Resumo do episódio 2 de Heart of Loyalty
> Resumos de Heart of Loyalty
Wu Zi Chu, an Imperial Bodyguard, knelt before a shadowy figure, reporting that Li Xu had been arrested by the Kaifeng City Office. The figure instructed Wu Zi Chu to prevent Official Bao from finding any incriminating evidence on Li Xu, emphasizing that he must be cautious of Zhan Zhao, known as the Imperial Cat, whose martial arts skills and intelligence were unparalleled. Wu Zi Chu assured his master that he understood.
Meanwhile, Ma Han's wife, Qin Wei Wei, who also serves as the Kaifeng City Office's cook, showed Mo Yan around, explaining that a recently dissected carpenter's death seemed suspicious. She pointed out the chambers of Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, Official Gongsun, and Official Bao, as well as Officer Zhan Zhao's room. Qin Wei Wei then led Mo Yan to the backyard, a space that had once belonged to a landlord and was later requisitioned by the City Office.
She explained that it had been vacant for years because no one among the male officials bothered with gardens and Mr. Gongsun believed the feng shui was poor. Mo Yan was assigned a large room previously used for old files and books. Qin Wei Wei left a broom and supplies for Mo Yan to tidy the room, mentioning she had to cook and that Mo Yan should head to the front yard for lunch once she was done.
After cleaning her new room, Mo Yan felt hungry. At lunchtime, she observed that only Zhan Zhao’s table had empty seats. She quietly served herself and sat alone at a distant table. Zhan Zhao called her over, telling her that a constable should eat properly and join the others.
While the other constables praised Qin Wei Wei’s cooking and chatted about mundane things, Zhan Zhao and his colleagues discussed Bai Bao Zhen’s case, noting its bizarre nature and planning another visit to the crime scene. Mo Yan impulsively offered to go to the crime scene, but Zhan Zhao firmly told her that her current task was to memorize the Officer's Manual. He stated that new constables must patrol for three months before investigating cases.
Mo Yan, who had joined specifically to investigate for her fifth brother, Li Xu, vehemently protested, stating, "I'm here to investigate on my fifth brother's behalf. Why do I need to patrol? What about him?" Zhan Zhao responded that disobeying rules and acting on impulse would lead to trouble, and if she couldn't accept the regulations, she was free to leave. Determined to find clues for Li Xu, Mo Yan attempted to sneak out of the Kaifeng City Office.
Her first attempt through a back door was thwarted by a diligent guard sweeping. Her second attempt, scaling a wall, was also foiled when she landed right in front of Zhan Zhao. He confronted her, and she claimed she was just resting after sweeping. Zhan Zhao ordered her to continue sweeping, but Mo Yan instead began to berate him, accusing him of hypocrisy.
She pointed out the damp mud on his boots and a faint perfume scent, accurately deducing he had traveled far to pay respects to the dead while neglecting his duties. Zhan Zhao, without a word, pulled her into his study. Inside the study, Zhan Zhao questioned her knowledge of the Officer's Manual. Mo Yan claimed to have memorized it entirely. When pressed on a specific rule, she recited it correctly but then falsely claimed to have been on patrol.
Zhan Zhao, however, countered by noting the damp mud on her shoes, indicating she had visited the city's western district, which was too far to have patrolled in the time she claimed. He then observed her sweeping, noting how she complained about the endless falling petals and suggested waiting to sweep them all at once, arguing it was a waste of time and she should be allowed to investigate.
Zhan Zhao retorted that her lack of patience for sweeping showed she was unfit to investigate cases. As punishment, he ordered her to copy the Officer’s Manual ten times and forbade her from eating until it was done. Mo Yan initially refused but then, wanting to investigate, reluctantly complied, thinking, "This Darn Cat is as stubborn as a mule. I'll just do what he said, then work my way out."
Exhausted, she eventually fell asleep at the desk, only to be awakened by Zhan Zhao wiping her saliva. He reminded her she wouldn't eat if she didn't finish. Suddenly, Zhan Zhao was summoned to the main hall where Wu Zi Chu, an Imperial Bodyguard, had arrived. Wu Zi Chu announced that he was there on His Majesty's oral directive to transfer Li Xu to the Ministry of Justice.
Official Bao expressed his reservations, stating that the Kaifeng City Office had not received any official notice and that Li Xu was implicated in the Bai Bao Zhen corruption case, warranting further investigation by their office. Wu Zi Chu persisted, emphasizing the Emperor's command and arguing that the murder investigation fell under the Ministry of Justice, not Kaifeng City Office. Mo Yan, who had overheard, dramatically interjected, feigning support for Wu Zi Chu, much to Zhan Zhao's annoyance.
She then turned to Wu Zi Chu and demanded to see the imperial decree. When Wu Zi Chu admitted he only had an oral directive and the written decree would take a few days, Mo Yan declared that without a proper decree, they couldn't proceed.
Official Bao seized the opportunity, suggesting Wu Zi Chu stay at the Kaifeng City Office until the decree arrived, as both the Ministry of Justice and Kaifeng City Office would be in trouble if any mistakes were made. Wu Zi Chu, outmaneuvered, reluctantly agreed. Official Bao, observing Mo Yan's quick thinking, found her quite interesting. Zhan Zhao reluctantly allowed Mo Yan to accompany him to the relay station for the investigation.
The old officer there attempted to turn them away, claiming the case was no longer under Kaifeng City Office's jurisdiction due to Wu Zi Chu’s imperial directive. Mo Yan bypassed his resistance by deducing his secret affair with a local cloth shop owner, noting his expensive Shu embroidery pants and a distinctive sandalwood scent that also permeated the shop. Fearing exposure, the old officer quickly let them in.
Inside Bai Bao Zhen’s room, Mo Yan found a newly broken tile on the wall, identifying it as a trace left by Li Xu. Both she and Zhan Zhao noticed the ink pot was nearly empty, suggesting Bai Bao Zhen had maintained frequent correspondence. Mo Yan then discovered a pin-sized mark on a bookshelf that perfectly matched the poison needle that had injured her. Zhan Zhao then theorized that a green-robed man had killed Bai Bao Zhen.
Mo Yan also found an empty Gongshu Box, a complex mechanism requiring two keys to open simultaneously, but only having one. She explained that only Li Xu, known as "The Thieving Hand," possessed the unique skill to open such a box with a single key.
This led her to conclude that Li Xu had previously stolen the account book, and the green-robed man, finding it missing, killed Bai Bao Zhen and framed Li Xu, hoping to use the authorities to recover the book. Confronted again, the old officer admitted that Bai Bao Zhen had paid him five taels of silver to keep quiet, but insisted he had been too busy to notice any specific visitors on the night of the murder.
Outside, Zhan Zhao reprimanded Mo Yan for her unethical methods, reminding her that as a constable, her actions reflected on the entire Kaifeng City Office. He stated that her temperament and manipulative tactics were unbecoming of an officer and would ultimately harm herself and others. Mo Yan argued that solving cases was paramount and demanded Li Xu's release now that the green-robed man was identified as the murderer.
Zhan Zhao refused, stripping her from the case for her unauthorized investigation and public discussion of official matters. He ordered her back to copying the Officer's Manual. Mo Yan, frustrated, called him a coward, but reluctantly accepted the punishment, thinking, "I had to copy the Manual five times and sweep the yard. Seriously. He's so cocky." While sweeping, Mo Yan noticed Zhan Zhao entering a room.
She followed him and stumbled upon a dead body, triggering a traumatic memory that caused her to faint, calling out, "Don't go!" Zhan Zhao quickly revived her. Qin Wei Wei brought Mo Yan some cassia soup to calm her. Zhan Zhao then handed Mo Yan a sachet found on the corpse, asking if the scent matched the room.
Mo Yan identified it by its novice embroidery, recognizing it as a gift from Bai Bao Zhen's daughter, explaining why he carried it even to his death. The wounds on the corpse confirmed the use of a hidden weapon. Zhan Zhao revealed that such weapons were typically made in the Imperial Palace. Mo Yan immediately connected this to Wu Zi Chu, suggesting he might be a suspect.
Zhan Zhao, noting her recovery, ordered her back to copying the rules, to which she expressed annoyance at his mood swing. Worried that Zhan Zhao might sacrifice Li Xu to protect the Imperial Palace, Mo Yan secretly went to the prison to free her brother. Li Xu, surprised but seemingly in control, urged her to return to Shuzhong, citing her poor Qinggong skills as a reason she couldn't accompany him.
As Mo Yan struggled to pick the lock, Wu Zi Chu suddenly appeared in the cell, threatening her and ordering her back where she came from. Mo Yan accused him of framing Li Xu and attempting to silence him. Just as Wu Zi Chu drew his sword, Zhan Zhao arrived.
Zhan Zhao declared that as long as he was there, no one from the Kaifeng City Office would be taken away, challenging Wu Zi Chu, a fellow Imperial Bodyguard, to a duel. After a brief fight, Wu Zi Chu, realizing he was outmatched by Zhan Zhao's improved martial arts, retreated, bidding farewell. Mo Yan seized the moment to tell Li Xu loudly that she would go to Gusu to find the true account book.
Zhan Zhao immediately expelled her from the prison, scolding her. He then pressed Li Xu, asking who he was truly working for, but Li Xu scoffed, "Of course, I'd give myself to the highest bidder." After Zhan Zhao left, Wu Zi Chu sent a message to someone outside using a raven. Later, Zhan Zhao confronted Mo Yan, demanding her constable token.
Mo Yan clung to his robes, tearfully apologizing for her unruly behavior and pleading for another chance, promising to abide by the rules. Zhan Zhao, uncomfortable with her physical closeness, told her it was indecent and tried to make her let go. Mo Yan then explained her earlier actions, revealing that Li Xu’s calm demeanor when facing Wu Zi Chu and his false confession suggested he knew he would be rescued.
She surmised that Wu Zi Chu intended to protect Li Xu, while the green-robed man wanted to frame him, indicating two opposing factions. Her public mention of Gusu was a calculated move, she explained, to "lure the mastermind out." Seeing her genuine tears and intricate explanation, Zhan Zhao hesitated, eventually relenting and allowing her to keep the token, but on the condition that she would obey him and not interfere with the account book case. Mo Yan agreed, but secretly, she resolved that Kaifeng City Office was unreliable and she would obtain the real account book first, to use as leverage in future negotiations.
