Checkmate Episode 22 Recap
> Checkmate Recap
Luo Shaochuan expressed his belief that Dong Cixin was the murderer, arguing she had a strong motive. He speculated that Dong Cixin, feeling Du Heng had been kept from her by Fang Jianqi and seeing Du Heng now taking an interest in Zou Jingxuan, acted out of resentment. Situ Yan, however, pointed out that this motive didn't explain the death of his teacher, Shen Jianxian, but assured Luo Shaochuan that the truth was close.
Situ Yan then went to the kitchen to speak with Ding Meng. He questioned her about a missing Bordeaux wine glass, suspecting she might have stolen it to sell, and noticed a bracelet on her wrist. Situ Yan deduced it was actually a man's cufflink, part of a pair; she confessed it was a gift from Zheng Bai to Fang Jianqi and she had merely taken it for herself after Fang Jianqi's death.
Ding Meng, initially defensive, denied stealing the glass but admitted she had considered it. Fearing Luo Shaochuan's interrogation, she told Situ Yan not to tell the police about the cufflink and mentioned seeing Fang Jianqi show the wine glasses to Jin Mantang two days prior. Situ Yan, not pursuing the theft further, instructed her to participate seriously in the re-enactment.
Observing Ding Meng's actions, Zhou Mowan criticized her for greedily appropriating others' belongings so soon after a death, questioning the value people place on material possessions. Situ Yan then praised Zhou Mowan for her integrity, noting how rare such principles were. The re-enactment of the banquet commenced, with Du Heng playing the role of Jin Mantang and serving wine clockwise. As Du Heng offered wine to Dong Cixin, she instinctively looked at his wrist. Suddenly, Du Heng collapsed, startling everyone.
Zou Jingxuan was visibly distressed, repeatedly calling out Du Heng's name. Jin Qiming quickly photographed everyone's reactions. Du Heng then rose, revealing it was all an act orchestrated by Situ Yan to capture genuine responses. Jin Qiming then developed the photos in a darkroom. Meanwhile, Zhou Mowan highlighted Luo Shaochuan's evident jealousy over Zou Jingxuan's concern for Du Heng.
Zheng Bai then mentioned designing wedding dresses in the future, which Luo Shaochuan overheard and mistakenly interpreted as Zou Jingxuan getting engaged. This immediately agitated him. He declared to Zheng Bai that Zou Jingxuan was "a member of our Luo family" and that he was already engaged to her.
He then pulled Zou Jingxuan aside, telling her she was the "future mistress of the Luo family" and cautioned her against people who approached her seeking personal gain or offering small favors. Struggling to remove a ruby necklace Du Heng had given her, Luo Shaochuan later handed it back to Situ Yan, asserting that "Jingxuan doesn't like old stuff." Both Zhou Mowan and Zheng Bai watched with satisfaction as Luo Shaochuan finally expressed his true feelings.
Moments later, Zheng Bai noted Situ Yan's gaze toward Zhou Mowan, subtly acknowledging his feelings. Situ Yan swiftly redirected the conversation, offering his legal assistance to Zheng Bai should she ever need it. Sergeant Bao then reported that an old patient named Zhao Qiansun at the sanatorium had died after consuming whisky heart chocolates sent from the Harbin Post Office. Ding Meng overheard this, mistakenly believing the murderer was still at large and that they were being held unfairly.
She relayed this to a furious Dai Liming, who, enraged, smashed a wine bottle and accused the police of trapping them as scapegoats. Luo Shaochuan drew his gun, pointing it at Dai Liming to restore order. Situ Yan then gathered everyone, announcing he had identified the murderer. He explained that the initial poisoning of Shen Jianxian was merely a "rehearsal" for a more significant target: Fang Jianqi.
The purpose of this rehearsal was to perfect the method of switching a poisoned wine glass unnoticed amidst chaos, a feat Situ Yan proved possible by successfully doing so during Du Heng's fake collapse without anyone present realizing it. Examining Jin Qiming's photographs, Situ Yan noted Dong Cixin's expression was one of surprise, not fear, when Du Heng collapsed.
He confronted her privately, revealing that Du Heng had been married long ago and never loved her; he had only helped with her novel because his late wife admired the story. This revelation devastated Dong Cixin, who then confessed that she had identified Du Heng as Jin Mantang by two distinctive black moles on his wrist when he served wine at both the original banquet and the re-enactment.
Situ Yan further linked Du Heng to the third murder, the Harbin whisky heart chocolates, and revealed that Du Heng had, in fact, orchestrated the entire banquet, creating the persona of Jin Mantang to deceive everyone, including Fang Jianqi. The subsequent discovery of nicotine in Du Heng's apartment provided undeniable proof, leading Du Heng to confess publicly. Du Heng requested a private conversation with Situ Yan.
Situ Yan revealed his deduction that Zou Jingxuan was Du Heng's daughter, having surmised this from the ruby necklace Du Heng gave her, which he realized was an old, cherished item belonging to Jingxuan's mother. Du Heng confirmed his affiliation with the Oracle organization and admitted his motive: to eliminate everyone who knew his true identity to protect Jingxuan and escape the Oracle's control.
He confessed to killing Fang Jianqi and Zhao Qiansun, adding that Shen Jianxian and other targets, including Luo Wensheng and Xie Hua, "had to die sooner or later." He recounted his past: a secret marriage to a woman from a prestigious family, his departure to Japan for a better future, his wife's subsequent death after giving birth to Jingxuan, and his discovery of his daughter through Fang Jianqi two years prior.
Du Heng clarified that his superior in the Oracle, an unknown "Mr. X," was responsible for Luo Wensheng's death, as Luo Wensheng had cared for Jingxuan for years. He exposed Mr. X's plan for a Japanese invasion of China, focusing on undermining the region through public opinion, culture, education, and business, and targeting "hard-line reformers." Du Heng admitted attempting to quit the Oracle and keeping money from Zhao Qiansun's case, which Mr. X discovered, implying Mr. X was close by.
Du Heng revealed his deal with X: he lured Situ Yan's group to the manor for X's "last game," which would involve three more murders and put Situ Yan's life at stake if he failed to stop the third murder. Du Heng, unable to identify X directly, confirmed X would not personally commit the murders. He pleaded with Situ Yan to protect Jingxuan, keep their father-daughter relationship a secret, and to pass on the ruby necklace to her.
Situ Yan criticized Du Heng for drawing Jingxuan into this dangerous situation. After Du Heng's confession, confusion lingered among the other guests regarding his motives. Jin Qiming pondered why Situ Yan hadn't fully explained the motive, suggesting it might have been to spare Zou Jingxuan's feelings, as Du Heng had confessed quickly to make a good impression on her. Zou Jingxuan herself, still in disbelief, reiterated that Du Heng had a wife and that they were simply friends.
Sergeant Bao interrupted with news that the drawbridge was down due to heavy snow, trapping everyone. Separately, Situ Yan expressed his disappointment in Du Heng's actions, calling him an unworthy father for sacrificing family and friends for the Oracle, bringing up how he allowed Chairman Luo, who raised Jingxuan, to die, and put Jingxuan in danger.
Du Heng responded with poignant regret, stating that although he didn't deserve a daughter like Jingxuan, the brief time they had spent together was enough to soothe two decades of hardship. He recalled instances of showing fatherly care to Jingxuan, such as helping her with a business deal and sharing simple pleasures like hotpot and candied hawthorns. Unaware of Du Heng's true identity and sacrifices, Zou Jingxuan wistfully reflected on her lifelong desire to know her own father, "no matter what kind of person he is."
