Maiden Holmes Episode 21 Recap
> Maiden Holmes Recap
Liang Cheng ordered his father, Liang Feng, to be buried immediately, dismissing the Butler's concerns about custom. He then went to Liang Feng's study, searching frantically for something hidden, but found nothing, suspecting the item might still be on his father's person. Observing from nearby, Su Ci and Pei Yanzhi noted Liang Cheng's unusual haste, which contradicted his earlier resistance to them opening the coffin.
Su Ci speculated that Liang Cheng might be the murderer, fearing an autopsy would reveal evidence. Pei Yanzhi, however, pointed out Liang Cheng's alibi, as he had supposedly only returned after Liang Feng's death. Su Ci then revealed a crucial clue: Liang Cheng's horse had traces of turmeric on its hooves. Since it had been raining heavily, herb growers would have already collected their wares, implying Liang Cheng returned earlier than he admitted.
Su Ci devised a plan to exploit Liang Cheng's desperation, intending to make him open Liang Feng's coffin himself. To set the trap, Xie Beiming provided Su Ci with an unbreakable dark steel box that could only be opened with its key. Dong Rushuang then coerced the butler into helping them. She instructed him to present the box to Liang Cheng, claiming it was found among Liang Feng's possessions.
When the butler refused to betray his master, even for a bribe, Dong Rushuang fed him what she claimed was a deadly poison, threatening him with death if he didn’t comply. Terrified, the butler agreed, only to learn later it was just a candy pill—a clever ploy that saved both the cost of a bribe and an expensive poison. Later, Su Ci, Dong Rushuang, and Pei Yanzhi visited the tomb of General Zhang Yuhua.
Pei Yanzhi recounted the general's heroism, particularly how he tragically perished in the Battle of Honggu when reinforcements failed to arrive. At the tomb, they met Madam Zhang, the general's widow, and her maid. Madam Zhang thanked Prince Qi for his support but lamented that her husband's noble sacrifice had allowed others to prosper. Her maid applied a special medicinal powder to an itchy rash on her hand.
Meanwhile, back at the Liang mansion, Liang Cheng’s desperation led him to open his father's coffin in search of the key. Su Ci and the others arrived at that exact moment. Su Ci examined the body, and Dong Rushuang noted three distinct impact marks on Liang Feng's forehead, including a crescent-shaped scar, likely caused by an accessory worn by the killer. Based on the evidence, Su Ci declared Liang Cheng a suspect.
He vehemently denied killing his father, but Su Ci dismantled his alibi with the turmeric found on his horse's hooves. Liang Cheng admitted to returning a day earlier for business but maintained his innocence. Su Ci then pointed out that the fatal wound's location indicated a left-handed perpetrator. She revealed the distinct skin discoloration on Liang Cheng's left thumb, caused by years of wearing a thumb ring.
Producing the blood-stained ring, she showed how it perfectly matched the crescent-shaped scar on Liang Feng's forehead. Cornered, Liang Cheng confessed it was an accident and was taken into custody. Afterwards, Su Ci re-examined Liang Feng's burial clothes and noticed the bloodstains were an unusually vivid red, along with a medicinal scent. Dong Rushuang identified the presence of cinnabar and angelica. Just then, a distraught Madam Zhang arrived, refusing to believe her brother was a murderer.
Pei Yanzhi discreetly observed the same medicinal powder on her hand. In the county jail, Liang Cheng recounted that he had argued with his father and pushed him, causing him to fall and hit his head on a table corner. He then confessed to striking him once more. Still skeptical, Pei Yanzhi presented him with a letter from Liang Feng to a minister named Lei Zheng, which hinted at a dark secret.
Liang Cheng denied any knowledge of it, so Pei Yanzhi decided to have him transferred to the imperial city for further interrogation. Upon learning of this, Prince Yun grew enraged. He feared Pei Yanzhi was re-investigating the Battle of Honggu, which threatened to expose his own conspiracy. He dispatched an assassin to "root out the problem" and prevent Pei Yanzhi from finding any more clues.
Su Ci remained puzzled by an inconsistency: Liang Cheng confessed to striking his father only once after the initial fall, yet the body had three distinct wounds. This led her to suspect a second murderer. Dong Rushuang confirmed the powder on the clothes and Madam Zhang’s hands contained angelica, cocklebur, and cinnabar—common anti-itch ingredients. They confronted Madam Zhang and asked to see her perfume satchel, which contained the same herbs.
Su Ci then presented her findings: the powder on Liang Feng’s clothes matched her satchel, and the blood's vivid red color was from contact with cinnabar. Su Ci deduced that Madam Zhang had entered the room after Liang Cheng left, found her father still alive, and delivered a second, fatal blow with a pixiu statue. Madam Zhang broke down and confessed.
She revealed her husband had been betrayed, a truth she discovered from a blood-written letter hidden inside an amulet he wore. The letter stated that his reinforcements, led by her brother Liang Cheng, never arrived, suggesting collusion with the enemy. Her suspicions were confirmed when she recently overheard her father and brother arguing.
Liang Cheng was demanding a promotion, and Liang Feng refused, fearing it would expose how they had conspired with Minister Lei Zheng and sacrificed General Zhang for their own gain. Horrified by her family’s betrayal, Madam Zhang sought her own justice. After pleading with Prince Qi to hold the conspirators accountable, she took her own life. Later, Pei Yanzhi arrived at the county office to find all the prisoners, including Liang Cheng, had been murdered.
He was consumed by self-reproach, believing that if he had uncovered the conspiracy sooner, he could have saved Madam Zhang. Su Ci comforted him, stating that he had simply fulfilled his duty to find the truth and that everyone is responsible for their own actions. Aware of the growing danger, she affirmed she was not afraid and wanted to protect him, just as he had always protected her.
