The Wanted Detective Episode 4 Recap
> The Wanted Detective Recap
Zhong Xueman discovered the bride hanging dead in her room. She immediately pursued a mysterious figure into the forest, engaging in a brief struggle before the individual, a member of the Elite Constabulary Unit, escaped. The following day, Zhong Xueman concealed herself near the crime scene. As anticipated, members of the Elite Constabulary Unit arrived, acting suspiciously as they prepared to burn the body.
Zhong Xueman stepped forward, sternly confronting Fang Zheng and demanding to know why he was concealing the case and destroying evidence. She pointed out this was the fourth "corpse-sewing" murder and threatened to report the matter directly to the Ministry of Justice and the Emperor, warning that the Secret Investigation Unit might take over. Fang Zheng grimly explained that he was destroying the evidence solely to protect her.
He revealed that Xiao Beiming, her former husband and alleged killer of her father, had reappeared, but all previous sightings had been fakes. Aware of her reckless nature, he feared for her safety if she were to confront the real Xiao Beiming, stating he owed her father a debt and must protect her. Zhong Xueman, however, asserted her duty as a constable, declaring she would uphold her father's name even if it meant death.
Meanwhile, Xiao Beiming learned he had been poisoned with "Blood-freezing Frost," a potent toxin that would corrode his organs, nullify his internal energy, and eventually kill him. He deduced that Feng Qingzhuo, who had treated him, was the "Little White Dragon" of the infamous Poison Valley. He recognized Feng Qingzhuo's unique "Beacon Fire Golden Needles" as a technique belonging to the Valley Master, the Unstoppable Old Man, who was Feng's master.
Xiao Beiming realized Feng Qingzhuo had hidden his identity within the Elite Constabulary Unit to escape a relentless manhunt. He proposed a deal: he would protect Feng's secret if Feng would help him investigate and keep his own presence near Zhong Xueman confidential.
Feng Qingzhuo, who explained he follows his master's teaching that poison can be used to either harm or save, insisted he is a healer who has never hurt anyone, blaming his dark reputation on rumors spread by "Old Bug," his master's rival. While Feng Qingzhuo accepted the deal, he clarified that he would have helped regardless because Zhong Xueman had once saved his life.
He asked them to consider "Little White Dragon" dead and to know him only as Feng Qingzhuo, the coroner. In her investigation, Zhong Xueman discovered that all four deceased women were courtesans, identified by tattoos on their backs as mandated by law. Jiang Yi, a fellow constable, confirmed the three previously burned bodies also bore these tattoos. All four had been redeemed and were wearing bridal gowns when they died.
Believing the killer's motive was key, Zhong Xueman knelt and pleaded with Fang Zheng to let her investigate, vowing to bring justice for her father and the victims. Fang Zheng reluctantly agreed. Jiang Yi offered his team's assistance, including Mo Chong and Liu Feng, to investigate the brothels. Zhong Xueman informed Xiao Beiming that one victim, Ruolan, was sold to a brothel by Hu Shisan, a notorious human trafficker, who then strangely bought her back for a higher price.
They went to Hu Shisan's residence but found he had been missing for over ten days. His subordinates confirmed they delivered women for him by carriage but knew nothing of their origins. They did, however, recall hearing Hu Shisan crying intensely the night before he disappeared. Later, Zhuge Kongyun, son of the Secret Investigation Unit's chief, secretly entered Zhong Xueman's mansion. He explored the backyard, pausing at an intriguing rockery, just as Xiao Beiming, who was inside, hid.
Zhong Xueman returned, interrupting Zhuge and sternly questioning his presence. He feigned an interest in the case but admitted his true interest was in her, alluding to a past offer of cooperation. After Zhong Xueman firmly rejected him, he left, instructing his subordinate to keep a close watch on her. The team decided to examine the victims' bodies at the Baishui River Morgue, with Zhong Xueman disguising Xiao Beiming as Feng Qingzhuo's helper.
At the morgue, Mo Chong directed them to Room Jin. Feng Qingzhuo began the autopsy and discovered fine gold threads beneath the skin of the victim's face, a feature consistent across all four bodies, even the three that were charred. Suddenly, the morgue door was locked from the outside and the building was set on fire. The fire intensified quickly, but Xiao Beiming managed to carry Zhong Xueman to safety.
Upon escaping, they encountered Fang Zheng and other constables, including Zhu Yitie, who had seen the fire. When questioned about the veiled Xiao Beiming, and as Zhu Yitie reached for the veil, Tong Shuang, another constable, loudly intervened. He chastised Xiao Beiming in a made-up dialect and falsely claimed he was a newly arrived friend from his hometown whom he had asked to assist.
Later, Tong Shuang secretly met with the group, revealing he was Xiao Beiming's long-standing informant inside the Elite Constabulary Unit. Zhong Xueman, though angered by the secrecy, now understood someone was actively trying to destroy evidence. Xiao Beiming theorized the fire was set by the killer, the "Tailor," to stop them. Feng Qingzhuo noted the gold threads were remarkably pure.
Xiao Beiming recalled the "Strange Stories of the Nine States" mentioning a secret Nanyue technique called "Gold Thread Rejuvenation," which used such threads to preserve youth. Realizing the victims were connected to the fallen Nanyue kingdom, they decided Nanren Lane was their next destination. The next day, the trio—with Xiao Beiming and Zhong Xueman disguised as a married couple and Feng Qingzhuo as their servant—visited a gold shop in Nanren Lane.
Zhong Xueman found the specific gold threads and questioned the owner about the rejuvenation technique. The owner became evasive, but under the threat of the Elite Constabulary Unit's "pig-skinning" torture method, he confessed. He sold the gold threads to "Blossom Skies," a Nanyue religious organization led by Sada, a supposed messenger from "Blue Heaven." He had implanted the threads into five selected "Saintesses" two months prior, including the woman in a portrait Zhong Xueman showed him.
He believed these women had ascended to Blue Heaven in a holy light. The team connected the dots: four of these five Saintesses were the "Tailor's" recent victims. The owner also revealed that Blossom Skies selected new Saintesses during a fireworks ritual on the 15th of every even-numbered lunar month. Realizing it was the 15th of the sixth month, they planned to investigate the ritual that night, unaware that Zhuge Kongyun's men were still tailing them.
