Coroner's Diary Episode 17 Recap
> Coroner's Diary Recap
Following the events at the banquet, Qin Wan was startled when she unexpectedly saw Li Muyun. She quickly got up to leave, having pictured his face countless times but never expecting him to appear as such a gentleman. Fuling observed that Qin Wan had barely eaten, consumed by her accidental eye contact with Li Muyun and fear of exposing her true thoughts.
Fuling reassured her that it was natural not to feel calm when facing a great enemy, emphasizing that despite his gentlemanly appearance, Li Muyun was a villain who had ruined Qin Wan's family. Yue Ning then joined Qin Wan, expressing relief at finally escaping the stifling atmosphere inside. She complained that Princess Yu was relentlessly trying to arrange a marriage for her with the handsome and talented sons or nephews of various noble families.
Yue Ning admitted she had to dig her nails into her palms to prevent herself from lashing out, and Qin Wan commended her newfound restraint. Yan Li also arrived, announcing that he came to remind them about the Shuangqing Troupe's upcoming performance of "Mulian Rescues His Mother," while also needing to walk off a heavy meal.
During the banquet, Yan Chi subtly instructed Bai Feng to keep a close eye on the people at the back table who were too timid to approach for a toast, specifically identifying Liu Renli as someone involved in salt delivery. Meanwhile, Li Muyun approached Yan Chi, offering his Qinghui Manor as lodging, given Yan Chi was still at the post house. Yan Chi politely declined, asserting his adherence to official regulations.
Li Muyun then sought advice from Yan Chi regarding solving cases, but Yan Chi bluntly stated that those who betray their teachers for career advancement were beneath his contempt, reinforcing that people with different principles cannot work together. Later, Qin Yan expressed his dissatisfaction with Liu Renli's early departure to Pang Fuliang, questioning his disrespect for the Crown Prince.
Pang Fuliang explained that Liu Renli was merely avoiding Yan Chi because he had once invested in Qingyuan Pawnshop, a case Yan Chi was currently handling. Although Liu Renli had withdrawn his investment as soon as the news broke, he feared Yan Chi had some leverage over him. Separately, an idle Yan Li sought out Bai Feng, persistently asking about Qin Wan. Bai Feng consistently claimed to know nothing.
Through a process of elimination regarding roles in criminal justice, Yan Li deduced that Qin Wan must be a coroner, an expert at handling dead bodies, much to Bai Feng's feigned dismay. As the Shuangqing Troupe's performance began, a shocking incident unfolded on stage. Just as Leader Qing Li was performing, she was shot through the chest with an arrow and died instantly. Prince Yu, terrified by the sudden death, fainted.
Yan Chi immediately ordered Bai Feng to seal off the entire area, threatening to kill anyone who attempted to leave. Qin Wan quickly assessed Prince Yu, diagnosing him with a stroke and warning that he must not be moved. She then requested paper and a brush to write a prescription. After ensuring Prince Yu was stable, Qin Wan expressed her desire to quickly examine Leader Qing Li's body to prevent rumors from spreading.
Yan Chi agreed, instructing Bai Feng to escort Qin Wan and Yue Ning to the prefect's office, where he would join them after securing the crime scene. Yan Li, intrigued, also insisted on accompanying them. Upon seeing Qin Wan perform the postmortem examination, Yan Li became visibly nauseated and threw up. He pleaded with Yue Ning to help him save face in front of Yan Chi, promising to grant any future favor.
Yue Ning, in return, demanded that he drink with her until they were both satisfied. Back at the crime scene, Yan Chi and Qin Wan analyzed the fatal arrow. They discovered it was made of pure iron, unlike the other iron-plated wooden arrows in the prop quiver. They noted that even the lighter arrows would be lethal, but the pure iron arrow was so heavy it required two pulls of the quiver's mechanism to fire.
They deduced that the killer, intimately familiar with the prop and the play's choreography, exploited Leader Qing Li's only moment with her back to her stage partner, Yang Ying, to fatally strike her. Yang Ying's reaction seemed genuinely shocked, but they questioned his failure to personally inspect such a critical prop, given he was the deputy troupe leader. They decided to investigate who else could have tampered with the quiver.
Meanwhile, Governor Wang, eager to close the case, was brutally interrogating Yang Ying, coercing him into a false confession. Just as a beaten Yang Ying was about to comply, Yan Chi and Qin Wan burst in, stopping the torture. Yan Chi introduced Qin Wan as "Master Jiu," a master of criminal justice, who quickly assessed Yang Ying and explained that being gagged during the torture had caused him to faint.
Yan Chi fiercely rebuked Governor Wang for his brutal methods, reminding him of the legal codes that required detailed confessions and evidence. He warned the Governor that hastily closing a case that caused Prince Yu to fall ill would not only ruin his retirement but also lead to severe repercussions. Faced with Yan Chi's stern admonition, Governor Wang pledged to investigate the case thoroughly. Later that night, Yan Li and Yue Ning, having drunk heavily, discussed their anxieties.
Yue Ning feared being confined by an undesirable marriage, while Yan Li worried about being pursued for his empty noble title. In their drunken state, they agreed to marry each other. This way, Yue Ning could continue her heroic deeds without interference, and Yan Li could pursue his romantic affairs without being bothered, a perfect solution to their respective dilemmas. Fuling, seeing Qin Wan return late, chastised Yan Chi for overworking her.
Yan Chi playfully promised not to tire her lady out in the future. He then provided Qin Wan with two crucial items for her safety: a Red Flare for signaling him from afar and an eagle whistle for when he is nearby. As Qin Wan went inside, Yan Chi departed, telling Bai Feng that he was leaving Fuling for him to handle. Meanwhile, at his residence, Pang Fuliang and Liu Renli waited a long time for Qin Yan.
Pang Fuliang expressed his frustration, noting Liu Renli’s shady dealings were attracting unwanted attention from Yan Chi. Their conversation revealed that a Madam Tan was demanding ownership of Pang Fuliang’s Shifang Inn because she was being blackmailed by the now-deceased Leader Qing Li over a past incident. Enraged, Pang Fuliang refused to give up the inn, vowing that if Madam Tan tried to threaten him, she wouldn't get a single coin. Just then, Qin Yan arrived.
Elsewhere, as Qin Wan and Fuling stood in their courtyard, they were startled by an unsettling, disembodied voice singing a melody from "Mulian Rescues His Mother," despite Governor Wang having supposedly arrested the entire troupe.
