【Multi | FULL】EP33 There is no body in Chubin’s coffin!😲 | 唐朝诡事录之西行 | iQIYI
[English subtitles are available] [Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To the West] [Episode 33] What Fang Jiong said matches what Lin Bei said. It’s not just a match; it’s a perfect match. Su Wuming, what do you mean by that? Nothing. Now we only have one suspect left. Yes. That ugly woman. As soon as Chu Bin left, she returned to the Biluo Inn. Currently, she is the prime suspect in the murder. I plan to put up Xijun’s painting at the night market, and offer a substantial reward for any leads. There’s no need to rush. You can do it tomorrow morning. Why wait until tomorrow morning? I’ll post it tonight. I’ll personally post it at the night market. Everyone! Come and take a look! Come. Come. Let’s take a look. We are currently tracking down a major suspect, with unknown name and background, and appearance as shown in the picture. Anyone with information or knowledge of her whereabouts should report to the government office immediately. There will be a substantial reward. A substantial reward? Who is this? I don’t know. No. Who can possibly recognize this person? Xijun and the others must have already found a place to feast and drink. Let’s go. Hey, everyone. Make way. Why did he tear it down? Yeah. Let’s not gather here. He just tore it down like that? What’s wrong with this guy? What are you doing? Post it tomorrow morning. State your reason. I haven’t thought of one yet. If I had a reason, do you think I would keep it to myself? How about this? Let’s go eat first and let me think it over. How is it? Are you satisfied with this place? What’s there to be dissatisfied with? It’s the best restaurant in Yunding, and it’s a private room. Lu Lingfeng, you’re the one treating us to a meal, but Yingtao is the one who arranged everything for you. She put in a lot of effort to make sure you, as the sheriff, don’t lose face. You should thank her. Thank you, Heroine Chu. Sheriff Lu, you’re too kind. Take the main seat. With Physician Fed here, I dare not take the main seat. Cut it out. You’re the host. Of course you should take the main seat. Su Wuming, are you unhappy because we didn’t let you take the main seat? Am I that petty? Lu Lingfeng is treating us to a meal. You should be delighted. I want to be delighted, but with the case unresolved, I just can’t feel happy. Where is Xijun? Why isn’t she here? She has arrived but insisted on waiting for you to arrive first before coming in. Why is that? Lu Lingfeng, I really like this outfit. Thank you. I’m glad to hear that. Then come and take a seat. Was this outfit a gift from Lu Lingfeng? Yes. Lu Lingfeng had someone make it without knowing my size. Weren’t you afraid that it might not fit and end up being wasted? I’m just surprised that it fits Xijun perfectly. Sheriff Lu, it seems you know Xijun very well. Yingtao! You’re implying something here! Was it made at Tianyi Fabric Shop? Yes. The tailor delivered it to the residence and said that if it didn’t fit, they could make alterations. When was it delivered? Just now, at dusk. Lu Lingfeng, did you go to Tianyi Fabric Shop yesterday at dusk? Yes. Yingtao. You know how to do needlework, right? How long would it take to make a piece of clothing like this? If I were to do it, I wouldn’t finish it in a year. Let alone her, even a good tailor would need 2 or 3 days. It was ordered yesterday and delivered today? I remember the tailor is named Ding Dade. Maybe he’s skilled and works fast, or perhaps he rushed after finding out I’m the sheriff. Even with rushing, from yesterday dusk to today dusk was only 12 hours. So, this tailor must have stayed up all night. The owner of the fabric shop died, but he kept working on this outfit. This is suspicious. Xijun, come with me to Tianyi Fabric Shop. I won’t be investigating in my capacity as sheriff. We’ll say you really like the outfit and that we’re there to thank him personally. You… Fed, I want to examine the body again. Can you assist me? Come on! Are we going to have this meal or not? The dishes have already been served. Exactly. Calm down. How about this? Take them back as a midnight snack. Fed, let’s go. What? Well… Pack them up for me. I… Well… How do you want me to assist you? If we can’t determine the cause of death today, we’ll have to proceed with an autopsy. At that point, I’ll have many questions to ask you. Why do I feel like you’re a bit like my senior, Old Weirdo Meng? I don’t want it to come to that either. After all, performing an autopsy is quite frightening. [Tianyi Fabric Shop] Sheriff, you’re here. Is there something about the outfit that doesn’t fit well? I think the outfit is fine. It’s not because of Dade’s excellent craftsmanship, but because your natural beauty makes the outfit look good. You’re a sweet talker. What’s your name? My name is Changle. Madam gave me this name with the hope that I would be happy every day. The outfit is very well made. Ms. Pei likes it very much. We came to express our gratitude to the tailor. You came in person to thank me? You really flatter me. It’s not just about thanking you; we also want to invite you to have a drink at the night market. Well… that’s not necessary. Ms. Pei and I are currently choosing a date for our wedding. For the wedding attire, we would like you to make it. According to Chang’an customs, before making it, we must invite the tailor to a meal. What’s the matter, Dade? Are you refusing to honor me? To be able to make the wedding attire for the sheriff and Ms. Pei is a great honor for me. However, I must consult with Madam and seek her permission first. Of course. Go ahead. I’ll wait for you. What’s this? It looks like lime. Let me see. It does look like lime. I smelled his mouth earlier and detected a faint lime scent. I thought I was mistaken. I can verify that. It is lime. The scent is faint, but it is undoubtedly lime. Could it be that Li Yun died from this? Dade. A toast to you. I… I don’t drink. Master said drinking leads to hands shaking, which would make me unable to work as a tailor anymore. Please forgive me, Sheriff Lu. That’s a good excuse not to drink. Dade, let me pour you some water. Tell us, why are you so skilled in tailoring? I started as an errand boy in the fabric shop when I was 7. I began learning the trade from the old master at ten, but I wasn’t very good at it because I’m not smart enough. Unlike Master, who became the best tailor in Yunding in just 2 years. You mean Li Yun? Yes. Back then, he was learning from the old master too. In just two years, the old master said he had surpassed him. Of course, all the customers who come to Shen’s Fabric Shop to have their clothes made say the same thing. Master was indeed a prodigy in this trade. I’m still not even close to his level. Shen’s Fabric Shop? Tianyi Fabric Shop is the name Master changed to after the old master passed away. Here. Drink water instead of wine. Ms. Pei and I toast to you. Thank you, Sheriff Lu. Thank you, Ms. Pei. You’re not drinking, but your hands are still shaking. I don’t think you can make a living as a tailor. I really am a disappointment. As a servant, I never dreamed I would drink with an official. I can hardly believe it, which is why my hands were shaking. Look, I’m fine now. Sit. You look tired. You must not have slept last night. You spent a whole day and night working on this outfit, didn’t you? Yes. Why didn’t you sleep? I didn’t say I needed it urgently when I went to the fabric store. I… I… Your master passed away suddenly, and the cause of death is unclear. Weren’t you supposed to do something within your capacity to help the madam, such as preparing the coffin and handling the funeral arrangements? I… I… I’m not just an official, but an official in charge of catching criminals. Dade, your master’s death is suspicious. If you have any clues, you should report them to Sheriff Lu. Okay. Okay. There are no clues. Here. A toast to you. Dade, was your master good to you? Yes. I was a slow learner. I didn’t learn the craft well from the old master. Ever since Li Yun became the master, I’ve been learning it quickly from him. It’s all thanks to him that I have my skills today. Did Li Yun meet Shen Ping when he was learning the craft at Shen’s Fabric Shop? Yes. Did they fall in love at first sight and become mutually affectionate, or did Li Yun pursue Shen Ping and win her heart through his efforts? Well… How should I put it? Just tell the truth. It was our young lady, now the madam, who courted and pursued Master. Shen Ping actively courted and pursued Li Yun? Exactly. Are you sure? Even though I was young at the time, I could still tell. Otherwise, Madam wouldn’t have refused the proposal from Fang Jiong’s family. Fang Jiong once proposed to Shen Ping? Well… maybe not. I must have remembered it wrong. [Seal of the Government Office of Yunding County] Go upstairs. Lime. [Fang’s Mansion] It’s my great honor to have Sheriff Lu visit so late at night. And this young lady as well. Please, come in. We have esteemed guests visiting. Rearrange the dishes and open another jar of good wine! Yes. Please. Even the best wine can be harmful if you drink too much. Since you have guests, I’ll excuse myself. Sheriff Lu, you didn’t come to drink? I made an invitation at the government office today, so I thought you were coming in response to it. I came to ask why you didn’t mention your proposal to Shen Ping today. Sheriff Lu, you didn’t ask me either. If you had, I would have certainly told you. That was more than 10 years ago. Now, Shen Ping is the wife of my good friend and has just lost her husband. It would have been inappropriate to bring up such an old story for no reason, wouldn’t it? If you’re not hungry, I’ll start eating first. An empty stomach makes it hard for me to sleep. For this case, the only lead I can think of is to find that ugly woman. However, it’s probably a dead end. Just ignore that suggestion. I’ll eat too. Fang Jiong responded calmly, and there were no noticeable flaws in what he said. It’s just that it looked like he had anticipated that Lu Lingfeng would come to see him. Su Wuming, can the portrait of that ugly woman be posted tomorrow? No. Tomorrow morning, we need to first investigate all the places in the city that sell lime. -Lime?
-Lime? Sheriff Lu, there are four stores in the city that sell lime. The owners have all been brought here. Sheriff Lu! We meet again. We really seem to be quite fated. Mudan? So, you also sell lime? If I don’t sell lime, how could I know Heitou, the kiln worker? Everyone, I called you here because I have something to ask. Have there been any unusual people buying lime recently? Unusual people? Well… My customers are all regulars. No. Unusual? No. No. Have any women bought lime? Yes. Sheriff Lu, you didn’t go through all this just to target me, did you? The other three can leave now. You three can go now. Sheriff Lu, your words yesterday made things clear to me. With the prosperity of Yunding and the many buildings being constructed, lime is needed everywhere. From now on, I will focus on running a good business and saving money. I’ll no longer engage in disreputable activities and will wait for a good match to come. I’m glad to hear that. Tell me about the woman who bought the lime. That woman! That woman is really ugly. An ugly woman? At the time, I asked her whether she was buying lime for filling gaps to prevent water leakage, painting walls, dyeing, or papermaking. She said she was buying lime to make a grave. How ominous! Su Wuming, go get that portrait and have Mudan identify it. Sheriff Lu, please forgive me. I… I lost the portrait. How could you… Please don’t be angry. Since Mudan has seen that ugly woman, it shouldn’t be difficult to ask Xijun to come over and draw another portrait. You, as the secretary, are very disappointing. Yes. Hurry up and invite Ms. Pei here. Mudan, I’m sorry. It may take a while. Please come to the Western Office for some tea. Sheriff Lu, there’s no need to be so polite. I actually enjoy listening to you talk. I don’t mind if it takes time. Xijun, let me remind you again. Be sure to forget the previous portrait. Just paint according to Mudan’s description. Ask for more details about this woman’s appearance; the more detailed, the better. Understood. [Yunding County Government Office] Though they both said she’s ugly, the descriptions from Ms. Yin and Mudan were completely different. The head shape, hairstyle, and clothing color are all different. They should be two different people. Sheriff Lu. Fang Jiong has been brought here. Let’s go. Aren’t you going? I want to take Xijun to Anyuan Inn again and have her draw the ugly woman again based on Lin Bei’s description. After all, as Ms. Yin said, they’ve met before. Fang Jiong, I invited you here today to listen to your past with Li Yun. The past is hard to revisit. Where should I start? Anywhere you like. I have time and am willing to listen to your story. As I mentioned before, Li Yun and I were classmates and once traveled to Chang’an together. Later, I returned to Yunding for business, and he went to Luoyang. Two years later, he returned to Yunding with Chu Bin. At that time, I was really envious of them. At that time, how were things between you and Shen Ping? Actually, you can say Shen Ping and I were childhood sweethearts. But I was a bit of a free spirit and was never in a hurry to talk about marriage. Childhood sweethearts? Could it be that it was you who introduced Li Yun to Shen’s Fabric Shop for his apprenticeship? Indeed. Li Yun’s parents passed away early and didn’t leave him much. When he first returned to Yunding, he planned to rely on Chu Bin to make a living by copying books. But he didn’t expect that there weren’t many people who read books in Yunding. The bookstore business is sluggish. So there wasn’t much work for a scribe. Therefore, Li Yun came to me, hoping I could help him find a job. I said, “Your hands are so deft that you can even embroider. How about learning tailoring from my future father-in-law?” To be honest, Uncle Shen originally wanted me to learn from him and take over the fabric shop business as Shen Ping’s dowry. Unfortunately, my ambitions lay elsewhere and let him down. Fang, do you regret it? Regret what? If you hadn’t recommended Li Yun, Shen Ping might have already become Mrs. Fang, right? Sheriff Lu, you’re not going to ask if I had been holding a grudge and killed Li Yun, are you? What if I really ask that? Rumor has it that you, Lu Lingfeng, are a disciple of Detective Di, unmatched in martial arts, and a genius in solving cases. Turns out, it’s just an empty reputation. With such limited ability, you replaced Sheriff Sima, who was adept with both the pen and the sword. And Sheriff Sima, who brought so much good to the people, died for you, a worthless person. It’s truly a tragedy for Yunding and the Tang Dynasty. Fang Jiong! Lu Lingfeng! Was it too much to call you worthless? What evidence do you have to suspect me? Li Yun died the night before last. That night, I was hosting a banquet at my home. Over ten friends who were present can all testify. We drank and sang all night long. I never said it was you who killed Li Yun. Fine. I’ll take my leave! Stop! You detained me in the government office without any evidence. Aren’t you afraid that the people of Yunding will laugh at you when they hear about this? [Anyuan Inn] I have seen such a woman, but only once. I can’t clearly remember her appearance. It’s alright. Just describe as much as you can recall. Miss Xijun here is an excellent painter. I’m sure you two can draw it. This is a matter related to a murder case, so please cooperate with us. Alright then. I only remember that she wasn’t beautiful. You could even say she was ugly. But what was the shape of her face? Did she have any distinguishing features on her face, like moles or tattoos? What about her height and weight compared to mine? Did she have any asymmetry in her shoulders, a hunchback, a limp, or any other disabilities? Ms. Yin, Mudan, and Lin Bei, all three of them have only one thing in common in their impressions of this woman: she’s ugly. However, according to their detailed descriptions, it’s clearly not the same person. Perhaps they are describing three different women. Or… Or what? Or it’s a woman who can freely change her hairstyle, clothes, and even her appearance. Isn’t that a ghost from the legends? Exactly. Su Wuming, what were the words you said before? There are neither gods nor ghosts in this world, only people pretending to be them. But this time, who is the real murderer? Who said the person in the painting is the murderer? If you say it’s a ghost, I won’t believe it. I will. It is said that Li Yun once wronged a girl named Chu Bin. Although she’s dead, her soul remains. With Lin Bei’s guidance, she returned to Yunding to kill for revenge. Being a ghost, she appears differently to different people, which is why we have three different portraits. Su Wuming, what nonsense are you talking about? If what I just said appeared in a book of strange tales, wouldn’t it be very intriguing? Yes. But this case is indeed bizarre. I almost started to believe what you just said. Actually, there’s another possibility: this person doesn’t exist at all. Brother, are you saying that all three of them lied? And they conspired together? This is just my speculation. Sheriff Lu, today is Cold Food Festival, which is also Chu Bin’s death anniversary. I want to open the coffin and conduct a postmortem of the body. Chu Bin was from Dongdu and died here in Yunding. Opening her coffin doesn’t require consent from her family. So, I need the sheriff’s approval. I know what you suspect, but this matter is of great importance. We need Magistrate Huangfu’s consent to proceed. Let me think about it. What I mean is, opening the coffin is likely to cause panic. We should try not to… If you don’t allow it, then the murderer can only be a ghost. If ghosts are killing people in Yunding, the people will be even more frightened, won’t they? Mr. Su, you made a good point. So, Sheriff Lu, what is your opinion? Chu Bin has no family or friends in Yunding. As long as the magistrate approves, we can conduct the coffin opening in secret. That could work. To catch the murderer and uncover the truth, a postmortem is indeed necessary. -Well then,
-Well then, -thank you, Magistrate.
-thank you, Magistrate. Carry it out secretly. Carry it out secretly. Chu Bin has been buried for 10 years. Can a postmortem determine how she died back then? Even if we find out the cause of death, what does it have to do with Li Yun’s death? I really can’t figure it out. I think I have a vague idea of Brother’s intention. Lu Lingfeng’s look also gave something away. They’re asking for our help but not telling us the whole truth. Isn’t this bullying me for being dumb? Is that Chu Bin’s grave? Based on the location Li Men and previous neighbors mentioned, it should be this grave. Why is this woman here to pay respects at the grave? Yeah. I have already sent people to guard Anyuan Inn to prevent Lin Bei from leaving. Could she possibly be able to fly or burrow underground? Carrying a package and a long sword, [Tomb of Chu Bin] she’s clearly trying to flee Yunding. Who are you guys? Who are you? I’m the sister of Chu Bin, the owner of this grave, Chu Jia. You’re here for Li Yun, aren’t you? We are capturing the murderer of Li Yun. Are you confessing to the crime? [Chu Jia, Sister of Chu Bin] Li Yun is dead? How is that possible? I just arrived in Yunding today. Who else would avenge my sister? Don’t waste your breath on her. Arrest her and interrogate her later. Sheriff Lu, leave her to me. Impressive swordsmanship. You’re not bad either. Li Yun must have spared no expense. He hired so many experts and even people from the county office to be his accomplices. But I, Chu Jia, am no longer the weak girl I used to be. Come on then. Stop fighting. Heroines, stop fighting! Today is Chu Bin’s death anniversary. Fighting in front of her grave is disrespectful to the deceased. Who are you people? What are you doing here? Lu Lingfeng, it’s your turn to speak. I’m Lu Lingfeng, the sheriff of Yunding County. I’m here today under the order to open the coffin. What? You’re so vicious. I’ll kill you! Are you really Chu Bin’s sister? Of course I am. Otherwise, why would I travel such a long distance to Yunding to avenge my sister? Bravo! Bravo! [Tianyi Fabric Shop] Congratulations. Congratulations. Today, my shop is officially renamed. I wish to make fairy-like beautiful clothes for the people of my hometown. Bravo! Bravo! Li Yun, how did my sister die? Didn’t I already tell you? Heart attack. But she never had that condition. Who is born with a disease? Aren’t they all acquired later? Was she treated with medication and care? Of course, she was treated. But from the onset of the illness to her death, it was only about two hours. Chu Jia, you just arrived in Yunding and are grieving from the bad news. I understand. I didn’t take good care of Chu Bin. You can slap me if you want. But today is a joyous day for my family. You saw it yourself. So I ask you to leave as soon as you’re done. Do you have any conscience? It’s not like you don’t know my home address. If Chu Bin really died from an illness, why didn’t you write to inform me? I did… I did write it. How can you blame me for not receiving the letter? Back then, you were just a little clerk at a pharmacy with impure intentions. I was very reluctant to let my sister come to Yunding with you. I never expected you would really cause her death! Nonsense! Servants! Show the guest out! Li Yun, I’ll kill you! Go! Li Yun! Back then, I was just a weak woman. Any random man could forcibly drive me away. Women have no chance to argue in front of men. But now, it’s different. For the past 8 years, I have sought out renowned masters and diligently trained in martial arts. I am now strong, with a sword in hand, just for this very day. Before coming to Yunding, I had sworn to uncover the truth. If Chu Bin was killed by Li Yun, I will kill him to avenge my sister; if her death has nothing to do with Li Yun, I will gouge out one of my own eyes and take Chu Bin’s remains back to our hometown to bury her next to our parents’ graves. In that case, please step aside. Whether to uncover the cause of death or to let Chu Bin return to her roots, the coffin must be opened for the postmortem. But my sister has been dead for 10 years. I heard that after 2 or 3 years of burial, bodies decay into bones. Can you really determine the cause of death? If this person can’t do it, then no one in the Tang Dynasty can. I am Su Wuming, a disciple of Detective Di. Heroine Chu, I hope you can trust me and allow me to open the coffin. A disciple of Detective Di? There’s a disciple of Detective Di in Yunding? Although I am Detective Di’s disciple, I am not an official. I am able to make a living in Yunding all thanks to Sheriff Lu taking me in. By the way, Sheriff Lu is also a disciple of Detective Di and is adept with both the pen and the sword. His reputation and skills far surpass mine. Two disciples of Detective Di? If you’re not boasting, I’ll believe you. [Tomb of Chu Bin] Sheriff Lu, Mr. Su, you can open the coffin now. Heroine Chu, I would like to ask you to join me in opening the coffin. Bin, you have been so lonely for these ten years. I’m here to see you. Don’t rush to cry. I am certain there is no body in the coffin. What? There is no body in the coffin? I think I understood now, but I still feel confused. Su Wuming. what’s going on? Yingtao. Don’t rush to ask. Since he has already made such a bold claim, let’s open the coffin quickly. Where is my sister? Remove the tent. Heroine Chu, congratulations. Just as this disciple of Detective Di guessed, your sister is still alive. Don’t you find the name Lin Bei strange? Come and take a look. Indeed. “Lin” is “Chu” with out legs. “Bei” is “Bin” without a head. For a woman, being betrayed by the man she deeply loves is like losing a half of herself. This must be how Chu Bin truly feels. Lin Bei is Chu Bin. If that’s the case, the tomb must be an empty tomb and the coffin must be an empty coffin! We have no way of knowing what happened ten years ago. But those three portraits are enough to prove that our suspects have not told the truth. Indeed. Now, besides opening the coffin for postmortem, there seems to be no other way to advance the investigation.