Checkmate Episode 20 Recap
> Checkmate Recap
General Lu held Situ Yan, Luo Shaochuan, and Zhou Mowan hostage, threatening them with a bomb unless they found the Japanese Consul Kondo, whose staged assassination and subsequent disappearance threatened to ignite a conflict between nations. He warned that a conflict between nations could erupt if Kondo was not found. As Luo Shaochuan attempted to secretly free Zhou Mowan, they were discovered. Situ Yan then intervened, declaring he could locate Kondo.
Despite Zhou Mowan and Luo Shaochuan's apprehension about his involvement, Situ Yan expressed his resolve not to let China be drawn into war. He believed the incident was a carefully orchestrated kidnapping designed to provoke conflict, and as a conscientious Chinese citizen, he could not stand by while the corrupt Beiyang government stumbled towards disaster, stressing the need for a new system.
Investigating the reported incident, Situ Yan learned that Kondo was supposedly assassinated on his way to the train station when his driver, Jin Yanping, suddenly turned the car into Sitiao Road from Langsu Road, near Chunri Park. General Lu suspected Jin Yanping, who disappeared after the incident, but deemed Wang Chaowei, Kondo's personal translator who had worked for the Japanese Consulate for a long time, unlikely to be disloyal.
Kondo's injuries were reported as minor, just glass cuts from a shotgun, and he had insisted on being taken to the train station with his face bandaged. Situ Yan quickly deduced that the bandaged person General Lu escorted was not the real Consul Kondo and that Wang Chaowei was the actual suspect.
He explained that a shotgun attack on the consul's face would necessitate bandages, making it easy to replace him without detection, especially since General Lu was unfamiliar with Kondo. He noted that there were no hospital records for Kondo's treatment. Situ Yan believed that the real Kondo was in grave danger and was likely being held at Wang Chaowei's aunt's house near Chunri Elementary School. General Lu, realizing Wang Chaowei had lied, dispatched his men to the location.
They successfully rescued Consul Kondo. The kidnappers, who were not Chinese, committed suicide by taking castor bean poison. Kondo, now recovered from his minor injuries, handed a resignation letter to Situ Yan, stating he did not wish to be a catalyst for war between their nations and would leave Fengtian as soon as possible. General Lu then revealed that Wang Chaowei's aunt was, in fact, Japanese, confirming that the entire incident was "a big play by them."
Officer Zhang, having learned of the overturning of the Zhou family case, expressed remorse for his past actions and injustice towards Fang Huaijin. Situ Yan encouraged him to be more careful in future investigations. Later, Situ Yan spoke with Officer Zhang, asking about a Japanese spy organization known for using castor beans to eliminate dissidents. Officer Zhang mentioned he had heard the word "Oracle" in connection to such groups.
Luo Shaochuan informed Situ Yan that Li Yuanpu had committed suicide in prison. Situ Yan speculated that perhaps Li Yuanpu was not entirely malicious, which led him to take his own life. On the train back to Harbin, Situ Yan, Luo Shaochuan, and Zhou Mowan discussed the meaning of "Oracle." Situ Yan wondered if it was connected to Shen Jianxian's death and Yu Daren's castor bean suicide, starting to suspect that Shen Jianxian had not died of a heart attack.
Zhou Mowan expressed concern about the terrifying potential of such an organization. Upon their arrival in Harbin, Jin Qiming met them at the station, offering to treat them to hotpot. Situ Yan, accompanied by Zhou Mowan, decided to visit Mrs. Shen first. Situ Yan cautiously asked Mrs. Shen if she ever suspected any foul play in Shen Jianxian's death. Distraught, Mrs. Shen took responsibility for her husband's passing, initially refusing to reopen the painful wound.
Zhou Mowan, however, shared her personal experience, explaining how discovering the truth about her own family's case, though initially painful, brought her clarity and peace, and brought justice to her mother. She urged Mrs. Shen not to let Shen Jianxian's memory remain unresolved. Moved by Zhou Mowan's words, Mrs. Shen finally agreed to the investigation. Shen Jianxian's body was exhumed, and a medical examiner confirmed he died of nicotine poisoning, not castor beans.
Back home, Situ Yan cooked tomato egg noodles for Zhou Mowan and gifted her a spinel necklace as a token of appreciation for her assistance. Zhou Mowan was touched and asked him to put it on for her. Meanwhile, Luo Shaochuan visited Fang Jianqi to inquire about Shen Jianxian's autopsy. He found Bai Shanshan and Zou Jingxuan already there, attending a gathering. Jin Mantang, Fang Jianqi's servant, informed Luo Shaochuan about a banquet happening at the house.
During the gathering, Bai Shanshan casually revealed that Zou Jingxuan was not Fang Jianqi's biological daughter. Zou Jingxuan's mother, Bai Shanshan's cousin, had passed away shortly after birth, and Bai Shanshan herself had adopted and raised Zou Jingxuan. Suddenly, after drinking, Fang Jianqi collapsed and died. Luo Shaochuan immediately sealed off the premises, preventing Jin Mantang from calling the police and instead sending Jin Qiming to alert Officer Bao and Situ Yan.
Situ Yan arrived and realized Fang Jianqi's death mirrored Shen Jianxian's. He and Zhou Mowan met Mr. Du, a mutual friend of Shen Jianxian and Fang Jianqi. Mr. Du confirmed that he had long harbored suspicions about Shen Jianxian's death and had privately investigated the guests with Zou Jingxuan, though without success.
He provided details about the attendees at the previous banquet: Dong Cixin, a sharp writer critical of the Beiyang Government; Dai Liming, a noble whose family fortunes declined, married to Zheng Bai, whose family supported the Southern government; Bai Shanshan, a prominent socialite who became the legitimate mistress of the Luo family after the elder Mr. Luo's death; Zou Jingxuan; and Ding Meng, a long-term servant of the Fang family.
Mr. Du also mentioned that he often met with Zou Jingxuan in Beijing, where he conducted business. The autopsy results for Fang Jianqi confirmed nicotine poisoning, just like Shen Jianxian, yet no nicotine was found in the wine at the scene.
When Dong Cixin attempted to leave, citing potential business losses, Luo Shaochuan reiterated the lockdown, stating that everyone present was a suspect in the murders of Shen Jianxian and Fang Jianqi, and no one would be permitted to leave until the murderer was found, with him taking full responsibility for any repercussions.
