He Tianxin, let me ask you.
Did you poison Li Yunying?
I didn't do it.
Then does the bottle acquired from the clinic belong to you?
Yes, it belongs to me.
Tests show that there is poison in there. Are you aware of that?
I only found that out later.
You only need to answer whether you know or not. Don't say anything else.
Yes.
Let me ask you.
How do you explain
the poison in the bottle is the same as the poison in Yunying's body?
I have no idea why things turned out this way.
You say you don't know. Fine.
Is anyone else involved in delivering, consuming and brewing the medicine?
There isn't.
Judging by the evidence,
Yunying was poisoned after consuming your medicine.
And you said there isn't anyone else involved in the process.
I am asking you one last time.
Did you kill her?
It's not me!
Grand Preceptor...
Your Majesty...
Although the evidence are against Tian,
she doesn't have the motive to kill Yunying.
I suspect that someone plotted against Tian.
Those evidence could have been made up after the incident.
Alright.
I will request the presence of two eye witnesses.
Summon Yunying's personal and maid to court.
Your Honor.
Are you Yunying's personal maid?
I am.
Before Yunying was poisoned,
did she have any disagreement with anyone?
I only know that the first day He Tianxin returned to the Palace,
Yunying met her and even slapped her.
I was with Miss Yunying when she sent He Tianxin's mom out of the Palace.
That day, Yunying wanted He Tianxin to kneel down and apologize.
She even slapped her mother.
Is there any other incidents?
Before Yunying's death, someone threw a beehive at her.
Thus, she was stung by bees.
She once suspected that it was He Tianxin's doing.
Good.
Take a look and see
if the He Tianxin you referred to is present
It is her.
Good. Both of you may leave.
Yes.
He Tianxin, Yunying drove away your mother.
She even slapped you. That is why you wanted to kill her.
You made her get stung by bees.
Then you used the excuse of delivering the medicine to harm her.
I didn't!
Now, the evidence and eyewitnesses are all here.
Yet you still deny it.
You are clearly giving me no choice but to force the truth out of you.
- Apply the instrument of torture! - Yes.
Halt!
Your Majesty, I know you love the people dearly.
But now, there is enough evidence to sentence her.
Furthermore, the suspect denies on purpose.
That's why I have no choice but to torture her.
Officer Liu, what do you think?
Your Majesty,
according to the law, torture is allowed in this case.
And Your Majesty just said that there are laws to abide.
I am acting according to the situation.
These witnesses can only prove that she has the motive to kill.
But they can't prove that she is the murderer.
If you act rashly and torture her,
others will say that she confesses guilty under torture.
Your Majesty, I am merely conducting the trial according to the law.
I only hope to find out the truth.
Now you accuse me of making her confess by torture.
If you think that I am not up to the job,
I will resign as the main inquisitor for this case
so as to prove that I am not guilty of your accusation.
Although I will be letting the Empress Dowager down,
I have no choice but seek her forgiveness.
Your Majesty is wise.
Then, we will continue the interrogation.
Please.
Men! Put suspect He Tianxin to torture.
Yes.
I'll ask you one more time.
Did you kill her?
It's not me!
Tighten it!
Is it you?
No, it's not me!
Tighten it!
Is it?
- No! - Tighten it!
I will ask you the last time!
Did you murder her?
- No. I didn't kill anyone. - Torture her!
Enough!
Release her!
Your Majesty.
You have been impartial throughout this hearing today.
I have learned much from you.
Then, we will continue the hearing another day.
- Men! - Here!
Take suspect He Tianxin back to her cell.
Yes!
Court is dismissed!
Tian. I am sorry. I failed to protect you.
It's just a minor injury.
Rest assured. I will surely rescue you.
I know.
Get going.
Hurry! Go!
Brother, have you gone silly?
You watched Tian get tortured and did nothing.
It's done according to the law.
Grand Preceptor Zhao has done nothing wrong.
Rules are always subject to change.
They are trying to make her plead guilty by torture.
I don't want it to happen!
When I saw Tian suffer, I felt hurt more than anyone else.
Why didn't you stop them?
All will listen to your orders.
Right. I could have stopped it.
But others will feel that I am defending her.
They will think Tian has no respect for the law because of my favor!
You are the Emperor. Your every word is law.
If you say Tian is not guilty,
nobody will dare say anything more.
They wouldn't say it in my face.
But they will say it privately.
I am the Emperor.
If I don't abide by the law,
how can I expect others to adhere to it?
Anyway, why should Tian get punished?
Doesn't the law protect the innocent?
It's used by corrupted officials to commit evil deeds.
You call yourself the Emperor?
Tian has obviously been framed.
Can't you be more flexible?
You should save her.
I will surely save her.
I will do her justice.
But I need time and evidence.
Stop being unreasonable!
This is a Palace.
You can't do anything you want.
Fine. I am being unreasonable.
I'll see how you will save her!
Your Majesty, how's the situation regarding Tian?
There are unfavorable evidence and witnesses.
Today, Grand Preceptor Zhao put her to torture.
Did Zhesan become so angry because of this?
I completely understand his feelings.
I won't blame him.
Then, who will think for you?
I know that Your Majesty must still be worried about Tian.
Zhesan was so agitated because he's worried too.
But, this is not your fault.
So don't give yourself so much pressure.
It's only my responsibility.
You have to catch the culprit to please the Empress Dowager.
You have to prove Tian's innocence.
I know that you are in a difficult situation.
But I believe that you will find out the true culprit.
It's just a matter of time.
I cannot shirk my responsibility for this matter.
I cannot delay this any further.
It's true that time is pressing.
But you must take care of yourself too.
Thank you. Please leave.
I wish to be alone.
I will excuse myself.
Wait. Investigate in the Palace.
Keep my posted.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Are you okay?
I'm fine.
You're hurt and you still say you are fine.
If you are in pain, you must say it. Don't keep it to yourself.
Brother, can you not be there for the next trial?
If I am there,
they will treat you with a little respect.
If I don't attend the hearing,
they will be more rude to you.
But I truly don't wish to see you suffer.
If I am the only one in pain,
it will be okay after the pain has subsided.
It's troublesome for you to care for me.
It's nothing.
I am only worried for you.
Brother, my injury is nothing serious.
It no longer hurts. Don't mind it.
You are not the only one I care about.
I also care about this kind of system.
The use of torture in the legal system.
If I don't try harder to improve it,
many more innocent people will suffer and die.
If my suffering can improve the citizens' lives
and change this kind of system,
I don't mind the pain at all.
Don't worry. This is something that I will do.
But the most important thing now is
to prove your innocence.
Brother, actually I am very clear that
all the evidence and witnesses prove that I am the culprit.
In case you can't think of a way to save me,
don't force yourself.
No matter what, I will prove your innocence.
Tian, didn't we swear that
we will go through think and thin together?
Brother, don't worry about me.
I will take care of myself.
Focus on catching the murderer. You must avenge Yunying.
Rest assured. I will catch him.
I'll no only avenge Yunying, but also do your justice.
Look at my hands,
I can't pinky swear with you anymore.