Coroner's Diary Episode 28 Recap
> Coroner's Diary Recap
Following the tense encounter with Minister Li, which could have jeopardized her freedom to investigate within the Ministry of Justice, Shen Wan reflected on her actions. She admitted to Yue Ning that she had been too reckless, often endangering both Yue Ning and Yan Li by acting impulsively. Yue Ning, however, reassured Shen Wan, stating she was happy to share any trouble and valued their friendship above all else.
She wished for Shen Wan to always be unburdened and to stride forward freely. Touched by Yue Ning's words, Shen Wan confessed her true identity: she was not Qin Wan, but Shen Wan, daughter of Shen Yi, and her mission was to clear her father's name. Yue Ning was initially shocked, questioning if Shen Wan was "crazy" for revealing such a secret, especially since Yan Chi already knew.
Yet, she quickly dismissed the change in name, insisting that Shen Wan remained her best friend, the same girl she had always known. She even playfully revealed a secret: she was older than Shen Wan, joking that Shen Wan had kept her guessing for too long. Meanwhile, Yan Chi discussed the military provision case, noting that the Ministry of War, likely at Prince Cheng's behest, intended to shift blame to the transport commissioners.
He suspected a mole within the Shuoxi Army, reasoning that without insider help, moldy grains couldn't have entered the granary. Despite an aide suggesting he inform Prince Rui, Yan Chi knew his father viewed his soldiers as family and would likely scold him for internal investigations, accusing him of sabotaging their cause. Yan Chi resolved to pursue the truth for the sake of the Shuoxi soldiers and border civilians.
At the ice cellar murder scene, the victim, Hu Dequan, responsible for ice harvesting and storage, was found frozen to death. The restaurant owner, who had taken him in out of pity, confirmed no one had touched the scene before the authorities arrived. Shen Wan meticulously analyzed a footprint, concluding that the killer had dragged the victim in after killing him elsewhere, with the body accidentally concealing the last footprint.
She also noticed the absence of the "Black Unrighteous Flower" symbol. Upon closing the ice cellar door, the symbol was revealed, painted on the inside. Shen Wan deduced this was the "ice punishment," designed for those who betray their families, part of the "Seven-Layered Inferno" series of killings. She dispatched Yan Li and Yue Ning to investigate the victim's relationships.
The restaurant owner revealed Hu Dequan was a gambling addict who had sold his daughter to Fengqi House to settle debts. Further investigation by Yan Li and Shen Wan confirmed that all three victims were connected to Fengqi House. Shen Wan discovered Datura leaf residue in the candle wick, suggesting the victims were drugged and then left to freeze, explaining the serene smiles often seen on their faces due to hallucinations.
A sudden coughing fit from Shen Wan prompted Yan Chi to swiftly carry her away, concerned for her health, after instructing his guards to avert their eyes as a sign of respect. He later provided her with a special medicinal tea for her cold. On the carriage, Shen Wan told Yan Chi about revealing her identity to Yue Ning, but Yan Chi's primary concern remained her well-being.
Upon arrival, Shen Wan moved into Qin Liang's renovated house, arranged by Yan Chi, complete with guards from the Dove Unit, similar to Yingqi. Yan Chi informed her that he had acquired her old family home under a brokerage name, as confiscated properties could be resold, and its remote location and case connection made it undesirable to others.
Shen Wan reminisced about her childhood in the house, particularly the flower wall and corner door that linked her home with Qin Liang's, and memories of her mother. Later, she confided in Yan Chi about anomalies she found in the old case files of her father, Lord Shen, and Prince Jin, suggesting Minister Li had tampered with them.
She pointed out that Prince Jin's "confession" was merely a record of his silence during interrogation, and his physical state at the time of the alleged crime made the details impossible. Similarly, her father's "confession" was also documented as "unable to provide an answer," and a supposed hidden piece of evidence was never specified. Yan Chi speculated that Minister Li's elaborate schemes might be a trap to identify those seeking to reopen Prince Jin's case and eliminate them.
Just then, they heard Fuling scream. Rushing to the scene, they found Bai Feng holding a pained Fuling, explaining that a swing chair he was building for her had collapsed under their combined weight. Yan Chi advised them to go rest, leaving the cleanup for the butler. Later, Zhang Dongxuan, having been released and confined to the front courtyard of Shen Wan's residence, burst in with urgent news.
He had applied his unique methods, combining his deductions from the Guanyin Town murders with calendrical analysis, to predict a fourth execution that very night, corresponding to the "fire punishment." Though he couldn't guarantee accuracy, he urged preparation. Yan Chi immediately ordered an all-night patrol. Despite these precautions, the "fire punishment" still occurred on Jade Street in the East Market.
Shen Wan, who had been experiencing nightmares, awoke to find Yan Chi by her side, which brought her a sense of relief. The victim, Wang Shouchang, was found severely burned, his body positioned around a bronze pillar. The coroner noted no struggle, finding traces of powder in his lungs, suggesting he was unconscious from smoke inhalation and possibly poisoned before the fire. The victim's mother arrived, distraught, confirming his identity as Shouchang.
The public believed the killer only targeted "bad people," causing Shen Wan to worry that the "Heavenly Way Society" was exploiting this belief to eliminate opponents and sow discord in the capital. Yan Chi, however, assured her he would manage the larger implications while she focused on the leads, as he would be preoccupied with escorting a suspect in the military provision case back to the capital, leaving Yan Li and Yue Ning to assist Shen Wan.
Yan Li and Yue Ning, after a night of heavy drinking, woke up disheveled. Yue Ning, suffering from amnesia from the alcohol, was mortified to find Yan Li covered in her powder and makeup. Yan Li, recalling her drunken confession of happiness with him, had playfully proposed marriage, but Yue Ning remembered nothing. Their argument about their compromised state was interrupted when they realized they couldn't pay their bill at the brothel.
Yan Chi appeared, pulling them out by their ears and scolding them for their unprofessional conduct during an investigation. He warned them that any future missteps would result in their removal from the case, emphasizing their duty to protect Shen Wan in his absence. Despite their antics, the duo had indeed found a significant lead at Fengqi House: a jade carver named Wang Xin, who was dismissed from Ranmo Gallery, had frequently inquired about the three victims there.
Yan Li explained that carvers frequented brothels not to spend money but to earn it by carving items for the ladies, who then gifted them to wealthy patrons, creating a mutual benefit. Shen Wan remarked on Yan Li's surprisingly extensive knowledge of such establishments. Shen Wan, Yan Li, and Yue Ning then visited Wang Shouchang's mother.
She revealed that her son, as a child, had accidentally started a fire that killed an old beggar, a tragedy that had haunted him with guilt ever since. Despite his remorse, he wasn't a true criminal and only occasionally confided in Wang Xin, the jade carver.
Shen Wan lamented the brutal murder of a person who had sincerely repented, questioning how such an act could be justified as "walking the Heavenly Way," suggesting that if human hearts deviate, the "Heavenly Way" becomes a mere excuse for personal vengeance. She worried about how many members the Heavenly Way Society had and if they, like Wang Xin, would continue to kill innocent people, turning the capital into a living hell.
Just then, Zhang Dongxuan returned with a remarkable new deduction. Using the principle of stellar movement and the Big Dipper, he had analyzed the timing and locations of the previous four murders. He discovered they precisely matched the pattern of the Big Dipper constellation. Based on this, he had mapped out the likely locations for the remaining three killings, offering to lead the way with his compass.
He predicted the next murder would be the "milling punishment," providing a precise location. This intelligence allowed Shen Wan to immediately coordinate with the Patrol Battalion to set up early defenses in the designated area.
