Judge Dee's Mystery Episode 15 Recap, Plot

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After returning from the military camp, Di Renjie visited the Zhong Pawnshop and found that Manager Lin had already transferred the shop and was packing his bags, preparing to leave Penglai. With the help of the shop assistant's identification, Di Renjie confirmed that the handwriting on the dagger's pawn ticket belonged to Zhong Fang. Previously, Manager Lin and Zhong Fang had a fierce quarrel.

Later, Zhong Fang went out and did not return until the news of his death came back. At this moment, Manager Lin was stroking the wood carving as if possessed, murmuring that it would have been much better if Zhong Fang hadn't believed the story of the Rain Master.

Di Renjie's sudden appearance slightly surprised Manager Lin, who subconsciously covered the wood carving with a cloth and pretended to be busy organizing the accounts, but could not hide his inner panic. Di Renjie analyzed that Manager Lin developed murderous intent because Zhong Fang was not focused on the business and a crazy woman ruined their nearly twenty years of hard work.

Although Manager Lin had tried to persuade Zhong Fang, Zhong Fang's deep affection for Huang Ying'er led him to even embezzle shop funds to support her. This stubbornness left Manager Lin feeling disheartened. Manager Lin had worked hard with Zhong Fang until now, dedicating everything to it, enduring countless hardships and bitterness, having to greet difficult customers with a smile and swallow insults. But who could have anticipated that all this would be erased by Zhong Fang?

Manager Lin bitterly recounted Zhong Fang's actions and agonizingly admitted that his own actions were forced by circumstance. Finally, Manager Lin was escorted to the execution ground. The people along the road threw rotten vegetables at him, but he paid no attention, his eyes only on Zhong Fang's receding figure, as if seeing the man he once respected and loved. Meanwhile, Di Renjie cleared Wang Sanlang's suspicion.

He had confessed to killing Zhong Fang solely because he liked Huang Ying'er and wanted to take the blame for her; however, Huang Ying'er was also just a pawn in this murder case. There was no Rain Master in the world; it was merely a story born from people's imagination, yet some were deeply caught in it, unable to extricate themselves. The Rain Master case concluded, leaving Di Renjie with a sense of dissatisfaction.

Ma Rong, on the other hand, couldn't help but complain, believing that the three men were cowards who dared not openly express their love. Their unrequited love ultimately created this tragedy. Before parting, Ma Rong came to bid farewell to Ba Zong, giving him the wooden dice he had carved himself and making a pact that Ba Zong should come to Lanfang to drink with him someday.

Di Renjie went to Mingyue Lane to find Cao An, speaking his feelings through the door, but there was no response inside, leading him to return disappointed. The next morning, Di Renjie insisted on walking out of the city. Ma Rong was puzzled by this, but Qiao Tai and Hong Liang knew perfectly well. Fortunately, Cao An had been waiting at the teahouse for a long time.

She was dressed in dark practical attire, carrying a pipa and her luggage, clearly having made her choice and resolved to go to Lanfang with Di Renjie. After several days of travel, the group passed through the desert, which brought back memories for Di Renjie, Ma Rong, and Qiao Tai. It was here, years ago, that the three "starving ghosts" met.

Di Renjie clearly remembered the sand almost burying him, and worse, running into Ma Rong and Qiao Tai who had come to rob him. Having not eaten for days, their legs were weak and their mouths dry. Seeing the water flask in Di Renjie's bag, they seized the opportunity to approach and snatch his water and food, gradually becoming Di Renjie's close followers. Just as they were talking, a sandstorm suddenly rose in the desert, quickly sweeping towards them.

Di Renjie led everyone to hide behind a rock. In the chaos and haste, the official documents box accidentally fell onto the sand, scattering the case files everywhere. After the storm gradually subsided, Di Renjie got up to pick up the files and unexpectedly discovered a peach wood sword – the very same wooden sword he lost when he jumped into the river to save his father years ago.

Di Renjie had always worn the peach wood sword as a protective talisman. Now, retrieving the wooden sword in the desert, it foreshadowed that the journey ahead was uncertain and the trip to Lanfang would be fraught with danger.

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