Maiden Holmes Episode 4 Recap
> Maiden Holmes Recap
At the Worry-free Bar, Pei encountered Sha Du, a man from the Western Region. Pretending to be from a prominent business family, Pei initiated a conversation and confirmed Sha Du was the man Su Ci was looking for. Meanwhile, Dong Rushuang burst in, causing a scene and dragging Xie Beiming away. Fearing a misunderstanding, Xie hastily explained he had not gone to the bar willingly, worrying that Dong was giving up on him, much to her confusion.
Impressed by Pei's refined demeanor, Sha Du invited him to his private room, Tianzi Hall, the next day to watch a selection of dancing girls. To further her investigation, Su Ci disguised herself as a stunning Western dancing girl for the selection. Veiled, she entered Tianzi Hall with Hong Ye, the bar's owner, and was surprised to find Pei was also a guest.
Sha Du was captivated by Su Ci's Zhezhi Dance, and as she performed, Su Ci discreetly added a substance to his wine jug. Unable to contain himself, Sha Du tried to embrace her, but Pei intervened and pulled her away. Just as Sha Du’s excitement peaked, the drug took effect, causing him to collapse. Pei, feigning unconsciousness as well, waited until Su Ci found a hidden ledger in a secret compartment. He then sprang up and snatched it from her.
They struggled briefly, with Pei nearly tearing off her veil, just as people rushed in to find Sha Du dead. As Pei was the one drinking with him, he immediately became the prime suspect. Resuming her male attire, Su Ci revealed her Mingjing Office token to officially investigate the death. She found no signs of poisoning or wounds but discovered a golden leaf in Sha Du’s mouth, which could be fatal in large quantities.
Su Ci declared it a murder committed with an ice needle and asserted the killer was still present. During the investigation, Pei noticed the red mole behind Su Ci's ear, confirming his suspicion that she was a woman. When witnesses recalled that Hong Ye had toasted Sha Du right before he died and that her tobacco pouch was suspiciously wet, Su Ci confronted her.
Hong Ye tried to attack Su Ci but was restrained by Xie Beiming, after which she bit her tongue and committed suicide. Her death left her motives, and any connection to Magistrate Kong's death, a mystery. Su Ci and Pei returned to Tianzi Hall for a more detailed search. Su Ci found rosin powder on both Sha Du's and Hong Ye's clothes, and fresh soil mixed with rosin on Sha Du's shoes.
A dancer then provided a key clue: Hong Ye had a mysterious lover who bore a distinct, rectangular burn mark. Meanwhile, Pei analyzed the ledger he had obtained. He discovered that Sha Du’s recent black market transactions matched the amount of the missing disaster relief silver. He also noted an arrow found earlier was of a type used by assassins from the Beirong region.
Suspecting a larger conspiracy, Pei dispatched his subordinate, Fei Yuan, to deliver a letter and the arrow to the Marquis and to investigate Su Ci's background. That night, determined to retrieve the ledger, Su Ci snuck into Pei's room. She accidentally woke him, and he playfully accused her of having ulterior motives. To cover her tracks, Su Ci claimed she came to discuss the case, which led to her confessing that she was the dancer.
She explained she had to use the disguise as Sha Du was only approachable by women and was a key figure in Magistrate Kong's case. She also shared her findings about the rosin powder, suggesting Sha Du and Hong Ye had recently visited a storage location. Based on the rosin powder clue, Su Ci and Pei deduced the silver must be hidden in a cool, dry place, likely at the foot of the mountains in the northeast.
The group traveled to the location and, after a brief search, found a hidden building. Xie Beiming skillfully broke the difficult lock, and inside, they discovered the missing boxes of disaster relief silver. To celebrate, Fei Yuan prepared a lavish feast. Xie Beiming and Dong Rushuang toasted Su Ci for solving the case. Unable to drink alcohol, Su Ci accepted with tea, while Pei offered to drink on her behalf.
Su Ci then toasted everyone in turn, thanking Fei Yuan for the meal, Xie for his selfless help, Dong for her straightforwardness—which she admitted to liking—and Pei for sharing the story of Prince Qi. Later, after tasting a dish of drunken chicken, the unexpected alcohol flavor made her instinctively grab the nearest cup—which happened to be Pei's—and drink it down.
