The Wanted Detective Episode 26 Recap
> The Wanted Detective Recap
Zhong Xueman awoke to learn that Xiao Beiming had once again been apprehended and taken to the Elite Constabulary Unit's prison. Though she intended to plead for his release, Feng Qingzhuo and Tong Shuang informed her that even Chief Fang was powerless to help, and they needed to devise an alternative plan. To their surprise, Xiao Beiming suddenly appeared, claiming to have escaped from prison.
In truth, Chief Fang, Fang Tianzheng, had come to believe in Xiao Beiming's innocence regarding the Yesha conspiracy. Risking his own life, Chief Fang had secretly released Xiao Beiming, instructing him to uncover the true Yesha culprit within half a month. Chief Fang vowed to take full responsibility to the emperor for his actions. With Xiao Beiming back, the group began to strategize.
Xiao Beiming deduced that the mysterious crystal found in Huang Liang's body was the same type as the one in Old Bug, suggesting the pills they took were identical. He expressed a desire to examine Old Bug's body, which was currently held by the Secret Investigation Unit. To facilitate this, Xiao Beiming instructed Tong Shuang to arrange a carriage and asked Huo Dairong to convey a message to Zhuge Kongyun about meeting at a specific, discreet location.
Xiao Beiming led Zhong Xueman to this meeting spot—the humble home of Mrs. Lin. He explained that this was where he occasionally met Zhuge Kongyun before the Fengbo Lake case. Mrs. Lin was the blind mother of a victim from a past case where Zhuge Kongyun had controversially used her daughter as bait, leading to the daughter’s hysteria and eventual tragic drowning. Zhuge Kongyun had quietly cared for Mrs. Lin for years, making her home a significant place.
Mrs. Lin, recognizing Beiming's voice, expressed joy at his return and welcomed Zhong Xueman warmly, sharing how Beiming and Zhuge Kongyun often spoke highly of her. She gently advised Zhong Xueman to cherish her loved ones, emphasizing that evil is endless and that they, despite their noble pursuits, should not shoulder all burdens, lest they regret neglecting those closest to them. While Mrs. Lin rested, Xiao Beiming and Zhuge Kongyun conversed.
Zhuge Kongyun, observing Beiming, immediately deduced that he needed help, specifically concerning Old Bug’s body. Beiming confirmed this, explaining his theory about the pills and the need to investigate Old Bug’s body for clues related to Haiya. He also highlighted that his current "fugitive" status made direct investigation difficult, and Zhuge Kongyun was best suited to uncover the remaining Haiya connections.
Zhuge Kongyun agreed to help, but on one condition: once Yesha was caught and Beiming's name cleared, Beiming must lead Zhuge Kongyun’s horse and declare him the greatest detective in Qi Kingdom before the entire realm. Beiming accepted, acknowledging Zhuge Kongyun's deservingness of the title. Zhuge Kongyun arranged for Old Bug’s body to be temporarily released from the Secret Investigation Unit. Feng Qingzhuo and Xiao Beiming quickly performed an autopsy in the prepared carriage, given only two hours.
They discovered not only thunder gold but also red crystal, and noted Old Bug's heart was alarmingly swollen. Beiming recalled Zhong Xueman's account of Old Bug's sudden surge of internal energy after taking the pill. However, Feng Qingzhuo theorized that the pill was incomplete due to its fatal effect of heart rupture, suggesting Huang Liang forced Tong Shuang to take it to test its potency.
They remained puzzled as to why Old Bug, a man knowledgeable in pharmacology, would knowingly take such a lethal, incomplete drug. Concluding that Old Bug's incoherent ramblings before death held more clues, they resolved to return to Haiya for further investigation. Zhuge Kongyun then provided Xiao Beiming with a new lead: Wu Zhui. Beiming described Wu Zhui as a legendary figure in the Qi Kingdom, one of the few he truly respected.
Wu Zhui, despite humble beginnings, possessed an unyielding spirit, once openly criticizing the late emperor's policies and court officials. Though exiled to the border to temper his spirit, Wu Zhui achieved numerous strategic victories without resorting to direct combat. After the late emperor’s passing, he became an esteemed envoy, resolving many disputes for Qi in secret.
Zhuge Kongyun’s letter indicated Wu Zhui had fallen ill six months prior and was now recovering at a farmstead outside the capital, prompting suspicion due to his past military connection to the Canfeng Army. Despite Zhong Xueman's deep concerns for his safety, Xiao Beiming insisted on going alone, citing his unique "imprisoned" status as an advantage for a covert investigation and his recovered strength as sufficient for self-defense.
Xiao Beiming located Wu Zhui, disguised as an old farmer, and subtly revealed his knowledge of Wu Zhui’s past, including a specific leg injury and calluses from writing rather than farming. Wu Zhui, surprised, recognized Beiming. Beiming stated his purpose was to investigate the Canfeng Army and the truth about Haiya, acknowledging Wu Zhui's past involvement with the Canfeng Army alongside Beiming's master, Huo Zongyao, and Miao Jie.
Wu Zhui, his expression changing, confessed to having sworn an oath to never reveal Haiya's secrets. He warned Beiming that uncovering this truth would unleash chaos and bloodshed upon the Qi Kingdom, claiming that Beiming's pursuit of justice would make him, in a sense, no different from Yesha. Beiming vehemently disagreed, asserting that no calamity was predestined and that only justice could counter the treachery of human hearts. He vowed not to leave until he found the truth.
Wu Zhui led Beiming to "poison" the water, presenting it as a test. He told Beiming that if he drank it, he would have one shichen (two hours) to live, during which he could ask three questions within the first fifteen minutes. After the full one shichen, Beiming would die, and Wu Zhui would then speak the truth, having fulfilled his oath by speaking to a dead man. If Beiming refused, Wu Zhui would drink it himself.
After a moment of profound contemplation, Beiming accepted, but first extracted three promises from Wu Zhui: to answer truthfully, to ensure Zhong Xueman retrieved his body intact, and to keep their conversation absolutely secret to protect his colleagues.
Beiming then asked his questions: first, if the Canfeng Army massacred Haiya, to which Wu Zhui confirmed his role as a military advisor and direct participant; second, why, to which Wu Zhui stated it was a complex necessity; and third, about surviving Canfeng Army members and Haiya orphans, to which Wu Zhui revealed a registry existed in the Imperial Secretariat’s Heavenly Chamber, on the 12th bookshelf.
As the "poison" took effect, Beiming secretly used a wax pellet to mark a piece of cloth with crucial information, swallowed it, and appeared to die. Wu Zhui, impressed by Beiming's courage and ingenuity, acknowledged him as a remarkable disciple of Huo Zongyao (referring to him as Yunchi) and immediately sent his guards to find Zhong Xueman. Xiao Beiming suddenly awoke to find Zhong Xueman diligently tending to him.
She explained that two farmers had led her to a carriage where she found him unconscious but unharmed. Beiming revealed that Wu Zhui's "poison" was merely a test of his resolve, and his survival confirmed Wu Zhui's inner struggle regarding the Haiya truth. Despite Tong Shuang's outrage at Wu Zhui's extreme method, Beiming clarified the "poison" was harmless. Following Wu Zhui's clue, Beiming instructed Zhong Xueman to go to the Imperial Secretariat's Heavenly Chamber to retrieve the Haiya orphan registry. Zhong Xueman successfully located the book, hidden within a secret compartment on the 12th bookshelf, just as Wu Zhui had indicated.
