Coroner's Diary Episode 13 Recap
> Coroner's Diary Recap
Sun Haoyue explained to Qin Wan that his wife suffered from a congenital deficiency. He had consulted their master, who affirmed the correctness of his prescription. However, his wife's body was exceedingly frail, leading to a slow recovery. Winters were particularly harsh, causing her to sometimes sleep for days or be unable to sleep when awake. Qin Wan expressed admiration for Sun Haoyue, noting that his actions truly embodied the principle of 'Benevolent Heart, Benevolent Skills.'
She also learned that his large residence was used to shelter impoverished patients, who had since recovered and returned home, explaining its current quiet state. She hoped that his deep devotion would bring healing to his wife, allowing them to grow old together. From the herb garden, Qin Wan and Sun Muqing heard shouts of 'Help! Someone's stealing herbs!' A young servant, Song, appeared, distressed that a thief had ruined the master's medicinal herbs.
Upon inspecting the scene, Qin Wan noted that the herbs were merely trampled and knocked over, not harvested. She concluded that the intruder was not there to steal medicine and had likely just climbed over the wall when he was spotted. Song admitted he couldn't get a clear look at the person. Soon after, Mr. Dong, the household steward, arrived. Song immediately knelt, profusely apologizing and fearing a scolding.
Mr. Dong, however, spoke kindly to the boy, explaining that he was an orphan taken in by Sun Haoyue and was traumatized by past hunger. Later, back in their room, Yue Ning recounted seeing Qin Xiang get startled by the gruesome sight of wild animal carcasses in the plum forest, which had an unpleasant smell. Just then, Bai Feijue appeared, offering apologies for the disturbance.
Yue Ning recounted how, after she casually mentioned the Bai family's prestigious status, Qin Xiang’s gaze at Bai Feijue became intensely admiring. Qin Wan, however, was more intrigued by the animal remains, asking where they were and noting Yue Ning’s description of them being disemboweled and cut open as if by a blade.
Mrs. Lin then arrived with pastries, explaining that she and Mr. Dong were the only original servants, while others had chosen to stay after being cured by Sun Haoyue. She shared that after Sun Haoyue cured her heart ailment, she inexplicably gained exceptional skill in the kitchen. Sun Muqing suddenly brought grave news: Song had been murdered. Qin Wan immediately prepared to perform a postmortem.
Her cousin, Qin Yan, attempted to dissuade her, concerned that her involvement would harm her and her sister's reputation. However, Qin Wan insisted she could not stand by when such a serious incident occurred in Sun Haoyue’s home. Yue Ning interceded, assuring Qin Yan that Qin Wan's forensic skills were highly respected by figures like Lord Yan and Prefect Huo, ensuring her reputation would remain intact. At the scene, Qin Wan instructed that Sun Haoyue not be informed yet.
She dispatched someone to report to the authorities, acknowledging that the county office was over seventy "li" away and travel through heavy snow would take two days. Knowing they couldn't wait, she decided to conduct a preliminary examination. The servant who discovered Song explained he had risen early to sweep snow and stumbled upon the body after chasing a wild cat, which Bai Feijue had ordered cleared away.
As Qin Wan tasked Sun Muqing with recording her findings, she overheard Qin Yan discussing an immediate departure with the steward, but she firmly declared that, given the circumstances, no one could leave. Qin Wan’s initial examination revealed Song was approximately sixteen and had died around one to three in the morning. She deduced the killer had pinned him against a wall and brutally slashed at his limbs, though the blade dulled before severing his arms.
The fatal injury was a stab wound to the chest. No weapon was found, but the wounds suggested a crude billhook. Qin Wan ordered the area sealed, fearing the killer was a sadist. Mrs. Lin confirmed that Song, who also had a heart condition, was an orphan cherished by Sun Haoyue and had no enemies. A search of the garden wall revealed no new footprints due to the heavy snow.
Qin Wan suspected the killer was the thief Song had discovered the previous night. Her suspicions grew when they confirmed a billhook was missing from the storage yard. Fearing the killer might strike again, she suggested everyone gather for safety. However, Sun Haoyue sent word that his wife was too unwell to be moved and he would personally ensure her safety.
Qin Wan then instructed Sun Muqing to question all servants about their whereabouts, acknowledging the possibility of an inside job. Feeling useless about her inability to find footprints, Yue Ning admitted to Qin Wan that she missed Yan Chi. Qin Wan comforted her, sharing her own early medical misdiagnoses and emphasizing that making mistakes is part of learning. She then confessed that she too missed Yan Chi.
Unbeknownst to them, Yan Chi and Bai Feng were enduring a perilous journey through heavy snow. Their horse eventually led them to the Herbal Garden’s entrance, where they collapsed, severely frostbitten and unconscious. They were immediately brought in for urgent medical attention. Sun Muqing confirmed Yan Chi and Bai Feng were being treated with medicinal baths. He was surprised by the severity of their condition, given Yan Chi's experience, but Qin Wan attributed it to extreme fatigue.
She requested sugar water and rice oil and rushed to personally apply medicine to Yan Chi. Sun Muqing tried to stop her, concerned about propriety given Yan Chi's naked state, but Qin Wan dismissed him, stating that a physician sees no gender and that she had treated him similarly before, much to Sun Muqing's annoyance.
When Yan Chi awakened, he was touched to find Qin Wan by his side but became flustered upon learning she had applied medicine while he was undressed. Just then, Bai Feng rushed in, revealing Yan Chi's desperate journey: he had abandoned his guards and traveled day and night to catch up to her. Overwhelmed by this revelation and conflicted about how to handle such intense feelings while her family's wrongful conviction remained unaddressed, Qin Wan abruptly left.
Soon after, local officials arrived. Constable Song conducted a perfunctory examination and, based on the victim’s intact clothing, hastily concluded Song was killed by an acquaintance with little struggle. He decided to arrest everyone for interrogation, threatening torture. Qin Wan openly challenged their crude methods, but Constable Song dismissed her as a sheltered lady. At this moment, Yan Chi intervened, presenting his Prince Rui's Heir token. The officials' attitudes instantly shifted.
Yan Chi introduced Qin Wan as "Master Jiu," his specially hired strategist with profound knowledge in criminal law, instructing them to show her utmost respect. Qin Wan, now formally addressed as 'Master Jiu,' conducted a second, more thorough examination. While an official recorded her findings, she noted abrasions and bruises on Song's face, shoulder, chest, and abdomen, as well as on his knees and lower legs.
She also found cut wounds on both palms and a bloodstain on his right wrist. Inspecting Song's clothing, she observed its coarse cotton material, which Mr. Dong confirmed was inferior to the quality Sun Haoyue provided for his servants. Most significantly, Qin Wan discovered that although Song’s shoes were soaked in blood, their soles were completely dry. Yan Chi immediately understood the implication: Song must have only walked along covered corridors.
He then accompanied Qin Wan as they traced Song's potential route through the compound's interconnected walkways. Yan Chi and Qin Wan concluded that Song’s dry shoe soles indicated he was killed in a covered area. They connected this to the missing billhook from the storage yard. Yan Chi speculated that the killer entered the storage yard, grabbed the billhook, and waited. However, the brutality of the attack suggested it was not spontaneous.
He hypothesized that Song was not the intended victim; rather, the true target was likely Sun Haoyue, whose Renxin Clinic was nearby. Song's unexpected intervention had seemingly disrupted the killer's plan, leading to his own brutal murder. Yan Chi instructed Constable Song to prioritize the safety of the Renxin Clinic until his Black Armor Guards arrived.
