A League of Nobleman Recap, Plot, Synopsis
A League of Nobleman Synopsis
In the Yong Dynasty, Lan Jue, a Minister of Rites, has been involved in court disputes for many years, but behind his seemingly gentle and elegant appearance, he has a little-known history of growing up.
During a covert operation, Lan Jue meets Zhang Ping, a young man who has gone to the capital alone to take the examination and pursue his ambition.
The honest and straightforward Zhang Ping solves the case with his genius powers of deduction, but he also disrupts Lan Jue's original plan.
Since then, the two young men, with their different identities and personalities, are both mentors and friends and work together with a group of young gentlemen to solve cases and protect the peace of the people.
A League of Nobleman Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Hong Luo, a merchant from the Yueliang Kingdom, entered Ning'an City in the Yong Kingdom, ostensibly for trade in the Dafu Market within the Anle Community. However, he exploited his minor royal background to gather and sell intelligence internationally. Lan Jue, a Vice Minister of Rites, learned that Hong Luo had obtained a secret letter he had written to the Nandong Kingdom.
Fearing that Guo Yun would acquire this letter and use it to accuse him of treason, a capital offense, Lan Jue set a plan in motion to retrieve the letter before Guo Yun could. Lan Jue's subordinates attempted to test Hong Luo and discovered the letter was hidden inside a bead on his belt.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ping, a scholar with a knack for deductive reasoning and a passion for solving cases, was making a living selling noodles in Ning'an City while preparing for the imperial examinations. Hong Luo arrived at a restaurant, Zui Wan Chun, and tied his horse directly in front of Zhang Ping's noodle stall, sparking an initial argument between them over the violation of city regulations.
Once inside the restaurant, Hong Luo remained highly vigilant, making it difficult for Lan Jue's subordinates to retrieve the bead. Observing this, Lan Jue ordered a bowl of noodles from Zhang Ping's stall to be delivered to Hong Luo's table. When Zhang Ping brought the noodles and demanded payment, it created a second disturbance with Hong Luo. During this engineered distraction, Lan Jue's subordinate successfully stole the bead from Hong Luo's belt.
Upon realizing his bead was missing, Hong Luo detained Zhang Ping and ordered everyone in the restaurant searched, preventing anyone from leaving. The restaurant owner, aware of Zhang Ping's investigative skills, suggested he help find the missing bead. Zhang Ping, recalling the events and noticing subtle clues like a fine scratch on Hong Luo's belt where the bead was, quickly deduced he had been manipulated.
He examined the scene further and concluded that a dancer and another customer had collaborated to transfer the bead, hiding it in the eye of a chub fish served in a dish. By inquiring about the fish order, Zhang Ping learned it was for guests in the Chunguang Pavilion on the second floor, realizing the person who planned the theft was located on the second floor.
Lan Jue witnessed Zhang Ping's swift deductions and, having secured the bead through his subordinate, quickly left the restaurant with his men. Zhang Ping saw the carriage carrying the suspect leave the restaurant. Using his knowledge of Ning'an City's layout, he attempted a shortcut to intercept the carriage, but despite his efforts, he failed to catch up.
Hong Luo thanked Zhang Ping for his help in finding the bead, but Zhang Ping, recalling he was manipulated, only requested the two pennies to replace his broken bowl and the cost of the noodles, declining any further reward. Disheartened, Zhang Ping returned to his noodle stall, where his friend Chen Chou complained about the poor day's earnings. As they cleaned up, passing scholars mocked Zhang Ping for selling noodles on the street as a scholar, deeming it a disgrace.
At this moment, Lan Jue appeared and defended Zhang Ping, stating that all professions—scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant—are fundamental to the state and hold no inherent highness or lowness. Lan Jue's identity and words silenced the mocking scholars, who then left. Chen Chou eagerly introduced Zhang Ping to Lan Jue, but Zhang Ping remained reserved, answering Lan Jue's questions with brief replies. Lan Jue learned that Zhang Ping was a poor orphan supporting himself by selling noodles.
He offered to recommend Zhang Ping for an easy job as an accountant in a wealthy household, or even his own. However, Zhang Ping declined, stating his sole ambition was to join the Court of Judicial Review (大理寺) to solve cases and find the renowned detective Mu Yesheng, whose book 'Strange Night Talk' he greatly admired.
Chen Chou doubted Mu Yesheng's existence or presence in the Court of Judicial Review, suggesting the book might be fiction, but Zhang Ping insisted the book's realism proved Mu Yesheng must be or have been there. Later, while tidying his stall, Zhang Ping reconsidered the restaurant incident.
He noticed the futons in Chunguang Pavilion seemed unused, reinforcing his suspicion that he was deliberately led there as a distraction while the real perpetrator, likely someone of high status observing from elsewhere (such as the adjacent Feiyu Pavilion, as he suspected), orchestrated the events and escape. The daylight theft had alerted Hong Luo to being targeted, making a direct retrieval difficult.
Lan Jue planned to exploit Hong Luo's known weakness for women by having Miss Xie Hao of Banyue Pavilion retrieve the bead. Lan Jue discussed the political motive behind Guo Yun's actions, noting that Guo Yun was aiming for the position of Minister of Rites (礼部尚书) and had gone to extreme lengths, including trying to obtain the secret letter, to harm Lan Jue.
Lan Jue admitted that in the political arena, he wouldn't be lenient either if he had such leverage. Chen Chou expressed regret that Zhang Ping had turned down Lan Jue's offer to become his protégé, seeing it as a valuable opportunity, but Zhang Ping remained resolute about his goal of entering the Court of Judicial Review to find Mu Yesheng.
Still suspicious of the person who used him, Zhang Ping recalled smelling Spring Amomum tea at the restaurant and believed the culprit suffered from stomach problems, as this tea is often drunk by those with such ailments. He connected this to his observations of Lan Jue's behavior and asked Chen Chou to investigate if Lan Jue had a stomach ailment. Hearing a subordinate mention Lan Jue having stomach issues, Zhang Ping decided to search for evidence.
They secretly entered Lan Jue's mansion, looking for discarded Spring Amomum dregs, but were discovered. Brought before Lan Jue, Chen Chou fumbled for excuses about admiring him and wanting to know his preferences for gift-giving. Zhang Ping directly asked Lan Jue if he drank tea with Spring Amomum because of a stomach issue.
Lan Jue showed them Alpinia zerumbet (艳山姜), explaining it resembled Spring Amomum but was a different spice used for flavor, not for treating stomach problems, and denied having any stomach issues. With no evidence found, Lan Jue chose not to press charges for trespassing, and Zhang Ping and Chen Chou quickly left, still unsure but with their suspicions unresolved. Three days passed.
Chen Chou learned Lan Jue was hosting his birthday banquet at Banyue Pavilion that evening and proposed they attend to offer a gift and make amends for their intrusion. Initially reluctant, Zhang Ping suddenly recalled that the carriage he had chased near the Dafu Market had stepped in red paint.
He agreed to go to Banyue Pavilion and upon arrival, discreetly examined the hooves of a horse, confirming the presence of the red paint stain on a horse attached to Lan Jue's carriage. This observation validated his suspicion that Lan Jue was indeed the person behind the incident that day. At the Banyue Pavilion, Lan Jue's birthday banquet was underway, attended by prominent figures including Minister of Rites Gong Songming.
Lan Jue served simple fare, including rouge rice porridge from Guangling, Minister Gong's hometown, a gesture of thoughtfulness towards his teacher. As a gift, he presented Gong with collected handprints of babies born in Zichuan County after a severe flood disaster years prior, saved by Gong's relief efforts, symbolizing the gratitude of the people for saving their lives. While acknowledging Lan Jue's deep consideration, Minister Gong stated he could not recommend him for the position of Minister of Rites.
Zhang Ping located Lan Jue at the banquet and directly confronted him, presenting his evidence of the red paint on the horse's hooves and accusing him of being the one who orchestrated the bead theft at the restaurant. He demanded to know the truth and sought compensation for his broken bowl and wasted noodles. Lan Jue denied the accusation, dismissing Zhang Ping's evidence as circumstantial and his deductions as fanciful, suggesting he write plays instead.
Zhang Ping insisted he would continue to search for more conclusive proof. Lan Jue warned Zhang Ping against further unfounded accusations and malicious slander, but offered him money for books if he was financially struggling, which Zhang Ping refused, reiterating he only wanted the compensation he was owed and the truth. While at the banquet, Zhang Ping spotted Hong Luo among the guests. He then observed Lan Jue heading towards the backstage area.
This piqued Zhang Ping's suspicion, leading him to believe Lan Jue might be arranging for Xie Hao to steal the bead from Hong Luo again and planned to retrieve it from the backstage. Lan Jue went backstage expecting to find the bead there as planned, but instead discovered it was gone.
In its place was a note stating that someone had taken the bead and would reveal his crime of collaborating with the enemy and treason at midnight (子时) that night. As this unfolded backstage, the puppet dance performance on stage took a horrifying turn. During her performance, Miss Xie Hao was consumed by fire, self-immolating on stage.
As she burned, banners appeared on either side of the stage bearing the stark message: "When a puppet does evil, his master must be executed; The corrupt official is here now, ruining our Great Yong." Panic erupted among the attendees as the scene unfolded.
Episode 2 Recap
The performance is interrupted by blood appearing on the stage. Lan Jue immediately realizes that Xie Hao was a proxy victim, and the events on stage were a meticulously planned setup targeting him, not Xie Hao. He understands that the person who took the bead and left the note knows about the secret letter inside. Lan Jue considers Zhang Ping a liability because he knows too much and initially instructs his subordinate Mowen/Wang Yan to deal with him.
Just as the incident is discovered, Guo Yun, Vice Minister of Rites, arrives at Banyue Pavilion after returning to the capital, expressing regret over the tragedy at what was meant to be Lan Jue's birthday celebration. Lan Jue apologizes to the assembled colleagues for the disturbance. Minister Gong leads others to the stage to see the situation. Vice Minister Wang of the Ministry of Justice, Wang Yan, arrives with his subordinates to investigate.
Lan Jue confides in Wang Yan, confirming the attack was aimed at him and requesting his assistance in concealing the true target. Wang Yan orders his men to investigate the scene and attempts to dismiss the officials present, but the Empress Dowager, who was watching the play, intervenes. She commands everyone to stay and urges them to confess or report anything they know, warning that their sins will be compounded if they are found out later.
Zhang Ping is discovered backstage investigating and is detained for suspicious behavior. He identifies himself as a scholar who enjoys solving cases. Allowed to speak, he shares his initial findings from examining Xie Hao's body: there is no smoke in her mouth or nose, indicating she was strangled before being burned. A ligature mark is visible on her neck. When she was lowered from the stage rigging, her head was slumped and body still, indicating she was already dead.
He found two clues backstage: a round oil mark in Xie Hao's dressing room with a faint pear blossom scent, matching the smell on her burned hair, suggesting her pear blossom hair oil was used for the 'ignition without open flame', though it normally requires open fire.
The second clue is a candle found on her dressing table, which had extinguished around the time of the interlude when Xie Hao was killed, and had a hole at the bottom bearing patterns resembling carvings on a bead. Guo Yun questions Zhang Ping closely about how he could be so certain the hole was for a bead and whether he knows something more.
To prevent Zhang Ping from potentially revealing the bead theft publicly, Lan Jue proposes that the scholar participate in the investigation. The Empress Dowager agrees, instructing Zhang Ping to investigate independently and report directly to her. She mandates that all other officials remain until the case is resolved. Zhang Ping enlists his friend Chen Chou to assist him, believing solving the murder will reveal why Lan Jue was so intent on obtaining the bead.
Meanwhile, Lan Jue suspects Guo Yun is behind the murder and setup. He tells Wang Yan their priority is to find the killer and retrieve the secret letter before Zhang Ping does, to keep the matter from the Empress Dowager. He instructs Wang Yan to prevent Zhang Ping from making progress. Wang Yan's subordinates attempt to bar Zhang Ping and Chen Chou from the backstage area, claiming the area has already been investigated.
Wang Yan joins Lan Jue in examining the stage's overhead rigging structure, noting its complexity. They question the puppet master, who describes the rope swinging much more violently than usual during rehearsal when Xie Hao was attaching herself, suggesting a struggle. Lan Jue deduces the killer hid on the rigging, strangled Xie Hao after she went up, and then pulled the signal rope to have her lowered according to the performance script.
Troupe Leader Jin confirms the hidden ladder to the rigging is a secret known only to troupe members, indicating the killer is likely within the troupe. Wang Yan's men find the empty hair oil bottle. Zhang Ping arrives, seeking to examine it, but Wang Yan refuses, citing it as evidence. Zhang Ping argues that Wang Yan's obstruction only confirms Lan Jue's involvement with the bead theft and Xie Hao's death.
To prevent Zhang Ping from appealing to the Empress Dowager, Wang Yan allows him back backstage to continue his search. Wang Yan gathers the dancers and musicians, stating the killer is among them and begins questioning them, but obtains no useful information, as they claim to have been changing clothes together and were unaware of anything unusual during the brief interlude. Zhang Ping and Chen Chou search backstage fruitlessly.
Zhang Ping realizes the remaining oil might have been poured into other dancers' bottles to conceal the evidence by dilution. He collects the other bottles, which are full. Remembering his master's method for separating curds and whey from milk by swinging the bottle, he applies a similar technique to separate the oil from any added combustion promoter in the collected bottles. Separately, Lan Jue searches the dancers' rooms and finds an expensive pipa in Han Yan's room.
He recognizes its value, noting the materials and carving, and finds a poem on it which includes characters implying a connection to Han Yan and Guo Yun. He confronts Han Yan, demanding the bead and offering her protection. Han Yan initially denies knowing Guo Yun well, claiming they only share interests. Under questioning, she eventually admits they are deeply attached but insists she does not have the secret letter.
She reveals Guo Yun showed great care for her well-being, particularly during a difficult pregnancy with an unstable pulse and severe vomiting, even personally obtaining specifically anti-miscarriage powder and post-miscarriage conditioning medicine for her. Lan Jue finds Guo Yun's attentiveness to a mistress, given his status and his influential father-in-law, highly suspicious. Using a wig, Zhang Ping tests the separated oil. The substance ignites easily, confirming it is pine resin oil (turpentine).
He hypothesizes that the killer used a Fire Bead during a moment of intense light in the performance (later determined to be from gunpowder added for a lightning effect) to focus heat onto Xie Hao's hair, igniting the oil and causing 'ignition without open flame'. Meanwhile, a blind beggar delivers a blood letter outside the pavilion at the appointed time. The letter reads: "Secret letters with the enemy reveal the hidden evil intent.
Having no shame drives a son to go on with his father's will." The Imperial Guards are alerted, intensifying security, and the Empress Dowager will soon be informed. Lan Jue feels trapped in a seemingly inescapable situation. Zhang Ping discovers grease on the fire bead found on stage and, upon consulting the troupe leader, learns this is a type of nail protective oil used by pipa players who play with their hands rather than a plectrum.
Only one person in the troupe plays this way: Han Yan, known as the Pipa Fairy. Based on this connection, Zhang Ping decides to request the Empress Dowager to question Han Yan. The Empress Dowager orders Han Yan brought in and also summons Lan Jue to attend the questioning.
Episode 3 Recap
Her Majesty presides over the interrogation, with only Lan Jue and Wang Yan permitted to remain inside while other officials wait outside. Stating that Zhang Ping has solved the case, Her Majesty directs him to conduct the detailed questioning of the suspect, Han Yan. Zhang Ping asks Han Yan if she is responsible for killing Xie Hao and burning the body using Fire Bead and turpentine. Han Yan confesses.
She explains that Xie Hao had poisoned her water, causing her to miscarry her unborn child, despite only taking a small sip and quickly realizing something was wrong. Han Yan claims Xie Hao poisoned her because Han Yan had overheard her conspiring with Lan Jue.
She alleges that Lan Jue had incriminating evidence in someone else's possession and had instructed Xie Hao to seduce that person to retrieve it, and that she realized she was to be killed because she had discovered this plot. Regarding the blood written message found at the scene, Han Yan says it was intended to expose their "treasonous collaboration" to the public. She insists she heard clearly that the evidence of Lan Jue's treason is hidden within a Rhino-Horn Bead.
She states she had found a bead under a candle backstage, confirming it was the Rhino-Horn Bead she mentioned, and that it is currently located under the bed in her room. Her Majesty orders her attendants to retrieve the bead, which is quickly found. Inside is a secret letter with content pointing to alleged plotting with the Nandong Kingdom. Lan Jue is asked for his response to Han Yan's severe accusations.
He denies them, calling it a massive lie intended to frame him. He recounts how he is the son of the traitor Lan Lin but was granted amnesty ten years ago and became an official through examination, swearing he would never be so ungrateful. He vows loyalty to the Yong Kingdom, declaring Lan Lin is no longer his father. Given that the letter involves state secrets, Her Majesty asks Zhang Ping to leave the room.
Stating that Lan Jue has disappointed her, Her Majesty orders him taken to the Judicial Prison for strict interrogation. Lan Jue requests to examine the letter before being taken away. After reviewing it, he declares it is forged and someone is deliberately framing him. He points out that the character 'qi' is written with full strokes in the letter, which he avoids when writing memorials to respect the Emperor's name taboo by omitting a stroke.
He also observes that the writing indicates it was done with a left hand, something he cannot do. Minister Gong confirms the handwriting is not Lan Jue's and recalls Lan Jue's habit of omitting the stroke in the character 'qi'. Wang Yan immediately suggests looking for officials who write left-handed, specifically naming Vice Minister Guo Yun, whom he recalls writing left-handed calligraphy.
Wang Yan argues that while others may write left-handed, only Guo Yun has the motive, as he is competing with Lan Jue for the position of Minister of Rites, a position that will soon be vacant as Minister Gong is retiring. Her Majesty summons Vice Minister Guo Yun. Guo Yun vehemently denies forging the letter, admitting he can write left-handed but insisting he did not write this one. He demands evidence for Wang Yan's accusation that he framed Lan Jue.
Wang Yan then reveals a secret discovered during the investigation into Han Yan's miscarriage: that Guo Yun is the father of her child. Guo Yun heatedly denies any relationship with Han Yan, insulting her status as a "lowly prostitute musician" and contrasting her with his virtuous wife. Hurt by his public rejection, Han Yan tearfully confesses that her earlier testimony against Lan Jue was entirely false.
She states that Guo Yun instructed her to frame Lan Jue for treason because Guo Yun knew he was inferior in talent and knowledge for the position they both sought and resented Lan Jue. Guo Yun continues to protest his innocence, even accusing Lan Jue. Her Majesty, angered that her movements seem to have been known and exploited, declares she is tired and transfers the remaining investigation to the Ministry of Justice.
As Guo Yun is led away, he continues to shout accusations. Lan Jue thanks Her Majesty for clearing his name and reaffirms his commitment to his oath as an official. Separately, Lan Jue has a subordinate intercept a beggar delivering a second blood letter. The letter includes a note indicating the crime would be exposed at midnight.
Observing that this second letter was sent an hour before midnight without mentioning the fake letter found in the bead, Lan Jue deduces that a third action to implicate him was planned for the precise hour of midnight. He orders the second blood letter burned immediately. Reflecting on the case, Zhang Ping realizes something is amiss.
He recalls that the hair oil found near the Fire Bead at the scene was still wet hours after the incident, contrasting with the fact that such oil usually dries quickly. This suggests it was applied recently, too late for Han Yan to have left it. He concludes Han Yan is not the true murderer. He returns to Banyue Pavilion to find the case already declared solved, with blame assigned to Guo Yun and Han Yan.
Wondering if Lan Jue has deceived him again, Zhang Ping encounters Zhi Xia, a dancer who became frenzied after witnessing Xie Hao's death. He notices her hair oil smells identical to Xie Hao's. Using a technique called "Water Illusion" with a water instrument, Zhang Ping helps Zhi Xia confront her trauma and recall the events.
Under the guidance of the Water Illusion, Zhi Xia describes seeing someone tamper with a lamp to ignite Xie Hao's hair using a Fire Bead to focus light. As she recovers, she answers Zhang Ping's questions. She remembers she forgot her own hair oil that morning and used Xie Hao's instead. She also recalls getting a scratch on her ear from a dancer's sleeve during the final scene.
She identifies the scratch came from a bell tassel, which was part of a previous costume and should have been removed during the quick change. She realizes the dancer must have layered costumes to save time, possibly using that time to kill Xie Hao. She identifies the dancer in that position as Li Niang, recognizing her by her four ear piercings, a custom from her hometown.
Zhi Xia initially believes Li Niang is the killer, but then remembers Li Niang pushed her away as Xie Hao caught fire, saving her from the same fate as Zhi Xia was also wearing the flammable hair oil. She realizes only the murderer would have known the hair oil was dangerous, confirming Li Niang was the one who tampered with it and is the true murderer.
Zhang Ping inquires about Li Niang's whereabouts and is told she was frightened by the accident and Wang Yan arranged for her to see a doctor. Zhang Ping instructs his subordinate, Chen Chou, to pack away the Water Bowl and wait for him. Meanwhile, Zhi Xia is shown being escorted away in a carriage by Lan Jue and Wang Yan. Inside the carriage, Zhi Xia, despite being bound, discreetly attempts to free herself.
Episode 4 Recap
Wang Yan thanked Lan Jue for his help that night, but Lan Jue deflected the praise, stating that the resolution of the crisis was primarily his own doing. Lan Jue explained that Li Niang's second blood letter was key, as it revealed her background and allowed him to pinpoint her as the true culprit.
The blood letter, delivered by a beggar on behalf of a young woman, contained phrases like "secret letters with the enemy," "hidden evil intent," and accusations against Lan Jue's father. The letter claimed his father had colluded with the enemy, leading to the total destruction of the Army for Southward Crusade. Lan Jue reasoned that anyone still harboring such deep resentment over this event after so many years must be connected to that army.
Checking the troupe members' credentials, they discovered a dancer from Jiannandao who was a descendant of the Southward Crusade Army. This woman, Li Niang, had apparently been plotting revenge for a long time, waiting for an opportunity. Li Niang's scheme began with stealing the bead, murdering Xie Hao, and sending the blood letters, intending not only to kill Lan Jue but also to first ruin his reputation.
Lan Jue anticipated that someone who planned with such meticulousness would not allow her efforts to be in vain. This insight gave him the idea to use her plan to his advantage. He arranged for Han Yan to temporarily confess to the crime. Knowing Han Yan was not the real killer but had confessed, Li Niang would be compelled to quickly retrieve the bead, believed to contain Lan Jue's secret letters, to expose him and turn the situation around.
Lan Jue instructed Xu Dong to keep a close watch on her, ensuring she would be caught red-handed with the evidence. Speaking to Wang Yan later, Lan Jue acknowledged that if Li Niang's actions hadn't unfolded exactly as he predicted, his plan that night would have failed. He considered the attempt to retrieve the bead as Li Niang's final move, with no other options left for her.
However, Lan Jue faced a new problem: the case needed to be closed that night, but he could not hand over Li Niang for conviction. This necessitated a different plan involving Han Yan. To gain Han Yan's cooperation in a staged scenario, Lan Jue first needed to reveal Guo Yun's true nature to her. Lan Jue noted that Guo Yun's own cruelty towards Han Yan was the source of their leverage.
Despite Han Yan's initial resistance, Lan Jue, upon examining the anti-miscarriage medicine, realized that the callous Guo Yun, constrained by fear of his father-in-law and unwilling to offend his wife, would not genuinely care for his mistress's pregnancy. He deduced that Guo Yun had tampered with the medicine.
Lan Jue revealed to Han Yan that what she believed was ginger specifically added by Guo Yun was actually mostly Bletilla striata (白芨), which resembles ginger but causes miscarriage when taken by a pregnant woman. He presented this as proof that Guo Yun had effectively killed her baby. Han Yan initially refused to believe him, but Lan Jue challenged her to taste the medicine herself.
Witnessing her subsequent grief and anger after confirming his words, Lan Jue offered her the chance to punish Guo Yun that very day and promised to help her leave the city and start anew afterward. To make the staged confession believable to the Empress Dowager, Lan Jue instructed Han Yan to accuse Guo Yun with a dramatic, heart-wrenching performance. This intricate plan still required one final step, which Zhang Ping inadvertently helped complete.
Lan Jue knew the Empress Dowager had become suspicious of him that night. Only by having an outsider uncover the culprit could he dispel her doubts. While Zhang Ping was questioning the troupe owner, Lan Jue arranged for Xu Dong to tamper with the Fire Bead. Zhang Ping later followed the clue from the bead and located Han Yan.
Simultaneously, Xu Dong replaced the secret letter inside the Rhino-Horn Bead with a fake one and placed it in Han Yan's room. Han Yan then confessed before the Empress Dowager according to their agreed-upon story, falsely accusing Lan Jue of treason and revealing the location of the bead under her bed. Wang Yan remarked to Lan Jue that without his quick thinking and Zhang Ping's unwitting assistance, the situation that night would have been perilous for him.
Considering Han Yan a pitiful person, Lan Jue asked Wang Yan to handle her affairs, and Wang Yan agreed to arrange for her to be sent out of the city. After Wang Yan departed, Lan Jue intended to take Li Niang back to his residence. Zhang Ping pursued the carriage but discovered that Lan Jue and Li Niang were gone, finding only an unconscious Xu Dong. Zhang Ping woke Xu Dong, who realized the gravity of the situation.
Xu Dong instructed a colleague to notify Wang Yan at the Ministry of Justice to bring reinforcements to the Sentry of Loyal Spirits, the cenotaph of the Army for Southward Crusade, while Xu Dong himself hurried ahead to rescue Lan Jue. Lan Jue awoke at the Sentry of Loyal Spirits and understood Li Niang's purpose. He asserted that his father would never have committed treason. Li Niang revealed her father was Liu Wen, the Military Governor of Jiannan.
She recounted growing up in the army, seeing the soldiers as family. When the southern border was threatened, her father led tens of thousands of soldiers to battle, but none returned. She blamed Lan Jue's father for this tragedy, describing how she found the battlefield covered with hungry wolves devouring the soldiers' dismembered bodies, leaving her unable to find even one intact body and only able to gather clothes and items to bury in the cenotaph.
That day, she intended to use Lan Jue's blood as a sacrifice to honor the souls of the fallen soldiers. She summoned wolves, wanting Lan Jue to experience the horror of being abandoned in a wasteland and eaten by them. As the wolves approached at Li Niang's whistle, Zhang Ping also arrived, drawn by the sound. He immediately questioned who had applied the nail polish to the Fire Bead.
Lan Jue admitted that he had instructed Xu Dong to do it. He explained that to escape that night, he needed to present a false culprit to the Empress Dowager, and only by having Zhang Ping solve the case could his own suspicions be cleared. Zhang Ping understood the complexities but insisted that even if Lan Jue was at fault, he should be judged by the authorities, not killed by private vengeance.
Zhang Ping then ignited pine resin he had spread, using the fire to drive away the wolves. This angered Li Niang, who intended to kill both Lan Jue and Zhang Ping. Zhang Ping shielded Lan Jue and was injured. At that critical moment, Wang Yan arrived with reinforcements, saving them. Li Niang was shot and killed. Later, Lan Jue buried Li Niang at the cenotaph, stating that they were both victims.
He asked Wang Yan and everyone present to keep the events at the Sentry of Loyal Spirits a secret, and Wang Yan agreed. Afterward, he brought Zhang Ping back to his residence. The following day in the Xuanzheng Hall of the Imperial Palace, Dou Fang, the Minister of Justice, presented the evidence of Guo Yun's crime, stating that Guo Yun, the Vice Minister of Rites, had framed and murdered his colleague, Lan Jue. The evidence was deemed conclusive.
The Empress Dowager decreed that Guo Yun be dismissed from his office, exiled to his hometown as a commoner, and permanently disqualified from any future appointments. Xuan Ji, the Chief of Imperial Astronomy, then reported on his design for an unparalleled astronomical instrument called the Hunxiang Instrument.
Despite concerns about the expense and labor required for its construction, the Empress Dowager ordered its construction and appointed Xuan Ji to oversee it, instructing the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Works to provide full support. Wang Yan advised Lan Jue to temporarily cease investigating his father's case until the current situation subsided. However, Lan Jue stated that his decade-long career in the imperial court was solely aimed at uncovering the truth behind the incident.
He explained that his interactions with Nandong's Ministry of Rites were intended to draw out those involved in the past events. He mentioned that rumors spoke of an exotic woman who traveled south with his father, described as a spy from Nandong, but he had no recollection of her. After the defeat twenty years ago, trade with Nandong ceased, and only the Minister of Rites was authorized to lead tribute missions there.
Lan Jue declared that having chosen this path, he would face it without regret, viewing his current official position as unexpected and any potential future hardship as his true destiny. Wang Yan urged him to stop speaking ill fortune, and Lan Jue responded lightheartedly, asking if Wang Yan wasn't still there by his side. Shortly after, Xu Dong reported that Zhang Ping's condition had suddenly worsened.
Despite only suffering a sword wound, Zhang Ping appeared critically ill, baffling the doctor who had never seen such symptoms and suggested preparing for his funeral. Lan Jue, saddened by what seemed like Zhang Ping's imminent death, offered to arrange and fund a proper burial for him. Looking at the seemingly lifeless Zhang Ping, Lan Jue confessed his true reason for stealing the bead, admitting it did contain a letter he wrote to the Nandong Ministry of Rites.
However, he insisted he was not colluding with the enemy but seeking the truth about the events twenty years ago, explaining he had his own difficulties. He acknowledged that although Zhang Ping had repeatedly put him in danger, he had also, by chance, saved his life. Lan Jue described Zhang Ping as an inflexible and honest man, advising that in the afterlife, he hoped Zhang Ping would be less rigid, noting that water too clear supports no fish. As Lan Jue spoke, Zhang Ping suddenly sat upright, startling everyone present.
Episode 5 Recap
Zhang Ping awoke and explained that after using the Water Illusion technique, he always sleeps for two days, which is not unusual. He learned that Li Niang was dead, having died at the grave of her father and brothers on the Sentry of Loyal Spirits. He also discovered that the witnesses from Banyue Pavilion, including Mr. Jia and Miss Zhi Xia, had been silenced. Believing all clues were gone and there was no more proof, Zhang Ping decided to leave.
As Zhang Ping prepared to depart, Xu Dong arrived with news that Chen Chou had accidentally overfed Lan Jue's cherished five-year-old goldfish, causing it to die from overeating. Chen Chou admitted his mistake and offered to compensate Lan Jue, but was shocked to learn the fish was worth one hundred taels, far more than he could afford.
Lan Jue offered Chen Chou the chance to work off the debt at his mansion, requiring him to perform chores that need manual labor. Since the situation arose while Chen Chou was caring for Zhang Ping, Zhang Ping decided to stay and work alongside Chen Chou to help pay the debt.
Lan Jue agreed, privately noting that this would keep them contained for a time and prevent them from spreading rumors that could cause further disturbances, as the recent events were just resolved. Xu Dong took them to the woodshed and instructed them to chop all the firewood neatly, emphasizing that Lan Jue was very particular about his food.
The next morning, Lan Jue came to the woodshed and found that the work expected to take over ten days had been completed by the two of them in just a few days. Zhang Ping had even classified the firewood according to which dishes it was suitable for, such as fruitwood for smoking, pine for stir-fry, and oak for stewing meat, explaining that this improved the food quality by pairing different woods with different dishes.
Chen Chou excitedly demonstrated the "wood-chopping artifact" Zhang Ping created, which framed the wood, allowing a single hammer blow to split it efficiently against an axe. Chen Chou offered the artifact to Lan Jue for continued use at the mansion. However, Lan Jue pointed out that the debt was calculated by the number of days worked, not the amount of wood chopped, implying they hadn't worked enough days to pay off one hundred taels.
He quickly assigned them a new task: cleaning all the latrines in the mansion. Chen Chou complained, suspecting Lan Jue was deliberately making things difficult for them, but Zhang Ping urged him to just finish the work so they could leave. While working, Lan Jue saw Zhang Ping making porridge in the kitchen. Chen Chou brought a bowl to Lan Jue, suggesting he try it as the jujubes were sweet and delicious.
Zhang Ping explained that he discovered silk handkerchiefs and rice paper were being used in the latrines for wiping, and jujubes were used to plug noses. He stated that according to convention, silk should be for clothes, paper for writing, and food for eating, and he felt they were being used incorrectly. Therefore, he replaced the silk and paper with bamboo chips and coarse cloth, and the jujubes with silkworm cocoons, then used the discarded jujubes to make the porridge.
Hearing this, Lan Jue immediately vomited the porridge he had just tasted. Lan Jue confronted Zhang Ping, asking why he would humiliate him. Zhang Ping dismissed the idea of humiliation, noting he himself ate two bowls and would have had more if he hadn't saved some for Lan Jue. He stated he guessed Lan Jue deliberately kept him at the mansion after the wood shed incident.
He added that he isn't interested in Lan Jue's methods and no longer has evidence to expose him, so Lan Jue doesn't need to focus on him. However, he warned that if a similar situation arises, he will still investigate. Zhang Ping then asked why Lan Jue returned to save him at the Sentry of Loyal Spirits if he suspected Zhang Ping's motives.
Lan Jue explained that at that moment, Zhang Ping was a victim, and he couldn't just watch Li Niang commit murder and break the law. Lan Jue admitted it's the first time he's encountered someone like Zhang Ping. He offered to write off everything else if Zhang Ping promised to keep quiet about the events. Zhang Ping agreed but demanded the five pennies Lan Jue owes him for noodles, stating that paying the money will make them completely even.
Finding Zhang Ping's focus on the five pennies amusing after everything that happened, Lan Jue instructed Xu Dong to give him the money. Xu Dong gave him five pennies. Zhang Ping noted that one penny was missing before bidding Lan Jue goodbye and leaving. Lan Jue invited Wang Yan, whom he called Mowen, for tea, and Wang Yan addressed Lan Jue as Peizhi.
Wang Yan commented that seeing Zhang Ping reminds him of Lan Jue ten years ago, describing Zhang Ping's straightforward nature. Lan Jue denied being so straightforward back then. Wang Yan disagreed, recalling their first meeting a decade prior: Wang Yan, the son of the Grand Commandant, accidentally knocked over Lan Jue's calligraphy and painting stall while riding his horse. Instead of demanding compensation, Lan Jue gave Wang Yan a copper coin, telling him it was to mend his clothes.
Wang Yan found this act of an "ignorant poor" person challenging the Grand Commandant's son to be quite straightforward, but admits the coin was the reason they became friends. Wang Yan praised Zhang Ping's ability, mentioning that he went to the Banyue Pavilion afterwards to handle the aftermath and heard from Mr. Jia that Zhang Ping quickly used a "wonderous technique" to find the real culprit, Li Niang.
Wang Yan explained this technique, called Mirror Flower Water Moon or Water Illusion, allows one to look into their heart and create a flashback from memory. He suggested that since Lan Jue has been looking for the woman who took his father away, this technique might help him remember more details. Lan Jue found Zhang Ping, who was taking a bath, and asked about Water Illusion.
Zhang Ping explained he was an orphan and when his master found him, the water vessel was already with him. Although he doesn't remember his childhood, he feels a strong, almost innate connection to the vessel. He doesn't know the origin of the technique, but his master named it Mirror Flower Water Moon, saying it allows one to see their "original mind" within the "virtual reality of the mirror image."
He clarified that if someone is subjected to Water Illusion, it's like being completely honest with him; all secrets will be revealed without reservation. Lan Jue expressed that if someone has "other secrets" they cannot be honest about, then Water Illusion won't work. Realizing this applied to him, Lan Jue said to pretend he never came and left.
Twenty days later at Feihua Pavilion in the Pingkang Community, the Painter-sage Wei Mao was hosting an event to select a talented official lady from the capital to be painted on his final work. He complained about the previous performers being boring and remarked that the precious E'xi silk parchment was too rare to waste on them. The next performer was Chu Qi'er, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, who presented a dance for Mr. Wei.
Her dance was described as beautiful and like being in a fairyland, drawing praise as a masterpiece. Wei Mao declared Chu Qi'er had won and finished his painting. However, moments after finishing her dance, Chu Qi'er was found standing motionless on stage, having died. The attendees were shocked and asked what had happened.
Episode 6 Recap
Officials from the Ministry of Justice arrived at the scene of Chu Qi'er's bizarre death. Witness accounts described her dying suddenly, as if frozen and possessed by evil spirits. Heading the investigation, Wang Yan dismissed the supernatural explanations and quickly identified poison as the cause, noting Chu Qi'er's dilated pupils, blackened fingernails, and hardened and cracked skin. Considering the performance involved smoke art using a special instrument, Wang Yan initially hypothesized the poison was in the smoke.
However, Zhang Ping immediately pointed out that if the smoke was toxic, everyone present would have been affected, not just Chu Qi'er. Wang Yan proceeded to question guests, who reported experiencing headaches, dizziness, and distorted vision during the performance, suggesting the presence of a hallucinogen in the smoke, though Zhang Ping believed this alone wouldn't be lethal.
Meanwhile, Xu Dong informed Lan Jue that the case was complicated and the person they were trying to protect feared leaving behind incriminating evidence, urging him to handle it swiftly and secretly. Upon seeing Zhang Ping at the scene, Lan Jue worried he would interfere again. He decided to distract Zhang Ping to allow Xu Dong to carry out his task discreetly, especially since Zhang Ping had nearly discovered Xu Dong in the underdrain.
Lan Jue then greeted Wang Yan, who explained he had brought Zhang Ping to settle a previous score from an incident at Banyu Tower and made a bet: if Wang Yan solved the case first, Zhang Ping would join his staff; if Zhang Ping won, Wang Yan would work at his noodle stand. Noting Wang Yan's advantage in resources within the Ministry of Justice, Lan Jue proposed joining Zhang Ping's side to make the contest fair.
Zhang Ping initially wanted to investigate independently, but Wang Yan accepted Lan Jue's suggestion, overriding Zhang Ping's attempt to decline. Wang Yan's subordinate, Bai He, reported that the smoke art originated from nomadic people in the western region and often incorporated hallucinogens for dramatic effect. Chu Qi'er had learned the technique from an acrobat known as the Immortal of Nomadic Smoke, who also prepared her smoke blocks. Wang Yan ordered the smoke block's ingredients analyzed by a physician.
Zhang Ping maintained that Chu Qi'er's death was too unusual for ordinary poison. Examining Chu Qi'er's dressing case, Zhang Ping found nothing overtly suspicious. However, while Zhang Ping was distracted, Lan Jue secretly swapped the forehead makeup (hua dian) Chu Qi'er had been wearing with one from her dresser.
Lan Jue then drew Zhang Ping's attention to the difference between the two pieces – noting one was shaped like a tree peony and the other a herbaceous peony – and suggested the killer might have poisoned her makeup and replaced it to hide the evidence. Lan Jue later confirmed to Xu Dong that he had successfully distracted Zhang Ping when he nearly discovered Xu Dong in the underdrain, stressing the need for greater caution.
Xu Dong informed Lan Jue that Ministry of Justice officials had checked the forehead makeup and found it non-toxic. Despite this, Zhang Ping, still feeling something was amiss, decided to investigate independently. Revisiting the dressing case area, he noticed disturbed soil near the underdrain opening and recalled seeing a flash of light there earlier. He concluded the well lid had been recently opened. Descending into the underdrain, he discovered scattered rouge powder.
A physician's analysis confirmed that Chu Qi'er's smoke block contained jimsonweed powder (mandala flower powder) in excess of normal hallucinogenic doses, but still not a lethal amount, which explained why other guests were unaffected. Zhang Ping arrived and presented the rouge from the underdrain, pointing out a clear circular imprint suggesting a missing rouge box. He noted that no one present admitted losing a box, proving someone was lying and the rouge was likely connected to the crime.
Zhang Ping also mentioned seeing a flash of firelight from the underdrain opening, but Wang Yan and his subordinate dismissed it, suggesting he was mistaken. Convinced he had enough evidence based on the smoke block analysis and the Immortal's potential connection, Wang Yan ordered the area secured and witnesses taken in for questioning. Zhang Ping, however, took the rouge home and tested it, finding it contained no poison.
The following day, as Zhang Ping considered returning to Feihua Pavilion, Wang Yan declared the case solved. He announced the killer was the Immortal of Nomadic Smoke, citing evidence that the bells on Chu Qi'er's neck were filled with highly toxic yellow azaleas, which, combined with jimsonweed, he claimed could cause loss of consciousness and death. Confident in his findings and his win in the bet, Wang Yan departed to apprehend the Immortal.
Unconvinced by Wang Yan's conclusion, Zhang Ping conducted an experiment at home, mixing jimsonweed and yellow azaleas powder and administering it to a rat. The rat died after about fifteen minutes, experiencing convulsions, a result Zhang Ping found significantly different from Chu Qi'er's instant, rigid death. Zhang Ping concluded that Wang Yan's theory was incorrect regarding the cause of death, or that another poison or individual was involved.
Meanwhile, Wang Yan captured the Immortal of Nomadic Smoke, who used smoke during the arrest, poisoning Wang Yan with jimsonweed. The Immortal confessed to killing Chu Qi'er, stating she had caused his daughter's death to force him to teach her his unique smoke art, expressing no regret for killing her. Zhang Ping arrived at the Ministry of Justice intending to present his findings, but Wang Yan's subordinate informed him Wang Yan had been poisoned and needed rest.
Lan Jue arrived with a licorice juice antidote for Wang Yan. Lan Jue confirmed the Immortal's confession and, acting as witness to the bet, declared Wang Yan the winner, asking when Zhang Ping would report for duty. Zhang Ping insisted that while the Immortal used poison, someone else was the true killer, presenting his experiment results as evidence of a different cause of death.
Lan Jue countered that human and rat reactions differ, and variations in mixture could explain the discrepancy. He stated that without further evidence and with the Immortal's confession, Zhang Ping had lost the contest. Zhang Ping, however, maintained that unresolved doubts remained, particularly regarding the rouge found in the underdrain, and declared he would continue the investigation. Zhang Ping remained fixated on the unexplained presence and role of the rouge, neglecting his noodle stand.
Chen Chou, locating him by following the scent of his noodles, inadvertently sparked a realization. Zhang Ping hypothesized that the rouge's strong, lasting fragrance was used as a guide for the killer to navigate the complex, dark, and identical passages of the underdrain system and locate a specific exit. He visited numerous rouge shops in the Capital but found no one who recognized the rouge or its specific properties, realizing someone was obstructing his inquiries.
Later, he learned from a woman making rouge on the street that his rouge was special because it lacked alum, a common additive. She explained that without alum, the color doesn't last as long and is easily removed, but it is also less irritating and suitable for sensitive skin, and many shops sell such rouge. Zhang Ping realized shopkeepers who claimed not to recognize it had likely been paid off.
He asked Chen Chou to find out which official lady attending the performance had sensitive skin and likely brought her own rouge that lacked alum. Chen Chou discovered that Lady Gong Yuzhen, the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites, was the only lady with sensitive skin and had indeed brought her own rouge that day.
Chen Chou also reported that Lady Yuzhen, a skilled musician initially considered the top candidate for the Painter-sage's final work, had surprisingly withdrawn from the competition the day before to become Chu Qi'er's accompanist and had not returned home since the contest.
Considering these findings and recalling Lan Jue's actions – noting that besides the Ministry of Justice, only Lan Jue was aware of his investigation into the rouge, that Lan Jue had guided Wang Yan's investigation towards the Immortal, and that Lan Jue had interfered with the makeup at Feihua Pavilion – Zhang Ping began to suspect Lan Jue was involved in obstructing the investigation, possibly to protect Minister Gong's family.
He decided to tail Lan Jue in disguise, believing Lan Jue would know Lady Yuzhen's whereabouts if he was involved. Zhang Ping's suspicion was confirmed when Lan Jue detected and set a trap for him. Falling into the trap, Zhang Ping nonetheless managed to catch sight of Lady Gong Yuzhen.
Episode 7 Recap
Zhang Ping intercepted Gong Yuzhen outside Lan Jue's mansion to question her about Chu Qi'er's death. He specifically asked if the alum-free rouge, which only Gong Yuzhen possessed at the scene, was used as a marker for the killer. Gong Yuzhen confessed that while she didn't intend for Chu Qi'er to die, the victim had bullied her excessively.
She revealed that during the competition to become a painting model, Chu Qi'er had arranged for Gong Yuzhen to lose her virginity, and then threatened to spread this secret throughout the capital unless Gong Yuzhen withdrew from the competition and agreed to be Chu Qi'er's musical accompanist. Scared, Gong Yuzhen complied but developed intense hatred.
A mysterious figure then appeared, offering to help her kill Chu Qi'er and instructing her to throw the rouge box into the underdrain during the competition to signal him and lead him. Zhang Ping stated that by colluding with the killer, Gong Yuzhen was an accomplice and urged her to turn herself in to the Ministry of Justice. Lan Jue then intervened, telling Gong Yuzhen to return home and avoid entanglement with Zhang Ping.
Gong Yuzhen expressed deep remorse for her actions and her intention to say goodbye to her grandfather before confessing. Lan Jue argued that Chu Qi'er's cruel bullying led to her own downfall and that it was not worth ruining Minister Gong's honorable reputation, especially as he was nearing his esteemed retirement and Gong Yuzhen was his only living relative.
Zhang Ping accused Lan Jue of being aware of Gong Yuzhen's involvement, suggesting he had someone retrieve the rouge box (explaining the fire in the underdrain), obstructed the investigation, and hid Gong Yuzhen in his mansion. Lan Jue dismissed Zhang Ping's accusations as baseless without evidence of Gong Yuzhen's confession. Zhang Ping asserted that by covering up the truth and harboring the murderer, Lan Jue was unfit for office.
Lan Jue dismissed Zhang Ping as a naive newcomer, but Zhang Ping maintained that he acted with a clear conscience and questioned if Lan Jue could truthfully say the same. Lan Jue visited Minister Gong at his mansion that night. Minister Gong inquired about Gong Yuzhen, and Lan Jue assured him she was being protected. Minister Gong suggested Lan Jue's actions were driven by his ambition for a recommendation for the position of Minister of Rites.
Lan Jue confirmed his determination to secure the position but also stated he was acting for Gong Yuzhen's sake, arguing that although she was an accomplice, her crime did not warrant a death sentence, and she would not survive imprisonment or exile. Minister Gong regretted not noticing Gong Yuzhen's earlier distress. Lan Jue presented the rouge box, offering to dispose of it permanently. However, Minister Gong refused, stating that covering up crimes was not the act of a gentleman.
He accepted responsibility for his granddaughter's mistake and was willing to face consequences alongside her, viewing Lan Jue's offer to conceal the matter as ultimately self-serving. Minister Gong then recited a poem his close friend, Lan Jue's father, had written while in prison, noting its expression of profound loyalty and indignation, and how his father never revealed the truth until his execution.
He revealed that he and Lan Jue's father were close friends and explained that for years he had not told Lan Jue this, nor had he recommended him for office, because it was Lan Jue's father's dying wish that his son simply survive and never enter officialdom. Minister Gong recounted saving a young Lan Jue twenty years prior, finding him beaten and publicly abused as a traitor's son after his father's execution.
He told the young Lan Jue to abandon thoughts of vengeance and live a simple, good life, even offering him a modest job guarding his house with wages to keep him safe from the complexities of the world. However, Lan Jue chose a different path, studying diligently and excelling in the imperial exams, aiming for the position of Minister of Rites specifically to vindicate his father.
Minister Gong expressed sorrow for failing his friend's trust by not deterring Lan Jue from pursuing politics, fearing the danger it would bring. He stated that he could no longer shield Lan Jue and he must now forge his own path. Returning to his mansion, Lan Jue instructed Xu Dong to immediately escort Gong Yuzhen back to the Gong residence.
Shortly after, a servant reported that Gong Yuzhen had received a letter inviting her to a secluded spot by the river to discuss the case and potentially reveal the truth. Despite the servant's hesitation, Gong Yuzhen insisted on attending, believing it would help uncover the facts. The servant waited nearby but heard a shout and discovered Gong Yuzhen was gone.
Lan Jue informed Wang Yan about Gong Yuzhen's disappearance, expressing his distress and the urgency to find the killer and rescue her. Zhang Ping arrived at the Ministry of Justice and informed Wang Yan and Lan Jue that Dr. Sun from Baoshan Pharmacy had been found dead, exhibiting the same symptoms as Chu Qi'er (rigid body, gray-white skin with cracks).
Zhang Ping directly accused Lan Jue of impeding their investigation for personal gain, suggesting this delay allowed the murderer to kill again. Lan Jue apologized for his previous deception and misdirection but explained that with Gong Yuzhen now missing and potentially in danger, he was more motivated than ever to quickly apprehend the culprit. Wang Yan attempted to ease the tension. Zhang Ping proposed they work together to solve the case swiftly and prevent further deaths.
Deciding to focus on the nature of the poison, they examined the personal items of Chu Qi'er and Dr. Sun. While looking through Dr. Sun's unfinished book, "Collection of Symptomatic Diagnosis," Lan Jue discovered a suspicious anomaly in the preface stamps.
He noted that two 'yin' stamps were used improperly—traditional practice dictates a Yang stamp above and a Yin stamp below, separated by space—and these two Yin stamps were placed side-by-side, too close together, and carried a residue of red powder. Testing the powder confirmed it was poison. He deduced the murderer applied the poison to the inkpad used for the stamps, a subtle method unlikely to alert Dr. Sun.
Using two Yin stamps increased the area of the inkpad, allowing more poison powder to be hidden. When Dr. Sun handled the pages, the powder dispersed, causing him to inhale the poison and die. Zhang Ping recalled that the lotus used in Chu Qi'er's performance only opened at the final moment. He hypothesized that the red poison might have been concealed within the red stamen of the lotus, released when it opened, causing her death upon inhalation.
Examining the lotus petals, he found three characters inscribed. Zhang Ping presented the characters "因吉天" (Yin Ji Tian) found on the lotus petals. Lan Jue recognized the ancient book Zhang Ping was consulting as the "Gazetteer" from the ancient Mo Kingdom and offered to assist with the research due to his knowledge of Mo Kingdom culture. He found a legend describing Injeeten sending six Sages down to the world during the Mo Kingdom's founding to enlighten people.
These six were: Oungwule the Medicine-sage, Arnage the Dance-sage, Morengen the Wisdom-sage, Zansang the Farmer and Sericulturist Sage, Uyu the Warden-sage, and Ronakin the Musician-sage, each embodying a specific skill or role. Zhang Ping observed that Dr. Sun, a skilled healer, corresponded to the Medicine-sage, and Chu Qi'er, a preeminent dancer, matched the Dance-sage. He proposed that the murderer was choosing victims who aligned with the characteristics of these Six Sages.
Focusing on the Wisdom-sage, Morengen, described as having great wisdom and four identical heads, Lan Jue immediately suspected the renowned Feng Family's Four Sages at Wuming Pavilion, who are quadruplets and famous scholars in the capital. They hurried to Wuming Pavilion, where a servant insisted the masters were inside, in seclusion, repairing a damaged scroll and hadn't emerged. However, detecting the smell of blood, they rushed inside and discovered the Feng Family's Four Sages had been murdered.
Episode 8 Recap
After Wang Yan's search proves unsuccessful, coroners arrive to examine the scene. Lan Jue observes that the scroll repaired by the Feng brothers before their deaths depicts the legend of the Six Sages, suggesting the murderer intentionally chose this theme. He also notices the presence of red poison mixed into the pigments used on the scrolls. The scene contains three headless and armless corpses.
Three heads, six arms, and one complete corpse are missing, and the scattered limbs could be assembled to form the image of the Wisdom-sage Morengen, a figure with one body, four heads, and eight arms.
Recalling that Dr. Sun was frozen in the posture of checking herbs when poisoned, and Chu Qi'er was fixed in a dancing pose, Zhang Ping deduces that the killer uses poison to kill and fix the victims' bodies, intending to arrange them into the images of the Six Sages. This means the murderer would also need the corpses of Dr. Sun and Chu Qi'er.
Lan Jue notes that the gavel and silk found at the scene might be clues about the remaining victims. The autopsy confirms the three victims died from the same poison as Chu Qi'er. Their blood had been drained before their heads and arms were removed, leaving only a small amount of blood on the bodies. Strangely, no blood is found within the pavilion, and all three corpses bear flea bites.
Considering the esteemed background of the Feng family and the cleanliness of Wuming Pavilion, Zhang Ping finds the presence of fleas, which thrive in dark and damp places, highly unusual. He deduces there must be another passage the killer used to enter, poison the victims, and transport the bodies and severed limbs, as Wuming Pavilion is heavily guarded.
Following a faint sound, Zhang Ping and Lan Jue discover a secret channel dug behind a cabinet, emitting a strong smell of blood. The channel leads to a secret underdrain. Realizing the killer operates through these underdrains, they follow drag marks left behind. The water flow makes tracing difficult at a fork in the tunnel. Zhang Ping suggests closing the sluice upstream to lower the water and reveal footprints.
Xu Dong goes to close the sluice while Lan Jue and Zhang Ping continue the pursuit. The water level drops, revealing clearer tracks. They find the discarded body parts of the victims along the path, confirming the killer is close by. They enter a nearby opening and find themselves in a strange place resembling a prison cell with jars containing what appear to be poison formulas. Suddenly, a Shocking Thunder Bomb explodes.
Lan Jue quickly pulls Zhang Ping to safety, but the explosion causes the passage to collapse, trapping them. A figure appears, identifying himself as a ghost from the lightless underdrains. He speaks cryptically about life and death being two sides of a coin, stating that one must taste death to truly understand life. He describes the place as a "poison sore" within the city's veins, where those who enter taste poison. Lan Jue demands to know Gong Yuzhen's whereabouts.
The killer states she is his Musician-sage Ronakin, and it is not yet time for her to 'descend'. He implies that this place is a death trap for outsiders, and those inside can only leave by 'dying' to get out alive. Lan Jue notices Zhang Ping is injured and offers to bandage him, suggesting they cooperate in their dire situation.
Zhang Ping acknowledges Lan Jue saved him and thanks him, but maintains that Lan Jue was wrong regarding Gong Yuzhen, stating that right is right and wrong is wrong regardless of reasons. Lan Jue appreciates Zhang Ping's integrity. Zhang Ping realizes the killer is targeting people in the order of the Six Sages' descent, which explains why Gong Yuzhen, the Musician-sage, is the last target and not yet killed.
He concludes they must find the remaining two intended victims before the killer reaches Gong Yuzhen. Recalling the clues found earlier, Lan Jue remembers the silk on the Six Sages painting, identifying it as Red Gilding Silk from Yunchang Community, a tribute woven with gold foil and silk yarns, a skill only Miss Wu possesses. He deduces she is likely the chosen Farmer and Sericulturist Sage, Zansang.
Zhang Ping points out the gavel left at the scene has the mark of the Court of Judicial Review. Lan Jue connects this to the Warden-sage Uyu, realizing the next target must be Mr. Tao, the judge of the Court of Judicial Review. Alarmed that the killer is targeting Miss Wu and Mr. Tao, they realize they must escape quickly. Zhang Ping muses that the killer seems to be playing a game, leaving clues and riddles.
He interprets the killer's words about life and death, suggesting a riddle based on mutual existence and dependency. He posits that if the entrance is a 'life gate' for outsiders leading to death, there must be a corresponding 'death gate' for those inside to leave alive. Looking around, they see an incinerator and realize it is the 'death gate', and the chimney is their exit.
They call out from the chimney, and their voices are heard by Xu Dong and Wang Yan, who locate and rescue them by removing the debris blocking the passage. Wang Yan reports that Miss Wu has already been killed. With time running out, Wang Yan goes to investigate Miss Wu's death while Lan Jue and Zhang Ping rush to the Court of Judicial Review to save Mr. Tao.
They find Mr. Tao, Tao Zhoufeng, unharmed, engrossed in studying methods for educating criminals. There is no trace of poison powder. Lan Jue warns him of the murderer targeting him and urges him to take refuge in a quiet room. Mr. Tao expresses confusion, wondering why criminals would target him when he advocates for their reform. Lan Jue explains the killer is the same person who murdered Chu Qi'er and Dr. Sun, using unpredictable, traceless methods.
Mr. Tao remains bewildered but agrees to hide. Just then, Wang Yan arrives, confirming Miss Wu's death. Mr. Tao is distraught by the savagery, but Lan Jue redirects focus to capturing the killer. Mr. Tao offers Wang Yan full cooperation in setting up defenses within the Court of Judicial Review. Later, Zhang Ping returns home and is asked by Mr. Ma to read a letter from his son, Ziyi, stationed at the southern border.
The letter discusses Ziyi's well-being, asking about his father, and expressing longing to return home. After reading the letter, Mr. Ma mentions that the manner of Chu Qi'er's death reminds him of a southern legend Ziyi told him. He describes a mysterious, isolated tribe in the southern wilderness and deep mountains who possessed the ability to "deprive people's souls." Because of this power, they broke a taboo and suffered divine retribution overnight.
According to the legend, a rumbling sound was heard, the sky instantly became bright as day, a vast blood mist covered the village, and the entire tribe instantly stiffened and died on the spot, their bodies cracking as if their souls had been drawn out. Inspired by Mr. Ma's story, Zhang Ping seeks out Wang Yan, and they go to the Court of Judicial Review archives to search old case files from various prefectures and counties.
They find a scroll from 20 years ago, the first year of Yongxuan, detailing a mass death incident in Moluo Village, Yuechang County, Lingnan District. The record states the entire village perished, becoming stiff. It mentions a blood mist enveloping the area and notes that due to a mountain flood destroying a gallery road, repairs took several months.
The investigation concluded the deaths were due to practicing evil sorcery and suffering divine retribution in the blood mist, and the case was closed without objection after review. Zhang Ping finds it hard to believe in divine retribution and suspects the Moluo villagers might have died from the same red poison powder.
He calculates the approximate travel time from the Capital to Moluo Village at that time, estimating it would take about 90 days due to complex terrain, about a month longer than the official road. Wang Yan then dismisses Zhang Ping, telling him to return and guard Mr. Tao while he speaks with Lan Jue. Outside, Zhang Ping insists he should know about the case if it's related, as it could help catch the killer.
Lan Jue asserts it's his private matter and repeats that Zhang Ping should go back to check on Mr. Tao, as the Court of Judicial Review is unguarded. Lan Jue then tells someone to see Zhang Ping out. Lan Jue reveals to Wang Yan that Moluo Village was located on the old post road. His father left the Capital in early April of Yongxuan's first year and encountered a mountain flood that destroyed the road.
A letter from his father mentioned taking a detour, which would add three months to his journey. Adding three months to early April would place his father near the village in early July, the exact same time the Moluo incident occurred. His father returned to the Capital in early October and was condemned. Calculating the dates, Lan Jue realizes his father started his return journey from near Moluo Village.
Lan Jue finds the timing too coincidental and suspects the Moluo incident is linked to his father's case. He recalls his father's words before leaving, feeling his father would not have committed treason despite the danger, remembering his father spoke of "great bravery" and gave him a sachet, only for Lan Jue to see him next on the execution ground.
Lan Jue believes his father was framed and that if the current killer is connected to the Moluo case, catching him might unravel the mystery of his father's wrongful conviction. Wang Yan questions why Lan Jue hasn't told Zhang Ping, noting his clarity of thought and knowledge could be helpful. Lan Jue explains that the defeat of the Southward Crusade army and the deaths of tens of thousands were events the court preferred not to revisit.
His father's confession of treason was quickly accepted, and the court avoided investigating the strangeness of the case, indicating something significant was hidden. Reopening the case would challenge the court's authority. Lan Jue fears that the straightforward and reckless Zhang Ping, unaware of the depth of officialdom's darkness and lacking discretion, would cause greater trouble within days if he knew, risking harm.
He asks Wang Yan to handle this matter, promising to uncover the truth of his father's case at all costs. Later, as Lan Jue and Wang Yan are guarding the Court of Judicial Review, a subordinate reports that the bodies of Wu Niangzi and the Feng brothers, as well as Dr. Sun and Chu Qi'er, have all been stolen. The hole under the underdrain has also collapsed.
The subordinate confirms Mr. Tao is fine, having used the bathroom and eaten snacks normally throughout the night, and no poison or anomalies were found despite continuous guarding and searching. The subordinate recounts how he and Zhang Ping met a mute embalmer pulling a cart of corpses after finishing their shift. The embalmer indicated he needed help pulling the cart and pestered them.
Zhang Ping went to help him but apparently mocked the subordinate, telling him, "Even pepper made you feel pungent, not to mention smelly corpses," and dismissed him by saying Mr. Lan would arrive soon and he should wait there, adding that Zhang Ping's home was on the way, but returning to Lan's Mansion was not.
Lan Jue immediately realizes Zhang Ping's words about their homes not being on the same route were a coded hint, as Zhang Ping's home is in Xiaohaozi Lane (southeast) and the yizhou (place for unidentified/unclaimed bodies), where the embalmer was likely headed, is to the west, a completely different direction. Recognizing this as a message from Zhang Ping, Lan Jue orders Xuexiao to stay and guard while he leads others to the yizhou.
Episode 9 Recap
Zhang Ping offered to help a beggar push a cart carrying a body to the graveyard. He asked to see the beggar's face, feeling a sense of familiarity, and the beggar told Zhang Ping he had been looking for him for a long time. Wang Yan and Lan Jue arrived at the cemetery with their men, where they found the embalmer's cart and the body that had been left there.
They also discovered Zhang Ping's pepper powder bottle on the cart, indicating he had been present. Realizing the killer, who worked as an embalmer and buried bodies in this forest, likely had his lair nearby, they split up their men to search the area. Zhang Ping woke up in the killer's lair, tied up. He saw statues made from dead bodies, representing the six great sages, and found Gong Yuzhen also present, whom the killer identified as Ronakin the Musician-sage.
The killer asked why Zhang Ping had helped him push the cart and come with him. Zhang Ping explained that he had recognized the killer during their brief encounter. He described how the killer's eyes, specifically the dull, empty left eye which he deduced was artificial, had struck him. Zhang Ping noted that the killer's left-leaning gait, compensating for his vision, explained the strange footprints in the underdrain.
He also pointed out flea bite marks on the killer, matching marks found on the victims' bodies, and the red powder leaking from a bag on the killer's waist, all confirming his identity as the murderer. The killer praised Zhang Ping's deductive skills and revealed that Zhang Ping was the Warden-sage, Uyu, whom he had been searching for.
He confessed that the puzzles in Dr. Sun's book and on Chu Qi'er's lotus flower were tests he designed to select Uyu, and Zhang Ping was the one who solved them. The killer revealed he had waited under the Wuming Pavilion, expecting someone to follow the clues, and Zhang Ping had arrived as predicted.
He explained he had left the gavel as a clue to mislead investigators into thinking Judge Tao of the Court of Judicial Review was his intended Warden-sage, ensuring Zhang Ping would not be alerted and could be lured in. Zhang Ping then asked about the origin of the Scarlet Mist Spray poison the killer used.
The killer claimed to have made it himself, vaguely admitting to using it for many "evil things," but didn't confirm whether it was used in Moluo Village twenty years prior when Zhang Ping specifically asked. The killer then revealed his greater purpose: to offer the six great sages, formed by the bodies, to the god of creation, Injeeten.
He believed this would create a new world and transport him and his friends, Hu and Shi Nu, to a Pure Land free from suffering, where they would be reborn. Believing the time was right, the killer declared that Zhang Ping, as Uyu, and Gong Yuzhen, as Ronakin, must take their places in the ritual formation. Zhang Ping broke free of his restraints and threw lime powder at the killer, blinding him temporarily.
Seizing the moment, Zhang Ping cast the Water Illusion technique. The killer fell under the illusion, believing he had successfully gathered the six great sages and was about to enter the Pure Land with his friends Hu and Shi Nu. However, instead of the Pure Land, he found himself back in the horrifying Drug Mound. Confused and distressed by the failure, he couldn't understand why he was there.
Zhang Ping, speaking from within the illusion, prompted the killer to tell the story of his past, promising to help him understand and prove he had fulfilled his promise if he did. The killer confessed his history. Thirty-five years ago, a plague swept through the Yong Kingdom, and his parents died, leaving him orphaned and wandering in the capital city.
He was deceived by a doctor who lured him to the Drug Mound, which was secretly where the doctor, who ran the Hui'an Pharmacy, manufactured and sold poisons. The killer and many other orphans were kept there as drug testers, enduring agonizing suffering. He met Hu and Shi Nu there, and they depended on each other for survival, which gave him a reason to live. One time, Hu and Shi Nu helped him escape, risking their lives.
He hid for months, but when he finally gathered the courage to return to the Drug Mound, it was too late; Hu and Shi Nu were dead. Filled with hatred, he dedicated years to developing a powerful poison, the Scarlet Mist Spray, the poison of poisons. He tracked down the deceptive doctor's home, Hui'an Pharmacy, and used the Scarlet Mist to kill the entire family, avenging Hu and Shi Nu. Yet, completing this revenge brought him no relief.
He became a wandering ghost, feeling empty, until a "master" approached him. This master told him about the legend of Injeeten and taught him a magic formation, telling him that using the Scarlet Mist to gather the six sages would fulfill his wish of reuniting with Hu and Shi Nu in the Pure Land. Zhang Ping revealed the truth that the Injeeten legend contained no mention of a magic formation, and the "master" must have lied to him.
The killer was devastated by the realization that his plan was built on a lie and had failed. He initially blamed Zhang Ping's survival for the ritual's failure and became determined to kill him, believing this was the only way he could still succeed despite the revealed lie. His mental state became unstable, and he began to break free from the Water Illusion.
Zhang Ping noted that the arrangement of tombs in the area formed a star chart of the Seven Mansions belonging to the Azure Dragon, connecting it to Injeeten, who was said to be the incarnation of the Erina Star (the Mo people's name for the star of fire in the Seven Mansions). Lan Jue arrived, having located Zhang Ping's position. As the killer fully awoke from the illusion, he saw Lan Jue and recognized him as Lan Lin's son.
He asked if Lan Jue was responsible for the "divine retribution" case in Moluo Village twenty years ago and how much Lan Jue knew about his father. The killer told Lan Jue he would never know the truth. He then broke completely free of his restraints and activated a mechanism on the altar. Scarlet Mist erupted, and the killer died instantly. Lan Jue quickly rescued the dazed Zhang Ping and Gong Yuzhen and got them away from the mist.
Later, Wang Yan's men investigated the killer's lair, finding only bottles of poison and no other significant clues. Lan Jue informed Wang Yan that the killer knew his father and likely held inside information about the Moluo Village case, but they were unable to question him before he died.
Zhang Ping offered to help Lan Jue investigate his father's case and the truth behind the Moluo Village incident, and Lan Jue accepted, stating they still had time to figure things out. At court, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager inquired about the recent major case in the Capital City. Wang Yan reported that he had successfully identified the killer but was unable to apprehend him before the criminal committed suicide.
He clarified that rumors of "soul depriving" were groundless, and the strange deaths were caused by drugs, confirming he had destroyed the killer's lair and found no remaining poison. Wang Yan also reported on the involvement of Gong Yuzhen, Minister Gong's granddaughter, and requested leniency for her due to Minister Gong's dedicated service and Gong Yuzhen's youth and ignorance.
Her Majesty granted that Gong Yuzhen would be spared the death penalty but instructed the Ministry of Justice to determine the rest of her punishment, acknowledging Minister Chu's grief over losing his daughter. Lan Jue was also asked about his involvement; he humbly stated he only contributed a little and that Wang Yan had done most of the effective investigation. Her Majesty criticized the Court of Judicial Review, implying they did little despite the public nature of the case.
Lan Jue defended Judge Tao, citing his dedication to his work, including writing the "Brochure of Persuasion for Goodness" and leading his subordinates in educating criminals. Her Majesty directed Judge Tao to figure out how to restore the Court of Judicial Review's reputation. Following this, Xuan Ji, the Chief of Imperial Astronomy, presented his report. He stated that the construction of the Hunxiang Instrument was underway, but the design for the top was undecided until recently.
He revealed that he had found two large rubies under a plum tree on Zilang Mountain, which he considered providentially rare. Using hundreds of skilled craftsmen, he had woven an auspicious treasure with gold thread using these rubies to be placed atop the instrument and presented it for Her Majesty's inspection. The Emperor was not present for the session, having felt ill after hunting the previous day.
Episode 10 Recap
Her Majesty was presented with a report by Xuan Ji, Chief of Imperial Astronomy, regarding the Hunxiang Instrument currently under construction. Xuan Ji stated that the design for the top of the instrument was still undecided and, after much effort, he had discovered two large rubies under a plum tree in Zilang Mountain, calling them a rare find that seemed an act of providence. He proposed using gold thread to weave an auspicious treasure incorporating these rubies for the top.
Grand Tutor Liu Xian objected, arguing that establishing a golden phoenix instead of a golden dragon was against the rites system, given that the Emperor was the supreme ruler. Xuan Ji countered that Her Majesty was born in a plum forest, the rubies were found under a plum tree in Zilang Mountain, and Zilang Mountain naturally resembled a phoenix nest. He proposed naming the instrument the "Qianqiu Instrument" to symbolize the dynasty's lasting prosperity and Her Majesty's enduring virtues.
Her Majesty was pleased and tasked Xuan Ji with overseeing the project, despite Grand Tutor Liu Xian's renewed pleas for reconsideration based on upholding ritual law. After the court session, Wang Yan remarked on Xuan Ji's ability to anticipate Her Majesty's wishes, suggesting it was key to his favor.
Grand Tutor Liu Xian stopped Lan Jue, questioning why he hadn't opposed Xuan Ji's proposal based on ritual etiquette in the hall, especially since he was now in charge of the Ministry of Rites following Minister Gong's resignation. Lan Jue was unable to offer a clear explanation.
Just then, Wang Yan intervened, stating he needed Lan Jue immediately to take a statement for the embalmer's case file, which had to be submitted that day, and took Lan Jue away, excusing them from Grand Tutor Liu Xian on grounds of urgency. As they left, Wang Yan commented that Liu Xian had likely intended to use Lan Jue as a scapegoat but that Wang Yan's intervention now meant Lan Jue owed him a favor.
Lan Jue, however, claimed he could have managed to talk his way out of the situation himself. Zhang Ping was gathering reed leaves to wrap zongzi when Chen Chou found him. Chen Chou excitedly told Zhang Ping that his noodle stall had become incredibly popular since he helped the Ministry of Justice solve a case and won against Detective Mr. Wang, drawing crowds like crossing river fish.
He proudly announced that he had given Zhang Ping the name "Detective Noodle," now famous throughout the capital. However, Zhang Ping's mind was elsewhere, fixated on the Moluo Village case. He wondered about the mechanics behind the scarlet mist and the unnaturally bright night sky, the identity and motives of the person who had told the embalmer about the Injitian legend, why the embalmer knew Lan Jue's father, and how all this connected to the 20-year-old treason case.
Mr. Tao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, approached Wang Yan and Lan Jue to thank them for speaking well of him during the court assembly. Wang Yan attributed the gesture to Lan Jue, who responded that colleagues should support each other and he might require Mr. Tao's help in the future, a debt Mr. Tao acknowledged he would repay.
Wang Yan then reminded Lan Jue about the bet he lost to Zhang Ping and when he intended to fulfill his promise to mix dough for Zhang Ping's stall, a debt Lan Jue playfully dismissed. Meanwhile, Chen Chou erected a "Detective Noodle" sign and introduced Zhang Ping to a growing crowd, inviting them to order noodles and ask about his cases.
As people began asking questions about cases and other lost items, Wang Yan arrived, declaring he had lost the bet and presenting Zhang Ping with dough he had personally kneaded. Wang Yan's unexpected arrival caused the crowd to quickly disperse, frustrating Chen Chou, while Lan Jue, who seemed to be nearby, was surprised that Wang Yan had followed through on the bet himself.
Lan Jue visited a clothing shop and showed Mr. Xu, the owner, a piece of Red Gilding Silk from Yunchang Workshop. He explained that Her Majesty had intended to have a formal dress made from the unique fabric, which was Miss Wu's special, secret technique, but Miss Wu had been murdered before finishing it.
Lan Jue, in his capacity as Vice Minister of Rites, asked Mr. Xu to study the silk and complete the dress, emphasizing the importance of this task for his career. Mr. Xu, eager to understand the technique, promised to do his best. Later, Zhang Ping made egg yolk zongzi at home, and Chen Chou looked forward to eating them the next day. The next morning, Zhang Ping cooked some zongzi and took them to Lan Jue's residence.
A large number of scholars were already gathered outside, attempting to present expensive gifts, such as valuable paintings and ginseng, while being turned away by the staff. Zhang Ping called out to Lan Jue and was noticed carrying his simple offering. Lan Jue saw the zongzi, acknowledging that while seemingly plain compared to the expensive gifts, they represented genuine sincerity.
He then addressed all the scholars, stating he appreciated their intentions but could not accept any gifts and advised them to return home and focus diligently on their studies. Chen Chou informed Zhang Ping that the Court of Judicial Review was recruiting new staff due to Her Majesty's dissatisfaction with their work. Zhang Ping immediately expressed interest in applying, even for a helper position.
Chen Chou doubted he could get in without connections but suggested that if Lan Jue could speak for him, it might be possible, hinting that Zhang Ping could ask him for help since Lan Jue had aided him before and he was already going to thank him. Zhang Ping mentioned he had just gone to thank Lan Jue with a gift, but Lan Jue refused to accept it.
Just then, Lan Jue arrived at Zhang Ping's stall, asking about the egg yolk zongzi. Zhang Ping and Chen Chou explained they were gone, and only some leftover salted egg whites remained. Lan Jue was visibly disappointed but settled for millet congee, and Zhang Ping described the quality of the egg whites in detail, mentioning the type of duck egg, wine, and salt used.
Zhang Ping then told Lan Jue he had something important to discuss that required privacy and asked if they could talk at Lan Jue's residence. Lan Jue agreed and told Chen Chou to pack up the stall. At Lan Jue's residence, Zhang Ping proposed performing the "Water Illusion" technique on him. Lan Jue was surprised and asked why.
Zhang Ping explained that ever since he learned about the events in Moluo Village, he had been unable to stop thinking about the scarlet mist and other details, especially since the case seemed connected to Lan Jue's father. He expressed his desire to clarify the truth.
Lan Jue revealed that his father was accused of treason and collusion with the enemy, a case that had been a deeply taboo subject for twenty years and was considered a disgrace to the court. He warned that investigating it, or even asking questions, could cost Zhang Ping his life. Zhang Ping acknowledged the risk but stated he had considered it, was prepared, and would keep everything strictly secret.
Lan Jue pointed out that Zhang Ping fell into a lengthy comatose state after performing the technique and questioned if he wasn't afraid for his life. Zhang Ping replied he was accustomed to it and would recover after sleeping. Lan Jue stated frankly that his greater concern was Zhang Ping's straightforward and perhaps reckless approach to investigation, fearing it could jeopardize his own long-term efforts and potentially lead to the demise of everyone involved.
Zhang Ping reaffirmed his promise not to break his word and suggested a possible connection between the Moluo tribe's "divine retribution," the embalmer's poison, the mysterious person who guided the embalmer, and the treason case involving Lan Jue's father. He argued that he wanted to clarify the truth behind these events.
When Lan Jue questioned why it mattered to him, Zhang Ping quoted Mr. Mu Yesheng, whose detective novels he grew up reading: "If everyone cares about the truth, there would be nowhere to hide for darkness." Lan Jue agreed to the "Water Illusion."
Zhang Ping explained that for the "Water Illusion" to be successful, Lan Jue needed to drop all his mental defenses – his doubts, secrets, and pain – to clear his mind and reconnect with his true nature to find the truth. Lan Jue agreed and asked his attendant, Xu Dong, to leave. Lan Jue described his inner state as akin to a "trapped beast" but confirmed his willingness to cooperate by letting down his guard.
He stated that the only clue he could recall was a mysterious woman who had traveled south with his father. She had appeared suddenly, spent several days in private consultation with his father, and then they had left together for the south overnight. Upon his father's return, he was accused of treason and collusion. Lan Jue admitted that after twenty years, he could no longer remember the woman's appearance and asked Zhang Ping to help him recall details.
Zhang Ping instructed him to gaze into the water vessel, calling it the "realm of truth and purity," where he could meditate and access his memories. As Zhang Ping began the ritual, Lan Jue was drawn into a vision. He heard a disturbing children's rhyme about a "traitor" hanging at the market entrance, asking who he was, with the answer being "not pig or dog."
He recognized this as his persistent inner demon, haunting him whenever he thought about his father's case. In the vision, he witnessed his father's execution, crying out in distress, trapped by this painful childhood trauma and unable to intervene while the rhyme echoed around him. Zhang Ping attempted to guide him to settle his mind, explaining that he could not resolve the inner demon born from Lan Jue's own profound confusion.
Episode 11 Recap
Lan Jue struggled within a turmoil of dark thoughts, repeatedly hearing phrases about a "traitor" and his "father." Xu Dong brought him orchids. As Lan Jue smelled the flowers, his mind stabilized. In his memory, Lan Jue recalled his father explaining the meaning of his name: 'Lan' symbolized a gentleman of high moral character, firm and upright, while 'Jue' represented the clear sound of jade striking together.
His father asked him what virtues a gentleman should possess, which he struggled to recall in his troubled state. His father’s voice reminded him: "A gentleman's actions must be justified, his speech reasonable, his pursuit righteous, his behavior upright." With his mind clear, Lan Jue recalled a day when he was studying in the courtyard. His father and an exotic woman seemed to be discussing a secret matter.
He overheard his father mention leaving home soon, stating, "Every day of delay means more risk." Curious, he glanced towards the study door but only caught a brief glimpse of the woman. Despite countless attempts, he had been unable to recall her appearance until now. Lan Jue quickly requested a brush and paper. He sketched the mysterious woman from his memory, noting a simple, ancient pottery accessory she wore on her chest, but he had only seen its outline.
Zhang Ping recognized the accessory, saying it looked familiar, like a whistle he'd seen somewhere. Using his sense of familiarity, Zhang Ping completed the drawing of the accessory's intricate pattern, surprising Lan Jue with its detail and completeness. Zhang Ping speculated he might have seen the pattern in a book. Lan Jue instructed Xu Dong to make several copies of the drawing and send them to the South to investigate if the item was related to Moluo Village.
Xu Dong immediately went to carry out the task. After performing the Water Illusion technique, Zhang Ping fell into a deep sleep during which he was having nightmares. Lan Jue had Xu Dong place an orchid near Zhang Ping's pillow, hoping its fragrance would help him rest, even though it typically only calmed Lan Jue himself.
Xu Dong noted he had never seen the orchid affect anyone else in this way, but Lan Jue suggested its fragrance in sleep was better than nothing, perhaps offering some comfort. Zhang Ping later awoke feeling well-rested and reported he hadn't had nightmares. Zhang Ping reopened his noodle stall, "Detective Noodle." A wealthy young man, Qi Zhu, approached, having heard of the famous stall and wanting to try it out of novelty.
He ordered a bowl of plain noodles with a soft-boiled egg, but Zhang Ping refused to serve him, having just seen Qi Zhu casually spit out a bite of a nectarine he bought from another vendor. Zhang Ping explained that he didn't serve those who wasted food, despite Qi Zhu already ordering and insisting he hadn't come just to look. Qi Zhu protested that not all wealthy people were wasteful and was determined to eat the noodles.
When Zhang Ping stood firm, Qi Zhu pushed past him and attempted to make the noodles himself at the stall, struggling awkwardly. Zhang Ping offered to make him a proper bowl, but Qi Zhu refused. Qi Zhu ate the poorly made noodles and the egg, stating the noodles were bad but the egg was good, adding that he hadn't wasted anything, thus proving his sincerity. Qi Zhu then asked why Zhang Ping's noodles were cheaper than others.
Zhang Ping explained he sourced flour directly from farmers at a lower price and bought eggs cheaply from an elderly woman after helping her build a chicken coop. Qi Zhu found Zhang Ping interesting. They realized they had both initially misjudged each other based on appearances and the nectarine incident (which Qi Zhu explained was due to the fruit having a rotten core). They agreed to be friends.
Qi Zhu's attendant arrived, reminding him it was late, and they had to leave. Qi Zhu bid farewell, promising to compete with Zhang Ping in other areas besides noodle making in the future. Later, a secretary from the Court of Judicial Review arrived at Zhang Ping's stall and informed him that Mr. Tao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, wished to see him.
He urged Zhang Ping to pack quickly, and Zhang Ping, excited by the opportunity, quickly went with him to the Court. As they walked at the Court, the secretary remarked that Zhang Ping must have a strong background to be chosen, as many others, including relatives of high officials, were not selected for positions. At the Court of Judicial Review, the secretary presented Zhang Ping to Mr. Tao.
Mr. Tao stated he wanted to offer Zhang Ping a position as a helper, acknowledging his reputation as "Detective Noodle" and hoping his assistance could help revitalize the Court. Zhang Ping happily accepted immediately. However, he then eagerly asked Mr. Tao about the person named Mu Yesheng, mentioned in the book "Strange Night Talk". He wanted to know if Mu Yesheng truly worked there, his real name, and whereabouts.
Mr. Tao dismissed "Strange Night Talk" as merely fabricated folk tales, claiming he had never heard of anyone named Mu Yesheng working at the Court in his decades there, and questioning how such detailed descriptions could be real without personal experience. Zhang Ping expressed disappointment, finding it hard to believe the book's detailed descriptions of the Court and its cases were untrue if not based on experience.
Mr. Tao reiterated his position but offered to let the secretary show Zhang Ping the Case Archive. The secretary led Zhang Ping to the archive, giving him the keys and a temporary token for entry and exit. He then explained that the "helper" position was primarily for cleaning, not organizing cases or assisting with investigations. Zhang Ping was disheartened by the mess but was struck by how accurately the archive matched the description in "Strange Night Talk".
He spotted a lotus jar, recognizing it from a case described in the book where Mu Yesheng had found a key clue. This reinforced his belief that Mu Yesheng must have worked there twenty years prior, finding inspiration for cases in this very spot. Though disappointed he hadn't been born earlier, he resolved to follow Mu Yesheng's path within the Court.
He decided to diligently clean and organize the archive, resolving to investigate the difficult cases Mu Yesheng was unable to solve. Meanwhile, at the construction site for the Immortal Instrument in the Imperial City, a worker checked on the structure at night during a strong wind, worried the phoenix atop it might be damaged. To his horror, he saw what appeared to be the phoenix weeping bloody tears.
Believing this to be an ominous sign, he cried out, fearing it foretold bloodshed and a terrible omen from heaven. Back at the Court of Judicial Review, Zhang Ping completed his work in the archive. He presented two stacks of files to Mr. Tao: one containing new clues he had found in unresolved cold cases, and the other detailing misjudged old cases.
Mr. Tao praised his sharp observation and meticulous work, calling him "observant and thoughtful" and noting his promising potential. Zhang Ping asked when they could begin investigating these cases, offering his assistance if they were short-handed. Mr. Tao advised him not to rush, stating these long-standing cases required careful consideration before reopening. He instructed Zhang Ping to continue cleaning the archive. Zhang Ping informed him that he had already finished cleaning and sorting the files.
Mr. Tao then suggested he take a day off to rest or walk around the courtyard and admire the flowers, saying he had worked hard. Zhang Ping protested that he didn't need rest and wanted to help solve cases, but Mr. Tao insisted the matter was settled and sent him away for the day. On his way home, Zhang Ping encountered Mr. Ma, looking exhausted.
He learned Mr. Ma had been working two jobs at the Immortal Instrument construction site, washing dishes and cleaning. Zhang Ping took Mr. Ma to his home to rest. Mr. Ma was deeply worried because his son, Ziyi, who was supposed to write by the 15th, had still not sent a letter by the 24th. He feared something had happened to Ziyi.
Linking this worry to the "Phoenix cries blood" he had witnessed at the construction site a few days prior, Mr. Ma became convinced it was an omen from heaven that his son would suffer a bloody misfortune. Zhang Ping tried to calm him, explaining that the phoenix was man-made and couldn't cry blood, suggesting Mr. Ma might have misseen in the dark.
But Mr. Ma was distraught, certain it was a terrible sign, insisting Zhang Ping was too young to understand. Fueled by Mr. Ma's distress and his own curiosity about the "Phoenix cries blood," Zhang Ping, using his Court of Judicial Review token, went to the Immortal Instrument site. He snuck to the top platform and examined the golden phoenix head.
After confirming with a worker that it was indeed the pure gold, ruby-eyed phoenix head ordered by the Empress Dowager, Zhang Ping inspected it closely and concluded that there was something wrong with the phoenix head.
Episode 12 Recap
Zhang Ping located the construction workers and informed them that the phoenix head was not made of pure gold but was copper painted gold, and that the ruby eyes had been replaced with pieced-together gems, leading him to conclude the phoenix head was a fake. Unexpectedly, the construction workers immediately reported Zhang Ping to the watching guards, accusing him of claiming the Empress Dowager's phoenix head was fake.
Zhang Ping was brought by the guards to see Director Wang, the Director of Palace Construction from the Ministry of Works. The guard reported to Director Wang that Zhang Ping, a helper from the Court of Judicial Review, had disguised himself as a craftsman to infiltrate the Immortal Instrument site and claim the phoenix head was fake.
Director Wang declared that trespassing on the Immortal Instrument site was a serious crime, and making such claims added a double layer of guilt. Zhang Ping explained that he had heard from Mr. Ma, a cleaner at the site, about seeing the "phoenix weeping blood" at night and had come to investigate. He found the phoenix head was a forgery and speculated that the "tears of blood" were likely pieces of the spliced ruby falling off.
Director Wang dismissed Zhang Ping's words as nonsense and ordered him confined to the wood shed, stating he would contact the Court of Judicial Review for an explanation. A registrar from the Court of Judicial Review soon arrived and took Zhang Ping back.
The registrar sternly warned Zhang Ping that the phoenix head represented the Empress Dowager's prestige and that he must not speak carelessly, adding that a small helper like him should not overstep his bounds and should go home to reflect. After returning home, Zhang Ping received an invitation from Qi Zhu. Zhang Ping went to the royal hunting ground and recognized Qi Zhu as the current Emperor.
He had deduced Qi Zhu's true identity from the homophone of his name after their previous meeting, knowing the Emperor's name was Jing Qizhu. The Emperor invited Zhang Ping to try the lamb he had roasted himself, explaining it was a Yantan sheep from Longyou. The Emperor recounted how, after parting ways with Zhang Ping that day, he and his men had ventured deep into the hinterland of Longyou and brought back the rare Yantan sheep.
He lamented the ongoing rebellions by military governors who now controlled the fertile pastures, making such lamb increasingly rare. The Emperor expressed his determination to reclaim all the land in Longyou one day. He also expressed envy for Zhang Ping's ability to pursue his passion, wishing him success in the imperial examination and urging him to be fearless in investigations and see cases through to the truth.
While working at his noodle stall, Zhang Ping overheard people discussing the missing phoenix head. They speculated that the Empress Dowager had seized the Emperor's authority, causing Heaven to take the phoenix head, forcing her to use a fake. The rumor also attributed the origin of this story to Zhang Ping. Due to the spread of these rumors, Director Wang had Zhang Ping brought in for investigation again.
Upon being seized, Zhang Ping unexpectedly saw Mr. Ma being subjected to private torture. Director Wang ordered Zhang Ping to publicly clarify that the rumors were false. However, Zhang Ping maintained that he had not spread rumors and that the phoenix head being fake was simply the truth, a fact he had observed. Seeing Zhang Ping's refusal to deny his claim, Director Wang ordered private torture be used on him as well.
After Zhang Ping was seized, Chen Chou quickly went to the Lan residence to seek Lan Jue's help. Lan Jue arrived at a crucial moment, saving Zhang Ping from torture. Just then, the Empress Dowager arrived at the site, reprimanding Director Wang for attempting to conceal the loss of the phoenix head. Xuan Ji, Chief of Imperial Astronomy, asserted that the widespread rumors were caused by Zhang Ping and that the unrest could not be quelled without punishing him.
Lan Jue intervened, stating that Zhang Ping was his student and, based on his character, would not spread baseless rumors, suggesting that someone else was deliberately using the situation to fabricate rumors. Lan Jue offered to collaborate with Zhang Ping to investigate the case, find the culprit, and debunk the rumors.
The Empress Dowager stated that she never engaged in games with uncertain outcomes and warned Lan Jue that if he failed to find the culprit, he must be prepared to face the consequences. The Empress Dowager decreed that Lan Jue and Zhang Ping had two days to investigate the whereabouts of the phoenix head and identify the mastermind. If they succeeded, all involved would be pardoned from capital punishment.
Back at the Lan residence, Zhang Ping thanked Lan Jue for his assistance that day. Lan Jue advised Zhang Ping that while what he said was true, sometimes speaking the truth was not beneficial because reality, including the Ministry of Works, the Immortal Instrument project, the Court of Judicial Review, and even the entire capital and the Yong Kingdom, would not change because of these truths.
Lan Jue admitted that he had recommended Zhang Ping to work as a helper at the Court of Judicial Review but had arranged for him to work in the archives, fearing he would cause trouble. However, Zhang Ping firmly believed that black was black and white was white, right was right and wrong was wrong, and that it should be so regardless of the circumstances. He promised to find the phoenix head and the thief within the two-day deadline.
Zhang Ping and Lan Jue went to the Immortal Instrument construction site. Zhang Ping asked Director Wang how the phoenix head was lost. Director Wang recounted that ten nights prior, he had made his usual rounds without detecting anything abnormal. That night, however, at midnight, Supervisor Lin, who was on patrol, discovered the phoenix head, scaffolding, and cover cloth were all missing. It was as if the phoenix head had flown away, which seemed mysterious.
Zhang Ping called for Supervisor Lin to detail the circumstances. Supervisor Lin confirmed that when he checked that night, the phoenix head, the scaffolding, the cover cloth, and everything on the scaffolding had vanished completely. He noted that the items currently there were replacements. Zhang Ping found some burned insects at the site, speculating that the thief might have used fire during the crime.
However, open flames were strictly prohibited on the site, and fuel entry and exit were tightly controlled. Lan Jue suggested he review the site's material records while Zhang Ping investigated the method of theft. A day quickly passed. Lan Jue was reviewing the material records at his residence when Wang Yan, having returned from a business trip, rushed in after learning about Lan Jue and Zhang Ping collaborating on the case.
Wang Yan questioned Lan Jue, arguing that if this assignment failed, his ten years of efforts, including the grievance regarding his father's case, would be ruined. Lan Jue explained he hadn't anticipated the Empress Dowager's sudden arrival. He revealed that the difficult part was that the Empress Dowager hoped the mastermind behind the theft was Grand Tutor Liu Xian.
Zhang Ping spent the entire night trying to understand how the thief could steal the phoenix head without manual operation, how they started a fire, and where the fuel came from. He unexpectedly found inspiration from the steam lifting the lid of Chen Chou's teapot while boiling water. He theorized that the fire was used to generate heat.
The thief had used the cover cloth and scaffolding to create a massive Kongming lantern, which then floated away in the night, carrying the phoenix head. Zhang Ping went to the Lan residence to confirm the fuel records. Xu Dong also arrived and informed him of Lan Jue's findings: four barrels of raw tung oil paint were missing from the site. Zhang Ping instructed Xu Dong to tell Lan Jue to gather men and head quickly to Yunxiao Mountain.
Episode 13 Recap
Zhang Ping theorized that if the thief used a sky lantern, the southern wind would carry it north that night, specifically towards Yunxiao Mountain, which lies north of the Palace. He speculated the thief retrieved the lantern there and that traces would remain, adding that a giant scaffold-made lantern would be difficult to dispose of without attracting attention, making immediate burial the most likely method. Wang Yan ordered his men to search Yunxiao Mountain thoroughly for any signs.
After an extensive search, a team found something on the back of the mountain. They discovered a hook used with a crossbow and traces of burnt crude Tung oil, confirming the use of a large sky lantern. Zhang Ping also found the ignitor's cap on the lantern's mesh. They wondered how it ignited without anyone present at the top of the Immortal Instrument. Lan Jue deduced that the Immortal Instrument itself is a precision timing device.
He theorized that the ignitor's cap was connected to the timing gear using a cotton thread, allowing it to open and ignite the oil at a precise time. He further explained that the phoenix head was hung on a hook, and four ropes connected to scaffold boards acted as counterweights and were threaded through a pulley system linked to the phoenix head.
As the rising hot air lifted the lantern, the ropes would apply force, rotating the phoenix head out of its mortise and tenon joint. The southern wind then carried the sky lantern to Yunxiao Mountain. On the mountain, the thief used a crossbow and hook to retrieve the lantern, removed the phoenix head, and discarded the remaining scaffold parts without time to bury them properly.
Lan Jue noted the exceptional skill displayed in the craftsmanship of the wooden pulley shelves, observing they were formed by a single, clean cut and were identical, suggesting the work of a master craftsman. Zhang Ping, anxious about the time limit before reporting to Her Majesty, urged them to focus on finding the phoenix head and the thief.
Lan Jue insisted that given the high security at the Immortal Instrument construction site, only a craftsman with unrestricted access and time to work unnoticed could be responsible. He believed such a skilled craftsman would not be ordinary and suggested they inquire with Director Wang. Zhang Ping added that carrying a human-sized phoenix head into the city would be risky due to guard patrols in every district, so the thief likely hid the head on Yunxiao Mountain.
Wang Yan dispatched additional teams to search the mountain specifically for the phoenix head. Following Lan Jue's suggestion, they went to Director Wang at the department of Palace Construction. Director Wang confirmed that the craftsmanship of the wooden parts was superior and stated that only one craftsman on the entire site, Chang Wei, possessed such skill. He reported that Chang Wei had finished work for the day and requested leave for the next, suggesting he was attempting to flee.
Lan Jue, Zhang Ping, and Wang Yan immediately went to Chang Wei's house but found it empty. Zhang Ping noticed a peculiar dragging trace outside the house. He and Wang Yan followed the trace, which led them to materials used for making sky lanterns, confirming these were what had been dragged. Following sounds, they found Chang Wei launching a sky lantern while reciting lines about its construction.
They apprehended him and accused him of stealing the phoenix head, demanding to know who ordered him. Chang Wei claimed he also wanted to know who framed him. He explained that a month prior, his mother was gravely ill and he needed money. A man offered him a hundred taels to steal the phoenix head, which he accepted out of desperation to save his mother.
However, the man never appeared for the exchange, and he discovered the box of silver was fake except for the top layer. He realized he had been set up. To his despair, his mother somehow learned about the theft and died in anger. He lamented that his attempt to save her only resulted in her death, blaming himself and stating he deserved to die.
Speaking to his mother's ashes, he confessed that twenty years ago he committed a terrible act and had been hiding with her ever since, causing her long-term illness. He then scattered her ashes into the sky via the lantern, fulfilling her wish to see the view from above. He suddenly collapsed, and they noticed his tongue was black, indicating he had taken poison. They immediately called for a doctor.
Wang Yan pressed him for the buyer's identity, but Chang Wei died before he could answer. With time running short before they had to report to Her Majesty, Wang Yan's subordinate informed them that the phoenix head had been found hidden in a cave.
Wang Yan, recognizing that simply presenting the head and Chang Wei's body would not satisfy Her Majesty, who sought to implicate Grand Tutor Liu Xian, ordered Chang Wei's house searched again for any clue about the mastermind.
Finding none, Wang Yan suggested to Lan Jue that since no other lead existed and Chang Wei was dead, Lan Jue should write a confession in Chang Wei's name stating that Grand Tutor Liu Xian was the buyer, arguing that there was no one else among the officials it could be. Lan Jue hesitated. Wang Yan then offered to write the confession himself.
Zhang Ping intervened, stating that he was the one who insisted on investigating and caused all the trouble, and he would take full responsibility for failing to find the mastermind. Wang Yan angrily retorted that Zhang Ping couldn't simply bear the responsibility himself, reminding him that his actions now endangered not only himself but also Lan Jue.
He revealed that Lan Jue had risked his life to secure these two extra days for the investigation because Her Majesty intended to punish Grand Tutor Liu Xian and would have had Zhang Ping killed already. If the case did not conclude as Her Majesty desired, Lan Jue's life would be forfeit. Zhang Ping was visibly distressed. Lan Jue told Zhang Ping to wait while he had a private discussion with Wang Yan.
Later that night, Lan Jue and Zhang Ping were taken into custody by order of Her Majesty. The next morning, at Xuanzheng Hall, an announcement was made declaring that Vice Minister of Rites Lan Jue was sentenced to be beheaded in public at noon that day for allowing his follower Zhang Ping to spread rumors and show contempt for Her Majesty.
Furthermore, concerning the missing phoenix head, Chen Fei of the department of Palace Construction had confessed to the theft, claiming he was instructed by his mentor, Grand Tutor Liu Xian. Grand Tutor Liu Xian immediately protested, calling the accusation malicious and denying any such despicable act. Chen's confession was presented, alleging Grand Tutor Liu Xian ordered the theft due to his dissatisfaction with the Immortal Instrument project, intending to humiliate the Empress Dowager.
Another minister loyal to the Empress Dowager questioned why Lan Jue's follower never admitted spreading rumors, implying Grand Tutor Liu Xian was the true instigator behind the scenes. Grand Tutor Liu Xian was ordered to Judicial Prison for execution. In Judicial Prison, Zhang Ping apologized to Lan Jue, saying that if he had another chance, he would still investigate the case but would find a way not to involve Lan Jue.
Lan Jue told him that his sacrifice was worthwhile precisely because Zhang Ping remained true to his original intentions. He pondered whether pursuing the truth could be wrong, suggesting perhaps the world itself was flawed. An attendant arrived, informing them it was time for their execution. As Grand Tutor Liu Xian was being escorted, His Majesty arrived and halted the proceedings.
He explained that while hunting in the West Forest, he stumbled upon the phoenix head being guarded by various beasts. He declared that the recent rumors were baseless and that the phoenix head had not been stolen but, as a rare treasure that absorbed the essence of the sun and moon, it had gained spirituality and flown away on its own.
He presented the head to Her Majesty, suggesting this was a sign from Heaven, implying Grand Tutor Liu Xian was innocent of the theft. He requested Her Majesty reinstall the phoenix head on the Immortal Instrument, allowing her blessings to reach the people. Given the situation, Her Majesty agreed and ordered the release of the wrongly accused officials.
His Majesty further decreed that the false accusation against Grand Tutor Liu Xian must be thoroughly investigated to find the true instigator, who would be executed alongside Chen. Zhang Ping and Lan Jue were subsequently released. On their way back from the prison, Lan Jue explained to Zhang Ping that only His Majesty had the power to resolve the situation.
He revealed that the night they were apprehended, he had secretly arranged with Wang Yan (referred to as Mowen in conversation) to anonymously deliver a letter he had written to His Majesty. He had instructed Wang Yan to deliver both the phoenix head and the letter without revealing his identity.
Lan Jue recounted the content of the letter, which urged His Majesty to recall his youthful aspirations for the kingdom, warned about the current political turmoil caused by Her Majesty's control and ministerial power struggles, highlighted the danger facing Grand Tutor Liu Xian, and presented the finding of the phoenix head as an opportunity for His Majesty to intervene on behalf of the people and restore order, knowing this action would force him to directly confront Her Majesty.
Lan Jue concluded that Wang Yan's anonymous delivery of the head and the letter was the only path to break the deadlock, but it meant His Majesty would now face direct opposition from Her Majesty. As they parted ways, Zhang Ping recalled that when Chang Wei's sky lantern exploded that night, the sky momentarily became as bright as day.
He connected this to the legend of divine retribution in Moluo Village, which described the sky becoming bright as day and the village being covered in scarlet mist. He hypothesized that a giant sky lantern carrying a large amount of red poison could be detonated high in the air to create such a phenomenon. Just then, Wang Yan arrived with new information.
He had revisited Chang Wei's house and discovered correspondence with Xuan Ji, including a letter from twenty years ago where Xuan Ji instructed Chang Wei to travel to Moluo Village in Lingnan Province. Wang Yan noted that the date on the letter coincided exactly with the day Lan Jue's father left home.
He theorized that Chang Wei (who could build giant lanterns) and the Embalmer (someone capable of creating the blood mist poison) were potential links to the Moluo Village incident, and strongly suggested that Lan Jue's father's case was also connected to the Moluo Village events. He urged Lan Jue to question Xuan Ji immediately, as Xuan Ji wrote the letter and likely knew the details.
He added that Chen had already named Xuan Ji as the mastermind, and His Majesty was sending guards to arrest him. Lan Jue and Zhang Ping quickly went to Xuan Ji's mansion. General Cao was present, stating he was there on His Majesty's order to arrest Xuan Ji, but reported that Xuan Ji had just died from a sudden heart palpitation.
Xuan Ji's attendant confirmed his master suffered from chronic heart palpitation and had been repeatedly warned by doctors to rest. Lan Jue, experiencing stomach pain, took medicine. Later, Lan Jue confirmed that Xu Dong had secretly investigated Xuan Ji's death and found it was indeed caused by heart palpitation. Xu Dong had recovered medicine dregs, which were identified as a complex prescription for treating heart palpitation for someone with multiple ailments, suggesting Xuan Ji did suffer from severe heart issues. Despite the setback, Lan Jue declared that even with Xuan Ji dead, he was not at a dead end and would continue the investigation.
Episode 14 Recap
Suffering from a recurring stomach ailment, Lan Jue is resting at home when Wang Yan visits. Lan Jue learns from his friend about the current tensions in court: the Empress Dowager is holding significant frustration, having failed to punish Grand Tutor Liu Xian and unexpectedly losing her confidant, Xuan Ji. Lan Jue reflects on his own precarious position, having previously offended the Empress Dowager in the phoenix head case and then outmaneuvered the Emperor.
He believes he has lost all hope of becoming the Minister of Rites or traveling to Nandong as an envoy. He feels all avenues for vindicating his father concerning the Moluo Village case are closed. A subordinate returns from the South, reporting they couldn't find the village itself, as its location is hidden deep in the mountains and old guides who knew the way are long gone.
Regarding the clay whistle, only a few elderly people recognized it, but none could recall any details, leaving this clue also at a dead end. Alone before his privately set-up memorial tablet for his father, Lan Jue laments his lack of success. He feels useless, believing his twenty years of effort and actions taken against his conscience to clear his father's name have amounted to nothing. He questions the purpose of his own life if he cannot achieve this goal.
Zhang Ping arrives and overhears him. He assures Lan Jue that as long as he is alive, there is still hope. Standing before the tablet, Zhang Ping promises the late Mr. Lan that he will work hard to uncover the truth of what happened that year. The next morning, Zhang Ping and Chen Chou arrive at Lan Jue's residence with ingredients. Zhang Ping intends to use dietary therapy to help treat Lan Jue's stomach ailment.
Despite the presence of a doctor at the residence, Zhang Ping insists on taking over preparing Lan Jue's meals, diligently noting his food intake and preferences for three meals a day. Zhang Ping brings Chen Chou to a pharmacy to purchase expensive medicine for Lan Jue. Chen Chou worries about the cost, noting their financial strain, but Zhang Ping insists on buying it, viewing it as necessary to repay Lan Jue's life-saving kindness.
While there, Zhang Ping unexpectedly recognizes a specific prescription for the Heart-calming Paste, a formula tailored for Xuan Ji's heart condition, being purchased by someone else with the exact same dosage. This raises his suspicion. He follows the buyer and confirms they are a servant from Xuan Ji's Mansion, observing them packing large, heavy items onto carts. Zhang Ping suspects Xuan Ji may have faked his death to leave the Capital City and rushes to inform Lan Jue.
Recognizing the urgency, Lan Jue agrees they must investigate immediately before Xuan Ji disappears and the trail goes cold. To avoid raising suspicion, they visit Xuan Ji's Mansion under the guise of offering condolences and presenting gifts. The butler receives them and explains that their master's final wish was to be buried in his hometown, so they are preparing to transport his coffin back for burial.
During the visit, Lan Jue orchestrates a diversion: a person pretending to be a pharmacy clerk arrives and urgently informs the butler that poisonous aconite was mistakenly included in the medicine delivered earlier. The butler is alarmed and hurries away with the medicine. Zhang Ping and Lan Jue quietly follow the butler and observe him taking the medicine into a hidden area within the mansion, confirming their suspicion that it leads to a secret chamber where Xuan Ji is concealed.
They locate a trigram puzzle they believe is the mechanism to open the chamber. Working together, they carefully manipulate the rings, identifying which sections control the mechanism while risking hidden crossbows, and successfully unlock the passage. Inside, they find Xuan Ji alive. After a brief struggle, they manage to subdue him. Lan Jue clarifies that he did not come to capture him but to demand answers about Moluo Village and its connection to his father's case.
Xuan Ji initially claims ignorance, but Lan Jue presents a letter found at Chang Wei's house, confirmed to be in Xuan Ji's handwriting, summoning Chang Wei to the South on the very day his father visited Moluo Village. Lan Jue presses him, stating he has no escape and urging him to tell the truth about Moluo Village and its link to his father's case. Under pressure, Xuan Ji confesses to leading the massacre of the entire Moluo Village.
He claims they were spies from the Nandong Kingdom who conspired with Lan Jue's father for treason. He asserts that his father, although upright, was deceived by the Moluo villagers and leaked military intelligence, causing a devastating defeat for their army, which is why his father was charged with treason. Lan Jue asks if a woman approached his father, and Xuan Ji confirms it was a Moluo witch. Lan Jue seems to recognize this detail.
Zhang Ping interjects, pointing out the inconsistency in Xuan Ji's story: if the villagers were Nandong spies, they could have been punished openly; why stage a "condemned by heaven" event to hide their demise? Pressed further, Xuan Ji admits that while the core events regarding the intelligence leak were true, the leak was "also" connected to him. He confesses that twenty years prior, he had recruited the Moluo witch into the Department of Incantation.
Fearing punishment and accountability if his connection to a spy was discovered, he orchestrated the massacre as a cover-up. To disguise it as divine retribution, he hired two individuals from the civilian population: the embalmer, skilled in creating an instantly lethal red poison powder, and Chang Wei, an expert in making sky lanterns.
He planned to load the lanterns with a large amount of gunpowder and the red poison powder, designed to explode over the village when carried by the wind, simulating a "scarlet mist" descending from the heavens. He claims Chang Wei and the embalmer had to go into hiding for their safety after the event.
Regarding Chang Wei's involvement in stealing the phoenix head from the Immortal Instrument site, Xuan Ji denies any knowledge, stating his heart condition prevented him from going up there. He claims he initially thought the phoenix head issue was an opportunity to help the Empress Dowager against Grand Tutor Liu Xian. Upon realizing Chang Wei was instructed by someone to steal the phoenix head, Xuan Ji speculates it must be a survivor from Moluo Village, now back for revenge. He recalls that a survivor once performed witchcraft causing the entire Sacred Lake to boil.
Episode 15 Recap
Recalling the past, Xuan Ji described how a survivor from the Moluo Clan used witchcraft during an incident at the Sacred Lake, causing the entire lake surface to bubble violently and terrifying everyone present. This experience was so frightening that to this day, he cannot stand the sound of whistling. Lan Jue then presented Xuan Ji with a drawing of a ceramic whistle, which Xuan Ji immediately recognized as an item commonly carried by Moluo Clansmen, bearing their distinctive badge.
He explained that years ago, while dealing with the Moluo Clan, he had collected numerous related objects, including this particular badge, and stated the evidence was in a wooden box. Zhang Ping later found the badge in the hidden room, confirming Xuan Ji's account.
Xuan Ji admitted his cowardice for not having confessed the truth to Lan Jue sooner, but emphasized his greater fear of the Moluo Clan's witchcraft, claiming it could "penetrate people's hearts" or "read minds," making it impossible to keep any secrets once subjected to it. He suggested this witchcraft was responsible for corrupting Lan Jue's honest father, causing him to commit treason and confess it himself. Lan Jue then looked towards Zhang Ping, who produced a personal item.
Xuan Ji instantly identified it as the water vessel belonging to the Moluo witch. Zhang Ping explained he was an orphan and the vessel was with him when his master discovered him. Xuan Ji immediately suspected Zhang Ping might be the witch's son, recalling she had a two or three-year-old child in the Capital City years ago who would be about Zhang Ping's age now.
He recounted how they pursued the witch to Moluo Village, but she seemed to sense them and fled overnight "with the child and vessel". When they finally caught up, she was alone, and the vessel was gone; he concluded she must have hidden both the child and the water vessel together. Zhang Ping questioned how possessing the vessel could definitively prove he was her son.
Xuan Ji insisted his words were true, describing the water vessel as an evil object that makes a wicked buzz when struck and ripples the water in a way that can take away one's soul or hypnotize those who hear or see it. He declared this was how Lan Jue's father was tricked into going South, and therefore, Zhang Ping was Lan Jue's true enemy, suggesting they should share a common adversary.
Suddenly, an intruder burst into the hidden room, attacking Xuan Ji. Lan Jue was also struck down. He urged Zhang Ping to save Xuan Ji. Despite being injured, Zhang Ping attempted to track the assassin but became unexpectedly trapped in the hidden room. By the time he managed to open the door, Xuan Ji was dead. It appeared that after being stabbed, Xuan Ji had activated a mechanism that shot the assassin with an arrow, killing him.
Zhang Ping found a ceramic whistle, similar to the Moluo Clan item, on the assassin's body. Zhang Ping carried the wounded and unconscious Lan Jue back to the Lan residence. When Lan Jue awoke, he learned Zhang Ping had been unable to save Xuan Ji but had found the whistle. Lan Jue was deeply disappointed, stating Xuan Ji was his last hope for clearing his father's name.
In his anger, Lan Jue drew his sword, pointing it at Zhang Ping, proclaiming that his father had died unjustly and if Zhang Ping was indeed the Moluo witch's son, then he was Lan Jue's enemy. Zhang Ping faced the threat calmly, telling Lan Jue to proceed and point the sword at his throat if killing him would bring peace.
Ultimately, Lan Jue did not strike, instead declaring that their association was now over and telling Zhang Ping to run for his life. Zhang Ping, still injured, left the Lan residence, collapsed outside, and was found by Chen Chou in the heavy rain. Chen Chou dragged him home and tended to his wounds, expressing concern that Zhang Ping had nearly lost his life for the case.
Believing Xuan Ji's death could not be in vain, Lan Jue resolved to imitate Xuan Ji's handwriting to compose a letter of apology, planning to make the truth of his father's case known to the public. He obtained Xuan Ji's manuscripts and private seals to facilitate this forgery. Wang Yan strongly objected, arguing this constituted deceiving the Emperor, which was a serious offense, and warned that innocent people would inevitably be implicated.
Lan Jue, however, maintained his belief that "mother's debt, son pays," and that even Zhang Ping's death would be justified. Wang Yan countered that Zhang Ping was merely a child at the time and innocent, but Lan Jue was resolute, telling Wang Yan to stop persuading him if he was a true friend, and asked him to return in ten days for the letter.
Lan Jue struggled to accurately replicate Xuan Ji's script, finding it surprisingly difficult, feeling absent-minded because of it. Lan Jue left the Capital City for three days, seeking a witness. He located an old posthouse attendant and secured his testimony that twenty years prior, the attendant had seen a foreign witch using evil magic to bewitch Lan Jue's father. The attendant was able to identify the witch because she carried a token from the Department of Incantation.
Lan Jue explained the attendant's willingness to commit the felony of providing fake testimony by stating that under heavy reward, brave men are easily found, implying money was the motivator. With physical evidence and a human witness secured, Lan Jue felt he now needed only Xuan Ji's apology letter to be fully prepared. Meanwhile, Zhang Ping, having recovered sufficiently, returned to his hometown to find his master and learn the truth about his origins.
He arrived at Yuntou Mountain in Xichuan County and collapsed from his lingering injuries after rushing there overnight. His master found him and brought him inside to tend to his wounds. Upon waking, Zhang Ping attempted to ask about his background, but his master repeatedly interrupted him, focusing only on his severe injuries and telling him to rest and recover well at home.
The master speculated about winning at gambling recently and blaming someone named Sun for adulterating his wine, which was causing him to be upset. When Zhang Ping persisted, stating he came for something, his master paused, then asked if Zhang Ping would speak first or if he should.
Episode 16 Recap
Lan Jue found himself unable to replicate Zhang Ping's name when attempting to forge an apology letter, a document needed alongside existing witness and material evidence to clear his father's name. He confessed his struggle was due to his inability to be cruel enough to implicate Zhang Ping, whom he identified as the sole survivor of the Moluo Clan.
Troubled by the persistent sound of a cat, he sought it out but realized he couldn't bring himself to harm the small creature, just as he couldn't bring himself to expose Zhang Ping. He wondered if he would falter just as success was within reach. Meanwhile, Zhang Ping questioned his Master about the specifics of his childhood, asking about the location of the forest where he was found, the month, the type of clothes he wore, and the surrounding environment.
His Master deflected the questions, citing being drunk and needing rest, and refused to disclose details about Zhang Ping's origins, much to Zhang Ping's frustration. Zhang Ping then accompanied his Master on a trip down the mountain to Xichuan County to purchase wine in Lijiadian village. Along the way, they met various villagers who knew Zhang Ping since childhood and greeted him warmly, happy to see him back. The wine seller offered extra wine because of Zhang Ping's return.
Villagers reminisced about Zhang Ping growing up, noting that he was raised on meals from many households because his Master was too irresponsible to provide for him properly. One elderly woman recounted a memory of young Zhang Ping waiting for her with a small lantern on a dark night, confidently stating he knew she would keep her promise to return, despite his young age.
Caught in a sudden heavy rain, Zhang Ping and his Master took shelter with a group of beggars. The beggars expressed their hunger and misfortune. The Master shared food with them and then offered to tell their fortunes, claiming they had extraordinary potential. He predicted that one beggar would become a general, another would achieve great wealth, and a third would be elevated to the rank of a lord.
Inspired by these predictions, the beggars joyfully role-played, calling themselves the "General of Xichuan" and "Marquis," and decided to spend their meager earnings on wine to celebrate. Zhang Ping questioned if his Master was merely spouting nonsense. The Master replied that whether true or false, destiny is predetermined, but one's luck is something they must actively pursue and create for themselves. Back at his residence, Lan Jue received Wang Yan, who arrived on the tenth day to collect the evidence.
Lan Jue announced that he had abandoned the attempt to forge the apology letter. He reasoned that regardless of Zhang Ping's mother's guilt, Zhang Ping himself was only a child at the time. He concluded that fabricating evidence and involving Zhang Ping to overturn the case would not only compromise his own integrity but also tarnish his father's lifelong reputation for uprightness. The Master then used copper coins to tell Zhang Ping's fortune.
He predicted that Zhang Ping lost his parents at three, has no living relatives, and is fated for a broken family under the "Lone Wolf" star. However, he also foresaw an extraordinary career in officialdom, predicting that Zhang Ping would solve many mysteries, become a famous detective, and rise to a high position as a general or minister.
Zhang Ping mentioned someone had predicted he wouldn't survive three days in an official career, but the Master dismissed this, citing Zhang Ping's successful track record of solving cases in the Capital City, earning him the nickname "Detective Noodle." The Master recalled Zhang Ping's innate curiosity and love for detective stories since childhood, recognizing early on that he was destined to work in the Court of Judicial Review.
Zhang Ping stated firmly that before joining the Court, he must first uncover his own origins. He assured his Master that he understood the distinction between destiny and luck and was not burdened by his past, but simply wished to know where he came from. Finally, the Master recounted finding Zhang Ping many years ago while traveling in a forest. Zhang Ping was wearing exotic clothing.
The Master searched the vicinity for Zhang Ping's family but found only his clansmen, all dead in a scene of widespread death, describing the valley as filled with red mist and appearing like a "doomsday." He quickly carried the crying Zhang Ping away. He discovered that Zhang Ping would only stop crying when he smelled a sachet hanging around his neck. The Master speculated the sachet held special significance for Zhang Ping and gave it to him.
Zhang Ping found the sachet's scent familiar, thinking he had smelled it at home. The Master explained that years ago, he had opened the sachet and found petals and scraps of a rare orchid inside. Worried Zhang Ping would continue to cry once they were gone, the Master searched all of Xichuan County to find seeds and painstakingly cultivated a few plants over many years. He used the orchid to make incense to calm Zhang Ping's nightmares.
Zhang Ping recognized the orchid as the same kind found in Mr. Lan's house. Seeing the character "珏" (Jue) on the sachet, he realized it was Mr. Lan's sachet. He recalled a voice from his memory offering the sachet to stop him from crying and suspected it was given to him by Mr. Lan's father. The Master remarked that it seemed Zhang Ping's journey and connection to events in the Capital City were far from over.
Zhang Ping prepared to leave, bidding his Master farewell. The Master gave Zhang Ping a copper coin, telling him it was something to hold onto for hope. He confessed that he wasn't truly able to tell fortunes and only boasted to entertain people, but sometimes having hope is important. Zhang Ping understood, thanked his Master, and asked him to take good care of himself. Zhang Ping then departed for the Capital.
Episode 17 Recap
At Jinghu Lake in the suburbs of Ning'an City, scholars Xu Lu, Qin Han, and Wang Cheng were drinking on a boat, frustrated by the unfairness of the upcoming Imperial Examination. They spoke bitterly of how wealth and connections, like those of Attendant Official Wang's nephew who brazenly booked a pavilion, would secure places for the privileged while leaving poor scholars with no future.
Suddenly, the sound of a Xun was heard, and a boat emerged from the fog, blocking their path. A man on the boat introduced himself as Mr. Jinghu, claiming he could read minds, know the past, and foretell the future, offering to help them achieve their desires. While skeptical, calling him a crook, Wang Cheng decided to test him and boarded the boat.
Mr. Jinghu presented a water vessel, instructing Wang Cheng to calm his mind and stare into it, saying that all causalities were contained within. Following that night, rumors about Mr. Jinghu spread rapidly among the scholars. It was said his brief encounter and guidance had greatly inspired Wang Cheng, who the very next day wrote several articles and submitted them to Sixian Bookstore.
As the bookstore's publication, "Anecdotes of the Capital City", is a key read for Attendant Official Mr. Han, Wang Cheng was quickly noticed and soon accepted by Mr. Han as a disciple, signaling his sudden rise. Scholars also gossiped that Mr. Jinghu had similarly seen through the desires of the other two men present that night, guiding and helping them towards their goals. Meanwhile, political discussions centered on the appointment of the chief examiner for the Imperial Examination.
Both the Empress Dowager and His Majesty had favored candidates, but their inability to agree led to the unexpected selection of Lan Jue, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, who had not taken sides. Scholars like Ma Lian found Assistant Minister Lan Jue unyielding, stating he refused all gifts and attempts at bribery.
Lan Jue himself was surprised by the appointment, reflecting that while others saw him as merely benefiting from the struggle, he suspected His Majesty had deeper motives, compelling him to proceed with extreme caution and strive for thoroughness. It was also known that for this exam, a total of four questions were prepared, set by Assistant Minister Lan Jue and three other senior officials, and sealed under the supervision of two monitoring officials.
Zhang Ping returned to the capital, much to the delight of Chen Chou, who had been eagerly awaiting his arrival and praying for his return. Chen Chou excitedly recounted the stories of Mr. Jinghu, describing him as a "godlike" figure who appeared shortly after Zhang Ping's departure.
Chen Chou noted that Mr. Jinghu's purported abilities—reading minds and foretelling the future—and his use of a water vessel reminded him strongly of Zhang Ping's own techniques, prompting Zhang Ping to consider if Mr. Jinghu knew Water Illusion. Lan Jue was also investigating Mr. Jinghu; his subordinate Xudong had been sent to search the area around Jinghu Lake, but no trace was found.
Lan Jue found this mysterious, believing Mr. Jinghu's apparent use of Water Illusion must link him to the Moluo Clan, especially after the Moluo avenger had already died in Xuanyi Mansion. He hoped finding Mr. Jinghu might reveal more. Chen Chou brought Zhang Ping to speak with Xu Lu, one of the scholars who had met Mr. Jinghu.
Xu Lu was initially hesitant, fearing trouble from the widespread rumors and the stir they had caused, but agreed to talk after Chen Chou's assurance. Xu Lu recounted how Mr. Jinghu accurately knew he was searching for the lost "Notes on Four Books by Xue Ru" and advised him to do good deeds to gain blessings.
Following this advice, Xu Lu helped beggars and migrants, and one beggar gave him an old box containing the very book he sought, an event Xu Lu found miraculous and believed was divine intervention. Zhang Ping showed Xu Lu a water vessel, which Xu Lu confirmed was identical to the one Mr. Jinghu used, noting Zhang Ping had made it after hearing Xu Lu's description.
Xu Lu described how Mr. Jinghu poured water into it and told him to stare, a method exactly matching Zhang Ping's technique. Xu Lu remembered feeling a sense of peace and being in a "wonderland" during the experience. Zhang Ping acknowledged the resemblance to Water Illusion in the style and application process but reiterated that, according to his knowledge, Water Illusion cannot truly predict the future, finding the coincidence of the beggar and the book too convenient.
He suspected a connection to the Moluo Clan given the use of the water vessel but felt Mr. Jinghu had hidden intentions. He also puzzled over how Mr. Jinghu's boat could appear and disappear on Jinghu Lake, an enclosed body of water with no external connection. Chen Chou playfully suggested Mr. Jinghu might be a mythical creature, like a crane transformed, naturally appearing and disappearing mystically.
Later, Zhang Ping visited the vicinity of Lan Jue's residence and left food for stray cats he had previously cared for. Lan Jue later came out to feed the cats, found them already fed, and correctly inferred Zhang Ping's visit. That night, many scholars, including Chen Chou, gathered at Jinghu Lake, hoping for an encounter with Mr. Jinghu. The sound of Xun was heard again, and numerous paper cranes appeared floating on the lake.
Scholars eagerly collected them, finding a message written on each: "Exam Hall autumn exam, something will be wrong with Guiyou." The cryptic warning left them confused and anxious, wondering what "Guiyou" and "ghost" meant. The following day, scholars discussed the mysterious message. Chen Chou worried about the potential impact on Lan Jue, the chief examiner.
The drawing of seat numbers for the exam began, supervised by officials from the Ministry of Rites, Shao Zhi and Ji Wen, who explained the process emphasized fairness using a Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches arrangement for seating. As candidates drew their lots, Zhang Ping drew "Renshen," noting its proximity to "Guiyou." Many scholars expressed their dread of drawing the number tied to the prophecy. To their surprise, Chen Zishang drew the lot for "Guiyou."
Other scholars immediately linked this to Mr. Jinghu's prediction, warning Chen Zishang and advising him to burn papers with symbols for luck to ward off bad fortune. Chen Zishang appeared visibly panicked by the outcome and quickly left the drawing area, attracting scorn from some scholars who mocked his reaction and his meager means. Chen Chou defended Chen Zishang, explaining he only earns money by writing letters for others.
Zhang Ping observed Chen Zishang's unusually strong reaction to drawing the number. The three-day Imperial Examination began, with the gates of the exam hall set to close at the hour of巳时 (around 9 o'clock). Zhang Ping was seated, but the seat marked "Guiyou" remained empty, leading scholars to wonder if Chen Zishang had been scared away by the prophecy.
Lan Jue and the other officials involved in setting questions came to the exam hall, preparing to draw the question for the day. Lan Jue confirmed that heightened patrols and checks around the hall had found nothing suspicious. As they were about to begin the drawing, the sound of Xun echoed again, and paper cranes rained down into the exam hall. Scholars rushed to collect them, reading the poem inscribed on each.
They understood the initial lines, "Common people may come out on top. Traveling the same journey can clear one's mind," to refer to the exam as a path for commoners. However, the lines "If there is not enough gold inlaid with jade. The borderland can't be ruled and the people will be disappointed" sparked outrage.
Interpreting "gold inlaid with jade" as a reference to Lan Jue's name ("Jue" meaning jade), they concluded the poem was accusing him of corruption, implying the exam was fixed for the wealthy and would disappoint the people without sufficient funds. The candidates erupted in protest, demanding answers and claiming the exam was riddled with cheating and leaked questions.
Lan Jue attempted to calm the crowd, forcefully denying the accusations and emphasizing that the four question setters were chosen by His Majesty and the entire process was strictly supervised by the Ministry of Rites and monitored by officials, making cheating impossible. He warned against disrupting the order, stating violators would be punished according to the law. Despite his denial, the scholars pointed to the poem's words, accusing him directly.
Lan Jue conferred briefly with the other officials (Grand Tutor Liu, Grand Tutor Wang, and Minister Dou) in an inner hall. Searches were made, but no source for the Xun sound or the kite that carried the cranes could be found.
Lan Jue suggested requesting assistance from Assistant Minister Wang Yan of the Ministry of Justice, but Grand Tutor Wang Taiwei, one of the question setters and Wang Yan's father, objected, stating that his son must adhere to rules preventing involvement in cases concerning relatives or superiors, which applied to the exam's question setters.
Grand Tutor Liu Xian, also present, agreed, advising that the only way to reassure the agitated examinees was for Lan Jue to resign as chief examiner and for someone else to be chosen. Lan Jue refused to step down, arguing that doing so would confirm the culprit's accusations and achieve their goal. Amidst the escalating chaos, some scholars suddenly accused Zhang Ping of collaborating with Lan Jue in the supposed cheating, demanding his expulsion from the exam hall.
Chen Chou vehemently defended Zhang Ping against the accusations, which were fueled by Zhang Ping's earlier actions near the Guiyou seat. Zhang Ping denied the accusations. To settle the suspicions and demonstrate impartiality, Lan Jue publicly read Zhang Ping's official personal profile record. The profile confirmed Zhang Ping was from Lijiadian in Xichuan County and had no family for three generations, being the sole member of his household, proving he had no familial ties to Lan Jue.
Despite this, the scholars remained unconvinced. To further address their doubts and preserve the exam's integrity, Lan Jue announced he would resign as chief examiner and undergo investigation at the Court of Judicial Review. He also stated that if the question he had set was the one drawn for the exam, it would be invalidated, and another drawn. He instructed Shao Zhi and Ji Wen to temporarily oversee the Ministry of Rites' responsibilities for the exam.
Episode 18 Recap
Since Mr. Lan had resigned from his post and handed over the chief examiner's seal, an official from the Ministry of Rites announced he would draw the topic for the imperial examination. However, the examinees objected, expressing concern that officials from the Ministry of Rites, being subordinate to Mr. Lan, might still facilitate cheating under his instruction, particularly during the crucial topic drawing process. They demanded absolute impartiality with no possibility of interference.
To appease them, the officials proposed that the examinees elect someone to draw the question. After deliberation, the examinees decided to choose an impartial person who held no official position and had no vested interest in the outcome. They selected the elderly man, Yang Bo, who swept the courtyard, to draw the topic while blindfolded. Yang Bo drew the question posed by Grand Tutor Liu: "Rule the Country by Virtue." With the topic set, the three-day examination officially commenced.
Zhang Ping finished his essay and handed in his paper after only one day, noting that an examinee named Ma Lian had submitted his even earlier. Zhang Ping was preoccupied with Mr. Jinghu's two prophecies, which seemed to point directly to the imperial examination and had also implicated Mr. Lan, including a prophecy hinting at a "ghost" related to a specific lot drawing ("癸酉有鬼").
Believing he needed to find Mr. Jinghu quickly, Zhang Ping decided to start his investigation with Chen Zishang, especially since Chen Zishang had not appeared for the exam, which Zhang Ping found very strange. He went to Chen Zishang's residence. Zhang Ping found himself imprisoned in the Judicial Prison, unexpectedly sharing a cell with Lan Jue, who initially seemed unwilling to engage with him. When a jailer brought food, Zhang Ping offered some to Lan Jue.
He explained that he knew the jailer from his previous work at the case archive, which was how he managed to be placed in the same cell as Lan Jue. Lan Jue accepted the food and stated he had requested imprisonment himself to help stabilize the situation surrounding the examination. He then asked why Zhang Ping was also imprisoned. Zhang Ping revealed that Chen Zishang was dead.
He explained that after finishing his exam early due to his suspicions about Chen Zishang's absence, he went to his house and found him dead by the well, having seemingly died some time ago. While it appeared Chen Zishang might have fallen while bathing, Zhang Ping noted the absence of defensive injuries on his waist, back, and hips.
This suggested Chen Zishang had already lost the ability to react when he fell, leading Zhang Ping to believe someone had killed him first and then staged the scene to look like an accidental fall while bathing. Unfortunately, rain had washed away most of the crucial traces at the scene. Continuing his account to Lan Jue, Zhang Ping mentioned finding other clues in Chen Zishang's room.
He noticed all of Chen Zishang's luggage was packed, suggesting he was preparing for a distant journey rather than going to the Exam Hall. Searching his book box, Zhang Ping found drafts that were identical to Ma Lian's answer sheet for the examination. Zhang Ping confirmed the exam topic was "Rule the Country by Virtue."
Lan Jue confirmed this was the correct topic, explaining that he had also deduced it by carefully studying Mr. Jinghu's prophetic poem during his time in prison. He broke down the characters hidden within the verse, explaining how they formed "Rule the Country by Virtue", commenting on how cleverly Mr. Jinghu had concealed the message. Zhang Ping further explained that he had heard from Chen Chou that Chen Zishang often worked as a ghostwriter for money.
Based on this and the identical drafts, Zhang Ping suspected Ma Lian had somehow obtained the exam question in advance and paid Chen Zishang to write his answer, making the draft evidence of Ma Lian's cheating. Zhang Ping stated that because this matter involved both the imperial examination and Mr. Jinghu, he felt it was best to bring the evidence to Lan Jue, both for the sake of justice and considering the history between their families' involvement in past cases.
He admitted this was why he had argued with the officers and been imprisoned for "lawlessness." Lan Jue thanked Zhang Ping for coming to prison and sharing the truth. However, he stated that despite his gratitude, their positions were fundamentally different. Zhang Ping asked if it was about past events.
Lan Jue clarified that what happened to his father was not Zhang Ping's fault and he did not blame him, but since the matter was ultimately connected to Zhang Ping's mother, it made it difficult for them to maintain a friendship. Zhang Ping understood and declared he would continue to investigate the case on his own. Soon after, a jailer informed Lan Jue that the Empress Dowager had summoned him.
In court, Lan Jue accepted responsibility as the chief examiner for the issues with the imperial examination. He reported that Chen Zishang's unexpected absence had caused him concern, prompting him to send someone to investigate, who discovered Chen Zishang had been killed the night before the exam. Lan Jue presented the draft found at Chen Zishang's residence, which he noted corresponded to the exam question "Rule the Country by Virtue."
An official confirmed that Ma Lian's answer sheet, retrieved from the Exam Hall, was indeed identical to Chen Zishang's essay. Lan Jue added that his own analysis of Mr. Jinghu's prophetic poem also contained the exam topic, further proving that cheating had certainly occurred. He requested that the Emperor and Empress Dowager thoroughly investigate the matter. The Empress Dowager declared Lan Jue innocent and released him from custody by the Court of Judicial Review.
Lan Jue inquired who would be responsible for handling the fraud case. The Empress Dowager suggested it should be discussed further. The Emperor insisted that finding those responsible for manipulating the examination and committing murder was an urgent priority. However, the Empress Dowager argued against a public admission of fraud, fearing it would severely damage the court's credibility and prestige.
Grand Tutor Liu pointed out that the prophetic poem implicated his question and declared he was not afraid of investigation, suggesting they wait for the public outcry to subside before quietly investigating.
The Emperor countered that Ma Lian was related to powerful families connected to the Empress Dowager (being the future nephew-in-law of the Empress Dowager's brother), and if he were found guilty of cheating and murder, it would tarnish the royal family's reputation and create the perception of a cover-up, thus undermining the Empress Dowager's authority. Seeing the Emperor's firm stance, the Empress Dowager agreed to a thorough investigation.
She ordered all officials involved in the examination process, including question writers (like Wang Taiwei and Dou Shangshu), chief examiners, and invigilators, to be confined to their homes without permission, as they were all considered suspects. The Emperor proposed that the Court of Judicial Review handle the case to avoid suspicion, given that two of the question writers were powerful ministers.
Minister Tao Zhoufeng, head of the Court of Judicial Review, expressed reluctance, citing ill health, but ultimately agreed to take on the investigation under pressure from the Empress Dowager. Zhang Ping was released from prison after two days. He learned that Minister Tao Zhoufeng had indeed taken Ma Lian into custody but was treating him leniently, providing comfortable accommodations, and had not yet interrogated him, likely due to Ma Lian's influential background.
Lan Jue realized that relying on Tao Zhoufeng to uncover the truth would be difficult. Despite being confined to his residence by the Empress Dowager's order, he decided to secretly investigate the Exam Hall, believing it held crucial clues and that adhering strictly to the rules would prevent him from uncovering the truth.
He also suspected that cheating involved manipulating both the drawing of Chen Zishang's lot and the drawing of the exam question, identifying Shao Zhi and Ji Wen, who were responsible for drawing lots and keeping the exam papers, as key suspects. Zhang Ping also sought to return to Chen Zishang's residence to search for more clues.
He found the entrance guarded by officers from the Court of Judicial Review who were reluctant to let him in, stating they were only tasked with guarding the property, not solving cases. Zhang Ping offered to help them in any way if they would grant him entry. The guards complained about their long shift and lack of refreshment.
Zhang Ping offered to take over guarding duties so they could eat and drink, recalling that Lan Jue would likely have handled such a situation with tact. Realizing they wanted money, Zhang Ping directly offered them the small amount he had, only five pennies. The guards accepted the meager sum but warned him he had very limited time.
While investigating Chen Zishang's residence under time constraints, Zhang Ping noticed that some rocks at the base of the well seemed unusually clean compared to others, suggesting they had been deliberately washed and replaced. He identified this area as a potential primary crime scene and discovered a small dropped gold piece nearby. He recognized the gold piece as similar to those decorating Ma Lian's gold lock, suggesting Ma Lian might have been present at the scene.
Meanwhile, Lan Jue and Xu Dong had managed to sneak into the Exam Hall to look for physical evidence. Inspecting the exam scroll, Lan Jue found a stain on the seal. Xu Dong identified it as mold. Lan Jue was puzzled, wondering how the ink could have become moldy. He suspected the mold might be connected to the cheating method, reasoning it couldn't have been present when Yang Bo drew the scroll blindfolded, or it would have been immediately obvious.
He noted the mold resembled the type that grows on rice or flour, speculating that Yang Bo might have had such residue on his hands. Lan Jue concluded the mold was the key to the puzzle of how the correct scroll was selected, but he still needed to understand the method used.
As he pondered how Zhang Ping might approach the problem, the guards outside Chen Zishang's house reminded Zhang Ping that their shift was ending and urged him to hurry, reminding him of the short time he had bought with the five pennies.
Episode 19 Recap
After attempting to decipher the stolen examination scroll all night without success, Lan Jue dismissed Xu Dong's suggestion to seek help from Zhang Ping, emphasizing the high risk they had already taken. Meanwhile, Zhang Ping approached Tao Zhoufeng at the Court of Judicial Review, presenting a gold leaf as evidence suggesting Ma Lian's involvement in Chen Zishang's murder. However, Tao Zhoufeng dismissed this, stating the autopsy indicated Chen Zishang died after the hour of Hai (approx. 9-11 p. m.
), while Ma Lian had a confirmed alibi, having been in Banyue Pavilion the entire night since the hour of Xu (approx. 7 p. m. ). Tao Zhoufeng cited a neighbor who saw Chen Zishang alive around the second watch (approx. 9-11 p. m. ) as proof of the death time and pointed to multiple witnesses, including Jiexiang, a waiter, and several guests, who could verify Ma Lian's presence at the pavilion.
Lan Jue also learned about Ma Lian's presence at Banyue Pavilion before the imperial examination. He found it peculiar that Ma Lian had declined a banquet invitation from Cheng Bai, the vice director of the Ministry of Personnel – a key official for post-examination appointments – choosing instead to listen to music. Lan Jue suspected the music was a cover for trading examination questions.
Tao Zhoufeng remained confident in his findings, asserting that Chen Zishang's death had nothing to do with Ma Lian. He claimed to have found the actual murderer: a habitual thief who broke into Chen Zishang's home, was caught, struck Chen Zishang with a stone used to steady a vat, and then covered up the crime.
Tao Zhoufeng added that this thief had committed suicide out of fear after learning the Empress Dowager was involved in the case, leaving only a confession letter and the autopsy report.
When Zhang Ping raised the issue of Chen Zishang's draft matching Ma Lian's answer sheet (as evidence of cheating), Tao Zhoufeng dismissed it as coincidence, suggesting Chen Zishang might have accidentally discovered and copied Ma Lian's pre-prepared essay, and that Ma Lian felt guilty after Mr. Jinghu made the prediction, prompting him to want to return home.
Tao Zhoufeng firmly refused to let Zhang Ping investigate further, referencing a past case where Zhang Ping's involvement had caused trouble for the Court of Judicial Review staff and noting the Empress Dowager's current close attention to the matter. Lan Jue visited Banyue Pavilion to question Jiexiang. She confirmed Ma Lian arrived around the hour of Xu (approx. 7 p. m.
) and stayed in her room the entire time, not leaving or meeting anyone else, except for drinking briefly with some guests upon arrival. She also mentioned he hadn't brought or studied any books and his examination box was only sent to the Exam Hall the next day by his servants. Lan Jue noted that her account seemed consistent with Ma Lian simply drinking and listening to music, making the timing of the murder difficult to reconcile.
Back at his residence, Lan Jue was visited by Wang Yan, who informed him the Court of Judicial Review had closed the case and acquitted Ma Lian, referring to Tao Zhoufeng as a cunning old fox skilled at muddling the waters. Wang Yan pointed out that if Ma Lian was cleared, he would never admit connection to Mr. Jinghu.
Wang Yan stated that while he wanted to help, he couldn't directly investigate because his father and superior were involved in setting the examination, which would cast doubt on any evidence he found. He urged Lan Jue to team up with Zhang Ping, stressing that their separate investigations had allowed Tao Zhoufeng to find an opportunity, and that collaborating was the only way to find Mr. Jinghu.
Later that night, Zhang Ping arrived at Banyue Pavilion but was initially turned away by the staff. Lan Jue arrived and promptly granted Zhang Ping entry. Inside, using the pretext of listening to music, Lan Jue questioned Jiexiang again. He noticed her fingers were sore and learned it was from playing music for Ma Lian for a whole night. Zhang Ping joined the conversation and directly accused Jiexiang of lying.
He presented evidence: although Jiexiang claimed Chen Zishang never came there, germinating wheat was found in a plant pot in her room. Zhang Ping connected this to the neighbor's story of encountering Chen Zishang around the second watch (approx. 9-11 p. m. ) and accidentally spilling wheat on him. He deduced the neighbor actually saw Ma Lian disguised as Chen Zishang, taking advantage of the darkness and their similar build.
When Ma Lian returned to Banyue Pavilion after changing Chen Zishang's clothes, he accidentally brought some wheat back, which fell into a plant pot. Zhang Ping confirmed the wheat was new and could only sprout after rain, specifically the rain on the night before the exam, proving it was from that night. He further presented the torn gold leaf found near the murder weapon, identifying it as belonging to Ma Lian's necklace, indicating a struggle.
Based on this, Zhang Ping concluded Ma Lian had killed Chen Zishang "before" the hour of Xu (approx. 7 p. m. ), then adopted the disguise to push the death time past the hour of Hai (approx. 9 p. m. ) and colluded with Jiexiang to provide an alibi for the entire night, thus creating a perfect cover.
Zhang Ping warned Jiexiang that providing false testimony for a case under imperial scrutiny was a capital offense, while Ma Lian might escape punishment due to his strong background, she would not. Overcome with fear, Jiexiang confessed to taking money from Ma Lian to lie about his whereabouts and help him sneak out secretly, though she claimed not to know about the murder.
Lan Jue promised to protect her life if she withdrew her false testimony, which she agreed to do. After the investigation, Lan Jue invited Zhang Ping back to his mansion for a meal, noting Zhang Ping's weariness. During dinner, Lan Jue observed that Zhang Ping ate rolled pancakes using a method Lan Jue had devised in his childhood.
Zhang Ping commented that he seemed to have been taught that method when he was very young, perhaps when his mother brought him to the capital twenty years ago, suggesting Lan Jue might have taught him. Reflecting on the possibility of his mother's involvement in the misfortune of Lan Jue's family, Zhang Ping declared that if their investigation led to that conclusion, he would report himself to the Empress Dowager to help clear Lan Jue's father's name.
Lan Jue reassured Zhang Ping that he would not hold him responsible, regardless of what Mr. Jinghu's prophecy revealed, and confirmed Zhang Ping's commitment to continuing the investigation. The next day, Lan Jue and Zhang Ping presented Jiexiang's recanted testimony to Tao Zhoufeng, urging him to reopen the case. Tao Zhoufeng remained dismissive, arguing that if Jiexiang could lie for money before, she could just as easily flip her testimony for money again, rendering it unreliable.
He insisted the case was correctly judged and questioned why they were persistent, hinting that their actions were targeting Ma Lian, himself, or even the Empress Dowager. Seeing Tao Zhoufeng's firm stance, Lan Jue knew he was unwilling to investigate further because Ma Lian was the Empress Dowager's niece's fiancé, and they departed. Prompted by Mr. Jinghu's recent prophecy delivered by paper crane that Chen Zishang had a grievance on his seventh day, several scholars gathered to mourn him.
During the ceremony, Chen Zishang's brush holder spontaneously combusted before their eyes. Believing this to be a supernatural sign of injustice, the scholars vowed to seek justice for Chen Zishang and marched to the palace gate to submit a collective appeal demanding a retrial of the imperial examination cheating case. Lan Jue believed that only the Emperor could successfully counter the Empress Dowager's influence in this matter.
Subsequently, Grand Tutor Liu Xian informed the Empress Dowager about the students' appeal at the palace gate, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity of the imperial examination system and urging a thorough investigation. The Empress Dowager dismissed the students as mere mobs to be dispersed. However, the Emperor intervened, stating he had already investigated the case himself.
He revealed that Zhang Ping had submitted evidence the previous day, leading to Ma Lian's arrest and subsequent confession to both murder and cheating after interrogation. The Emperor acknowledged the damage to the court's reputation caused by the conflicting verdicts and the public outcry. To restore public trust, he proposed celebrating the completion of the Immortal Instrument by issuing a general amnesty and waiving taxes for a year, presenting it as a benevolent act credited to the Empress Dowager.
Tao Zhoufeng attempted to apologize for his handling of the case, stating he was muddled and incompetent, but the Emperor interrupted, accusing him "not" of incompetence but of deliberately breaking the law by willfully protecting the criminal and arranging a fake murderer.
Despite Tao Zhoufeng's denial, the Emperor produced evidence and a witness (a cemetery guard) proving the "fake murderer" was an unclaimed abandoned corpse that had drowned two days "before" the imperial examination, which Tao Zhoufeng had taken under the guise of a Court of Judicial Review investigation, frozen for a day, and later placed in the water to fake the cause of death as drowning due to heart failure. Tao Zhoufeng confessed and was ordered to be taken to Judicial Prison.
Episode 20 Recap
Lan Jue and Zhang Ping continued to interrogate Ma Lian after his confession. Ma Lian explained that despite his prominent family background, he risked cheating in the imperial examination because he felt he lacked ability and desperately wanted to gain recognition. He came to the Capital City seeking opportunities to distinguish himself, and someone approached him, offering to sell examination questions at a high price, leading him to fall for the scheme.
Ma Lian admitted to killing Chen Zishang, blaming him for the situation. They had arranged the transaction for the night of the lot drawing, but Chen Zishang reneged after drawing the Guiyou Sign. Ma Lian had exerted significant effort to get Chen Zishang to agree to write the essay, and with success seemingly imminent, he impulsively killed him and took the essay.
Ma Lian also recounted that the person who sold him the questions assured him the plan was foolproof and that even if caught, the chief interrogator would support him. He described the seller as an old man dressed like a boatman, clarifying he was not the handsome young man Lan Jue had initially asked about. Lan Jue noted that while they had identified the seller, they still lacked a direct lead to Mr. Jinghu, emphasizing the need for further investigation.
Lan Jue then asked Zhang Ping to examine the mildew spot on the examination scroll seals, believing it might contain a key clue to the cheating method. After researching all night, Zhang Ping discovered the trick: a paste made from ground glutinous rice mixed with ink, baked into a thin, almost invisible film. Handwriting underneath was revealed when moisture, such as fingertip sweat, melted the rice paper, leaving a sticky residue that later molded.
This technique was used to mark Grand Tutor Liu Xian's question, enabling Mr. Yang to draw it. Recognizing this as the key, Lan Jue ordered Mr. Yang's arrest. Mr. Yang confessed to assisting in the cheating for money due to his family's financial hardship. He stated that Shao Zhi informed him the scholars would cause a disturbance and nominate him to draw the question, and his role was simply to select the scroll with the sticky mark.
When confronted, Shao Zhi admitted his part, driven by profound gratitude to Mr. Jinghu. Shao Zhi explained his parents borrowed usury loans for his education and were subsequently driven to their deaths by the lenders. He revealed that the person behind the lenders was Chu Fangtong, the Minister of Revenue, and it was Mr. Jinghu who gathered the evidence that led to Chu Fangtong's conviction and punishment.
Such a great debt meant he would gladly undertake anything for Mr. Jinghu, even risking his life, not just participating in exam cheating. Shao Zhi confirmed he tampered with the seals and secretly swapped the lots when Chen Zishang was about to draw to ensure he drew the Guiyou Sign.
He denied arranging for scholars to nominate Mr. Yang, stating that scholar He Xuan, who admired Mr. Jinghu, volunteered and used the poem on the paper crane to disqualify Lan Jue, thereby facilitating Mr. Yang drawing the question through their combined efforts. Some scholars present loudly accused Lan Jue of colluding in the cheating and demanded his expulsion.
Lan Jue attempted to persuade Shao Zhi to reveal Mr. Jinghu's location in exchange for leniency, but Shao Zhi insisted that Mr. Jinghu's movements were unknowable to ordinary people, describing him as akin to an immortal who appears only after a paper crane is placed by Jinghu Lake. Analyzing the case, Lan Jue and Zhang Ping found it puzzling that Mr. Jinghu orchestrated Chu Fangtong's downfall just to secure Shao Zhi's loyalty.
Lan Jue proposed that Mr. Jinghu might also be targeting Tao Zhoufeng, the chief interrogator in the cheating case, speculating a possible connection to the Moluo Village case from twenty years prior. Lan Jue recalled the seller's assurance to Ma Lian about the chief interrogator's support, suggesting Tao Zhoufeng's selection was deliberate.
They realized that Tao Zhoufeng became chief interrogator after Chu Fangtong's dismissal created a vacancy, and due to other officials retiring or being removed, and the Ministry of Justice needing to avoid suspicion, the case naturally fell under Tao Zhoufeng's jurisdiction. Lan Jue inferred that Mr. Jinghu used the exam cheating to expose Tao Zhoufeng's potential favoritism towards Ma Lian (given Ma Lian's upcoming marriage connection to the Empress Dowager's brother) after Ma Lian's anticipated acquittal.
He concluded that Mr. Jinghu's actions, including the paper crane revealing questions and the ghost pen holder incident, were designed to incite the scholars and force a thorough investigation to uncover Tao Zhoufeng's alleged cover-up. They obtained the dossier for the Moluo Village case from twenty years ago, which Mowen had previously brought. Reviewing it, they found no new clues initially, but Zhang Ping noticed Tao Zhoufeng's seal on the document, indicating he was the reviewer.
This revelation provided a new angle. Given Mr. Jinghu's apparent desire for Tao Zhoufeng's death as part of his revenge, Lan Jue suggested requesting His Majesty to commute Tao Zhoufeng's sentence to potentially force Mr. Jinghu to take action again. That night, Zhang Ping was awakened by the sound of a Xun. He found Chen Chou deeply asleep due to incense. He then encountered a mysterious figure whom he identified as Mr. Jinghu.
Mr. Jinghu commented that it had been a long time and noted Zhang Ping's friend was sleeping soundly like an innocent child, completely defenceless. Zhang Ping questioned if he was Mr. Jinghu and if he was from the Moluo Clan. Mr. Jinghu only confirmed he was there for the Moluo Clan and deferred explaining the past, stating Zhang Ping would understand when his plan was fulfilled.
Zhang Ping accused Mr. Jinghu of being responsible for the previous cases: informing the embalmer about the Injeeten legend, purchasing the phoenix head at a high price, and sending the assassin who killed Chief of Imperial Astronomy Xuan Ji. Mr. Jinghu admitted to all these actions. Zhang Ping observed that Mr. Jinghu orchestrated his victims' deaths to mirror the crimes they committed during the Moluo Village massacre. The embalmer, who created poison, died by poison.
Chang Wei, who made the sky lantern, was tricked into making another to steal the phoenix head and died because of it. Similarly, Xuan Ji, who aided in the village's destruction to please the Empress Dowager, was led to frame Grand Tutor Liu Xian for her benefit and met a tragic end. Mr. Jinghu confirmed he was merely repaying them in kind. He warned Zhang Ping not to interfere with his plan and not to attempt to save Tao Zhoufeng.
Zhang Ping argued that regardless of the Moluo Clan's suffering, ending killing with killing and involving innocent people was wrong. Zhang Ping awoke the next morning, and Chen Chou recounted a dream of passing the exam and becoming officials. Zhang Ping found a book in his hand: the fiftieth chapter of "Strange Night Talk". He recognized the handwriting as Tao Zhoufeng's and suspected Tao Zhoufeng was his revered idol, the author Mu Yesheng.
He sought out Lan Jue, bringing the manuscript, and requested help to visit Tao Zhoufeng in Judicial Prison to confirm his identity and uncover the truth. Lan Jue accompanied Zhang Ping to the Judicial Prison. Lan Jue asked Tao Zhoufeng directly if he was Mu Yesheng. Tao Zhoufeng initially refused to answer.
Zhang Ping spoke emotionally about growing up reading "Strange Night Talk", considering Mu Yesheng a lifelong role model, even traveling to places mentioned in the books and noting discrepancies, all in the hope of one day meeting him at the Court of Judicial Review. He stated that if Mu Yesheng were merely someone who wove lies in stories, he would rather have never read the books. Moved by Zhang Ping's sincerity, Tao Zhoufeng confessed that he was indeed Mu Yesheng.
He recounted that twenty years ago, as a Junior Minister at the Court of Judicial Review, he reviewed an urgent dossier from Lingnan District concerning the Moluo Village. The report described villagers dying overnight, bodies stiff, gray, and cracked, in what local officials suspected was "condemned by heaven" due to scarlet mist and witchcraft.
Tao Zhoufeng immediately connected this to the recent Hui'an Pharmacy extermination case in the capital, where the embalmer sought revenge against a doctor's family, noting the identical death method. He reopened the Hui'an Pharmacy case and found a poisoned red powder in a specialized Imperial Medical Academy medicine bottle at the scene. His investigation at the Imperial Medical Academy revealed a poison-specialist imperial doctor mysteriously disappeared after the Moluo Village incident.
Tracing his movements, Tao Zhoufeng discovered this doctor, Chief of Imperial Astronomy Xuan Ji, and Official of Ministry of Works Chang Wei had travelled south together before the Moluo tragedy. After the massacre, Chang Wei and others involved, except for Xuan Ji, disappeared, leading Tao Zhoufeng to suspect they were silenced.
Realizing the high-level involvement, he pressed on and discovered the embalmer was a former Imperial Medical Academy doctor favored by the Empress Dowager, tasked with developing poisons for her to eliminate opponents and consolidate power. Tao Zhoufeng concluded the Moluo Village case was likely ordered by the Empress Dowager. Tao Zhoufeng explained that knowing this secret prevented him from continuing to write as the righteous Mu Yesheng; he was forced to stop writing.
Lan Jue surmised that Mr. Jinghu's resentment stemmed from Tao Zhoufeng's failure to report what he knew. Tao Zhoufeng lamented his twenty years of fearful survival and anxiety, accepting that he would die regardless, especially now that the Empress Dowager must be aware of the fiftieth chapter of "Strange Night Talk". Soon after, Eunuch Ying Xi arrived from the Empress Dowager. Lan Jue and Zhang Ping quickly hid.
Eunuch Ying Xi delivered the Empress Dowager's command, granting Tao Zhoufeng a final "reward" of a swift death by poison or dagger, allowing him a complete body, to be presented publicly the next day as a suicide out of shame for shielding convicts. Tao Zhoufeng expressed gratitude for the "grace." As the eunuch prepared, Lan Jue urged Zhang Ping to leave to avoid implicating Mowen.
Zhang Ping hesitated, still seeking answers, but Tao Zhoufeng encouraged him to go and find the truth he couldn't. Lan Jue and Zhang Ping watched helplessly from their hiding place as Tao Zhoufeng faced his fate.
Episode 21 Recap
Zhang Ping found it difficult to sleep, troubled by Tao Zhoufeng's death. He looked at the storybooks by Mu Yesheng he treasured, recalling how when he came to the capital for the Imperial examination, he prioritized bringing these books over extra winter coats. His goal in taking the exam was to join the Court of Judicial Review, following in Mu Yesheng's footsteps.
Meanwhile, Lan Jue instructed Xu Dong to arrange for informants to be placed at Hanyuan Hall, determined to continue his pursuit of his father's case. Zhang Ping then arrived at Lan Jue's residence, stating that he had thought things through and wished to continue investigating the truth behind the Moluo Village case. A battle report arrived, detailing Nandong's invasion into Lingnan East Circuit, where they plundered three states, causing nearly ten thousand casualties and displacing at least 30,000 people.
Facing this aggression and with Grand Commandant Wang ill, Wang Yan volunteered to take his father's place and lead the troops against Nandong. Some court officials supported peace talks as a temporary solution. The Emperor empathized with the people's suffering and was reluctant to cede land, but the Empress Dowager intervened, stating that while peace talks were not ideal, they were the only viable option. Under the Empress Dowager's pressure, the Emperor had to compromise.
Xu Dong reported back to Lan Jue that a message from Hanyuan Hall indicated Eunuch Ying Xi was preparing a carriage and that personal attendants, both on and off duty, were scheduled for that night. Lan Jue deduced that the Empress Dowager was planning to leave the palace but did not know her destination.
Around the same time, a frustrated Wang Yan came to see Lan Jue, vexed by the court's decision and his inability to contribute to the country despite being from a Grand Commandant's family. He suggested they go to Banyue Pavilion for drinks to relieve their spirits but found the Peony Pavilion room they wanted was already booked, forcing them to postpone.
Lan Jue realized that the Empress Dowager was known to visit Banyue Pavilion for theatre and speculated that she might be the one who booked the room. He proposed they go to Banyue Pavilion that night to investigate, noting that the Empress Dowager had been reclusive since Mr. Jinghu's appearance, making an outing just for theatre seem peculiar.
At the pavilion, Lan Jue kept watch on the Peony Pavilion where the Empress Dowager was located, while Zhang Ping and Xu Dong searched the building for anything suspicious. Zhang Ping discovered that while the Empress Dowager had not brought her usual entourage of guards directly with her into the room, Imperial Guards were disguised among the audience.
Lan Jue observed that while the Empress Dowager appeared calm, Eunuch Ying Xi was visibly nervous, suggesting she knew she was in danger and had come prepared. They further identified a powerful crossbow aimed at her room from the stage eaves, confirming the presence of heavily-armed Imperial Guards weapons.
Lan Jue concluded the Empress Dowager was not simply watching a play but was likely planning to deal with someone, possibly Mr. Jinghu, who had targeted her and might consider her responsible for the Moluo Village case. He speculated that Mr. Jinghu might have lured her there for revenge. During the play, a male actor drew a lot designating the Peony Pavilion guest.
Through his song lyrics, he invited the Empress Dowager to meet him on the stage, hinting at a potential danger like "red mist," which Lan Jue interpreted as blood mist or poison. Prompted by the audience, the Empress Dowager eventually agreed to go onto the stage. She was led backstage by the actor and disappeared from the audience's sight. The troupe master claimed this was a designed theatrical effect, but neither the Empress Dowager nor the actor reappeared as expected.
Eunuch Ying Xi immediately ordered his subordinates to search for the Empress Dowager. Lan Jue and Zhang Ping, witnessing the disappearance, offered their assistance. Zhang Ping deduced that she was no longer in the building. They found the male actor unconscious backstage, suspecting that the culprit had impersonated him and taken the Empress Dowager away from the backstage area. They chased out of Banyue Pavilion and discovered the Empress Dowager's carriage was missing from its usual spot.
Upon finding the carriage later, the Empress Dowager was not inside. Only a paper crane was found, bearing the inscription "Department of Incantation." Lan Jue and Zhang Ping rushed to the Department of Incantation. They heard the Empress Dowager calling for help and found her trapped in a fire. General Xiong bravely entered the flames and rescued her. At the scene, a water vessel and a stele with writing left by Mr. Jinghu were found.
The inscription on the stele declared the attacker was from the Moluo tribe, dormant for twenty years and now seeking revenge. Lan Jue sketched the design of the magic formation found at the fire scene. That night, he and Zhang Ping went to the Department of Incantation, which had been sealed for twenty years after a ritual resulted in a toxic leak, killing all the incantation practitioners, to search for related texts.
Zhang Ping discovered a formation diagram that matched the one from the fire, but the explanatory text was in an unknown script. They decided to take the page back for study. However, shortly after leaving, both men collapsed, poisoned by residues on the ancient page.
Episode 22 Recap
After regaining consciousness, Lan Jue learned from Xu Dong that a Mr. Gu Qingzhang, whose courtesy name is Shulin, had brought both him and Zhang Ping back to the residence, examined them, and prepared an antidote. Lan Jue searched for him but found he had already left long ago after Lan Jue took the medicine and did not leave any message. Lan Jue realized he might know where to find him.
Lan Jue reflected that ten years had passed since he met Shulin. Ten years ago, he was selling calligraphy and poems on the street. Shulin approached his stall and commented that Lan Jue's calligraphy was generous and detached, contrasting with his poems, which felt constrained, like shackles trapping his true nature. Shulin suggested adjusting a line from a poem he had written to "Kunlun comes to Yanran from the west," which would better fit his calligraphic style.
Shulin introduced himself as Gu Qingzhang, courtesy name Shulin. Lan Jue, who had admired the seven sages of the bamboo grove in his youth but was forced to study Confucianism and conform to the system to become an official and reverse his father's case, felt that Shulin had seen his true self. He considered meeting Shulin a rare stroke of fortune, encountering a true confidant. After their initial meeting, Lan Jue and Shulin became friends.
Lan Jue described this period, following the sudden change in his family's circumstances, as the most unrestrained time of his life. Ten years ago, Sixian Bookstore was a popular gathering place for scholars in the Capital City, where they could discuss literature, exchange knowledge, build connections, and gather information about the imperial examination. As the son of a criminal minister, Lan Jue often faced cold shoulders and exclusion in such settings. It was there he encountered Shulin again.
Afterward, they took a boat trip on the lake and unexpectedly discovered a shabby cottage in the middle of the water. They decided to rent it together and stayed there temporarily, drinking wine, singing, and enjoying the scenery. As the autumn imperial examination approached, Lan Jue's focus shifted to this crucial event. He saw scholars trying to gain favor with officials and learn examiners' preferences, and he admitted he was doing the same.
He practiced small regular script because Minister Sun, a calligraphy master and the chief examiner that year, favored that style. Shulin found this preposterous, likening it to throwing a beautiful jade into an oil pan or chopping fine wood into a coffin. In front of Shulin, Lan Jue felt ashamed of constraining himself and decided to focus on his immediate goals, temporarily distancing himself from his friend.
After the imperial examination that year, Lan Jue was shocked to hear the order of the examiners had been changed. He had made his article simple and rigorous, but the new examiner reportedly preferred fresh and elegant essays, leading him to despair. With the little money he had left, he bought food and drink and placed poison in his cup, planning to end his life. Unexpectedly, Shulin, who hadn't returned for days, appeared at their rented cottage that night.
Shulin tried to comfort him, telling him that even if his article was simple and rigorous, he would likely still make the list, or at worst, he could try again next year. However, Lan Jue was determined to die and didn't listen. He drank the wine he thought was poisoned. To his surprise, he woke up the next morning to the harsh sunlight; Shulin was gone, and he discovered the poison he bought was fake.
Later, due to Minister Liu suddenly falling ill and being unable to review papers, Lan Jue's article was reviewed by the original examiner, Minister Sun, and he ultimately secured the third place, entering officialdom. His sole regret was Shulin's sudden departure and subsequent silence. After hearing Lan Jue recount these past events, Zhang Ping took his leave.
Back home, he asked Chen Chou about the details of their first meeting, pondering how familiar two people must be to truly become confidants. Chen Chou struggled to recall the exact circumstances but said they simply got to know each other over time. Zhang Ping then wondered aloud if he and Chen Chou were confidants, to which Chen Chou affirmatively replied they were. After some deliberation, Lan Jue decided to go meet Mr. Gu.
He went to the cottage on the lake, noting that the flowers were still as prosperous as they were a decade ago. He remembered how they had impulsively stolen an old fisherman's sampan to explore the lake and found the cottage that day. He revealed that he had bought the cottage later, once his circumstances improved, as a way to cherish the precious times they had shared there.
They found a jar of wine they had buried ten years prior, intended for celebration after the palace examination. They opened it and drank, agreeing to not stop until they were drunk. Meanwhile, Zhang Ping arrived at Lan Jue's residence to ask about the investigation into the torn page fragments. A servant informed him that Lan Jue was out meeting someone but would return later, so Zhang Ping decided to wait.
At the cottage, Lan Jue asked Shulin why he had left without saying goodbye. Shulin explained it wasn't a deliberate departure but a sudden illness. Lan Jue found this hard to believe, recalling Shulin's robust health in the past, such as swimming in a cold lake or sleeping outdoors at night without falling ill. Pressed further, Shulin confessed that he saw Lan Jue was determined to end his life that night.
In a moment of urgency, he swapped their wine glasses. He drank the poisoned wine himself, then pretended to leave so he could vomit it up and seek a doctor. Although he survived the immediate danger, the poison caused a chronic illness that could not be completely cured. He didn't tell Lan Jue at the time, fearing it would add to his friend's despair, and chose to leave alone to slowly heal himself.
Over the years, he searched for detoxification methods, which led him to study plants and medicine, enabling him to prepare the antidote for Lan Jue recently. Lan Jue felt deeply guilty upon hearing this, explaining that he was burdened as the son of a criminal minister and all his actions were aimed at entering officialdom to clear his father's name, and he feared implicating Shulin if he shared the reasons. Shulin expressed that he understood Lan Jue's difficult circumstances.
Lan Jue and Shulin returned to the residence, where Zhang Ping had waited throughout the night. Lan Jue introduced Shulin to Zhang Ping, mentioning Shulin's extensive knowledge of literature and traditional Chinese medicine. Zhang Ping immediately inquired about the progress with the torn page fragments. Lan Jue stated that the words were very difficult and he had not been able to form complete sentences despite comparing them with ancient texts.
Shulin offered his collection of old texts on ancient scripts, which might be helpful. Zhang Ping, upon hearing Shulin's voice, felt a sense of suspicion about his identity. Just then, Chen Chou arrived, having guessed Zhang Ping was at Lan Jue's since he hadn't returned home. Chen Chou brought exciting news: Zhang Ping had successfully entered the palace examination.
Ma Lian had been disqualified for cheating, and Zhang Ping, originally eleventh, moved up to tenth place, qualifying him for the final stage. Chen Chou had even obtained a copy of the official list posted in the streets and prepared a celebratory meal, a "Banquet of the First Scholar," for him. However, Zhang Ping stated he did not wish to participate in the palace examination.
He explained that his initial goal in taking the imperial examination was to follow in the footsteps of Mu Yesheng, but having now seen the fate of Mr. Tao, he was uncertain about whether he should become an official. Chen Chou was visibly disappointed, viewing the opportunity as rare and Zhang Ping's willingness to abandon it as a waste and a disregard for the efforts of those who failed.
Still intent on the investigation, Zhang Ping returned to where Lan Jue was. Lan Jue gave him the organized fragments of the torn page, hoping Zhang Ping could find new clues. As Zhang Ping looked at the fragments, his gaze shifted to Shulin standing nearby, and his suspicion about Shulin's identity lingered. Shulin then had a coughing fit.
Episode 23 Recap
Scholars gathered for the palace examination, awaiting the arrival of His Majesty. Unexpectedly, the Emperor entered the hall dressed in military attire, a stark contrast to the formal court customs. When questioned by Minister Liu, the Emperor explained that while the formal court attire represented the universe, his focus was on the people who created it – the silk spinners, embroiderers, dyers, and transporters – and whether they could live in peace and have enough to eat.
He pointed out that due to the war, essential goods like pepper and cardamom from the South were scarce in the capital, affecting daily life. He declared that the people of the southern border were living human beings, not mere bargaining chips. With border conflicts ongoing, he announced his decision to personally lead the army to defend the nation and its people.
Despite concerns from his officials about his safety, the Emperor remained resolute, stating that without the people, there could be no family or country. He expressed his hope for unity among ministers and scholars to overcome difficulties and repel foreign invaders. Wang Yan then stepped forward, volunteering to go to war in his father's place, pledging unwavering loyalty to the Emperor. An instruction from the Empress Dowager was delivered, urging the Emperor to take care and return safely.
The Emperor then set the theme for the palace examination: "When a gentleman has to fight, he must win," challenging the scholars to debate and prove their worth. Meanwhile, Lan Jue continued his investigation into the mysterious torn page from the Department of Incantation and the associated magic formation. He sought help from Gu Qingzhang (Shulin), a scholar with extensive knowledge.
Shulin recognized one of the ancient characters on the page as the character for "back," recalling seeing it in a book on ancient poisonous magic techniques owned by a wandering monk from Pujiu Temple named Sujue. Following this lead, Lan Jue located Master Sujue, who reluctantly admitted to being the sole survivor of an accident at the Department of Incantation decades ago.
Sujue revealed that the formation was the Resurrection Array, a closely guarded secret of the Department, last used thirty years prior on the infant Emperor, who was suffering from a severe illness and was believed to be beyond conventional medical help. It was claimed the array could revive the dead and heal bones, and after two days of the ritual, the Emperor miraculously recovered.
Lan Jue and Zhang Ping discussed this, questioning if the Emperor had healed naturally or if the array had truly saved him, or perhaps, if the original prince had not survived and someone else had been substituted, a possibility suggested by the Empress Dowager's distant relationship with the Emperor and her long hold on power. They linked the Resurrection Array and the Department of Incantation to Mr. Jinghu's mention of Moluo Village.
The accident at Moluo Village occurred twenty years ago, the same year the Department of Incantation had its accident where all practitioners died due to poison leakage during a ceremony. This coincided with the death of the previous emperor, the current Emperor's ascension to the throne as a child, and the Empress Dowager beginning to control the court.
Lan Jue theorized that the Empress Dowager might have ordered the deaths at the Department of Incantation to silence those who knew the secret of the Resurrection Array and the potential substitution of the prince, although Zhang Ping questioned why the distant Moluo Village would be involved. Later, Chen Chou arrived, bringing news of rampant rumors circulating through the capital, including a poem questioning the Emperor's legitimacy and suggesting a potential switch thirty years ago.
Lan Jue suspected someone was intentionally spreading these rumors. Zhang Ping, recalling that Shulin had provided the crucial clue about Master Sujue, expressed his suspicion to Lan Jue that Shulin might be Mr. Jinghu, noting their strikingly similar voices, tones, and mannerisms. Lan Jue firmly dismissed this idea, defending Shulin based on their ten-year friendship and criticizing Zhang Ping for relying on intuition and arbitrary guesses, especially since Zhang Ping had never seen Mr. Jinghu's face.
Zhang Ping countered that while a single coincidence might be overlooked, several connected events pointed towards Shulin's potential involvement, highlighting how Shulin's hint had directly led to the secret of the Resurrection Array after their own long efforts had yielded nothing. Lan Jue insisted that Shulin merely happened to know one character due to his medical studies. Their argument grew heated, and Zhang Ping, frustrated by Lan Jue's stance, left angrily. The Emperor later sought out Zhang Ping.
He knew that Zhang Ping's poor performance in the palace examination was intentional, a way to avoid entering officialdom. The Emperor explained his determined decision to personally lead the campaign, stating it was necessary for the Yong Kingdom's victory and because he could not stand by and ignore the lives of his people.
Zhang Ping admitted that his earlier view of the Court of Judicial Review as simply a place for detectives was naive, realizing it was also a complex part of the bureaucracy. He expressed a desire to continue investigating cases but wished to avoid becoming an official. The Emperor dismissed this as impractical, asking how he could investigate cases without holding an official position, and how he could dispel the darkness of officialdom without being within it.
As they talked, they observed citizens, including merchants from Dafu City, spontaneously donating money and supplies to support the army heading south. The Emperor remarked that the nation belonged to all its people, not just him, and while one person alone cannot change everything, even small contributions from many individuals bring hope.
He noted how even something seemingly insignificant, like a storyteller's script, had brought Zhang Ping to the capital and helped him reach his current point, leaving a small seed of hope in the world. The Emperor also revealed he had seen the circulating rumors about his legitimacy but stated they didn't matter; if he was the true emperor, he should fight for the country, and if not, then as a citizen of Yong, he should fight for his comrades.
The Emperor told Zhang Ping he didn't need an immediate answer and that a position would be waiting for him upon his return from the campaign. In his residence, Lan Jue hosted a modest farewell gathering for Wang Yan, who was preparing to depart with the army. Wang Yan commented on the simple send-off, noting it felt like a temporary parting.
He expressed his deep satisfaction that his lifelong aspiration of experiencing military life was finally being fulfilled and encouraged Lan Jue to be happy for him. They drank together, sharing a lighthearted promise to meet again after Wang Yan's triumphant return, and Lan Jue jokingly warned that the wine they were drinking wouldn't be as good as the wine in the capital, leading Wang Yan to vow to repay him with ten jars of good wine upon his return.
After the army's departure, Chen Chou returned to Zhang Ping's residence with urgent news from the city. He reported that the Empress Dowager had issued two imperial posters: one seeking skilled doctors to treat burn injuries, and another offering a substantial reward for anyone with information leading to the capture of Moluo remnants possessing the Water Vessel.
Chen Chou, visibly worried, urged Zhang Ping to stay indoors and hide the Water Vessel, as many people in the capital knew he had it and might report him for the reward. Just then, Zhang Ping's Master arrived unexpectedly in the capital. Zhang Ping was overjoyed to see him. The Master explained he had come to await Zhang Ping's exam results and had seen the wanted poster.
Chen Chou mentioned Zhang Ping's recent struggle with whether to pursue an official career. The Master expressed happiness that Zhang Ping was considering a path outside officialdom, cheerfully stating he could support his disciple with his fortune-telling skills, even jokingly adding that he was glad to finally surpass Mu Yesheng in Zhang Ping's esteem.
Chen Chou remarked to Zhang Ping that the Master had been exploring the bustling city daily, finding everything new and exciting, having been used to a quieter life. Ignoring Chen Chou's warning, Zhang Ping went out to investigate and tracked Shulin (Gu Qingzhang) to a pharmacy. Zhang Ping had someone (likely Chen Chou) inquire about the herbs Shulin purchased and learned they were used for treating burns.
Zhang Ping immediately confronted Lan Jue with this information, presenting it as evidence supporting his suspicion that Shulin was attempting to gain favor with the Empress Dowager by offering medical assistance for her burn injuries. Lan Jue, however, dismissed this as mere speculation, reiterating that purchasing herbs was a normal activity for a physician and assuring Zhang Ping he would look into the matter himself. Shulin, having overheard their argument, approached them.
He calmly reiterated his earlier explanation, claiming his presence near the Department of Incantation was coincidental and his meeting with Master Sujue occurred by chance during his search for medical knowledge. He confirmed the herb purchase was for his routine study. Zhang Ping was frustrated by Lan Jue's apparent lack of belief in his suspicions, seeing it as further evidence of Lan Jue's judgment being clouded. He left in anger.
Shortly after, Imperial Guards arrived at Zhang Ping's residence, demanding to know his whereabouts. Zhang Ping's Master, quickly grasping the gravity of the situation as more guards arrived, instructed Chen Chou to intercept Zhang Ping, who was returning, and guide him away from the front door to hide him, while the Master remained to stall the guards and mislead them towards the side door, suggesting Zhang Ping had fled south.
Chen Chou met Zhang Ping outside, attempting to persuade him to leave by claiming Lan Jue needed him, but Zhang Ping was focused on finding his Master. Inside, the guards searched the house and discovered the Water Vessel. As the guards announced their find, the Master saw Zhang Ping near the side door and shouted a final, desperate warning for him to run. The Imperial Guards then brutally killed the Master.
Zhang Ping rushed back, pulled away by Chen Chou, and witnessed his Master's death. Overwhelmed with grief and rage, he attempted to charge at the guards to seek revenge, but Chen Chou held him back, reminding him that his Master's sacrifice must not be in vain. Seeing Zhang Ping's uncontrollable fury, Chen Chou reluctantly struck him, knocking him unconscious to prevent him from rushing into certain death.
Episode 24 Recap
Zhang Ping awoke in Lan Jue's mansion, agitated and determined to seek revenge on the Empress Dowager for his master's death. Lan Jue restrained him, urging him to recover, acquire a formidable weapon, and spend five to twenty years training, emphasizing the impossibility of a lone person challenging the well-equipped Imperial Guards and the Empress Dowager.
Zhang Ping initially felt a sense of despair, believing neither he nor Lan Jue could accomplish this task, recalling his master's fate and Mr. Jinghu's years-long quest for vengeance for the Moluo villagers. However, his resolve hardened. He declared he could achieve vengeance, but not in Mr. Jinghu's manner. Instead, he would return to Moluo Village to uncover the complete truth and then seek retribution for his master and his people on his own terms.
More than three months later, Zhang Ping was deep in the southern forest, desperately searching for Moluo Village. Despite days of searching, he couldn't find the entrance and eventually collapsed from exhaustion in the dense woods. Meanwhile, Lan Jue, aware of Zhang Ping's mission and concerned for his safety, had sent people to investigate Gu Qingzhang (Peizhi).
His men reported that Mr. Gu primarily went out to gather herbs in the mountains or tend to his garden in the southern suburbs, having no contact with suspicious individuals. Upon learning Gu Qingzhang was collecting herbs for treating burns, Lan Jue found his recent actions too coincidental, especially in light of what Zhang Ping had said.
Troubled, he visited Gu Qingzhang, admitting he couldn't ignore either Zhang Ping's words or the fact that Gu Qingzhang had been preparing burn medicine. He wanted to resolve his confusion by asking directly. Gu Qingzhang countered that he wasn't as detached from worldly affairs as Lan Jue seemed to believe, asking why else he would have gone to the capital to take the imperial exam ten years ago if he were truly unworldly, suggesting Lan Jue didn't truly know him.
Lan Jue reflected on his first meeting with Gu Qingzhang, recalling how deeply Gu Qingzhang seemed to understand him even then, which now led him to suspect that Gu Qingzhang might have come prepared years ago. In the forest, Wang Yan discovered the collapsed Zhang Ping, noting he was burning hot and suffering from miasma. Zhang Ping woke, surprised to see Wang Yan. Wang Yan questioned why Zhang Ping was in the south instead of the capital.
Zhang Ping explained he was searching for Moluo Village to find answers to everything that had happened. Wang Yan said he had been lost in the forest for days without seeing any sign of the village, though Zhang Ping insisted the Court of Judicial Review archives placed it there. Zhang Ping then asked why Wang Yan wasn't at the front lines with the Emperor.
Wang Yan explained their army's dire situation: despite having more soldiers, they were suffering from miasma due to the southern climate and were locked in a bitter stalemate with the Nandong forces. He had been leading a vanguard unit to scout but, like Zhang Ping, got lost and was ambushed by the Nandong, resulting in many casualties among the remaining soldiers.
Wang Yan offered Zhang Ping some of his remaining food and water, overriding the objections of his soldiers who noted their dwindling supplies. Zhang Ping, however, declined, eager to continue his search for Moluo Village and not wanting to be a burden. But before he could leave, they were attacked. Wang Yan quickly urged Zhang Ping and his men to flee.
In a dazed state from the miasma, Zhang Ping recalled childhood memories and directed them towards a waterfall, repeating "The waterfall." Seeing no other option, Wang Yan led them into the waterfall. They found a cave hidden behind it, concealed from their pursuers. Wang Yan noted they hadn't been discovered, but Zhang Ping was unable to speak. Deciding the situation outside was unknown, they resolved to rest in the cave for the night.
Wang Yan acknowledged that Zhang Ping had saved them and wondered how he had known about the hidden cave, speculating that he must be close to reaching his home. The next morning, Zhang Ping woke and emerged from the cave. Before him lay the ruins of Moluo Village. He walked alone into the deserted settlement, seeing the skeletons of the villagers who had perished years ago standing before him.
Standing by the Sacred Lake, the sight of the water triggered a vivid memory, a "Mirror Flower Water Moon" illusion, of his childhood. He saw himself as a young boy, Kuruo, with his mother. She told him that having been baptized by the Sacred Lake's water, she could now teach him how to use magic.
They played together, and she taught him to calm his mind, close his eyes, and listen to the sounds of nature to master his water vessel. She explained that the water vessel was used to cure the 'heart sickness' (心病) that people developed from keeping their suffering inside over time.
When young Kuruo asked if everyone had heart sickness, his mother confirmed it, revealing she had one herself, hidden beneath the water's surface, which he would learn about when he mastered the magic. She described their village and the lake as the purest place in the world, urging him to feel his true heart there. The memory concluded with his mother announcing she had something to do in the Capital City and was going there. Although she hadn't planned to take him initially, young Kuruo clung to her, unwilling to be left behind, and ultimately went to the Capital City with her.
Episode 25 Recap
Zhang Ping and Lan Jue first met years ago when Zhang Ping's mother came to Lan's mansion to discuss matters with Lan Lin, Lan Jue's father. Zhang Ping's mother took Lan Lin to Moluo village, planning to depart soon as "one more day is one more risk." After their presence was discovered, Xuan Ji and his men arrived.
Lan Lin recognized Xuan Ji and, sensing ill intent, instructed someone to go inform the village while he blocked their path, urging Zhang Ping's mother and son to flee. Zhang Ping's mother hid him in the dense forest and asked if he remembered what troubled her. She told him she hid her "heart trouble" under the water and if he ever wanted to know who she was and what she did, he should go find it.
She suggested they play hide-and-seek one more time, promising him preserved fruit if he won, and gave him something to hide well. She also mentioned that Water Illusion was a medical technique to cure troubled minds. To draw away the pursuers, Zhang Ping's mother ran off in another direction, instructing him to hide well.
Zhang Ping later remembered this traumatic event, initially believing his mother had abandoned him, but realized upon waking that she had died trying to save him and his clansmen were good people. Wang Yan found Zhang Ping and woke him, seemingly from the effects of Water Illusion. Zhang Ping confirmed his mother's sacrifice and the good nature of their clan.
He explained that the Sacred Lake symbolized reverence for nature, and their clan were generations of healers, with Water Illusion being a medical technique. He pondered why his mother, knowing her impending death, asked him to search for her "heart trouble" under the water, a place where such a thing wouldn't conventionally be. Wang Yan agreed her words must have held significant meaning beyond the literal.
Meanwhile, Lan Jue and Xu Dong visited the dilapidated hut where Gu Qingzhang had stayed under the alias Mr. Jinghu. Lan Jue suspected any secrets Gu Qingzhang held might be hidden there. Xu Dong searched and found items under the floorboards, including a drawing marking the location of Lan's Mansion and a prince's birth certificate dating back to the 15th year of Qingfeng.
Lan Jue realized Gu Qingzhang had indeed investigated him and wondered if the Jade Tablet related to the current emperor. Zhang Ping took Wang Yan to his childhood home, which showed signs of having been searched. He found height marks on the wall and recalled a quiet older brother named Xiaolong. He remembered his own childhood nickname, Kuruo, meaning "puppy" in their clan language, a custom for children to be easily raised.
He then realized that "Xiaolong" was the clan language pronunciation of "Qingzhang." Later, Gu Qingzhang spoke with Lan Jue, admitting his true purpose in coming to the capital ten years prior was not for the imperial examination and that he had approached Lan Jue with ulterior motives. He revealed he is the real prince who was switched with another baby thirty years ago using the Resurrection Array but did not die.
He explained that Zhang Ping's mother, skilled in Water Illusion, was forcibly taken by Xuan Ji from Moluo village to the Department of Incantation. Zhang Ping had found his mother's journal, which detailed how, after the Resurrection Array ceremony, she saw Xuan Ji leaving suspiciously with an infant. She followed him to Yunxiao Mountain, where she realized he planned to bury the dying baby and the secret. However, thunder and lightning struck, frightening Xuan Ji away.
Zhang Ping's mother, seeing the child's innocence, took the dying infant and fled the capital for Moluo village. Along the way, she used herbs to keep him alive, and upon reaching the village, the clan leader's treatment miraculously healed the baby. Ten years later, she saw the boy had grown intelligent and studious. Believing he should return to his rightful place, she told him his true identity and planned to take him back to the capital.
She mistakenly thought Xuan Ji had switched the baby out of fear of punishment, unaware it was a secret order from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. She decided to first consult the upright Lan Lin in the capital and took Zhang Ping with her after he insisted. Gu Qingzhang recounted anxiously waiting, only for the village massacre to occur.
Gu Qingzhang explained that Zhang Ping's mother's visit to Lan Lin was to facilitate the real prince's return to the Empress Dowager. As a loyal subject, Lan Lin believed the prince should return quickly and immediately reported the news to the Empress Dowager. At that time, the late emperor had just died, and Empress Dowager Li had gained power by bearing the only son.
Fearing exposure, she secretly ordered Xuan Ji to follow Lan Lin to Moluo village and kill everyone who knew the truth, including her own son. Lan Lin only understood the depth of Her Majesty's conspiracy after Xuan Ji brought him back to the capital. Gu Qingzhang further revealed that Lan Jue's father was not the one who colluded with the enemy; the military information was leaked by one of the Empress Dowager's confidants.
To avoid implication, she blamed Lan Lin and, using Lan Jue's life as leverage, forced Lan Lin to falsely confess to treason. Gu Qingzhang declared his return to the capital was for revenge against the Empress Dowager for the lives lost due to her greed and lust for power. He planned to expose her crimes during the Immortal Instrument ceremony, causing her downfall.
He intended to show that the power she cherished was merely a plaything to him and would make those who pursued it fight to the death. He formally invited Lan Jue to witness this event. Before leaving, he told Lan Jue that "Mr. Jinghu" was a past identity and that starting the next day, he would be known as Dr. Gu in Hanyuan Hall, tasked with treating Her Majesty's burns.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ping discovered a traditional clan prescription effective in treating the miasma, providing a solution for the Army for Southward Crusade. He copied the necessary prescriptions, written in the clan's language, for Wang Yan before they parted ways. Wang Yan wished him a safe journey, stating he would await their victorious return in the capital and asking about Zhang Ping's plans upon returning.
Episode 26 Recap
Two months later, Zhang Ping returned to the Capital City but was immediately spotted by the Imperial Guards upon arrival. Fortunately, Chen Chou helped him conceal his tracks and avoid capture. Zhang Ping wanted to seek out Lan Jue to discuss avenging those they had lost, but Chen Chou was solely concerned about Zhang Ping's safety. He insisted Zhang Ping stay hidden until daybreak so he could help him leave the city, urging him never to return.
Chen Chou declared Zhang Ping's survival was paramount and he would not let him leave unless it was over his dead body. Zhang Ping told Chen Chou he understood his reasoning but felt there were things he had to do. To himself, he whispered about the awful world where good people suffer, questioning if one could only respond to evil with evil. Meanwhile, Lan Jue was troubled by a dream.
He dreamt of his desire for revenge leading him to kill the Empress Dowager, but in the same dream, he witnessed her death plunge the nation into chaos, causing even more people to become displaced. Startled awake, Lan Jue remembered his father's teachings: "A gentleman does not pursue mean goals; his pursuits are always just. A gentleman does not act falsely; his actions are always righteous."
In the dream, his father had shown him this chaotic world as the result of meeting evil with evil. Troubled by the potential consequences of violent revenge, Lan Jue spent the night reflecting before his father's memorial tablet, pondering the right path to avenge his father. Zhang Ping, while Chen Chou was asleep, quietly left the house.
On the street, he discreetly passed a note to someone to deliver to Lan Jue, arranging to meet the following day at noon in the Guiyi Community. When Chen Chou woke up, he discovered Zhang Ping had left but found some of his favorite food prepared for him along with a note. In the note, Zhang Ping expressed gratitude for Chen Chou's constant care, acknowledging that he had done little in return.
He explained that some things he had to do, hoped the food was a small repayment, and urged Chen Chou to eat well and take care of himself, especially if they were not to meet again. Chen Chou was deeply touched, realizing Zhang Ping still remembered his preferences. The next day, Lan Jue arrived at the Guiyi Community, where many displaced people had gathered, some receiving money distributed by the Ministry of Rites.
Zhang Ping was hiding among the crowd to avoid detection by the authorities who were searching the area. Lan Jue and Zhang Ping managed to find a private room to talk. Zhang Ping revealed he had uncovered the truth: Gu Qingzhang was the real prince, who had been switched thirty years prior at the Resurrection Array.
Lan Jue confirmed this, stating Gu Qingzhang had confessed everything to him, including being Mr. Jinghu, and was now serving as a doctor in the palace. Gu Qingzhang planned to cause widespread chaos at the upcoming Qianqiu Ceremony to make the Empress Dowager fall from the peak of her power and had invited Lan Jue to join him in seeking revenge against her. Lan Jue acknowledged the Empress Dowager's numerous crimes and their shared deep-seated hatred for her.
However, he described Shulin (Gu Qingzhang) as being consumed by his desperate desire for revenge, acting like "gunpowder" without regard for innocent lives. He warned that if Gu Qingzhang triggered instability at the ceremony, the consequences could be severe, ranging from turmoil in the central government to chaos throughout the world. Given Gu Qingzhang's meticulous planning over many years, Lan Jue believed it would be difficult to stop him entirely, even if they managed to control him.
He concluded there was only one path left: go to Hanyuan Hall and tell the Empress Dowager the truth, urging her to cancel the ceremony to prevent Gu Qingzhang's plan. He was aware that after learning everything, the Empress Dowager would almost certainly kill them both to cover her crimes, meaning there would be no chance to clear his father's name or avenge Zhang Ping's clansmen.
Weighing the options, Lan Jue decided they must choose the lesser of two evils, prioritize defusing the immediate threat ("the gunpowder") to stabilize the situation, and hope they might survive until the Emperor's return to find a way to punish the Empress Dowager. As soldiers approached their location, Lan Jue told Zhang Ping that the decision was made and he should leave first, reflecting that he might not be able to clear his father's name after all.
The following day, Zhang Ping proceeded with the risky plan. Since the Empress Dowager had stopped meeting people after being burned and only Shulin could enter Hanyuan Hall daily to apply medicine, Zhang Ping decided to pose as Dr. Gu's apprentice during Shulin's scheduled time to infiltrate the hall. Lan Jue had arranged for someone to obtain a copy of the burn medicine prescription Shulin used to help Zhang Ping gain credibility with the guards.
Zhang Ping successfully entered Hanyuan Hall. There, he revealed his identity as Zhang Ping to the Empress Dowager and disclosed that Gu Qingzhang was her own son, the one she had tried to kill years ago, and that he was now lurking near her, waiting to take revenge. Meanwhile, Lan Jue found Gu Qingzhang (Shulin) to delay him and attempt to learn more about his plan.
Lan Jue spoke with Shulin, reminiscing about their past friendship formed through calligraphy and painting, calling it the "freest time" of his life and wishing they could return to those days. He then asked Shulin directly if he had indeed drunk the poisoned wine meant for him ten years ago.
Shulin confirmed he did, explaining that at that very moment, he had just learned the person who wanted to kill him was his own mother, leaving him feeling utterly hopeless and tired of life. He recounted that by some providence he had survived, and from that moment on, his sole purpose in living was revenge. Lan Jue expressed regret for not knowing the depth of his suffering.
Lan Jue then presented Shulin with a calligraphy piece he had written after Shulin left without saying goodbye, reciting the lines about the pain of parting and how his old friend visited his dreams, showing he was always remembered. Lan Jue offered to join Shulin in his revenge, assuring him that his father's name would be cleared after the Qianqiu Ceremony. Knowing Shulin had planned meticulously but hadn't shared details, Lan Jue asked what he could do to help.
Their conversation was interrupted by a report that someone claiming to be Dr. Gu's apprentice had entered Hanyuan Hall. Shulin immediately left for the hall. Upon entering Hanyuan Hall, Shulin saw Zhang Ping with the Empress Dowager. Recognizing him by his childhood name, Kuruo, Shulin reminisced about their time together in Moluo Village, speaking of the Sacred Lake, the apricot trees, and bookmarks Zhang Ping's mother made.
He then declared that all that beauty was destroyed because the Empress Dowager, in her thirst for power, was willing to kill her own son and wipe out their peaceful village. He vowed to dismantle everything she had worked for and ensure she received the most severe punishment. Zhang Ping (Kuruo) refused to stand with him, arguing that his path would only create more misery and that he would not seek revenge for their mother and clansmen in this way.
Shulin challenged Zhang Ping, asking if he understood true misery, having had a good mother and master and living a carefree life for years. He recounted his own traumatic past: sleeping on the hill behind the Sacred Lake, being woken by an explosion and seeing a scarlet mist over the village, rushing back to find all the villagers "fixed in death," overhearing the search for a ten-year-old boy with a night-blooming cereus headdress, realizing they were sent to kill him.
He described using the clan whistle to make the lake water boil, temporarily scaring them away, and then sneaking back to hide the headdress on a dead boy his age to ensure his survival. He spoke of enduring ten years of hardship, scorn, and ridicule, returning to the Capital City only to discover his own mother had ordered his death.
He questioned why she brought him into the world only to send him to suffering, wishing he had died peacefully in the mist or from the poisoned wine given to Lan Jue, feeling that would have been a blessing compared to his life. He urged Zhang Ping to give up the fight to end his suffering.
He asked if Zhang Ping could truly feel his pain, then claimed he could not, suggesting that if Zhang Ping had returned just ten days earlier, he would have seen his master's body exposed on the city gate tower, a final act of filial duty he missed. Shulin then produced a dagger and handed it to Zhang Ping, commanding him to kill the Empress Dowager to avenge their mother, clansmen, and his master.
Zhang Ping refused the command, stating that he could feel Shulin's pain and hate, but hate could not cure hate, and now that the Empress Dowager knew the truth, it should be over. Shulin scornfully asked if it was truly over. He then controlled Zhang Ping and forced him towards the Empress Dowager, killing her using Zhang Ping. Just then, Lan Jue arrived. The Empress Dowager lay dead. Shulin asked Lan Jue who had killed her. To Shulin's apparent surprise, Lan Jue declared that Zhang Ping had assassinated the Empress Dowager and ordered the guards to take him down.
Episode 27 Recap
With Zhang Ping now apprehended, Gu Qingzhang stated that everything was proceeding according to his original strategy. He explained that he sought to reclaim what he believed belonged to him and would then abdicate, allowing capable individuals throughout the realm to vie for the throne.
Lan Jue, present during this conversation, expressed concern that such a move would inevitably trigger widespread upheaval in the court and lead to national chaos, but Gu Qingzhang dismissed these worries, finding the prospect of turmoil interesting. He suggested they would meet again at the upcoming funeral. Gu Qingzhang also indicated that someone within the palace was coordinating with his plan. Grand Tutor Liu Xian summoned the court officials to the palace.
Alone beforehand, he consulted the Emperor's lineage record housed within the hall. He recalled personally witnessing the completion of a prince's record twenty years prior, which documented a son. Upon examining the lineage record for the current emperor, he found the entry blank, which led him to believe the truth of Gu Qingzhang's earlier assertion that the reigning emperor was illegitimate.
Reflecting on his life's dedication to upholding the royal lineage, he realized he had been supporting a false sovereign while the true one was now emerging. Suddenly, palace horns sounded, signaling a major event. Grand Tutor Liu Xian emerged and announced to the assembled ministers that the Empress Dowager's condition had rapidly deteriorated, resulting in her sudden death. Ministers expressed surprise, having heard her injuries were improving.
They voiced concern about the Emperor being away on a campaign in the South. Liu Xian lauded the Empress Dowager's contributions to the state and noted that with the Emperor absent, the ministers must collectively handle the funeral arrangements. He then proposed holding the Empress Dowager's funeral concurrently with the impending Grand Ceremony for the Immortal Instrument, scheduled for the following night at midnight, as a way to honor her legacy.
Despite some ministerial objections that combining a funeral with a grand ceremony was improper, Liu Xian insisted on the plan out of respect for the deceased, and the ministers ultimately agreed. Afterward, Grand Tutor Liu Xian confided in Lan Jue, informing him that the true imperial bloodline would ascend the throne during the Empress Dowager's funeral ceremony and that the details of the ceremony's regulations were entirely Lan Jue's responsibility, emphasizing the need for careful and thorough planning.
Lan Jue understood that Gu Qingzhang intended to use Grand Tutor Liu Xian's authority to ascend during the funeral night, then declare his abdication, prompting all capable contenders across the land to compete for the throne. He realized that the various princes and military governors, already gathered in the capital for the Immortal Instrument ceremony, coupled with the army being engaged in distant conflict in the South, left the capital's defenses weak.
If the princes and governors were to fight for the throne, it would devastate the country. Concluding he must prevent Gu Qingzhang's ascent, Lan Jue resolved to act. Lan Jue sought out General Cao privately, stating that Zhang Ping was not the assassin, but rather Dr. Gu, whom he identified as Gu Qingzhang.
General Cao noted this contradicted what Lan Jue had said earlier during the incident at Hanyuan Hall, but Lan Jue explained he had been covering for Gu Qingzhang to extract information. General Cao questioned why such caution was needed for a mere imperial physician.
Lan Jue revealed that Dr. Gu was actually Mr. Jinghu, responsible for the chaos throughout Da Yong, the kidnapping and burning of the Empress Dowager, and who had infiltrated the palace as a doctor for months, charming the Empress Dowager to distance herself from long-time confidantes like General Cao and Eunuch Ying Xi. His purpose was to control the situation, disrupt the ceremony, and create greater chaos.
Lan Jue explained his and Zhang Ping's purpose in the palace was to find the Empress Dowager and stop Gu Qingzhang, but Gu Qingzhang had unexpectedly assassinated her. General Cao confirmed Lan Jue's account aligned with Zhang Ping's, adding that Zhang Ping had mentioned a greater secret he would only reveal to Lan Jue. Zhang Ping was then brought in.
Zhang Ping argued that Gu Qingzhang's sudden decision to kill the Empress Dowager today was uncharacteristic of his usual methods of torture and manipulation. He questioned why her face was burned beyond recognition and even her throat was burned after her disappearance from Banyue Pavilion, noting that since then, only Eunuch Liu (who was suddenly transferred to the Empress Dowager's side and served as Gu Qingzhang's spy) and Gu Qingzhang had seen her true face.
Zhang Ping deduced that Gu Qingzhang had swapped the Empress Dowager after kidnapping her from Banyue Pavilion, and the person rescued from the fire was a fake whose injuries served to conceal her identity and make the swap easier. Therefore, the person assassinated today was the fake Empress Dowager.
Recalling Gu Qingzhang's statements about the world descending into chaos and inviting "her" to watch this "show," Zhang Ping concluded the real Empress Dowager was likely still alive and hidden away to observe the unfolding events. General Cao received a report that Gu Qingzhang had not been found within the palace, suggesting the search should extend outside.
Zhang Ping warned that Gu Qingzhang was likely concealed in the shadows, preparing to launch his plan to usurp power and plunge the world into chaos. He stressed the urgency of rescuing the real Empress Dowager to thwart Gu Qingzhang's plot and stabilize the situation. Lan Jue appealed to General Cao's long-standing loyalty to the Empress Dowager, urging him to act if there was any chance she was alive.
General Cao agreed to release Zhang Ping to search for the Empress Dowager. He instructed Deputy General Xiong Xiao to search near Hanyuan Hall and decided he would trust their findings if Eunuch Ying Xi, who knew the Empress Dowager intimately, could confirm the body was fake "and" Deputy General Xiong Xiao found something.
Eunuch Ying Xi explained to General Cao that the Empress Dowager had a unique feature: she developed water blisters/herpes after childbirth but chose not to take medication or summon an imperial physician to avoid affecting her breast milk and harming the baby. He reported that during the minor dressing ritual for the Empress Dowager's body, Eunuch Liu had prevented him from approaching for a final look, confirming his suspicion that something was amiss due to such concealment.
Deputy General Xiong Xiao reported searching near Zhaode Hall carefully but finding no sign of anyone hidden. General Cao asked Zhang Ping and Lan Jue for an explanation. Zhang Ping requested access to the Immortal Instrument's blueprints from the Ministry of Works. Lan Jue proposed that the Empress Dowager might be concealed within the Immortal Instrument itself.
Consulting the blueprint, Zhang Ping confirmed that Gu Qingzhang, being meticulous, would hide the Empress Dowager where she could witness the events in Zhaode Hall. The Immortal Instrument's base included a row of air vents positioned at the same height as Zhaode Hall, providing a clear view of the hall. Lan Jue noted that the exterior was sealed off and inaccessible, explaining why Deputy General Xiong Xiao's search hadn't located the hiding place.
Zhang Ping pointed out a repair passage in the hydraulic drive chamber beneath the Immortal Instrument's foundation, connected to the palace's main canal and accessible from outside. General Cao agreed they needed to search the passage quickly, stating there was no time to lose. Zhang Ping noted the palace's main canal system was ancient and dilapidated, with sections collapsed, making passage difficult to find quickly. He also argued that involving construction workers would risk alerting Gu Qingzhang.
Zhang Ping volunteered to undertake the search himself, and General Cao assigned Deputy General Xiong Xiao to accompany him. General Cao stated he would remain to preside over the grand mourning and control the rhythm of events, buying Zhang Ping time, but could not personally assist in the search, urging Zhang Ping to be extremely cautious. Zhang Ping accepted the task, understanding the risks.
He told Lan Jue that if he failed to send back a message by the time of the grand ceremony at midnight, it would mean he was in grave danger. Lan Jue assured him that if it came to the worst, he would know what to do. Lan Jue then instructed his long-serving subordinate, Xu Dong, to take funds from the treasury and distribute them among Flying Star, Flowing Cloud, and the other servants.
Xu Dong expressed reluctance to leave him but complied. Zhang Ping and Deputy General Xiong Xiao arrived at the entrance to the palace's main canal. Unexpectedly, Chen Chou appeared, stating Lan Jue had sent him with supplies and insisting he would stay to protect Zhang Ping. Chen Chou relayed Lan Jue's urgent message that the Immortal Instrument would be unveiled at midnight, followed by Gu Qingzhang's enthronement, emphasizing their critical need to find the Empress Dowager before that time.
Meanwhile, the state mourning was announced, and the funeral for the Empress Dowager commenced in Zhaode Hall. Lan Jue presided over the ceremony, reading a memorial. Deep within the dark and eerie underground canal, Zhang Ping, Chen Chou, and Deputy General Xiong Xiao navigated the passages. Chen Chou felt uneasy about the gloomy atmosphere and the drafts of wind, but Zhang Ping explained it was due to the ancient, disused state of the palace's underground channels causing drafts.
Examining different routes, Zhang Ping noted one passage contained a lot of mud, likely discarded construction waste. He focused on the widest passage, hypothesizing it led to the hydraulic drive chamber. He observed that while spider webs in other passages were covered in dust and insect remains, the webs in the widest passage appeared freshly spun, indicating recent activity.
Following this path, they discovered a tell-tale scent – the fragrance of tulip ointment mixed with mercury, substances used in the minor dressing preparation of the deceased's body. Suddenly, they were ambushed and surrounded by people. They were brought before Gu Qingzhang, who acknowledged Zhang Ping's intelligence but stated his constant opposition meant their past connection could not spare him now in this situation.
Zhang Ping demanded to know where the Empress Dowager was hidden, but Gu Qingzhang denied she was there, declaring that Zhang Ping and his companions would die with "her" today. Zhang Ping urged Chen Chou and Deputy General Xiong Xiao to break through the encirclement and inform Lan Jue. As Chen Chou protested, Deputy General Xiong Xiao abruptly turned and stabbed Zhang Ping, a blatant act of betrayal.
Deputy General Xiong Xiao then knelt before Gu Qingzhang, addressing him as "Your Majesty" and presenting the wounded Zhang Ping as a gift for his enthronement. Chen Chou reacted with horror and grief, trying to help Zhang Ping. Gu Qingzhang spoke to the injured Zhang Ping, calling him "Kuruo," commenting on the harshness of the world and how people like Xiong Xiao betray others for survival, questioning if such individuals were worth saving.
Zhang Ping, despite his injuries, firmly asserted that they were worth saving, even if he had to do it ten thousand times over. He countered Gu Qingzhang, stating that even in the world Gu Qingzhang despised, there were still good people like his mother, who would have saved Gu Qingzhang regardless of what happened today. Zhang Ping again asked where the Empress Dowager was. Gu Qingzhang replied she was in a more suitable place, observing and enjoying everything.
Gu Qingzhang then instructed Zhang Ping (as Kuruo) to tell his mother he would soon avenge her and her clan. Enraged, Chen Chou cursed Gu Qingzhang, calling him a bastard worse than pigs and dogs, defending Zhang Ping's mother's memory and daring Gu Qingzhang to kill him as well. Gu Qingzhang, however, ordered his guards to wait, spare Chen Chou's life, and instruct him to remain and collect Kuruo's body.
Chen Chou stayed by Zhang Ping's side, desperately trying to rouse him as midnight approached. Back in Zhaode Hall, the funeral ceremony was reaching its conclusion. Grand Tutor Liu Xian announced that a crucially important person had yet to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager – her biological son, the true imperial bloodline who had been living outside the palace. Gu Qingzhang then appeared.
Grand Tutor Liu Xian presented him to the assembled ministers as the crown prince formally designated by the late emperor in the fifteenth year of the Qingfeng era. The ministers reacted with disbelief and skepticism, pointing out that the current Emperor was presently leading the army in the South and questioning how another prince could suddenly appear. Some openly accused Liu Xian of attempting rebellion during a time of imperial vacancy.
Liu Xian vehemently defended his loyalty, citing his service across three reigns as a teacher of two emperors and his lifelong commitment to upholding the legitimate royal line. The ministers acknowledged the delicate political situation, with all the regional princes and military governors gathered in the capital, adding to the tension. As midnight struck, signaling the appointed time, a piercing scream echoed from outside the hall. Suddenly, a figure resembling the Empress Dowager appeared, shocking everyone and prompting cries of "Ghost!" Grand Tutor Liu Xian reacted with evident surprise.
Episode 28 Recap
Outside the hall, people suddenly died. The Empress Dowager appeared outside, seemingly brought back to life, with a blood letter draped over her body. The blood letter was read aloud, stating that thirty years ago, the prince was critically ill. The Empress Dowager, using the pretense of the Resurrection Array, replaced him with a common baby boy.
A witch of the Moluo Clan accidentally learned of this, felt pity, and took the dying true prince, healed him, and raised him as her own. Twenty years ago, the witch wished to return the prince and discussed it with Mr. Lan Lin. However, the Empress Dowager learned the true prince was alive, feared exposure, and decided to eliminate the threat by ordering the assassination of her own child.
She also ordered the complete slaughter of the Moluo clan and exterminated Lan Lin's family for treason. The letter concluded by stating the souls of the Moluo clansmen had wandered for twenty years and could only rest if the Empress Dowager's body was exposed, as punishment for her heinous crimes of killing her son and wiping out a clan. Grand Tutor Liu Xian respectfully requested to see the birth certificate.
Gu Qingzhang presented a document, claiming it was a page of the birth certificate given to Xuan Ji by the Empress Dowager to be burned when Gu Qingzhang was buried alive. Saved by fate and wind, it fell into his adoptive mother's hands. He stated it bore his childhood palm print and the Empress Dowager's palm print, asking Mr. Wang and Mr. Dou, who had seen the original, to verify its authenticity. They confirmed it matched.
The Chief of Imperial Astronomy then verified that the baby palm print on the document matched Gu Qingzhang's current palm print. With the verification complete, Grand Tutor Liu Xian declared there should be no further objection. He stated the matter concerned the royal lineage and was of great importance, urging officials to support the return of the true emperor. He then led a group of officials in welcoming Gu Qingzhang to the throne.
However, Minister Wang objected, stating that holding the new emperor's ascension ceremony on the same day as the Empress Dowager's funeral did not conform to etiquette. Lan Jue stepped forward and clarified that historical records contained precedents for the simultaneous performance of the two rites. Lan Jue then proceeded to help Gu Qingzhang put on the attire prepared for the emperor's ascension. As he did so, Gu Qingzhang realized Lan Jue was attempting to assassinate him.
Gu Qingzhang expressed his deep disappointment, believing Lan Jue to be his only true friend, and hurt that even he wanted him dead. Despite the betrayal, Gu Qingzhang declared his enthronement was destined and no one could stop it. Just as Grand Tutor Liu Xian was about to perform the coronation, Chen Chou appeared, supporting a seriously injured Zhang Ping. Zhang Ping loudly announced that there was no prince exchange, and Gu Qingzhang was not the real emperor.
He revealed that General Xiong had stabbed him precisely, avoiding vital points, making the injury look severe but not fatal, allowing him to appear dead. Zhang Ping then stated he held the real birth certificate that could prove the emperor's identity, meaning the certificate Gu Qingzhang possessed must be forged. He asserted that by opening the coffin, he could prove Gu Qingzhang's certificate was fake.
When officials protested opening the sealed coffin, Zhang Ping countered by pointing out the Empress Dowager's body was kneeling outside, seemingly dragged out by Moluo ghosts as everyone had seen. He claimed these 'ghosts' were merely Gu Qingzhang's subordinates in disguise, using the underground passages connected to the hall square to move secretly and create the illusion. He challenged the officials, saying if the coffin was empty as their observation implied, why were they afraid to open it?
Zhang Ping then presented his true theory: there was "another" Empress Dowager inside the coffin, and the kneeling body outside was a fake, which had never been placed in the coffin. He explained that Gu Qingzhang had used the Resurrection Array as a cover to swap the real Empress Dowager with a fake one to facilitate his entry and plans in the palace. The fake Empress Dowager was the one who died the day before.
After the small encoffining ceremony was performed on the fake body, it was moved to the culvert by Eunuch Liu and Gu Qingzhang's men instead of being placed in the coffin, as evidenced by tulip ointment and mercury found in the canals. They then dragged this fake body from the culvert during the commotion outside the hall and placed the blood letter on her to simulate a ghostly accusation.
The person now lying in the coffin was the real Empress Dowager, whom Gu Qingzhang had kidnapped from Banyue Pavilion and swapped back into the coffin after the small encoffining ceremony, sealing it in front of everyone. Zhang Ping added that the Empress Dowager in the coffin was still alive. General Cao confirmed this by stating the female officer who performed the encoffining had confessed that the real Empress Dowager was indeed inside the coffin.
General Cao ordered the coffin opened. The Empress Dowager was found to still have breath. Zhang Ping explained that a silver needle had been inserted into an acupuncture point, rendering her unable to move or speak but leaving her conscious; she would recover quickly once the needle was removed. Shortly after the needle was withdrawn, the Empress Dowager woke up, remarking on the spectacle and questioning their haste in holding a funeral for her.
Grand Tutor Liu Xian asked her directly if Gu Qingzhang was the real emperor. The Empress Dowager did not explicitly deny his identity but instead pointed to what 'this rebel' had done to her, implying his actions were not those of a true royal. Zhang Ping reiterated that opening the coffin would prove the birth certificate was fake. He explained that even a perfect forgery would miss one detail: the Empress Dowager's palm print.
Gu Qingzhang had forced her to make the print after kidnapping her, thinking it would pass. However, the Empress Dowager had suffered from herpes after childbirth thirty years ago, leaving scars on her palm. He showed her hand, noting the scars. He explained the symptoms of the illness included palm mucus that would dry into crumbs on clothing or paper. If the palm print on the certificate was genuinely from thirty years ago, it would bear traces of these crumbs.
Since Gu Qingzhang was unaware of this historical detail, he could not have replicated it. The authenticity of the certificate could be determined by examining the inkpad area for white crumbs. Zhang Ping then asked Gu Qingzhang if his certificate could withstand such a test. Gu Qingzhang replied, "No need to verify. This birth certificate is fake." Upon Gu Qingzhang's admission, Grand Tutor Liu Xian called him a rebel and ordered General Cao to apprehend him.
Gu Qingzhang questioned the Empress Dowager why she wasn't revealing his reasons for kidnapping her and orchestrating the events of the day. He then turned to Zhang Ping, asking why he, who was supposedly obsessed with the truth, was now unwilling to pursue the real reasons. Zhang Ping identified Gu Qingzhang as Mr. Jinghu, who had appeared during the imperial examination the previous year, accusing him of inciting scholars, causing unrest, kidnapping the Empress Dowager, and plotting usurpation.
He called Gu Qingzhang a delusional madman obsessed with becoming the emperor. Gu Qingzhang commented that Zhang Ping, or Ku Ruo, could now lie and had grown up. Gu Qingzhang then addressed the Empress Dowager, declaring that all the night-blooming cereus in the Imperial City would bloom for her tonight. He reminded them of the scarlet mist poison, revealing he had improved it using the embalmer before the man's suicide. The toxin was now hidden in the flower pollen.
When the flowers bloomed, the scarlet mist would cover the entire city, and people would die painlessly in happy illusions, with smiles on their faces, their bodies stiffening. He stated the Imperial City was now filled with night-blooming cereus, and tonight was the night they would bloom. Zhang Ping expressed doubt that Gu Qingzhang could control the flowers to bloom. However, Gu Qingzhang used a pottery whistle from the Moluo clan, and instantly, people outside the hall began dying.
Someone cried out that the night-blooming cereus had all bloomed and the red pollen within was poisonous and lethal to the touch. Panic erupted as people died. Amidst the chaos, it was noticed that the Empress Dowager and Gu Qingzhang were gone. Zhang Ping urged people to remain calm and cover their mouths and noses with damp cloths. He rushed towards the blooming flowers despite being warned, touched one, and quickly figured out the secret.
Night-blooming cereus typically bloom in cool night temperatures. Gu Qingzhang had buried large amounts of saltpetre in the soil beforehand and instructed his subordinates hidden in the culverts to flood the soil with water, causing a rapid temperature drop, which triggered the flowers to bloom. Zhang Ping realized the poisonous mist was spreading across the city and they needed to find a way to save the citizens.
Zhang Ping, Lan Jue, Xiong Xiao, Chen Chou, and others quickly hurried into the city. People in the city, some fascinated by the suddenly blooming flowers, began dying as the red mist reached them. Zhang Ping directed citizens to use damp cloths, seek higher ground, and enter buildings, sealing off doors and windows. General Cao stated that the safety of the entire city's population was paramount, even more so than finding the Empress Dowager and Gu Qingzhang at that moment. They worked to gather people and guide them to safety.
Episode 29 (Ending) Recap
Gu Qingzhang brought the Empress Dowager to a high vantage point overlooking the Yong Kingdom shrouded in scarlet mist. He reminded her how she had sacrificed her own child to gain power and everything she possessed, and now she should witness it all vanish. He questioned why, even in this dire moment, she refused to admit her mistakes or express regret, desperately wanting to hear her say she regretted it and had cared for him.
Defiantly, the Empress Dowager declared she never regretted her choices. She even thanked him, believing that once everyone in the city was dead after tonight, no one would know her secret, and she would maintain an everlasting name. Seeing her continued stubbornness, Gu Qingzhang, deeply disappointed, told her to die alongside her power. As he turned to leave, she revealed his childhood nickname was "Tan'er," a name she said belonged only to him.
Memories flashed of her giving a young child a night-blooming cereus (epiphyllum) and calling him Tan'er, and another memory of her discarding the flowers. Amidst the growing peril, the people sought ways to escape the spreading scarlet mist. Some suggested running, believing they should save whoever they could. Zhang Ping proposed a solution: rain, explaining that a downpour would prevent the pollen from spreading through the air.
Looking at the clouds, some felt rain was coming, but Zhang Ping suggested they couldn't wait. He proposed using a rain catcher by sprinkling a large amount of salt into it and igniting it with gunpowder to disperse the salt high into the sky, turning clouds into rain. He noted the capital's rain catcher was on Yunxiao Mountain but might be obsolete. Cannons, he suggested, could serve the same purpose.
They quickly formed a plan: one group would fetch cannons and ammunition from the city gate, Lan Jue and Chen Chou, familiar with the city's terrain, would lead the evacuation of citizens to the higher ground of Yunxiao Mountain, and Zhang Ping would gather salt, requesting helpers. Several officials and Zhang Ping's subordinates, including Xu Dong, volunteered, expressing their loyalty and willingness to face death with him, stating this was the first time they had defied his direct orders.
Zhang Ping tasked the other officials with assisting Lan Jue in getting people safely up the mountain. The evacuation efforts commenced with urgency. Lan Jue and Chen Chou, joined by scholars like Xu Lu and Wang Cheng who felt it was their duty not to stand aside while people suffered, urged everyone to cover their faces and quickly move to Yunxiao Mountain, emphasizing that low areas were dangerous. Meanwhile, Zhang Ping's group searched for salt.
They encountered a salt merchant who, upon learning the salt was needed to bring rain and save the capital, offered his entire inventory of 600 catties, which had just arrived at the wharf, and guided them there. On Yunxiao Mountain, the race against time continued. As the scarlet mist advanced, people were running and trying to get to higher ground. Zhang Ping's group arrived with the salt, which was quickly mixed with gunpowder and loaded into cannon shells.
They began firing the shells towards the sky to induce rain. Eventually, the general in charge reported that they had run out of salt bombs, leaving the rest to fate. Lan Jue, who was helping guide people on the mountain, anxiously awaited Zhang Ping. Zhang Ping finally arrived, safe, much to Lan Jue's relief.
Lan Jue remarked that if he were to die today, he wouldn't want to have any connection with Zhang Ping in the next life, which Zhang Ping dismissed as he didn't believe in ghosts, gods, or the afterlife. Just then, rain began to fall. Relief washed over everyone as the downpour intensified, washing away the deadly scarlet mist. The people cheered, their city saved.
In the aftermath, Zhang Ping returned an orchid sachet to Lan Jue, explaining that Old Lord Lan, Lan Jue's father, had given it to him twenty years prior and he was now returning it to its rightful owner. As people began returning or assisting each other in the city, Chen Chou was seen helping an elderly woman, assuring her that even though Grandpa Yang was gone, he and Zhang Ping would continue to come heat water for her weekly.
Suddenly, news of the Emperor's return spread. The Emperor, having heard of the capital's great trouble, had led an elite cavalry force to rush back. He was greeted upon his arrival by officials, including Grand Tutor Liu Xian. Expressing relief that they were safe, the Emperor reunited emotionally with his son, Ziyi.
Later, the Emperor addressed his court, reflecting on the past twenty years under the Empress Dowager's rule and declaring his intention to usher in a new era by creating a great and beautiful land for the people. Zhang Ping stated his belief that a good emperor was one who ensured the people lived in peace and contentment and that there were no unresolved cases in the realm.
The Emperor explained his decision to appoint Zhang Ping as the magistrate of Yiping County, noting that the capital was still unsettled with remnants of the Empress Dowager's faction and Zhang Ping's straightforward nature would put him in danger if he remained.
He intended for Zhang Ping to gain experience outside the capital for a few years and expressed high expectations, seeing him eventually becoming the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, or perhaps even Prime Minister, though he knew Zhang Ping preferred the Court of Judicial Review. Zhang Ping accepted the assignment. Zhang Ping and Chen Chou set off for Yiping County to take up the post.
Chen Chou expressed excitement about helping Zhang Ping with cases and anticipated their lives improving, while Zhang Ping worried about being a magistrate as he only knew how to investigate cases, despite Chen Chou's reassurance that the Emperor saw him as having the potential for Prime Minister. Back in the capital, speculation arose about the new Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Wang Yan arrived to take up the position, immediately ordering all the backlogged case files from the archive to be brought out, declaring his determination to investigate them one by one. Meanwhile, Lan Jue was able to bring his son, Lan Hui, back to the mansion now that his father's name had been cleared.
He reflected on the years he had fostered his son in the countryside to protect him while seeking justice for his father, acknowledging that Lan Hui had suffered, but was now grown and wished to purify the world with him. He lamented that his late wife, Congrou, was not alive to see this day. In Yiping County, Zhang Ping had set up a noodle stall, calling it a hobby, with Chen Chou nearby.
Chen Chou questioned why he was still selling noodles despite being a magistrate. Just then, Lan Jue arrived in Yiping County in his new role as Inspection Commissioner, tasked with patrolling counties on behalf of the Emperor, proclaiming decrees, promoting/suppressing issues, addressing local grievances, and resolving backlogged cases. Spotting Zhang Ping's stall, Lan Jue approached, offered five pennies, and asked for a bowl of noodles. They shared a look, reminiscent of their first meeting.
