Maiden Holmes Episode 24 Recap
> Maiden Holmes Recap
After Su Ci revealed that she was Bai Sheng's daughter and the sole survivor of the slaughtered Bai Liang Clan, she expressed concern that her dangerous identity would implicate her companions. Xie Beiming immediately suggested hiding her at Feiyun Manor’s inn in the desert, far from the capital. Dong Rushuang assured Su Ci that she regarded her as a sister and was not afraid of being implicated.
While grateful, Su Ci's identity remained sensitive, so Xiao Yanzhi emphasized the need for everyone to keep it a secret. Su Ci confirmed her purpose for joining the Mingjing Office was to investigate the Bai Liang case, and she had found the first piece of evidence to clear her clan's name.
However, Xiao Yanzhi explained that overturning the verdict was not yet possible because key witnesses like Lei Zheng, Liang Feng, and Li Mu were all dead, making the authenticity of the forged letter of treason vulnerable to doubt. Su Ci decided to examine the assassin's body for more clues. Upon inspection, Su Ci discovered a distinct burn mark on the assassin's body, a detail she had anticipated. Dong Rushuang recalled that Lei Zheng had the same mark.
With Xiwen having confirmed no one in Beirong bore such a mark, Xiao Yanzhi concluded it was a unique identifier for the mastermind. He connected it to incidents from Qingshui County to Princess Yunchuan's poisoning, realizing that individuals with this mark had consistently trailed them. Xiao Yanzhi deduced that only Prince Yun possessed the capability to train numerous suicide squads and command such loyalty. Hearing this, Xie Beiming feigned discomfort around the corpse and left, visibly distressed.
A flashback revealed his childhood memories of his adoptive father, Prince Yun, and the very assassin who was now dead, leading to the chilling realization that Prince Yun was his adoptive father. Later, Xiao Yanzhi discussed the suspicious leaks in their travel plans, suggesting an internal spy. He noted that only Fei Yuan, Dong Rushuang, and Xie Beiming knew their recent itinerary, and his suspicion fell on Xie Beiming's habit of sending detailed letters to his adoptive father via pigeon.
Meanwhile, a deeply troubled Xie Beiming confronted Prince Yun, demanding an explanation. Prince Yun dismissed the accusation of being unrighteous, claiming self-preservation in the ruthless imperial court. He falsely stated he had concealed his identity to protect Xie Beiming, a lie Xie Beiming refuted by mentioning Peng Yi, whom Prince Yun had sent to kill him. Prince Yun showed no remorse, stating Peng Yi failed to return alive due to his own incompetence.
When pressed, Prince Yun insisted Xie Beiming was different as his adopted son and was not being used. He then manipulated Xie Beiming by reminding him of his upbringing and mentioning Dong Rushuang, pressuring him to return to Xiao Yanzhi’s side and act as an informant. Deeply conflicted, Xie Beiming sought solace in alcohol, torn between his adoptive father's past kindness and the threat Prince Yun now posed to Dong Rushuang.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yanzhi retrieved the Bai Liang brocade from the palace—the garment believed to have poisoned the late emperor—and gave it to Dong Rushuang to investigate. He then took Su Ci to the Laundry Bureau, believing it was the most likely place where the garment was tampered with. There, they met Eunuch Liu, who had served the late emperor and believed there was more to his sudden death.
Eunuch Liu recounted that just before the emperor's poisoning, the head laundress, an expert at mending fabrics, died suddenly. Her body was later exhumed and burned, suggesting a deliberate destruction of evidence. Eunuch Liu also recalled that several palace maids were allegedly sent away for illness around the same time, but their departures were never officially recorded. Su Ci hypothesized they were poisoned, not ill. Dong Rushuang was confident she could determine the truth if they found the maids.
When a dejected, hungover Xie Beiming returned, Su Ci enlisted his help in the search. While he and Dong Rushuang set out, Xiao Yanzhi took Su Ci, disguised as a eunuch, to Hongwen Hall to consult the emperor's daily log for more clues. Dong Rushuang found Xie Beiming and insisted on helping him search, suggesting they check Jintai Temple, where some Buddhist nuns, possibly the former maids, had arrived years ago.
Inside Hongwen Hall, Su Ci found a log entry about a nine-year-old Xiao Yanzhi biting a eunuch after losing an archery contest. Xiao Yanzhi explained he had acted out of a deep longing for his mother—who died shortly after his birth—while watching the empress dote on the Crown Prince. He confessed his envy and loneliness, especially during New Year's. Su Ci empathized, sharing her own pain of missing her mother, who had saved her by hiding her in a well.
Moved, Xiao Yanzhi vowed to help her vindicate the Bai Liang Clan so they could build a future and a large family together, making up for all they had lost. With renewed hope, they embraced.
