Checkmate Episode 16 Recap
> Checkmate Recap
Butler Li (Li Yantong), under interrogation, confessed the full extent of her and Yu Daren’s scheme. Situ Yan explained how Li Yantong lured Cheng Xiangjun to Mrs. Feng's house on Plain Lane, where Yu Daren murdered her. To cover their tracks and set up a new murder, Li Yantong donned Cheng Xiangjun's clothes and shoes, then publicly appeared as Cheng Xiangjun, starting with Jasmine Restaurant.
She checked into a nearby hotel and sent a letter to Li Chengyan, posing as Cheng Xiangjun, inviting him to Jasmine Restaurant to collect money from Yu Daren, specifically recommending zha jiang spaghetti. Situ Yan highlighted that Li Chengyan, having not seen Cheng Xiangjun in years, was unaware of her newfound wealth and generosity, leading to conflicting descriptions of "Cheng Xiangjun" from witnesses – one generous, the other stingy.
The plan was to frame Moly for Li Chengyan's death, then have Li Yantong (as Cheng Xiangjun) reappear to frame Cheng Xiangjun for the murder of Mrs. Feng. Situ Yan confirmed Li Yantong's identity by identifying a burn mark on her left wrist, which she used to distinguish herself from the real Cheng Xiangjun. Situ Yan pressed Yu Daren on how he ensured Li Chengyan would order spaghetti.
Yu Daren chillingly admitted he had bought out all the steak in the market that day, leaving spaghetti as the only option, and had even sent Zhao Xiaoling away. Shen Huatang angrily confronted Yu Daren, questioning his betrayal of her mother, Shen Baifeng, who she believed treated him well. Yu Daren, his long-suppressed resentment boiling over, revealed his true feelings: he considered himself "a dog, or even less than a dog" in Shen Baifeng's eyes.
He claimed Shen Baifeng used her will to control him, beating and scolding him, and even forcing him to bark on the ground for her amusement. He believed Zhongji Bank’s prosperity was his doing and rightfully his. When Situ Yan asked about Moly, Yu Daren coldly stated that as a mere cook, it was Moly's "honor to die for a banker."
Situ Yan vehemently condemned Yu Daren's twisted morality, stating that there is no hierarchy in life and that Yu Daren's "filthy heart" was truly inferior. With the confessions complete, police arrested Yu Daren and Li Yantong. Grandpa He (He Nitang), a friend of Moly, praised Situ Yan for solving the case when asked his full name. Shen Huatang thanked Situ Yan, expressing that his efforts brought peace to her mother and resolved her brother and sister-in-law's conflict.
She then extended an offer of friendship, stating she liked dealing with clever people. Situ Yan, wary of her intelligence, politely declined, stating he preferred not to associate with overly clever people, and left. Luo Shaochuan believed the case was closed and celebrated the likely increase in their case-solving fees from Jin Qiming’s articles. However, Situ Yan maintained his unease, feeling that an underlying conspiracy still existed. Luo Shaochuan urged him to relax, suggesting he was too stressed.
Meanwhile, Zhou Mowan announced she was leaving to return to school, explaining that her time as Situ Yan's assistant was on a leave of absence for Moly's case. Situ Yan offered to pay her, but she refused, emphasizing that Moly was their mutual friend and that she would make up for any lost salary by teaching more tutoring classes, subtly referencing the wealthy students like Shen Huatang.
Mrs. Shen tried to persuade Zhou Mowan to stay, suggesting she continue living there and attend the upcoming reopening of Jasmine Restaurant. She even offered to have Situ Yan accompany Zhou Mowan to visit her parents, but Zhou Mowan evasively declined, also avoiding questions about her hometown. The next day, news arrived that Yu Daren had died in prison from ricin poisoning, an extremely potent and incurable toxin.
Luo Shaochuan was shocked, as he had thoroughly searched Yu Daren for contraband before his imprisonment. Old Bao, however, dismissed Luo Shaochuan's concerns, attributing the death to a planned suicide and reminding him that Yu Daren was facing a death sentence anyway. Situ Yan was not convinced and felt his suspicions of a larger conspiracy were confirmed.
He pointed out that Bai Lu had also died from ricin poisoning, suggesting a connection between seemingly unrelated cases involving individuals from diverse backgrounds—from a teacher to a banker. Luo Shaochuan, now sharing Situ Yan's concern, agreed to review all major unsolved cases from the past two years for any patterns. Jasmine Restaurant held its grand reopening, and He Wannian, having quit drinking, proudly cooked for the guests.
Zhou Mowan playfully teased Luo Shaochuan about Zou Jingxuan, who was in Beijing on business, and admired He Wannian’s culinary return. Jin Qiming stated his popular serial on Moly's case would conclude with the restaurant's reopening, believing it would bring closure. During the celebration, Luo Shaochuan first tried to persuade He Wannian to break his sobriety and drink, but He Wannian declined. Then Luo Shaochuan tried to persuade Jin Qiming to drink, suggesting a finger-guessing game.
Jin Qiming politely refused, but Luo Shaochuan persisted, growing aggressive. Jin Qiming, rather than drink, offered for Luo Shaochuan to smash his camera. Situ Yan intervened, reprimanding Luo Shaochuan for bullying an "honest person" and offering to drink in Jin Qiming's place. Jin Qiming, moved by the gesture, confessed that his father's alcoholism and gambling had ruined their family when he was young, leading him to swear off alcohol and gambling.
Luo Shaochuan, realizing his error, apologized sincerely, drank as a self-imposed punishment, and pledged to treat Jin Qiming as a brother, offering unwavering support. Situ Yan echoed the sentiment. Meanwhile, Bai Shanshan complained to Luo Shaochuan about Shen Huatang's growing popularity, feeling that Shen Huatang was "stepping on her" and the Luo family. She insisted that Luo Shaochuan send a telegram to Zou Jingxuan, urging her to return from Beijing to attend social events and outshine Shen Huatang.
Luo Shaochuan tried to dismiss her, but Bai Shanshan, recalling his previous declarations about Zou Jingxuan being the future Luo family matriarch, persisted. Luo Shaochuan reluctantly agreed to send the telegram, under Bai Shanshan's threat of withholding his allowance. Later, Luo Shaochuan's subordinate, Old Six, uncovered an unsolved murder case in Fengtian involving Zhou Mowan's name while reviewing old dossiers. Luo Shaochuan, visibly alarmed, rushed to tell Situ Yan, but found Zhou Mowan still present.
He struggled to have a private conversation with Situ Yan, as Zhou Mowan kept interrupting and teasing them. Once they were alone, Luo Shaochuan revealed that Zhou Mowan's family was involved in a murder case in Fengtian: her mother, Fang Huaijin, was sentenced to death for killing her father, Zhou Ze, a famous painter. Fang Huaijin maintained her innocence until her death.
Situ Yan recalled Zhou Mowan's evasiveness about her origins and her talent for drawing despite her apparent aversion to it. The dossier explicitly stated "Fang Huaijin is convicted of murder and sentenced to death," yet Fang Huaijin's lawyer, Li Yuanpu (who was also Situ Yan's senior and a man of integrity), had tried to persuade her to accept a lighter sentence by admitting guilt, which she refused, continuously crying "I didn't kill anyone."
Situ Yan found the situation perplexing, knowing Li Yuanpu's upright character and legal expertise. He concluded that if Li Yuanpu, a student highly esteemed by their teacher, had pursued a "not guilty" plea despite "irrefutable evidence," there had to be a hidden truth. Situ Yan and Luo Shaochuan promptly traveled to Fengtian to meet Li Yuanpu. Upon their reunion, Situ Yan explained his purpose for inquiring about Fang Huaijin's case.
Li Yuanpu confirmed that Fang Huaijin, his good friend, had insisted on a "not guilty" plea, claiming Zhou Ze committed suicide. However, Li Yuanpu found this hard to believe, describing Zhou Ze as a man full of life, passionate, especially about women.
Li Yuanpu, having been close to the couple and recovering from appendicitis at the time, recounted the events: Zhou Ze, feeling stifled in his marriage to Fang Huaijin (whom he saw as a "Hera" rather than an artistic muse), sought inspiration outside. He met a foreign woman named Ge Ai at a bar, became infatuated, and eventually brought her home.
The day before the murder, Ge Ai confronted Fang Huaijin, mocking her taste and announcing her intention to marry Zhou Ze and move into the ancestral home. When Fang Huaijin confronted Zhou Ze, he confirmed his intent to divorce her and marry Ge Ai. Li Yuanpu revealed that Fang Huaijin, typically meticulous, then secretly stole morphine from his brother's laboratory. The police later found the morphine in her coat. She allegedly poisoned Zhou Ze by adding it to his wine the following day, after another argument during lunch.
