Resumo do episódio 8 de Heart of Loyalty
> Resumos de Heart of Loyalty
As Bai Ying Yu prepared to fetch more water after her meal, Xiao Chen sensed hidden figures in the courtyard and called them out. A group of assassins emerged, declaring they were sent by Official Zhang to take Xiao Chen's life. Xiao Chen swiftly dispatched several of them, then looked at a terrified Bai Ying Yu and asked if she could commit such an act.
Meanwhile, Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan, returning to Kaifeng City Office after their patrol, were also ambushed by assassins but Zhan Zhao protected Mo Yan and repelled the attackers. Upon their arrival at the office, they found Bao Zheng, Xiao Chen, and Bai Ying Yu already there. Bao Zheng informed Zhan Zhao that Miss Bai and Master Xiao had also been attacked.
Zhan Zhao quickly shielded Mo Yan from the sight of the assassins' bodies that Qin Wei Wei was preparing to move to the morgue. Mo Yan confirmed that she and Zhan Zhao had also encountered assassins on their patrol but were unharmed. One of Bao Zheng's subordinates reported that the assassins claimed to be acting on Official Zhang's orders. Zhan Zhao expressed disbelief, questioning why Zhang Yao Zuo would target them.
Observing the bodies, Zhan Zhao noticed a distinct dark flower embroidery on their night clothes. Mo Yan immediately recalled seeing the same embroidery on the clothing of the green-robed men they had previously encountered. Shortly after, news arrived that Zhang Yao Zuo himself was dead. To ensure a thorough investigation and prevent anyone involved from escaping, Bao Zheng immediately ordered a city-wide lockdown, prohibiting all entry and exit.
This development meant Xiao Chen and his companions could not leave Kaifeng, a fact that secretly pleased Zhan Zhao, Mo Yan, and Bai Ying Yu. The next morning, at breakfast, Li Xu questioned Xiao Chen about the previous night's assassination attempt, but Xiao Chen vaguely dismissed it as a minor incident common in the martial arts world.
Mo Yan was relieved they couldn't leave, remarking that Zhan Zhao had told her not to believe in superstitions regarding Zhang Yao Zuo's death, which was being rumored as divine wrath. Li Xu teased Mo Yan, implying her happiness was due to being able to stay with Zhan Zhao longer, causing Mo Yan to blush and leave to investigate the case.
At Zhang's residence, the death of Zhang Yao Zuo quickly fueled rumors of divine wrath across the city, with many celebrating his demise. Madam Zhang vehemently resisted the Kaifeng City Office's investigation, accusing them of murdering her husband and Bao Zheng of corruption. Zhan Zhao sternly reminded her not to obstruct official duties. Zhang Feng, feigning deep sorrow, approached Zhan Zhao, urging him to investigate Zhang Yao Zuo's death and dispel the rumors of heavenly punishment.
Zhan Zhao, reaffirming his disbelief in superstitions, promised a thorough investigation. After Zhang Feng left, Zhan Zhao instructed his subordinates to begin their work, but then paused, seemingly waiting for Mo Yan. Mo Yan soon arrived, noting Zhan Zhao's wait with a warm smile, and the two headed to the crime scene together. At the crime scene, Zhan Zhao suggested Mo Yan wait outside, concerned she might be frightened by the sight of Zhang Yao Zuo's body.
Mo Yan, however, displayed the jade pot Zhan Zhao had given her, confidently stating it made her brave enough to face anything, as she aspired to be a detective. Stepping inside, Zhan Zhao pointed out bloodstains at the doorway and, reaching the body, gently covered Mo Yan's eyes, urging her not to look. He instructed her to turn away, promising to describe the scene to her.
He noted leftover dishes and a wine cup on the table, indicating Zhang Yao Zuo was dining when the murderer arrived. Zhan Zhao described the charred remains of Zhang Yao Zuo, observing that while the body was severely burnt, the surrounding furniture remained largely intact, and, most strangely, Zhang Yao Zuo's feet were completely unharmed. He also pointed out a peculiar yellow substance beneath the body.
Mo Yan suggested it might be vomit, but Zhan Zhao dismissed the idea, stating an experienced killer would not react that way, and the substance didn't resemble vomit. Unable to resist her curiosity, Mo Yan turned to look at the gruesome scene, immediately feeling dizzy and nearly fainting. Zhan Zhao swiftly caught her, and Mo Yan, recovering, apologized for not heeding his warning.
At her father's tombstone, Bai Ying Yu mourned not being able to personally bring Zhang Yao Zuo to justice. With his death, she felt her mission was complete and, having no other ties, attempted to end her own life. Xiao Chen intervened just in time, stopping her before she collapsed into his arms from exhaustion. Back at the Kaifeng City Office, a recovered Mo Yan eagerly sought updates on the case from Qin Wei Wei.
Qin Wei Wei reported that Zhang Yao Zuo had a sharp weapon wound on his chest, and while his body surface was severely burned, the deeper layers showed no signs of charring, as if the fire only affected the exterior. Mo Yan immediately connected this to the "wick" phenomenon and, with Zhan Zhao, went to Gongsun Ce's study to research historical records. After diligent searching, Mo Yan presented her findings to Bao Zheng, Gongsun Ce, Zhan Zhao, and the others.
She revealed that Zhang Yao Zuo's unusual death, initially attributed to divine wrath, was a rare but explainable phenomenon. Citing a historical account from Official Gongsun's books about a concubine who spontaneously combusted, Mo Yan explained that a deeply intoxicated, obese individual, whose clothes were soaked in alcohol and then ignited, would essentially become a human candle. His clothing acted as a wick, and his abundant subcutaneous fat served as the wax, continuously fueling the fire until completely consumed.
This process produced heavy black smoke, blackening the ceiling and walls, while melted fat without a wick would collect on the floor without igniting, explaining the yellow substance. Crucially, because Zhang Yao Zuo was drunk and not wearing shoes or socks, his feet remained unburnt. The killer, expecting the entire room to burn, likely left in haste, inadvertently creating the "divine wrath" illusion.
Mo Yan demonstrated this with a roasted piglet, showing how the pig burned while its surrounding support remained untouched, proving the theory. Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan then questioned Zhang Feng about any suspicious activity at the residence the previous night. Zhang Feng, still feigning grief, claimed there was nothing unusual. After Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan departed, Zhang Feng's demeanor shifted. He confronted an injured assassin who had escaped from the earlier attack on Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan.
The assassin, fearful, assured Zhang Feng that his face was covered during the ambush, so Zhan Zhao wouldn't recognize him. Zhang Feng, satisfied, gave him an apple, then ordered him to take advantage of the Kaifeng City Office's preoccupation with the current case to transport a large sum of silver from the Feifeng Courtesan House.
He suggested killing everyone involved to ensure secrecy, and the assassin, vowing to complete the mission, accepted the task, knowing his family's fate depended on it. Zhang Feng reveled in the fear his subordinates held for him. At the Feifeng Courtesan House, Ning Jin and Li Xu were engaged in a gambling game, with Li Xu consistently winning.
Li Xu also spoke extensively about Mo Yan, describing her stubborn but expressive personality and how she always lost their childhood gambling games but never gave up. He playfully teased Ning Jin, urging him to learn better gambling skills if he wanted to impress Mo Yan. Their conversation was interrupted when a waiter asked them to move, as their private room had been reserved by three imposing, armed men.
Despite Ning Jin's initial annoyance, they conceded the room, noting the unusual and suspicious behavior. Later, after being moved to another room, Li Xu revealed he had secretly checked the guesthouse records and discovered that Zhang Feng was the most frequent visitor, connecting Zhang's family to the suspicious activities at the Feifeng Courtesan House. Ning Jin decided they needed to investigate further.
Shortly after, an assassin reported to Zhang Feng that a separate batch of goods had been successfully placed in the Feifeng Courtesan House. Zhang Feng, calling the assassin closer to whisper instructions, then mercilessly killed him to ensure his silence, shocking the unsuspecting subordinate. Despite solving the mystery of Zhang Yao Zuo's peculiar death, a breakthrough in identifying the killer remained elusive.
Mo Yan pondered the unusual circumstances: the victim's silent death despite the presence of guards, and his act of removing his shoes and socks. She theorized that Zhang Yao Zuo might have been attempting a feint against a killer who couldn't see, suggesting a highly skilled blind assailant. Zhan Zhao acknowledged her theory lacked concrete proof and left to check on the status of Zhang Yao Zuo's body at the morgue, promising to share any new leads.
Left alone, Mo Yan’s thoughts drifted to Xiao Chen, wondering if her Second Brother could have entered Zhang's residence unnoticed. Meanwhile, Xiao Chen paid his respects at a memorial for his fallen brothers, stating that they could now rest in peace with Zhang Yao Zuo's demise. Zhan Zhao then confronted Xiao Chen, directly accusing him of Zhang Yao Zuo's murder, citing the earlier assassination attempt on Xiao Chen by Zhang Yao Zuo's men.
Xiao Chen recounted how Zhang Yao Zuo had repeatedly tried to recruit him, but he consistently refused, preferring to remain independent. He also mentioned receiving a box containing a human head, which he understood as a warning. Xiao Chen explained that Zhang Yao Zuo, fearing exposure of his secret plan to recruit martial artists for an organization called "Anhua," had begun eliminating those aware of it.
Mo Yan, who had rejoined them, immediately connected this "Anhua" to the dark flower embroidery seen on the assassins' clothes, realizing it was their symbol of communication. Xiao Chen expressed his sorrow for the innocent martial artists who had died and his determination to prevent further bloodshed. Feeling he needed to speak with Zhan Zhao privately, Xiao Chen asked Mo Yan to leave.
Mo Yan, concerned about the accusations against her brother, reluctantly agreed only after Zhan Zhao promised not to arrest Xiao Chen until the truth was fully uncovered. After Mo Yan left, Xiao Chen directly confronted Zhan Zhao about his feelings for Mo Yan. He cautioned Zhan Zhao against allowing selfish desires to keep Mo Yan in the dangerous Kaifeng City Office, emphasizing that Mo Yan was still young and innocent, while Zhan Zhao, as a seasoned officer, should know better.
Xiao Chen reminded him of Zhan Zhao's unstable emotions during sword practice at Ningjin Manor, clearly discerning Zhan Zhao's emotional entanglement. Zhan Zhao, chastened, admitted his oversight and promised to reconsider the matter carefully. Later, Bai Ying Yu visited Xiao Chen, thanking him for saving her life and expressing her concern for his well-being after seeing Zhan Zhao leave his room.
She subtly referenced Zhang Yao Zuo's death being attributed to divine wrath, hinting at her suspicion of Xiao Chen's involvement. Xiao Chen, however, advised her to simply live and not to dwell on past foolish acts like attempting suicide, reminding her that self-harm was unfilial. Bai Ying Yu, acknowledging his words, returned her knife to him as a keepsake before taking her leave.
Zhan Zhao wrestled with Xiao Chen's words, concluding internally that for Mo Yan's safety, he should indeed let her leave Kaifeng. As Mo Yan was about to depart, making Zhan Zhao feel a profound sense of loss, she approached him for a final conversation. Their talk was abruptly interrupted by the loud, urgent beating of the drum of grievances at the Kaifeng City Office's main gate, revealing Bai Ying Yu as the one seeking justice.
