Resumen del episodio 19 de Unveil: Jadewind
> Resúmenes de Unveil: Jadewind
Li Peiyi questioned Madam Wu about any local adversaries, as the murder of Wu Siping seemed to lack a monetary motive. Madam Wu asserted their business primarily involved rural farmers and southern merchants, so they had limited contact with locals and no known enemies. Soon after, the servant A Wang reported that the side door to Young Master Wu Mujin's detached residence was open. Li Peiyi, accompanied by Xiao Huaijin and Madam Wu, proceeded to investigate.
Li Peiyi noted the courtyard appeared poorly maintained, but Madam Wu attributed this to the constant shedding of bamboo leaves. Li Peiyi found it unusual that Madam Wu prioritized checking the door over her son after a family tragedy. A Wang then explained that Wu Siping had designed the door to "gather energy" according to geomantic principles and had installed a special lock, forbidding anyone but himself from using it.
Madam Wu initially tried to prevent Li Peiyi from seeing Wu Mujin, claiming he was too frail. Inside Wu Mujin's room, the child greeted the visitors. He explained that his father required him to go to bed at the Xu hour each night, and he often fell asleep watching bamboo shadows on the wall. Xiao Huaijin noticed a unique incense burning in the room.
He gently asked Wu Mujin about his sleep, and the boy admitted the stormy night with strong wind, rain, thunder, and lightning had frightened him, causing him to sleep poorly. He then revealed that a powerful lightning flash, making his room as bright as day, woke him, and he saw a figure pass by his window. Li Peiyi attempted to extract more details about the figure's appearance, but Wu Mujin was visibly scared and looked to Madam Wu before speaking.
To help the child, Xiao Huaijin used leaves to create a human silhouette, and Wu Mujin then adjusted them to match the shape he remembered. Li Peiyi encouraged him, promising to catch his father's killer if he could recall the person's appearance. As they exited the detached residence, Li Peiyi confronted Madam Wu about her apparent dislike for Wu Mujin.
Madam Wu admitted that due to her inability to bear children, she disliked children, but clarified that placing Wu Mujin in the detached residence was Wu Siping's decision. She explained that Wu Siping, deeply reverent of Xu Daoyin, had specifically requested a geomantic formation to house Wu Mujin there, as he relied on Xu Daoyin for all major decisions and even maintained a shrine for him in the manor.
Madam Wu reiterated that Wu Mujin's detached residence was arranged with a geomantic formation, limiting access, and specified that only Mr. Zhong, whose Four Pillars of Destiny aligned with the location, was permitted to care for Wu Mujin. A Wang confirmed that Mr. Zhong's room also contained the same type of incense, which contained a specific flower (implied to be Datura).
Eager to learn more about Xu Daoyin, Li Peiyi asked A Wang to lead them to Xu Daoyin's shrine within the Wu residence. At the shrine, many jade tokens, acquired through monetary offerings to Xu Daoyin for blessings, were displayed. A Wang suggested they offer incense. As Li Peiyi bowed her head, she noticed bloodstains on the base of Xu Daoyin's statue.
She speculated that the killer had deliberately left this as a clue, noting that the shape Wu Mujin had described earlier resembled the statue. As they returned from the shrine, Li Peiyi felt a sudden dizziness.
Xiao Huaijin explained that the courtyard's feng shui—its cold and damp environment, dense bamboo blocking sunlight, and elements like a peach wood stake in the Li position which caused "fire to clash with wood"—was actually a harmful arrangement, draining auspicious energy and inhibiting the gathering of qi. He warned that if Wu Mujin continued to live there, he might not survive three years, suggesting this layout was responsible for the child's chronic illness and Li Peiyi's discomfort.
Li Peiyi recalled that the stone blocks in the courtyard had been moved from their original position near the peach wood. Xiao Huaijin deduced that while the formation was initially designed to be detrimental, someone had subtly altered it, suggesting a hidden effort to protect Wu Mujin amidst attempts to harm him. He noted that such a restrictive and dark environment would debilitate even a healthy adult, let alone a child.
During this discussion, Li Peiyi reflected on her method of detaching from the emotional toll of cases by leaving a "self" behind with each completed investigation, allowing her current self to move forward unburdened, a strategy Xiao Huaijin expressed interest in trying. A subordinate then reported finding medicine dregs in the grass outside Wu Siping’s bedroom.
Xiao Huaijin identified the herbs, including Dang Gui, cinnamon, Sichuan lovage, Achyranthes root, plantain seed, and safflower, as ingredients for "Tuohua Decoction," a labor-inducing medicine. He noted that the quantity of blood-activating herbs, Dang Gui and Sichuan lovage, far exceeded normal dosages, a mixture that could cause fatal bleeding during childbirth.
He emphasized that the Imperial Medical Office had long prohibited the unsupervised use of this powerful concoction, though its readily available ingredients meant it was still used in folk medicine. Soon after, a servant informed them that Madam Wu now suspected Wu Mujin of Wu Siping's murder, influenced by the fact that only Wu Mujin's incense did not contain Datura flowers.
She had moved the boy from his detached residence to a room next to her own to monitor him closely. Li Peiyi found this accusation against a frail child absurd. Wu Ren and Gu Lingzhou arrived, with Wu Ren playfully reprimanding Li Peiyi for not including them in the investigation. With time pressing, Li Peiyi, accompanied by Xiao Huaijin, Wu Ren, and Gu Lingzhou, immediately set off for Qingtan Town to visit Xu Daoyin.
Upon reaching Xu Daoyin's manor, they were initially halted at the gate, being told to join a queue for the Heaven-Inquiry Ceremony. However, Li Peiyi presented Wu Siping's jade token, securing their entry as honored guests. A manor servant led them to a courtyard owned by Wu Siping within the manor to rest. Xiao Huaijin observed that the entire manor was a vast geomantic formation, designed according to the Big Dipper constellation with the mountain as its backing.
He pointed out that the side gate they had entered through was strategically placed as the "Gate of Life" within this elaborate setup, implying other hidden exits. This complex design, he believed, was intended to deter outsiders from freely exploring, hinting at many secrets hidden within. Gu Lingzhou and Wu Ren attempted to scout the manor but found its winding paths and dense foliage impenetrable, concealing any buildings beyond Wu Siping's courtyard.
They concluded that Xu Daoyin was no ordinary charlatan. That evening, as Xiao Huaijin gazed at the stars, Li Peiyi joined him, reflecting on her original purpose for joining the Palace Investigation Bureau: to uncover the truth behind her family's massacre. Xiao Huaijin, in turn, revealed his presence was due to a promise made to an old friend, acknowledging their shared past burdens. Li Peiyi expressed hope that the stars would guide them to answers.
The next day, Xu Daoyin's grand Heaven-Inquiry Ceremony began. During the performance, a ritual bell appeared to float magically, followed by the startling illusion of Xu Daoyin's head separating from his body before he seemingly vanished. This spectacle plunged the audience into a panic, with manor staff attempting to calm them by claiming Xu Daoyin had been "summoned to Heaven." Asserting the authority of the Palace Investigation Bureau, Li Peiyi and Xiao Huaijin rushed onto the stage.
They quickly discovered an intricate mechanism. Xiao Huaijin noted a perfectly flat incision on the victim's neck, suggesting a precise cut beyond human capability, yet no visible blade on the altar. Behind a curtain, Li Peiyi discovered a human head, prompting her to question its identity. Lady Yue, identifying herself as Xu Daoyin's immortal companion, appeared and greeted Li Peiyi with polite surprise, then suggested Li Peiyi report the incident to Wu Siping.
Li Peiyi informed her of Wu Siping's death and inquired if Xu Daoyin had any enemies. Lady Yue tried to dismiss the incident as divine judgment for unknown transgressions, but Li Peiyi sternly warned her against continued deception, reminding her that Xu Daoyin's fate was uncertain. Lady Yue then identified the decapitated body as Liu San, Xu Daoyin's protector. However, Xiao Huaijin exposed the truth: Liu San was a mere stand-in for an illusion.
He explained that Xu Daoyin would initially appear before a curtain, making a ritual bell seem to float by hanging it on a hidden hook, the dark curtain blending with moonlight to enhance the effect. Then, during the distraction of molten iron sparks, Xu Daoyin and Liu San, dressed identically with matching face covers, would switch places.
Xu Daoyin would reveal his head above the curtain from a platform behind, while Liu San remained on the altar as the "body," creating the illusion of decapitation through light, shadow, and smoke. Xiao Huaijin clarified that while Xu Daoyin's "head" vanished during the iron sparks, Liu San's actual decapitation and the subsequent blood spurt indicated a real murder, far more complex than a simple illusion. Li Peiyi, now convinced of a deliberate murder, warned Lady Yue against further lies.
Gu Lingzhou discovered thin copper wires, which Li Peiyi identified as the murder weapon. She explained that these incredibly sharp wires, hidden within decorative ropes tied to the stage pillars, were activated by a mechanism. The significant wear marks on the pillars indicated the ropes were pulled with immense force, allowing the copper wires to swiftly and cleanly sever Liu San's head. She theorized that someone had set up these copper wires before the ceremony.
Behind the stage, they found Xu Daoyin's clothes, devoid of bloodstains, suggesting he had been abducted, not killed there. Xiao Huaijin proposed that a single, highly skilled individual could have orchestrated both the abduction of Xu Daoyin and the killing of Liu San by activating the mechanism precisely when the audience was distracted by the iron sparks.
When Li Peiyi asked about the mechanism's designer, Lady Yue claimed it was Xu Daoyin, adding that only he and Liu San possessed keys to the heavily guarded mechanism area, meaning no other staff had ever accessed it. Li Peiyi stressed that finding the killer was the priority for Xu Daoyin's safety. Lady Yue then led Li Peiyi to four porters who guarded the altar's entrance. Li Peiyi questioned Old Xiao, who was specifically responsible for the central mechanism tower.
Old Xiao vehemently denied noticing anything unusual, asserting his constant vigilance and additional checks. Li Peiyi, observing that intruders would have to pass Old Xiao, asked if he had used any incense, referencing the Datura flowers found previously. Old Xiao insisted he never burned incense, as his daughter provided him with a repellent sachet. Xiao Huaijin speculated that the culprit either circumvented the tower or was someone Old Xiao would not suspect.
He concluded that the murderer of Wu Siping and Liu San, and the abductor of Xu Daoyin, was likely the same individual who could move undetected between the manor and Wu's residence. Lady Yue, still trying to maintain an image of benevolence, questioned how such "compassionate and kind" men like Xu Daoyin and Wu Siping could have enemies. A servant then reported an incident at the Vitality Hall.
Lady Yue, visibly distressed, attempted to handle it alone, but Li Peiyi insisted on accompanying her, stating that no incident in the manor was trivial with a killer at large. Lady Yue tried to dissuade Xiao Huaijin from entering, citing that the Vitality Hall housed only women.
Li Peiyi entered with Lady Yue and learned from Liu, a pregnant woman, that a black-clad assailant had attempted to abduct her the previous night, fleeing only after she screamed, though Liu was not physically harmed. Tracing fresh bloodstains, Li Peiyi located the intruder's escape route. Li Peiyi noted a mix of smells in Liu's room, and Liu confirmed she had taken calming and prenatal medications. Li Peiyi questioned why so many pregnant women were gathered there.
Lady Yue explained that Xu Daoyin, out of compassion, sheltered destitute or unmarried pregnant women who couldn't deliver or raise their children at home, even arranging adoptions. Li Peiyi was skeptical of this selective charity, noting that other vulnerable groups also needed help, and questioned the manor's capacity. Lady Yue clarified that while Xu Daoyin cared for others, they were not housed within the manor, hinting at a specific agenda for the women in the Vitality Hall.
Later, Lady Yue was overheard discussing her plans with a subordinate. She emphasized the urgency of finding Xu Daoyin before Li Peiyi's team, ensuring a "delivery" by that night, and preparing to leave Qingtan Town in half an hour once the final payment for the "goods" was received, should Xu Daoyin not return. That night, Lady Yue arranged a meal for Li Peiyi's group. Despite the hospitality, Li Peiyi remained wary, sensing Lady Yue's complex intentions and anticipating further trouble.
Indeed, later, Wu Lie, a servant from Wu's Manor, urgently sought Li Peiyi's help regarding an emergency at the Vitality Hall. Rushing to the delivery room, Li Peiyi found Liu in premature labor. Midwives tried to dismiss her and insisted Liu drink a medicine to expedite delivery. At the start of the Hai hour, Liu gave birth, but immediately suffered a severe hemorrhage that the midwives failed to control, leading to her death.
Li Peiyi, observing their actions, accused them of not caring for Liu's life. She identified the medicine used as Tuohua Decoction, a potent labor-inducing drug banned by the Imperial Medical Office due to its high risk of fatal bleeding. Li Peiyi confronted the midwives, suspecting they had deliberately induced Liu's labor rather than allowing her to rest after her fright. The midwife defended their actions, claiming Liu had insisted on preparing the decoction, valuing her baby's life over her own.
Li Peiyi then exposed Lady Yue's attempt to poison her group through a meal containing "Eighteen Incompatibilities"—veratrum disguised as scallions in roast mutton, served with ginseng-infused medicinal liquor. Gu Lingzhou confirmed Li Peiyi's astute detection of the poisonous combination. Li Peiyi directly confronted Lady Yue, accusing her of attempted murder and using banned drugs to cause Liu's death.
