Maiden Holmes Episode 30 Recap
> Maiden Holmes Recap
As the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet drew near, Prince Qi arrived at the palace to oversee the arrangements. He inspected the "Auspicious" fireworks, a creation of over a dozen craftsmen who had tirelessly worked for nearly two months, causing some of them to fall ill. Prince Qi expressed his concern for their exhaustion and promised handsome rewards after the banquet, entrusting Zhang with their care.
Prince Qi also inquired about the banquet's food preparations, and Fei Yuan assured him that the food and utensils had been thoroughly checked. Prince Qi then asked Fei Yuan to reconfirm everything with the Imperial Household Bureau, and Fei Yuan pledged to protect Prince Qi, just as Brother Jiang would have. Meanwhile, Su Ci reported to the Lead officer about a dangerous poison.
She explained that the poison was highly lethal, even in small amounts, and its current whereabouts were unknown, raising anxieties with the impending banquet. The Lead officer instructed Su Ci to investigate immediately but warned her to keep the matter confidential to prevent public panic, as the situation was still unconfirmed. Su Ci noticed a sulfur scent on the Lead officer and expressed concern for his health, but he dismissed it as medicine for scabies due to recent fatigue.
During a review of the banquet program, the Empress Dowager expressed concern about the duration of the fireworks display, particularly the final "Auspicious" firework, which comprised 600 shots and was specially crafted for her. The Emperor, however, insisted on proceeding with the full display for the national celebration. The Empress Dowager then emphasized the importance of stringent security, given the large number of officials, their families, and craftsmen who would be entering and exiting the palace.
Prince Qi assured her that he and Commander Fu had meticulously organized security measures, including strict inspections throughout the palace and the entire city, guaranteeing absolute safety. Meanwhile, the Lead officer summoned Su Ci early in the morning, revealing that villagers in Zhushui Village, located outside the capital, had been poisoned by their drinking water, suffering from vomiting, diarrhea, and breathing difficulties since the previous night.
The Lead officer considered the possibility that this poisoning was connected to the previously stolen lethal poison and Tian Yong's murder, suggesting a potential plot to cause chaos on the day of the Empress Dowager's banquet. He pointed out that the river in Zhushui Village flowed directly into the capital, making it the primary water source for its residents.
Although it was too early to confirm a link to the stolen poison, the Lead officer dispatched Su Ci to investigate the village with only a few men, dressed in plain clothes, to avoid disturbing the banquet. He also warned her to prioritize her safety and, given the precarious situation in the capital, to trust no one easily. Su Ci, in turn, advised the Lead officer to take care of his own health, given his demanding work.
Su Ci, Xie Beiming, and Dong Rushuang journeyed towards Zhushui Village. During a brief rest stop halfway through their journey, Xie Beiming sensed they were being followed from the forest. Upon reaching the village, they collected river water samples, which Dong Rushuang quickly analyzed, confirming the presence of thunder duke vine, not Udumbara poison. The village chief then approached them, expressing surprise at their swift arrival, as he had only just reported the poisoning that morning.
Su Ci found this unusual, given how quickly they had appeared after the chief's report. Their investigation took a critical turn when a coughing craftsman was brought forward. Dong Rushuang's examination revealed that he was poisoned with Udumbara, an affliction traceable to at least five days prior, indicated by a red line on his pulse. This was perplexing, as Udumbara had been missing from the capital.
The craftsman, a member of the Directorate for the Palace Buildings, confessed he had been working on the Empress Dowager's "Auspicious" fireworks, and his condition had worsened recently while finishing the grand firework. Su Ci immediately realized they had fallen into a trap, deliberately lured away from the capital.
She surmised that the missing poison might be mixed with the fireworks, an idea that horrified Dong Rushuang, who confirmed that such a mixture would be devastating and lethal to anyone in the palace. The craftsman chillingly stated that his "father" had prepared a huge surprise for those in the palace, revealing his complicity. With the city gate closing in half an hour, Su Ci understood the urgency of returning to the capital to avert disaster.
On their frantic journey back to the capital, Prince Yun's men ambushed Su Ci's group. Xie Beiming bravely confronted them, urging Su Ci to go ahead while he and Dong Rushuang created a diversion. Su Ci raced against time, arriving at the city gate just as darkness fell, only to find the fireworks display had already begun. She managed to gain entry with Prince Qi's invitation, hoping to halt the "Auspicious" firework before it was launched.
Inside the palace, amidst the beauty of the "Gorgeous Peony" fireworks, Prince Yun fabricated an urgent family matter, claiming his wife's health had worsened, and requested to leave early. The Emperor granted his departure, escorted by Officer Liu, while Prince Qi looked on with suspicion. Meanwhile, Xie Beiming and Dong Rushuang managed to reach the capital.
Fearing for his life, Xie Beiming bid a heartfelt farewell to Dong Rushuang, instructing her to return home and stay safe, as he might not survive the night. Despite his pleas, Dong Rushuang secretly followed him, unwilling to abandon him. Su Ci quickly found Fei Yuan, who was making final checks on the fireworks. Su Ci urgently revealed that the fireworks contained poison, prompting Fei Yuan to rush off to inform Prince Qi.
As Prince Qi, having already decided to personally re-check security due to the nearing end of the show, arrived at the fireworks launch site, Su Ci had already confronted the disguised craftsmen—who were revealed to be Prince Yun's suicide squads. In a desperate attempt to prevent the "Auspicious" firework from igniting, Su Ci bravely intervened but was struck on the head by an iron canister and fell unconscious.
Meanwhile, Prince Yun, observing from a distance, grew impatient when the fireworks unexpectedly ceased. He confided in his subordinate, Li Yu, that the "Auspicious" was merely one component of his grand scheme, and his true objective was to seize the throne that very night. He then instructed Li Yu to ensure that any captured suicide squads from the banquet were silenced if they fell into Prince Qi's hands.
Subsequently, Prince Yun approached Xie Beiming, falsely claiming Prince Qi was plotting rebellion, and commanded Xie Beiming to join him in a coup to arrest the Emperor. Xie Beiming, feigning compliance, agreed. Back in the palace, Commander Fu quickly reported the presence of assassins at the fireworks display to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, advising everyone to immediately move to the main hall for safety.
The news caused a stir among the attendees, including the Lead officer, who appeared visibly uneasy. Prince Qi, with Fei Yuan's help, quickly moved the unconscious Su Ci to a safe room, entrusting her care to others before returning to report the poisoned fireworks to the Emperor and Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager immediately rebuked Prince Qi for his oversight.
It was at this moment that Prince Yun, having prematurely departed, dramatically re-entered the main hall, expressing his concern about the assassins. Learning about the poison, he seized the opportunity to accuse Prince Qi, suggesting that since Prince Qi had managed the banquet, he should be recused from the investigation. Prince Yun then formally requested the Empress Dowager to hand the case over to the Mingjing Office, led by Officer Liu Xuan, implying Prince Qi might cover up the truth.
The Empress Dowager agreed, ordering Prince Qi to remain confined within the palace until the truth was uncovered. Prince Qi, accepting his confinement, agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation. The Lead officer, Liu Xuan, then escorted Prince Qi away for questioning. Shortly after, a report came in that the captured craftsmen, who were supposed to be questioned, had been found dead in their prison cells, poisoned—an apparent attempt to silence them.
Back in her room, Su Ci regained consciousness and was immediately informed by Fei Yuan that while the fireworks were stopped and everyone was safe, Prince Qi was now implicated and confined within the palace.
