Checkmate Episode 21 Recap
> Checkmate Recap
Earlier, after solving the attempted assassination of Kondo Kawa, Situ Yan learned of a sinister organization using castor bean poison, known as "Oracle." He, along with Zhou Mowan and Luo Shaochuan, returned to Harbin to investigate the death of Situ Yan's teacher, Shen Jianxian, which was initially deemed a heart attack. Despite Mrs. Shen's initial reluctance, Situ Yan convinced her to allow a re-examination, which revealed Shen Jianxian had died from nicotine poisoning.
Soon after, Dr. Fang Jianqi, a friend of Shen Jianxian, also died after drinking at a party, under similar suspicious circumstances. Du Heng, also a friend of both deceased, revealed he had privately investigated Shen Jianxian's death with Zou Jingxuan due to his own suspicions. At the scene of Fang Jianqi's death, Dong Cixin expressed her impatience, asking when everyone could leave.
She argued that detaining respectable citizens from Harbin would incur financial losses, and distrusting the police, she stated she was prepared to investigate the case herself. Luo Shaochuan, a man of considerable means, then stepped forward, offering to take responsibility for any such losses. Du Heng then affirmed the police's right to investigate, reminding everyone that as friends of both Lawyer Shen and Dr. Fang, cooperating with the police investigation was understandable.
Situ Yan then asked Du Heng to recount the events of Shen Jianxian's death, which Du Heng proceeded to do. Many people attended that banquet, and after drinking, Shen Jianxian suddenly collapsed. Fang Jianqi suspected murder, but no autopsy was performed as it was widely believed to be a heart attack. Initial tests of the food and drinks showed no irregularities.
Situ Yan hypothesized that since both Shen Jianxian and Fang Jianqi died after drinking, nicotine was likely the cause, hidden in their beverages. Zou Jingxuan recalled seeing Dai Liming moving around the drinks table when both Shen Jianxian and Fang Jianqi were drinking. Dai Liming vehemently denied any wrongdoing, stating it was normal for him to search for drinks like vodka at such parties, especially since only red wine and champagne were available.
Luo Shaochuan then suggested that the killer might have had a reasonable excuse to wash the glasses, implicitly pointing to Ding Meng. Ding Meng, however, shifted suspicion to Jin Mantang, who had prepared the drinks. Situ Yan and Dong Cixin proceeded to Jin Mantang's room. They found evidence suggesting he was newly literate, practicing calligraphy by copying the "Thousand Character Classic," and appeared to be in need of money.
Situ Yan noted that the evidence against Jin Mantang seemed too obvious, and he found no direct clues related to nicotine. Upon learning that Jin Mantang had fled, Zhou Mowan drew a portrait of him based on Luo Shaochuan's description, intending to circulate it throughout the city. Situ Yan meticulously searched Jin Mantang's room, discovering fresh ink marks on the floor and a dropped pen. He speculated that Jin Mantang might have been writing something just before his disappearance.
Du Heng suggested Jin Mantang might have been burning something. Investigating further, Situ Yan discovered something hidden behind the fireplace, and with Dong Cixin's smaller hand, they extracted crumpled pieces of paper. These notes explicitly stated, "I know how Dr. Fang died. I want to meet someone and talk before I see the police. I saw everything tonight and don't want any unpleasantness to happen." Du Heng believed Jin Mantang was not an upright person and was attempting extortion.
Dong Cixin further suggested that Jin Mantang, initially a suspect, had transformed into a witness who attempted to extort the murderer and was now likely a victim. Situ Yan, upon reading the notes, concluded that the killer was still among them, making Zhou Mowan's portrait, intended to find Jin Mantang, now useless. Luo Shaochuan, concerned about the killer striking again, wanted to take everyone to the police station for interrogation.
Situ Yan interrupted him, arguing that a killer cunning enough to plan such elaborate murders would not easily reveal themselves and posed no immediate threat to the group. Du Heng proposed that Fang Jianqi might have been killed because he discovered Shen Jianxian's murderer, once again suggesting Dai Liming. Dai Liming again denied it, reiterating that his presence at the drinks table was normal as he was merely looking for drinks.
Ding Meng then disclosed that she had overheard Zheng Bai asking Fang Jianqi for poison. Zheng Bai clarified that she had approached Fang Jianqi not to murder Dai Liming, but to request a painless poison for her own suicide, driven by years of severe domestic abuse from Dai Liming. Fang Jianqi, a compassionate doctor, refused to provide the poison but pledged his unwavering support for her.
Dai Liming, however, accused Zheng Bai of having an affair with Fang Jianqi and being the actual killer. He theorized that Zheng Bai initially intended to poison him, but accidentally killed Shen Jianxian, and then later targeted and killed Fang Jianqi. Situ Yan then deduced that Dai Liming was planning a divorce to seize control of Zheng Bai's company, which she had tirelessly built, leaving her with nothing. Dai Liming did not deny this.
Luo Shaochuan speculated that Fang Jianqi was the intended victim, and Shen Jianxian had accidentally consumed the poisoned drink. Situ Yan noted that Fang Jianqi had a cold in the days leading up to his death, which would have diminished his sense of smell, making him less likely to detect the pungent odor of nicotine if it were in his wine. Situ Yan then examined Fang Jianqi's wine glass, a cherished birthday gift from Du Heng two years prior.
It was part of a pair, and the other glass was missing. Ding Meng claimed Fang Jianqi might have broken it, but Luo Shaochuan interjected that Fang Jianqi treasured these glasses and only used them when Du Heng was present, making it unlikely he would break one. Situ Yan also observed Ding Meng's delicate bracelet, noting it seemed incongruous with her status as a servant. Dong Cixin, Fang Jianqi, and Du Heng had been friends for two decades.
Dong Cixin recalled her admiration for Du Heng, a talented opera performer who had even helped her revise her debut novel, "No One Lives," which brought her fame. On the day of the novel's finale, she confessed her love to him, but he rejected her, citing his strong bond of brotherhood with Fang Jianqi.
Luo Shaochuan then revealed that Fang Jianqi also harbored feelings for Dong Cixin, and he believed Du Heng, who also loved her, had stepped aside due to his loyalty to Fang Jianqi's brotherhood. Luo Shaochuan surmised that Du Heng remained fixated on Dong Cixin, explaining his unmarried status. Zhou Mowan corrected Luo Shaochuan, revealing that Du Heng had a deceased wife.
She explained that Fang Jianqi, knowing Du Heng had a heart's desire (his late wife) and wishing to spare Dong Cixin pain, had kept Du Heng's marital status a secret from her. This secret became a burden on Fang Jianqi. Zhou Mowan suggested that Fang Jianqi's support for Zheng Bai was rooted in their shared emotional struggles, as they confided in each other, with Fang Jianqi serving as Zheng Bai's emotional refuge.
She also added that Du Heng's assistance with Dong Cixin's novel was merely an act of friendship, influenced by his late wife's fondness for the story. Du Heng announced his impending long-term departure for Moscow and presented Zou Jingxuan with a necklace. Luo Shaochuan, clearly jealous, crudely dismissed the necklace as "worthless" and "old," implying Du Heng was trying to deceive her.
He urged Zou Jingxuan not to trust Du Heng and to reconsider any potential relationship with him, stating she could marry anyone but Du Heng. Zou Jingxuan, however, accepted the gift, acknowledging Du Heng's past kindness to her in Beijing. Dong Cixin then put forth an alternative theory: the nicotine might have been in the food, with the subsequent consumption of alcohol merely accelerating its effects, making it appear as a death by poisoned drink.
She specifically implicated Mrs. Shen, arguing that as the victim's wife, she could easily administer poison without suspicion. Luo Shaochuan dismissed Dong Cixin's theory, telling her to stop talking nonsense. Zhou Mowan retorted that Dong Cixin, as a crime novelist, might herself possess the motive to commit murder for research. Bai Shanshan sided with Dong Cixin, recalling Mrs. Shen's deep resentment towards Shen Jianxian for sending their son, Siqi, to war, which resulted in his death.
Overhearing this, Mrs. Shen broke down, blaming herself for Shen Jianxian's death. She confessed her deep resentment and hatred towards him for sending their son, Siqi, to war, which resulted in his death, stating that blaming him was the only way she could cope. She then expressed guilt, realizing he too grieved deeply but silently. Zhou Mowan, deeply moved by Mrs. Shen's emotional confession and having found comfort in her, vehemently defended Mrs. Shen against Dong Cixin's accusations.
Zou Jingxuan attempted to calm the escalating argument, specifically telling Bai Shanshan not to get involved. Dai Liming and Ding Meng, seeking to shift blame, then accused Luo Shaochuan. In an attempt to prove his innocence, Luo Shaochuan produced his train ticket, but inadvertently dropped a newspaper clipping detailing nicotine toxicology research. Jin Qiming intervened, confirming that the newspaper clipping was a week old and from Harbin, while Luo Shaochuan had been in Fengtian a week prior.
Luo Shaochuan then argued that if he only learned about nicotine's toxicity a week ago, it would have been impossible for him to have poisoned Shen Jianxian months earlier while still on a train far away, thus making him an unlikely suspect for Shen Jianxian's death. Having absorbed all the arguments, Situ Yan decided to recreate the crime scene. With Jin Mantang absent, Du Heng volunteered to play his role.
During the reenactment, Fang Jianqi received a telegram from an "Old Zhao" regarding his admission to a sanatorium, referring to it as "good news." Chief Bao suspected that "Old Zhao" might possess crucial information about Shen Jianxian's death and could now be in danger, and he dispatched officers to the sanatorium to check on him. As the reenactment concluded, Luo Shaochuan confided in Situ Yan, reiterating his strong suspicion of Dong Cixin.
He theorized that the killer was Dong Cixin because she had the opportunity to plant the nicotine clipping in his pocket. Additionally, he believed her motive was rooted in her resentment towards Fang Jianqi for preventing her relationship with Du Heng, and her jealousy over Du Heng's apparent affection for Zou Jingxuan, leading her to commit the murders.
