Coroner's Diary Episode 37 Recap
> Coroner's Diary Recap
Qian Shi revealed to Qin Wan and Yan Chi that the Empress Dowager's first pregnancy had resulted in twins. However, as she was merely a noble consort constantly suppressed by the previous Empress, she feared that if her sickly child died in the palace, it would be deemed an ominous sign.
With no other choice, she arranged for the child to be taken out of the palace, instructing those responsible to keep his true identity a secret from him his entire life. She named him Yan Han, hoping he could live a long life, even if they could never acknowledge each other.
Despite being diagnosed by imperial physicians with a short life expectancy, Yan Han stubbornly survived outside the palace, cared for by Qian Shi under the guise of a distant relative. Years later, when the true prince, Yan Huai, was to be named Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager ordered Yan Han to be taken far from the capital.
Unfortunately, Yan Han overheard the reason—to prevent anyone from noticing his striking resemblance to Yan Huai—and learned the truth of his birth, developing a deep hatred for the Yan royal family. He secretly left home to join the army. Later, Qian Shi heard news that the rebel leader Fu Chengye, who had once aided Yan Han, had been executed, and that Emperor Yan Huai had heroically returned after surviving a devastating fire.
She immediately understood that the Empress Dowager's worst fears had materialized: the real Emperor was dead, and Yan Han had killed him and usurped the throne. Qin Wan and Yan Chi were astonished by this revelation, realizing it explained why the current Emperor's handwriting differed from before and why he had ordered the deaths of the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng. The false emperor, Yan Han, had sent assassins after Qian Shi upon his return to the capital.
With nowhere else to turn, Qian Shi had hidden in the capital and, learning of the rift between the Emperor and Empress, sought the Empress's protection. The Empress Dowager, too, was not truly unaware; with one biological son already gone, she could not bear to lose another.
Yan Chi and Qin Wan concluded that Yan Li was the current Emperor's biological son, which explained the killings of the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng, actions taken to clear Yan Li's path to the throne. They believed Yan Li was innocent of any wrongdoing and unaware of the truth. They also felt immense pity for the Empress Dowager, whose prolonged endurance had caused her heart condition to worsen.
Yan Li and Yan Sui, being Yan Han's biological sons, would face immense difficulty ascending the throne if the truth were exposed, leaving Yan Chi as the sole legitimate heir. However, Yan Chi expressed no interest in the throne, stating that the current Emperor's actions were unbecoming of a ruler and would inevitably lead to disaster. Despite their initial reluctance to engage in palace intrigues, they resolved to uncover the truth and restore justice.
When Yan Ze’s eyesight fully recovered, Qin Wan visited him. The Empress Dowager and Yan Ze were playing chess when Yan Ze called Yan Li over, claiming he wished to properly observe him now that his vision was restored. Yan Ze commented that as Yan Li entered, he bore a striking resemblance to the Emperor, and that seeing Yan Li holding Yan Sui made them look "just like real brothers."
The Empress Dowager froze, and Qin Wan also noticed Yan Ze's peculiar behavior. After Yan Li and Yue Ning left with Yan Sui, Qin Wan questioned Yan Ze about his remarks. Yan Ze dismissed it as an effect of his improved vision but then pressed Qin Wan and Yan Chi to uncover the truth behind his mother's death. Qin Wan suspected that Yan Ze had long been aware of Yan Han’s true identity.
Meanwhile, a Palace Guard Division member reported to Yan Chi that new guards from the Northern Army of the Zhao family were now assigned to the palace gates under Vice Commissioner Zhao, while many regular guards were reassigned to the city gates. Yan Chi deduced that Lord Zhao's people were seizing control of the palace defenses, indicating that the Empress might be preparing to act. Yan Chi affirmed his suspicion of Yan Han and resolved to act proactively.
Yan Chi explained that Yan Han's elaborate schemes to conceal his identity were the reason for the deaths of Princess Xin, his own mother, Consort Jin, Prince Jin, and Qin Wan's father, Shen Yi. Princess Xin had discovered the black birthmark on Yan Han's waist while treating his wounds. Her subsequent visit to Princess Rui, who had just given birth, provided the opportunity for her assassination.
Consort Jin, who had borne a child with Yan Han after his ascent to the throne, had discovered discrepancies in his calligraphy and foolishly confronted him, sealing her fate. Prince Jin, waiting nearby to give a gift to Yan Sui, had heard Consort Jin's screams and rushed to intervene. To maintain the stability of the nation, Prince Jin chose to cover up Yan Han’s crime but confided the truth to Shen Yi.
Shen Yi, equally committed to safeguarding the country, helped Prince Jin conceal the murder weapon, which tragically led to his own demise. Qin Wan recalled her father's words, urging her not to seek justice as long as Yan Han remained on the throne. Now, with the truth revealed, Yan Chi assured her that they would bring justice to all the victims.
Prefect Zheng discovered old case files belonging to Li Muyun containing detailed descriptions of the Heavenly Way Society's killing methods, yet Li Muyun had never mentioned the society during any trial. Additionally, Li Muyun had concealed his visit to Guanyin Town during the serial murders there, even though he had suggested arresting Zhang Dongxuan. Prefect Zheng further revealed he had followed Li Muyun to a residence once owned by Ning Buyi, confirming a connection between them.
A suspicious testimony in Ning Buyi's files described a "blind young man with an extraordinary presence and refined looks" present at the Guanyin Town crime scene. This blind youth, they concluded, was Yan Ze. Yan Ze had spent the last decade outside the capital, and his activities were unknown. Given his demeanor, he could have easily won over people like Li Muyun and Ning Buyi.
Furthermore, his late mother, Princess Xin, had cultivated many connections within the capital's nobility, which Yan Ze could have leveraged to bring his allies to the capital. This suggested Yan Ze had known about Yan Han's true identity for a long time, explaining his earlier pointed remarks about Yan Li and Yan Sui.
Realizing the capital was on the brink of chaos, Yan Chi took command, instructing Constable Zhan to monitor all major routes and Prefect Zheng to increase night patrols and control key city routes. Qin Wan prepared a medicine box, and Yan Chi ordered the Black Armor Guards to assist the Patrol Department in guarding the inner city, with strict orders that no one could enter the imperial city without an edict.
Qin Wan declared she would accompany him, reaffirming their vow to stand together through life and death, never to part. Yan Li and Yan Sui arrived to see the Emperor, only to find everyone in the hall had been drugged unconscious and dead bodies scattered around. Yan Li tried to leave with Yan Sui, but the door was locked. Meanwhile, Qin Wan entered the palace under the pretense of treating the Empress Dowager but was immediately ambushed by guards.
Yan Chi, who had followed her, rushed in, fighting off the assailants and declaring that a palace coup was underway. He instructed Bai Feng to take his men to Funing Palace to protect the Empress Dowager and Yan Sui. Qin Wan gave Yan Chi a hemostatic bandage and an antidote, warning him not to die. They then separated. Qin Wan hurried to Funing Palace and instructed Nanny Chen to lock down the palace gates, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.
Yue Ning, initially bewildered, realized Yan Li might be in danger and prepared to search for him. The Emperor, Yan Han, awoke to find himself bound. His personal eunuch, Yuan Qing, stood over him, revealing himself as a member of the Heavenly Way Society. Yuan Qing declared his actions were to correct the injustices he had witnessed, stating his desire to cleanse the filth and restore the righteous way of Heaven. Yan Han, enraged, denounced him as a traitor.
Just then, the Society Leader entered and unmasked himself, revealing he was Yan Ze. Yan Ze declared that his life's work was to correct chaos and uphold justice, revealing that he was an orphan whose parents were killed because of Yan Han. Yan Chi and his forces arrived, confronting Yan Ze and his followers. Yan Chi warned them to surrender, stating he only spilled the blood of enemies and rebels.
Vice Commissioner Zhao, loyal to Yan Ze, threatened to kill Yan Han if Yan Chi's men attacked. Yan Han, realizing the Empress had deceived him, cried out that these were not the Northern Army but the Heavenly Way Society, as chaos erupted and fighting ensued.
