Coroner's Diary Episode 24 Recap
> Coroner's Diary Recap
Following his public rejection, an enraged Yuan Wu lured Qin Wan into a trap, accusing her of seducing Yan Chi and causing her profound humiliation. Declaring her intention to make Qin Wan pay with her life, Yuan Wu indiscriminately attacked the Imperial Guards. Qin Wan managed to use a sleeve arrow to create an opportunity for escape, eventually jumping into a river and hiding behind a waterfall before being swept away by the current.
Furious, Yuan Wu ordered her men to find Qin Wan, dead or alive. Seven days later, the Emperor summoned Yan Chi to discuss the security for an upcoming hunting expedition. He expressed disappointment with Crown Prince Yan Che's lax attitude and entrusted Yan Chi with full responsibility for the event's safety, acknowledging his vigilance. The Emperor, however, sensed that Yan Chi was concealing something.
His suspicions were partially addressed when he reviewed a report from the Yuzhou prefect, revealing Qin Wan's crucial role in solving the gold heist case. Yan Chi elaborated, explaining that Qin Wan's exceptional forensic skills were also instrumental in resolving the cases of Qin An in Jingzhou, the murder of Song Rou, and a recent assault in the capital.
The Emperor lamented that Qin Wan was a woman, fearing that granting her an official position would provoke opposition from court officials. Yan Chi passionately argued against such outdated views, asserting that women should not be confined to domestic roles and were capable of great achievements. He humbly requested that the Emperor recognize Qin Wan's talent and allow her to serve the court, proposing she continue as a secret strategist for the Ministry of Justice under his supervision.
The Emperor agreed, allowing Qin Wan to serve in this capacity until a suitable opportunity arose to grant her a proper title. During their discussion, news arrived that Crown Prince Yuan Hong of Beidai was missing in the Southernè‹‘ (Nanyuan). The Emperor ordered Yan Chi to lead a search, demanding Yuan Hong be found within one night. In the Southern garden, tensions flared as Princess Yuan Wu of Beidai accused the Xihan prince of harming her brother.
Yan Chi intervened to de-escalate the situation. Xu Chang, the guard responsible for Yuan Hong's safety, explained that the Crown Prince had dismissed him while chasing a snow fox for Princess Yan Zhen. Upon learning that Yuan Wu's attendants had taken Qin Wan, a worried Yan Chi decided to split their forces. He dispatched Yan Li to continue the search for Yuan Hong, while he personally set off to find Qin Wan.
Meanwhile, a wounded Qin Wan found herbs in the wilderness to treat herself, remaining confident that Yan Chi would find her. Elsewhere, Yuan Hong's loyal horse, Changfeng, appeared with injuries and led Yan Li's team to a swampy area with gorgon plants. Deducing the horse had struggled there to save its master, they followed its trail and located Yuan Hong, who was severely wounded with an arrow in his chest. Yan Chi eventually found Qin Wan in a cave.
Pained by her injuries, he made her wild onion soup to warm her and fashioned her a pair of straw shoes. Qin Wan expressed her unwavering belief that he would find her, while Yan Chi admitted his deep fear of being too late. Upon their return, Yuan Wu was enraged to see Qin Wan alive and threatened to lead Beidai troops to invade Zhou if her brother died.
Crown Prince Yuan Hong's condition was critical, as the imperial physicians dared not remove the arrowhead lodged near his heart. The task fell to Qin Wan, who, before beginning the risky operation, discovered animal bait hidden in Yuan Hong's hair. She realized someone had planned to use wild animals to destroy the body and conceal the crime. Yan Chi and Yan Li returned to the scene to investigate and discovered a horse-tripping rope, confirming it was a premeditated assassination attempt.
Yan Li proposed a plan to expose the culprit, but Crown Prince Yan Che hesitated, fearing it would create further discord. Later, Yan Chi and Yan Li apprehended the Beidai general, Xu Chang. Yan Chi accused him of using a poison-tipped arrow and revealed that Xu Chang had deliberately rubbed the scent of a wolverine onto Princess Yan Zhen, knowing the scent would cause the snow fox to flee wildly and lure Yuan Hong into the ambush.
Yuan Hong, now stable, confronted Xu Chang, questioning his betrayal. Yan Chi then exposed that Xu Chang had been bribed by Prince Yuan Rui, the Fifth Prince of Beidai. Cornered, Prince Yuan Rui brazenly admitted to masterminding the plot to seize the crown prince position from his "incompetent" brother. The Emperor intervened, expressing his regret over the strife. He declared that Yuan Hong could take both men back to Beidai for punishment once he recovered.
Shaken by the betrayal, Yuan Hong withdrew his marriage proposal to Princess Yan Zhen. The Emperor noted that with Liu Yun, the Third Prince of Xihan, also departing, the original goal of the marriage alliance had been achieved in an unexpected way. In light of Qin Wan's repeated contributions, Yan Li subtly prompted the Emperor to reward her with an official title.
Later, as they saw off Liu Yun of Xihan, Qin Wan noticed his makeup concealed a severe lung disease and offered to treat him, but he politely refused. He noted that with Yuan Hong's injury, Beidai would be weakened for years, granting Xihan a much-needed respite. Soon after, an imperial decree arrived, formally bestowing upon Qin Wan the title of Princess Yongci in recognition of her virtue and talent. Now, Qin Wan and Yan Chi could openly work together at the Ministry of Justice, ready to pursue justice and their shared goal of vengeance.
