Coroner's Diary Episode 20 Recap
> Coroner's Diary Recap
After her conversation with Qingniang, Qin Wan left the prefect's office where Yue Ning and Yan Chi had been waiting for her. Qin Wan expressed sympathy for Qingniang's plight and wondered if she, too, might have sought similar revenge if their situations were reversed. Yan Chi reassured her, stating that while Qin Wan sympathized with Qingniang, Qin Wan's ultimate goal was a world free of injustice, not mere vengeance. Even with deep hatred, Qin Wan would never resort to murder.
Yan Chi also noted that the Emperor remained deeply concerned about the unsolved gold heist case, which meant Governor Wang would spare no effort to solve it before his retirement, as the rewards would benefit his family for generations. Later, Governor Wang returned Madam Pan's dowry to her. Madam Pan, who had experience managing an inn before her marriage, decided to use the money to open her own inn to support her children.
With their affairs settled, Qin Wan and her companions departed, setting off for the capital. As their journey neared its end, Qin Wan expressed her desire to visit her parents' graves once they arrived in the capital. Yan Chi offered to accompany her, but Qin Wan explained that their interactions in the capital could no longer be as casual as they were, fearing that the Marquis of Zhongyong might use her to pressure Yan Chi into serving the Crown Prince.
To reassure her, Yan Chi agreed, promising to maintain their public distance while secretly vowing to protect her from being manipulated by anyone. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince was in a difficult situation. Prince Cheng had openly questioned his handling of a series of girls' murder cases before the Emperor, causing the Emperor's displeasure.
To assist the Crown Prince, the Marquis of Zhongyong recommended Qin Wan, praising her brilliant forensic skills and deductive abilities, which had proven instrumental in solving murder cases in Jingzhou and Yuzhou. However, due to Qin Wan's special background and unofficial status, the Marquis stressed that her involvement must be kept strictly confidential to prevent Prince Cheng from interfering. Upon their arrival in the capital, Qin Wan felt a sense of finality, realizing there was truly no turning back now.
Yan Chi couldn't escort her to the Marquis of Zhongyong's Mansion without raising suspicion, as Yue Ning was heading to the Grand Princess's residence. He cautioned Qin Wan to be careful and not to compromise herself. Qin Yan arrived at the Marquis of Zhongyong's Mansion, bringing his three cousins, Qin Xiang, Qin Shuang, and Qin Wan. The Marquis of Zhongyong welcomed them, observing Qin Wan, who had grown significantly since he last saw her.
However, the Marquis's wife, Hu, remarked that Qin Wan did not resemble her father. Qin Wan tactfully responded, mentioning that she wondered if she resembled her late mother, whom she never had the chance to meet. Hu then confirmed the resemblance, noting Qin Wan’s eyebrows and eyes were exactly like her gentle and thoughtful mother’s.
As the New Year approached, Qin Zhaoyu, the Marquis's legitimate daughter and the prospective Crown Princess, returned from the palace, having been summoned by the Empress and even dining with her and the Crown Prince. The Marquis of Zhongyong, impressed by Qin Wan's poised and tactful demeanor upon her arrival, advised Qin Zhaoyu to cultivate a close relationship with her cousins, especially Qin Wan, whose composure reminded him of her late father's gentlemanly grace.
He also warned Qin Zhaoyu to monitor Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang closely, citing Qin An's case as a lesson to prevent any further scandals for the family. Addressing the complicated matter of Yan Chi and Qin Wan, the Marquis of Zhongyong explained that Prince Rui and his son, Yan Chi, traditionally remained neutral in power struggles and would not openly support the Crown Prince solely for a marriage alliance.
He also noted that Yan Chi’s marriage required the Emperor's approval, cautioning against any direct interference that might arouse suspicion. He concluded that Yan Chi’s true feelings for Qin Wan needed further observation. The Marquis later broached the idea of Qin Wan becoming the Crown Prince's concubine with Qin Zhaoyu.
Despite Qin Zhaoyu's expressed love for the Crown Prince, the Marquis underscored the critical importance of securing the family’s future, explaining that noble titles were not inherited without significant achievements, and preserving the family’s legacy superseded personal affections. Deeply saddened, Qin Wan reflected on her parents, whose home was nearby, yet the whereabouts of their remains remained unknown.
Fuling attempted to cheer her up by relaying gossip from the mansion, mentioning that Qin Zhaoyu was widely expected to be selected as the Crown Princess after the New Year. Qin Wan acknowledged that it would be Qin Zhaoyu's dream come true, but she cautioned Fuling against spreading such talk, as it could stir up trouble.
Soon after, Qin Yan came to invite Qin Wan to the outer study, stating that the Marquis of Zhongyong wished to discuss important matters with her. Meanwhile, the Marquis's wife expressed her anxieties about the Crown Princess selection to Qin Zhaoyu, who tirelessly practiced her calligraphy. Qin Zhaoyu, however, remained confident, citing the Emperor's praise for her calligraphy, her reputation as the capital's most talented lady, and her long-standing childhood friendship with the Crown Prince.
In the outer study, the Marquis of Zhongyong presented Qin Wan with her father's collected ledgers and deeds, representing the properties of the second branch of the family. He insisted that these inherited assets rightfully belonged to her, adding that he and his wife would contribute further to her dowry when she married, acknowledging that her father had not amassed much worldly wealth.
The Marquis then revealed his true purpose: he had taken the liberty of recommending Qin Wan to the Capital Prefect to assist with a grave matter—several women in the capital had been raped and murdered, and the killer remained at large. Qin Wan readily agreed, expressing her willingness to do everything in her power to help bring peace to the people.
Unbeknownst to them, Prince Cheng, suspicious that the Marquis might try to find a scapegoat to protect the Crown Prince, had already ordered his men to keep a close watch on the Marquis of Zhongyong's Mansion. Yan Chi engaged in a game of chess with the Emperor, who, pleased with Yan Chi's recent success in the Jingzhou and Yuzhou cases, even offered him a take-back. Yan Chi, however, declined and formally requested to join the Ministry of Justice.
The Emperor agreed, though he teased Yan Chi about no longer being the "young marshal of Shuoxi," and granted his request for a high-ranking post with the freedom to recruit his own people, provided Yan Chi spent more time with the Empress Dowager. Meanwhile, Qin Yan escorted Qin Wan, disguised as a young man, to the capital prefect's office. Qin Wan calmly began her examination of the three deceased women.
She noted that the first victim, found by the Yushui River bridge pier, had distinct drag marks on her body indicating she was pulled down stairs after death, suggesting the murder occurred elsewhere. Qin Wan also observed that the injuries on all three victims indicated they had been sexually assaulted "after" death, as there was tearing but no bleeding in the affected areas. She requested to perform a full autopsy on the third victim.
During the examination, Prince Cheng suddenly arrived, mistaking Qin Wan for a runaway servant and attempting to intervene. Yan Chi swiftly appeared, clarifying that "Master Wan" was his associate. He informed Prince Cheng that he would officially join the Ministry of Justice after the New Year and had received the Emperor's personal permission to assist the capital prefect, bringing Qin Wan as a forensic expert.
While Prince Cheng initially praised Yan Chi, assuming his help was for the Crown Prince, Yan Chi promptly corrected him, distinguishing between his official duty to assist the prefect and his private, brotherly relationship with the Crown Prince. Prince Cheng, realizing his mistake, withdrew his men. Qin Wan then shared her initial findings with Capital Prefect Zheng.
She discovered orange seeds and fish remnants in the third victim’s stomach, indicating her last meal was consumed approximately three hours before her death. Given the victim's modest means and the rarity of fresh fish in the capital's inland region, Qin Wan deduced she likely ate at one of the few affordable eateries in the West Market that served fresh fish, providing a crucial lead.
Additionally, Qin Wan noted that while the victims' outer and inner garments were intact, their undergarments were missing. She inferred from the meticulous stitching and undamaged fastenings on the remaining clothes that the killer was intimately familiar with women's dressing habits, leading her to conclude he had a fetish for women's clothing. Furthermore, she found black frostbite ointment under the third victim’s fingernails.
As the victim herself showed no signs of frostbite and had neatly trimmed nails, Qin Wan concluded she must have scratched the killer during a struggle. This suggested the killer worked with his hands, had a decent income, and took great care of his hands, ruling out common laborers.
Based on the consistent drag marks on the first and third victims, Qin Wan hypothesized that all the murders took place in the same building, which had stairs, where the killer dragged the bodies to hide them before disposing of them at night. She reasoned that a craftsman familiar with women's clothing, with a stable income, a home, and a shop, who operated alone, would be the most likely suspect.
This led her to narrow down the killer’s profession to a tailor. With only one day remaining before the Emperor's deadline, Capital Prefect Zheng felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of tailor shops in the West Market. Although Qin Wan admitted that tracking the killer was not her forte, Yan Chi confidently declared that it was his specialty. Requesting a map of the capital, he promised to locate the crime scene within four hours, urging the Capital Prefect to return to the office at once.
