01x26 - Episode 26

[bunniefuu]

Mast! Lay down the mast!

Hurry up and get the rope!

Bow and stern face the banks! Quick!

Thousands of homes are brightly lit,

and the doors to them are wide open.

This is East Capital.

New wine from Sunyang Restaurant!

Welcome to enjoy it!

If you want to know what happens next,

wait until next time.

People from all over the world gather here,

and envoys from various countries come to communicate with the authorities.

[Riverside Code at Qingming Festival]

[Adapted from Ye Wenbiao's Novel Series of the Same Name]

[Episode 26]

["To establish a heart for heaven and earth,]

[To guide the people's purpose in life,]

[To carry forward the wisdom of ancient sages,]

[To pave the way for peace across generations."]

[by Zhang Zai, Northern Song Dynasty]

Present the criminal,

Zou Mian!

This man

is none other than the Southern Manufacturing Bureau's

Zou Mian!

What's going on?

Can they hear us?

No.

But since they haven't come down for so long,

they might be getting suspicious.

Let's go ashore first.

The raft is moving.

Are they running away?

I knew it. It was a trap.

I'll send someone to take them down.

Guards!

Take them down!

I'm so itchy.

Sit tight.

I'm so itchy.

Stop scratching!

That's right.

That's the gesture.

Your Majesty, please forgive me!

Itchy...

Stop talking.

Zou Mian, you scoundrel,

His Majesty just said

since you acted like this,

We don't need to meet again in this life!

Never see each other again!

Your Majesty, please forgive me!

Release the boat!

Right now, release the boat!

Release the boat!

Release the boat!

Your Majesty, please forgive me!

This criminal

requests an audience with Your Majesty!

Father,

it's done.

Nonsense!

Mr. Zou, how did you end up like this?

I'm wronged!

My lord,

don't listen to these untrustworthy people's

one-sided story.

I was escorting

the rare stone to the palace

when I was suddenly hijacked.

Not only did I end up here,

but I was also falsely accused of corruption!

My lord,

please be discerning!

Sir, please calm down.

Dear,

you've overplayed this drama!

Zhao Buyou,

do you have any evidence

for what you just said?

If not,

I won't allow you to act like this!

Reporting to you, my lord,

I have a witness.

Fine.

Bring him to Kaifeng Court for trial another day.

Why can't we try him here?

Let's just try him here!

Exactly!

Let's just try him here!

Bring the witness up!

Bring up the witness!

Boss!

Boss!

The Imperial Guard Department...

The Imperial Guard Department is here to take Zou away!

Zou Mian!

I also want to cut him into pieces,

but we should bring him to justice

and make his crimes known to all,

so the people of the East Capital will know his true face!

Make it known to all

and bring him to justice.

Yes.

Me too,

but I can't do that.

Offer Mr. Zou a seat!

What should we do?

It seems that the Imperial Guard Department has been bribed.

As long as I'm still alive,

no one can interrupt

my buddy's trial today.

Kaifeng Court in session!

No admittance

to unauthorized personnel!

We're ordered by our superior

to take Mr. Zou back!

Get lost!

My lord,

may I question the witness?

Granted.

Witness,

do you confess your guilt?

I...

I confess.

The Governor is right in front of you.

Tell him the truth

of what you know.

Try to get a lighter punishment.

My name

is Zheng Dun.

For nearly a decade,

I've been instructed by the Zou family

to secretly find substitute scholars

for the Zou family's children

and k*ll them afterward

to silence them

and avoid future troubles.

But I didn't participate

in the k*lling.

Zou Mian was the one who instructed it.

Okay.

Zheng Dun,

is this Zou Mian you mentioned on the stage?

Master!

I didn't know you were here.

I really didn't know you were here.

Our Zou family

is a scholarly family that has produced many talents.

But now we're being slandered by this scoundrel.

My lord,

please be discerning!

Get out of the way!

We're all on the same side, no need to draw weapons!

Master, please give me another chance!

I don't want to die...

I really don't want to die...

I don't want to die...

Zheng Dun!

I don't want to die...

Here.

Was what you just said true?

They... they forced me to do it!

They forced me to do it!

They forced me to do it!

Why is his testimony inconsistent?

They forced me...

Yeah. Why is it inconsistent?

...to frame the Zou family.

The Zou family has nothing

to do with this!

Nothing at all!

Zhao Buyou,

the witness has retracted his confession,

which means the testimony needs further verification.

If you don't have any new evidence,

I'll end this drama

here today.

Wait!

My lord,

I still have physical evidence.

Present the physical evidence!

Father, sit down.

Be patient.

What is this?

Zou Mian,

do you recognize this gown?

How would I recognize it?

This is the gown that your daughter Zou Ziyin

was wearing the last time she met you.

She probably didn't expect

that meeting with her father

would be her last.

Zhao Buyou!

Don't slander me.

Ziyin

clearly died of the disease in prison.

Is the autopsy report out?

Yes.

My lord,

I'd like to request

that the coroner of Kaifeng Court

announce the cause of Zou Ziyin's death

to the public.

Granted.

I'm Coroner Yao He of Kaifeng Court.

Zou Ziyin, daughter of Zou Mian

from the Southern Manufacturing Bureau, and her husband Luan Hui

didn't die from the disease,

but from poisoning.

And the so-called disease

was just a cover-up!

Zou Mian,

to protect yourself,

you even k*lled your own daughter!

Shut up.

Do you

recognize this?

Everyone,

this is a coin.

[Longevity and Good Health]

Four characters are engraved on it:

Longevity and Good Health.

When you gave it

to your daughter,

I believe

you were also a father who loved his daughter.

You never expected

that your daughter would die in front of you

wearing this coin.

You have no conscience at all!

Return Ziyin's belongings

to me!

You don't deserve to be a father!

Ziyin...

[Longevity and Good Health]

You beast.

Even a tiger won't eat its cubs.

Are you even human?

You're worse than a beast!

No matter how you repent,

your daughter won't hear it.

Zou Mian,

you don't deserve to be a father!

Scum!

He's worse than a beast!

You won't escape self-blame

for the rest of your life.

Why should I blame myself?

Ziyin

did commit suicide at my persuasion.

I was upholding justice

for the people

and eliminating a threat for His Majesty!

He's still making excuses!

Over the years,

Ziyin was misled by her husband Luan Hui

to do many harmful things,

making me unable to face His Majesty and the people.

Their refusal to confess wasn't enough to ease public anger.

Between family and justice,

I chose justice!

Zhao Buyou,

you targeted me everywhere!

You're just a mere litigator,

yet you dare to be so arrogant.

Who is

behind you?

Zhao Buyou,

what are your intentions?

You even dared to stop the Imperial Guard Department!

Are you tired of living?

I'll k*ll you.

Get up!

There's some chaos over there by the stage.

Could Buyou and the others be there?

You two wait for me here.

Don't run around.

Wen Yue...

Just now,

Mr. Li mentioned the Shipbuilder Su Zhi from the Taihu Shipyard.

When he was k*lled,

he had a daughter

named Wen Yue.

She's my wife.

Chief Minister of Office of Justice, Dong Qian,

left behind a son and a daughter after his death.

They're the younger brother and sister I adopted.

The honest official Li Yan

was my sworn brother's elder brother.

What I did today

is both for personal grudges

and for justice.

Do you understand?

Today,

on behalf of those who have suffered from your tyranny,

I accuse you of seven crimes!

[Litigation]

First,

on behalf of Su Zhi's family, I accuse you

of covering up the truth

and disregarding human life.

Second,

on behalf of Dong Qian's family, I accuse you

of threatening officials

and manipulating the righteous.

Third,

on behalf of Li Yan's family,

I accuse you

[Taking Justice into His Own Hands]

of defying the imperial court

and acting recklessly!

Fourth,

on behalf of Sun Bo, I accuse you

of pretending to be a ghost

and monopolizing land prices.

Fifth,

on behalf of Song Qiyu, I accuse you

of cheating in the imperial examination

and hiring assassins!

Sixth,

on behalf of Su and Xie Laoba, I accuse you

of exchanging power for sexual favors

and harming women.

Last but not least,

on behalf of all the people in the world, I accuse you

of faking auspicious signs,

covering up chaos,

flattering the imperial court,

and deceiving the people!

Zou Mian,

do you admit

to the crimes

I've presented?

Such a lowly worm,

yet you dare to trample

over this official!

I'd like to see

what kind of play

you're going to perform.

Let me tell you now,

Su Zhi, Dong Qian,

Li Yan, and the others,

their deaths

were all deserved.

These ants are ridiculous,

daring to oppose me.

Ants trying to shake a tree,

overestimating themselves.

You're so arrogant.

Even if the Great Song Law can't touch you,

aren't you afraid of divine retribution?

Divine retribution?

Who is the divine being?

The Emperor is the divine being!

A few lowly lives,

what's the big deal?

Now,

the rare stone has reached the palace.

This piece of heaven

is now

shielding and protecting this official!

Seeing this sleeve

is like seeing the Emperor himself.

You still don't kneel?

I've heard of this. It's true.

Why should we kneel to him?

I won't kneel!

It's like seeing the Emperor in person.

Kneel!

Back then,

when my father passed this job on to me,

he made sure I remembered:

never be the first to handle a case.

Because this can save my life.

Avoid taking responsibility

and learn to take advantage of situations.

Just be content with a little wealth.

Until that year,

you are here.

I, Wan Fu,

finally knew what I should do.

I should

protect Inspector Gu

and make him

feel at ease,

so he can focus

on what he has to do

and what he wants to do.

You scoundrels!

Do you all intend

to defy the Emperor?

Shut up!

Who is it?

Why you again?

Zou Mian, you wretch!

Mencius once said,

"The people are the most important,

the state is second,

and the ruler is the least."

As a royal official,

how dare you act recklessly

and take lives unjustly!

Do you realize

even the Emperor fears the heavens?

What are the heavens?

The heavens are the Emperor's people!

Exactly!

The very people

you scorn as mere ants,

the countless masses!

No matter how misguided the Emperor may be,

he deeply understands this truth.

Even if

he were here today,

He wouldn't forgive you at all.

Do you confess your crimes?

Do you confess your crimes?

Do you confess your crimes?

Corrupt official!

Do you confess your crimes?

The heavens of the Great Song

belong to no one,

and they certainly don't belong to you, Zou Mian!

The realm of the Great Song

is built by countless small families.

The so-called lowly commoners

[Litigation]
are living, breathing individuals like us!

Yesterday,

under your oppression,

the Su family,

the Dong family,

and the Li family,

three small families,

were torn apart

and destroyed!

Tomorrow,

it could be my Zhao family,

the Wang family,

the Song family,

or the Sun family,

[Litigation]
all of us together!

Under your tyranny,

I ask,

[Litigation]
who could escape harm?

When one family or household is unsafe,

how can the Great Song

find peace?

Well said!

Well said!

[Litigation]

Well said!

Yes!

Well said!

Today, I, Zhao Buyou,

as a litigator,

will sue you in this temporary court

of Kaifeng Court.

[Litigation]
You have already confessed.

All the spectators

and all the people

are witnesses.

Everyone,

I, Zhao Buyou,

ask all of you

to be my witnesses.

Are you willing?

This...

I'm willing!

I'm willing!

I'm willing!

I'm willing!

I'm willing!

[Litigation]
I'm willing!

I'm willing!

I'm willing!

I'm willing!

I'm willing!

I'm willing!

This court will accept this case today.

You have to help me.

[Litigation]

Zhao Buyou,

do you know

what a serious crime it is

to falsely accuse

a court official?

Yes, I do.

Do you dare to take responsibility for what happened today?

Yes!

Good!

Someone!

[Litigation]

According to the Great Song Law,

take the criminal

Zou Mian

into custody at Kaifeng Court!

Yes, sir!

Great!

You guys...

Great!

Great!

Public trial!

Zou Mian pleads guilty!

Public trial!

Zou Mian pleads guilty!

Public trial!

Zou Mian pleads guilty!

[Litigation]

Great!

Let's go

and welcome Buyou back.

Let's go!

[Litigation]

Is the trial over?

Are you alright?

You made it.

I made it.

I knew you could make it.

I knew you could.

It's all thanks to you.

Gu Zhen!

Gu Zhen!

You planned this with him beforehand

and kept me in the dark?

Gu Zhen,

can't you see

that I did all this for you?

Wan Fu!

Here.

Let's go home.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Zhao Buyou...

Look, the sky...

is about to light up.

With the lamp of my heart...

I'll light his way

through the cold, long night.

Buyou!

Buyou!

Buyou!

You're amazing!

Buyou, thank you.

You look much more pleasing to the eye today.

I didn't expect you to settle

this big issue for our family.

Well,

I didn't expect it to work at first,

but I tried my best!

How did you do it?

Speaking of which...

Count me in!

Father...

It's all thanks to Father.

And

thanks to the help of our neighbors.

Litigator Zhao!

Wen Yue,

What a pity you missed it.

Let me tell you,

he scolded that corrupt official

so badly,

That corrupt official like this...

Although you're a great litigator now,

you still have to listen to me

about family matters.

Right?

I always do!

I have every right to say this.

Right, Ban?

If it weren't for me...

Exactly.

If it weren't for Wen Yue,

you would have been dead by now.

Our family

is finally safe.

Father, we've always been safe!

We're safe, Father.

Don't worry!

Yao He, come here!

[Litigation]

He's back!

Buyou is back!

Our hero!

[Litigation]

He is back!

He's back!

He's finally back!

[Litigation]
My heart's about to burst out of my chest!

My dear neighbors,

in today's battle,

Zou Mian was brought to justice

thanks to all of you.

Thank you!

[Litigation]

Peerless Litigator!

Let's go.

Peerless Litigator!

Thank you for today.

That was truly satisfying.

Truly satisfying.

We scared that corrupt official so much

that he was shaking all over

and didn't even dare to make a sound!

When it comes to the biggest credit,

it's got to be you, Zhao Buyou.

Of course.

The Peerless Litigator of the East Capital.

I'm truly convinced!

I admire you.

The guards on the ship were so tight.

How did you catch Zou Mian?

Speaking of this,

it was pure luck.

Thanks to Father.

He looks like him.

Really looks like him.

Exactly the same as the portrait

of His Majesty that I saw.

Well,

His Majesty also scratches like this?

From tomorrow on,

I'll write about you two

in my book.

Good!

Will I be

in the book?

Yes.

I have to be in it.

You'll all be in it.

We'll all be in it.

Enough.

Buyou has been tired all day.

Let's not disturb him any further.

Let's head home.

That's right.

No worries.

We're leaving now.

- Stay a bit longer. - No worries.

We're leaving now.

Thank you.

See you again.

Thank you.

Tell it to me.

I'll tell you next time.

Next time, right?

Next time.

Okay.

Goodbye.

- Everyone - Take care.

- See you again! - Take care.

See you again!

Enough, Father.

Stop acting.

Let's go back.

No.

Let's change clothes.

No need to change.

Enough acting.

Time for bed, Father!

Enough acting.

Enough acting!

Buyou, how about my clothes?

They're good.

Do they fit?

They fit.

Come on.

Dear,

from now on,

you don't have to worry anymore.

What you said about your family

is actually true?

It's always been true.

Just no one believed it.

Good morning, dear!

Morning.

Dear,

I'll take Zhao Mo with me

to the litigation booth later.

Today,

after we get there,

we'll also put up the "Peerless Litigator" sign

that His Majesty

personally inscribed.

You have no idea

how many people

were there yesterday.

Business is booming.

As it happens,

I just got a big order

from the Consort's Residence.

After I finish the order,

let's go to the property agent.

Okay.

Then we'll be able to buy a house soon.

Any news about Zheng?

Not yet.

But Inspector Gu said

that someone saw Zheng.

He should be alive.

Don't worry.

I'll watch it and update you if there's news.

Zhao Mo, come help me!

Okay.

Coming.

Good morning, Wen Yue.

Morning.

Wen Yue.

Morning.

Father,

breakfast is ready.

Can we eat now?

Yes.

Dear,

you made all my favorite food

for breakfast.

Thank you.

Why are you two still holding hands while eating?

What's wrong with it?

Haven't you heard

that brief separations enhance love?

Wen Yue and I

even hold hands while sleeping.

Right?

Buyou, please stop.

Wen Yue has had enough.

Buyou,

the medicine I gave you

worked.

What?

Come on. Be careful.

That's so exaggerated!

Ban.

Ban,

this was my own decision.

It has nothing to do with my Father.

Yao He.

Wen... Wen Yue.

You're looking for Ban, right?

You two talk.

Wen Yue,

an elder must be present for this.

Okay.

Then I'll stay here.

Speak up.

Ban,

I want to...

When trying Zou Mian at the market

in front of so many people,

weren't you a good speaker?

Why do you get tongue-tied

when you see Ban?

I...

Today is a happy day for my family.

I'm going to be an aunt. I'm so happy.

So,

no matter what you say today,

I... I'll agree to it.

I...

I want to wish Wen Yue a healthy baby.

And congrats, you're an aunt now.

I'm going all out.

Ban.

[Marriage Proposal]

Lady Wen,

congratulations.

You're pregnant.

See? I didn't misdiagnose you.

I'm going to be an aunt!

This child

really knows our family's wishes.

Now that everything has settled down,

I feel at ease.

Then he came along.

Judging from your pulse,

the baby is just over a month old.

You still need to be careful.

I'll prescribe

two doses of pregnancy-preserving medicine.

You two,

please wait outside for a moment.

Thanks, Dr. Zhao.

Thank you, Dr. Zhao.

Peerless Litigator.

Can you tell

what's special about this inscription?

What does it mean?

Do you know who wrote it?

No.

Who?

Who wrote it?

His Majesty wrote it himself.

His Majesty?

His Majesty wrote it himself?

Yes.

[Peerless Litigator]

Why are you called the Peerless Litigator?

Good question, sir.

The title "Peerless Litigator"

[Peerless Litigator]

comes from the Mei's Ship case a while ago.

When will you write a lawsuit?

Wait a moment.

I have to tell you about the Mei's Ship case.

This Mei's Ship case...

Buyou,

that's enough.

This old sir

has been here for five days.

You don't understand.

[Peerless Litigator]
After the Mei's Ship case,

Rainbow Bridge was in chaos.

I think

we'd better not open a litigation booth.

Everyone was panicking. Remember?

Yes.

Let's open a storytelling booth.

They ordered Kaifeng Court

to solve this case within three days.

Isn't this my litigation booth?

This is me.

This is Zhao Mo.

Your handwriting

is getting more and more impressive.

Each stroke is like a sword,

piercing

the sky.

It's

the best in the world.

What's this?

This is a ring cake.

When you're free,

come out for a walk more often.

You have the world in your hands,

and you should also have the world in your heart.

Right?

Why doesn't this building have gardenia lanterns hanging?

Isn't that my father?

Who's he drinking with?

The baby is around a month old.

Around a month ago,

weren't you still living in the umbrella shop?

This child

has experienced ups and downs with us.

He will definitely be more successful

than Buyou and me in the future.

What a cute baby.

Can I hold him?

Sure.

Here.

I'm an aunt now.

I'm an aunt now.

Hug it, Wen Yue.

Your good friend is here, right?

Wen Yue's baby will definitely be as caring as me.

[couplet for advertising medicine]

He'll definitely be more sensible than Mo anyway.

[Clinic of Imperial Doctor Zhao]

She's my sister, Zhao Ban.

Mr. Zhang,

thank you.

You've included all five

of our family in the painting.

Your painting

is different from everyone else's

in the whole academy.

It's real.

It's full of the warmth of life.

Congratulations.

When I first met you, Mr. Zhao,

it was the most difficult time

in my life.

At that time,

I didn't know why I painted

or what I should paint.

Mr. Zhao,

you enlightened me.

Mr. Zhao, look.

I've decided

to paint for the common people.

I'll paint the lives of all beings,

the path of the people,

and the bridge of their world.

My brush

will record the lives of all the people!

[Cultivating Virtue and Talent]
Well said!

Mr. Zhang,

in a few decades,

a few hundred years,

or even a thousand years,

people of future generations

will be able to see from your painting

what we were like at this time,

our appearance,

our clothes,

and how we lived.

Just imagine

how precious your painting

[Cultivating Virtue and Talent]
will be by then.

Will people a thousand years from now

be able to know from your painting

that we are a family of five

and our story?

Don't worry, Mr. Zhao.

All the people in my painting

and their stories

will be remembered.

Mr. Zhao,

one more thing.

I've painted so many paintings.

[Cultivating Virtue and Talent]

I really don't know which ones to choose

to form a scroll

to represent this East Capital.

Can you help me take a look?

Each one is a masterpiece.

Are they

Gu Zhen and Wan Fu?

Yes.

It's them.

Since

everything started here,

why don't we

choose this one

as the eye of the scroll?

Okay.

♪By the roadside, near a small well♪

♪Ice-cold water chills ripe yellow apricots♪

♪Morning greetings exchanged with ease♪

♪As dawn's light kisses every face♪

♪At the city gate, Zhang casts his line♪

♪Watching golden ripples on the river shine♪

♪He jokes, "If only I could fish out the gold"♪

♪While Li scratches his back, still in dream mode♪

♪The errand boy meets Qiang, carrying goods♪

♪"Buddy, how much for one trip?♪

♪Enough for a drink tonight?"♪

♪Qiang laughs, "Bro, I've got kids to feed"♪

♪You've seen the mountains, the vast, open seas♪

♪The towering palaces, grand as can be♪

♪Yet you linger here, where alley smoke rises♪

♪And the evening breeze feels warm and inviting♪

♪You know the road is long♪

♪The journey lonely♪

♪Yet you still find warmth in this city's glow♪

♪In its humble blend of life's simple grains♪

♪Drink a bowl of iced plum wine♪

♪Watch the comings and goings, joys and sorrows entwined♪

♪Drink a bowl of iced plum wine♪

♪A toast to struggles, hardships, and this life of mine♪

My plan has failed.

I deserve to die!

Fortunately, Zou Mian

was unexpectedly eliminated by the Peerless Litigator.

So who's

next?

[The End]