Coroner's Diary Episode 4 Recap
> Coroner's Diary Recap
Qin Wan deduced that Song Rou might have had a secret lover. She based this on finding white-toothed ants near the deceased's private parts, indicating the body was exposed naked near an ant nest, and on a bite mark on the body. She explained that the bite mark was from human teeth and, based on its appearance, was unlikely to have occurred during a fight.
Given Song Rou's status as the Duke of Song's daughter, no one in the household would have dared harm her. Qin Wan theorized that for the ants to be present, Song Rou must have been near their nest, suggesting she went to the banyan woods near the posthouse the night before entering Jingzhou. She questioned why Song Rou would go there alone unless it was to meet someone, noting the suspicious lack of awareness from her large escort team.
To find concrete evidence, Qin Wan requested Prefect Huo authorize an autopsy. Prefect Huo was highly reluctant, fearing the Duke of Song's reaction. At that moment, Prefect Huo’s son arrived, reporting that he had found bloodstains in the banyan woods but had not found Song Rou's head despite a thorough search. Wei Yanzhi speculated the killer took it to hide evidence. Seeing a way to delay, Prefect Huo was relieved, which angered Qin Wan.
Yan Chi intervened, reminding Prefect Huo that failing to solve the case would put everyone in a difficult position with the Emperor. Understanding the pressure, Prefect Huo agreed to re-question the escort team and have Wei Yanzhi secure a letter of approval for the autopsy from the Duke of Song. Qin Wan, upset, initially interpreted Yan Chi's actions as letting Prefect Huo evade responsibility.
Yan Chi followed her to explain his strategy: since she had already found the bite mark and the Emperor was personally involved, submitting her report alongside any obstruction from the Duke would make the Duke look guilty. This would likely prompt a direct imperial order for the investigation, leaving the Duke no choice. Understanding his reasoning, Qin Wan admitted she had misjudged him.
Qin Wan confided in Yan Chi that she found Wei Yanzhi suspicious, noting his distress was coupled with an inability to meet her gaze. She asked Yan Chi to spread a rumor that she planned a third examination in a few days. Her plan was to use the upcoming lantern festival as bait to see if Wei Yanzhi would try to eliminate her.
Yan Chi, concerned for her safety, suggested a substitute, but Qin Wan insisted on being the real bait. Meanwhile, Wei Yanzhi received a letter from the capital informing him that his older brother, Wei Qizhi, had disappeared shortly after their departure, and he feared his brother was heading to Jingzhou. Hearing of the planned third examination, he mused that if the coroner were to disappear, the Duke of Song’s problems would be over.
With the Grand Princess's condition stabilized, Qin Wan decided to attend the Autumn Festival lantern fair. The Grand Princess agreed, arranging for Yan Chi and Yue Ning to accompany her. Qin Wan specifically requested that the gloomy Wei Yanzhi join them. Before they left, Yan Li tried to give Qin Wan a popular storybook, but Yan Chi intercepted it, deeming it inappropriate and suggesting a medical book instead. He gave the storybook to Yue Ning.
At the bustling fair, Wei Yanzhi heard a zither playing "Seagulls and Egrets in Serenity," his older brother’s favorite tune. He explained that his brother, who was meant to escort the bride before breaking his leg, had learned the zither alongside Song Rou. Using the excuse of finding the player, Wei Yanzhi left. Qin Wan then set her plan in motion, sending her companions away while trusting Yan Chi was secretly watching over her as arranged.
As Qin Wan rode a lantern float, she disappeared from sight after crossing a bridge, causing Yan Chi to search for her anxiously. Qin Wan, having donned a mask, was following a person with a limp whom she suspected was the culprit. However, she was lured into a trap as a lantern tower collapsed on her. Yan Chi rescued her, having located her by her distinctive xiezhi mask.
He confirmed the real Wei Yanzhi was at Tianyin Pavilion listening to music. Noticing a severe, recent blade wound on Yan Chi's back, Qin Wan insisted on treating it. He claimed it was from his duties but hinted it was related to a wrongful conviction in the capital. Despite his resistance to "soft" remedies, he allowed her to clean and stitch the infected wound.
Later, Yan Chi’s guard, Bai Feng, reported that the lantern tower had been sabotaged and that the Song family's twenty guards had acted with unusual discipline at the fair. Yan Chi deduced it was another attempt to obstruct the autopsy. He ordered Bai Feng to provoke a fight with the Song guards the next day. The following day, during the confrontation, the Song guards publicly slandered Yan Chi, accusing him of attempting to assault Song Rou and then murdering her.
Yan Chi used this outrageous accusation to pressure Prefect Huo, stating that such a rumor would destroy his reputation. He demanded an immediate autopsy to clear his name, threatening to take Prefect Huo to the harsh border region if the case wasn't solved. Prefect Huo immediately consented. Qin Wan was puzzled by how far Yan Chi would go to help her, and her maid Fu Ling suggested he had developed feelings for her.
Qin Wan reflected on her false identity, acknowledging she was using his power and questioning how she could honestly reciprocate any feelings he might have. That night, the morgue caught fire. Though the building was damaged and the body severely charred, Qin Wan was determined to proceed. Yan Chi, having anticipated her insistence, had already rushed to the scene. Qin Wan smelled tung oil, confirming it was arson.
Yan Chi provided a forensic kit he had prepared for her in advance. During the autopsy, Qin Wan discovered from Song Rou's pelvic structure that she had been five to six months pregnant and had a miscarriage about two months before her death. This revealed that the Duke of Song had knowingly sent her to be married in an act of deception against the Emperor.
Prefect Huo then presented a sketch of the man who bought the tung oil: Wei Cheng, the Song family’s guard captain. Yan Chi suspected Wei Yanzhi had ordered the arson on behalf of the Duke, and they considered the possibility that Wei Yanzhi's older brother was Song Rou's secret lover.
