:08,344 --> 00:07:09,178 It doesn't matter. 93 00:07:16,060 --> 00:07:20,731 There's another thing I want you to look into. 94 00:07:25,361 --> 00:07:26,446 Excuse me. 95 00:07:30,992 --> 00:07:33,870 - Here's the report. - Thank you very much. 96 00:07:39,041 --> 00:07:40,376 I knew it. 97 00:07:41,669 --> 00:07:43,296 This is the bottle. 98 00:07:49,886 --> 00:07:51,888 Is it okay to lick it? 99 00:07:52,555 --> 00:07:54,348 There's no poison in here. 100 00:08:00,563 --> 00:08:01,481 It's salt? 101 00:08:01,564 --> 00:08:05,276 Precisely. You mentioned, Sir Jinshi, 102 00:08:05,902 --> 00:08:09,238 that Sir Kounen suddenly developed a liking for sweet things. 103 00:08:09,322 --> 00:08:12,366 - And he only ate sweets after that. - Yes. 104 00:08:12,992 --> 00:08:16,370 But in this bottle has so much salt that there are grains leftover 105 00:08:16,454 --> 00:08:18,247 after it has dried. 106 00:08:20,333 --> 00:08:22,919 Salt is a necessary ingredient for the human body, 107 00:08:23,002 --> 00:08:25,213 but too much, and it becomes poison. 108 00:08:25,296 --> 00:08:27,006 So the cause of death was... 109 00:08:27,715 --> 00:08:29,258 Considering how much he drank, 110 00:08:29,342 --> 00:08:31,886 and how much salt was dissolved in the drink, 111 00:08:31,969 --> 00:08:34,514 this could very much be the cause of death. 112 00:08:34,597 --> 00:08:36,224 But if he drank 113 00:08:36,307 --> 00:08:39,227 something this salty, wouldn't he notice the taste... 114 00:08:39,310 --> 00:08:42,230 He didn't notice. Please take a look at this. 115 00:08:43,773 --> 00:08:47,568 These are the records of Sir Kounen's lifestyle habits. 116 00:08:48,653 --> 00:08:51,614 Looking at this, my guess is that Sir Kounen 117 00:08:51,697 --> 00:08:54,492 lost the ability to taste salt. 118 00:08:54,575 --> 00:08:55,409 There's no way... 119 00:08:56,410 --> 00:08:58,246 I learned that Kounen 120 00:08:58,329 --> 00:09:00,331 was a diligent and talented bureaucrat, 121 00:09:00,414 --> 00:09:01,874 who lived a monastic life. 122 00:09:07,255 --> 00:09:09,090 And many years ago, 123 00:09:09,173 --> 00:09:11,551 he lost his wife and child to an epidemic disease. 124 00:09:12,718 --> 00:09:15,179 After that, all he did was work. 125 00:09:15,263 --> 00:09:18,933 His only place of joy was in alcohol and sweets. 126 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:22,436 There is an illness where one loses their sense of taste. 127 00:09:23,187 --> 00:09:26,357 Causes include an imbalanced diet or stress. 128 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,985 Diligent people often suppress their emotions. 129 00:09:29,068 --> 00:09:31,195 And that burden can lead to illness. 130 00:09:31,821 --> 00:09:35,283 So who placed the salt in the alcohol bottle? 131 00:09:36,909 --> 00:09:40,037 It's not my job to investigate that. 132 00:09:40,705 --> 00:09:45,042 However, there was salt added to yesterday's alcohol as well. 133 00:09:46,085 --> 00:09:48,796 It could be someone who didn't like sweet drinks 134 00:09:48,879 --> 00:09:51,090 added the salt from the banquet. 135 00:09:51,882 --> 00:09:56,178 Or... There are many people that dislike diligent and honest people. 136 00:09:56,971 --> 00:09:59,932 Perhaps they played a prank on someone they didn't like 137 00:10:00,016 --> 00:10:03,185 by messing with their alcohol at the party. 138 00:10:04,770 --> 00:10:07,940 And if that person continues drinking without noticing, 139 00:10:08,024 --> 00:10:11,694 they might keep adding more salt until they do notice. 140 00:10:13,821 --> 00:10:15,489 - Gaoshun. - Yes. 141 00:10:16,616 --> 00:10:17,658 Yes, sir. 142 00:10:19,577 --> 00:10:21,454 I'm such a coward. 143 00:10:22,038 --> 00:10:27,043 At this point, I'm basically telling them who the culprit is. 144 00:10:28,044 --> 00:10:32,256 I don't want to be the direct cause of anyone's punishment. 145 00:10:32,882 --> 00:10:34,342 Sorry about that. 146 00:10:34,425 --> 00:10:36,093 - You helped a lot. - Thank you. 147 00:10:37,219 --> 00:10:39,305 An obsidian tassel... 148 00:10:40,014 --> 00:10:41,766 Is he in mourning? 149 00:10:42,516 --> 00:10:44,352 He must've been a great man. 150 00:10:45,478 --> 00:10:47,855 Yes. He took care of me when I was young. 151 00:10:53,277 --> 00:10:55,613 He looks like a regular young man. 152 00:10:56,822 --> 00:10:59,617 I guess he's human after all. 153 00:11:01,952 --> 00:11:03,371 Oh, I almost forgot. 154 00:11:06,832 --> 00:11:09,043 - This is a gift of thanks. - A gourd? 155 00:11:09,126 --> 00:11:11,337 Yes, although it's different from what you had yesterday. 156 00:11:11,420 --> 00:11:13,631 It's alcohol? 157 00:11:13,714 --> 00:11:16,384 - Yeah. Don't get caught, all right? - Yes, sir. 158 00:11:17,259 --> 00:11:18,886 Thank you! 159 00:11:24,225 --> 00:11:26,394 You don't look that grateful to me. 160 00:11:26,477 --> 00:11:28,354 You think so? 161 00:11:28,437 --> 00:11:31,065 I think you should be getting back to work. 162 00:11:32,775 --> 00:11:34,777 I knew it, he's slacking off from work. 163 00:11:34,860 --> 00:11:37,571 You should finish before it starts piling up. 164 00:11:37,655 --> 00:11:38,989 I have been working... 165 00:11:39,073 --> 00:11:44,161 - What kind of work? - For example, I'm working on a bill. 166 00:11:44,245 --> 00:11:47,581 They say they should prevent the youth from over-drinking, 167 00:11:47,665 --> 00:11:50,084 and they should set an age limit. 168 00:11:50,167 --> 00:11:51,043 Huh? 169 00:11:51,669 --> 00:11:54,839 The law states that drinking is prohibited until you're 20. 170 00:12:00,219 --> 00:12:01,720 Sir Jinshi... 171 00:12:02,638 --> 00:12:04,974 Make sure that never passes, all right? 172 00:12:09,311 --> 00:12:12,565 That's out of my hands. 173 00:12:12,648 --> 00:12:13,983 Sir Jinshi! 174 00:12:46,390 --> 00:12:47,433 Doctor! 175 00:12:50,811 --> 00:12:51,729 It's this way! 176 00:12:56,150 --> 00:12:58,527 A ghost! 177 00:13:03,365 --> 00:13:05,784 You're lucky it was winter. 178 00:13:05,868 --> 00:13:08,454 The body is in a good state considering that she drowned. 179 00:13:08,537 --> 00:13:10,664 How can you stare? 180 00:13:10,748 --> 00:13:14,251 - Where was the body found? - She was floating in an outside moat. 181 00:13:14,335 --> 00:13:16,879 From her clothes, she must be a servant in the rear palace. 182 00:13:17,463 --> 00:13:20,341 I see. That's why they called for the old man. 183 00:13:21,091 --> 00:13:24,595 And the quack doctor. The one doing the autopsy is like this... 184 00:13:24,678 --> 00:13:28,307 - Miss, can you look for me? - No. 185 00:13:28,974 --> 00:13:31,435 I've been told not to touch the body. 186 00:13:32,019 --> 00:13:33,646 That's surprising. 187 00:13:33,729 --> 00:13:37,024 - Sir Jinshi! - How do you do, Sir Jinshi. 188 00:13:38,234 --> 00:13:40,236 Looks like you're used to dead bodies. 189 00:13:40,319 --> 00:13:42,279 I've seen them many times. 190 00:13:42,363 --> 00:13:45,449 The back alleys of the pleasure district are a lawless area. 191 00:13:46,075 --> 00:13:48,118 Why can't you touch the body? 192 00:13:48,202 --> 00:13:50,371 I've been instructed by my apothecary master. 193 00:13:50,996 --> 00:13:53,749 - Because it's bad luck? - No... 194 00:13:54,291 --> 00:13:57,628 Because humans can also become "ingredients for medicine." 195 00:13:57,711 --> 00:14:00,422 I'm sure with your curious nature, 196 00:14:00,506 --> 00:14:03,717 you will start robbing graves if you try it even once. 197 00:14:03,801 --> 00:14:06,595 Never cross that line, okay? 198 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:07,763 Yes, sir. 199 00:14:07,846 --> 00:14:09,431 I see. That makes sense. 200 00:14:10,307 --> 00:14:11,642 That's rude of them. 201 00:14:11,725 --> 00:14:15,145 Doctor, could you please take a look? 202 00:14:15,980 --> 00:14:16,897 Yes, sir... 203 00:14:20,609 --> 00:14:22,111 Geez... 204 00:14:24,572 --> 00:14:27,908 She's tall, wearing hard, wooden shoes. 205 00:14:28,576 --> 00:14:32,621 Bandaged on one foot with red fingertips... 206 00:14:34,874 --> 00:14:38,627 It must've been cold inside the water. 207 00:14:43,215 --> 00:14:45,551 The girl was a Food Service maid, 208 00:14:45,634 --> 00:14:48,262 and had been working as usual yesterday. 209 00:14:48,345 --> 00:14:51,348 The guard speculates she climbed the fence last night 210 00:14:51,432 --> 00:14:53,267 and jumped into the moat. 211 00:14:53,350 --> 00:14:55,227 In other words, it was suicide by jumping. 212 00:14:55,853 --> 00:14:57,688 Suicide by jumping... 213 00:14:58,314 --> 00:15:01,984 - What do you think? - I don't know if it's suicide or not. 214 00:15:02,067 --> 00:15:04,904 But I think it was impossible to accomplish on her own. 215 00:15:04,987 --> 00:15:06,030 What do you mean? 216 00:15:06,614 --> 00:15:09,283 There were no ladders along the wall, 217 00:15:09,366 --> 00:15:11,911 and there were no climbing tools either. 218 00:15:11,994 --> 00:15:15,289 The castle walls of the rear palace are four times my height. 219 00:15:15,372 --> 00:15:17,875 So you need a tool to climb. 220 00:15:18,709 --> 00:15:19,919 Usually, yes. 221 00:15:21,003 --> 00:15:22,588 Strictly speaking, 222 00:15:22,671 --> 00:15:25,507 it's possible to climb the walls without tools. 223 00:15:26,175 --> 00:15:29,428 Do you remember the ghost incident from before? 224 00:15:29,511 --> 00:15:31,305 - The one with Concubine Fuyou? - Yes. 225 00:15:32,097 --> 00:15:35,809 I wondered how Concubine Fuyou climbed the outer walls, 226 00:15:35,893 --> 00:15:39,188 so I performed a close investigation of the castle walls. 227 00:15:39,271 --> 00:15:42,358 There, I found a protrusion that must've been used 228 00:15:42,441 --> 00:15:44,151 by the carpenters. 229 00:15:45,235 --> 00:15:48,948 But it would be difficult for most women to climb, 230 00:15:49,031 --> 00:15:52,034 let alone a woman with bound feet like that maid... 231 00:15:53,327 --> 00:15:58,165 Foot binding is based on the belief that the smaller your feet, the more beautiful. 232 00:15:58,248 --> 00:16:01,251 It's not performed on all women, but I often see women 233 00:16:01,335 --> 00:16:05,089 with a distinctive walking style in the rear palace. 234 00:16:05,798 --> 00:16:07,716 So if it's not suicide, 235 00:16:08,384 --> 00:16:09,718 you're saying it's murder? 236 00:16:09,802 --> 00:16:11,804 I don't know about that. 237 00:16:12,388 --> 00:16:16,100 But I am sure that she was alive when she fell into the moat. 238 00:16:17,601 --> 00:16:20,896 She must've kept scratching the fence to climb up. 239 00:16:20,980 --> 00:16:23,983 The fingertips on the body were red from bleeding. 240 00:16:28,445 --> 00:16:31,448 So, was it suicide or murder? 241 00:16:39,498 --> 00:16:44,378 I would never consider taking my own life. 242 00:16:44,962 --> 00:16:47,589 I'd never want to get murdered either. 243 00:16:48,424 --> 00:16:51,427 Once you die, you can't test for any medicine or poison. 244 00:16:54,722 --> 00:16:58,225 But if I were to die... 245 00:16:59,893 --> 00:17:01,687 What are you thinking? 246 00:17:01,770 --> 00:17:03,897 About what poison I'd use if I were to die. 247 00:17:03,981 --> 00:17:07,985 - What? You mean to die? - Not at all. 248 00:17:08,068 --> 00:17:10,738 But you never know when you could die, right? 249 00:17:12,531 --> 00:17:16,702 Even if you don't wish it, someone's ill wishes could 250 00:17:16,785 --> 00:17:19,747 lead to an unwanted death. 251 00:17:19,830 --> 00:17:20,831 Like Sir Kounen. 252 00:17:23,834 --> 00:17:27,629 You never know when death will visit you. 253 00:17:27,713 --> 00:17:30,674 You cannot defeat fate, no matter what... 254 00:18:43,872 --> 00:18:46,834 - Sir Jinshi. - What is it? 255 00:18:49,211 --> 00:18:51,672 If you are ever going to execute me, 256 00:18:51,755 --> 00:18:53,549 can you kill me with poison? 257 00:18:54,341 --> 00:18:55,300 Why would that happen? 258 00:18:55,968 --> 00:18:58,679 If I ever make a mistake and offend anyone, 259 00:18:58,762 --> 00:19:00,889 I'm sure you will be the one to punish me. 260 00:19:11,525 --> 00:19:14,153 Have I already offended him? 261 00:19:14,736 --> 00:19:17,865 I'm sorry. I got carried away. 262 00:19:17,948 --> 00:19:20,576 I won't complain even if it's death by hanging or beheading. 263 00:19:20,659 --> 00:19:22,870 I'm saying, why would that happen? 264 00:19:24,371 --> 00:19:26,874 Because I'm a peasant. 265 00:19:26,957 --> 00:19:29,585 My life could be taken away by any small mistake. 266 00:19:29,668 --> 00:19:31,211 I'd never do that. 267 00:19:31,295 --> 00:19:33,422 No matter what you will or won't do. 268 00:19:33,505 --> 00:19:35,424 It could happen. 269 00:19:37,342 --> 00:19:39,303 Looks like I shouldn't have said that. 270 00:19:40,888 --> 00:19:44,183 If we're finished here, I'll be off. 271 00:20:01,950 --> 00:20:05,412 Later, I heard rumors that the dead maid was present 272 00:20:05,495 --> 00:20:09,958 at the poisoning incident at the garden party. 273 00:20:10,876 --> 00:20:13,128 They even found a suicide note, 274 00:20:13,212 --> 00:20:16,340 and thus, the case was ruled a suicide and closed. 275 00:20:23,430 --> 00:20:26,099 The reports from the other day are finally here. 276 00:20:26,683 --> 00:20:30,354 Two months since I ordered a search for a person with a burn on their arm. 277 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:32,856 You took too much time. 278 00:20:32,940 --> 00:20:34,733 I'm sorry, sir. 279 00:20:34,816 --> 00:20:37,069 So, who was it? 280 00:20:37,152 --> 00:20:40,155 It was someone higher-ranked than we expected. 281 00:20:41,615 --> 00:20:43,408 Fengming, from The Garnet Pavilion. 282 00:20:48,956 --> 00:20:52,167 She's the head lady-in-waiting for the Pure Concubine, Lady Ah-Duo. 283 00:20:54,336 --> 00:20:55,170 I see. 284 00:20:56,546 --> 00:20:57,756 You may leave. 285 00:21:03,679 --> 00:21:04,930 Concubine Ah-Duo... 286 00:22:36,021 --> 00:22:39,524 PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE 287 00:22:47,616 --> 00:22:49,868 {\an8}Next Episode, "Honey." 288 00:22:49,951 --> 00:22:51,620 {\an8}Subtitle translation by: Yukimi Ohashi