The Imperial Coroner 2 resumo, enredo, sinopse

Sinopse de The Imperial Coroner 2

Follows the young team of the Three Judicial Offices as they collaborate to "defend against external threats," meticulously unraveling and connecting seemingly unrelated cases one by one. Together, they strive not only to protect the peace and safety of the people but also to safeguard the stability and security of the nation.

Resumos de The Imperial Coroner 2

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Three years have passed since Chu Chu, driven by her lifelong admiration for the legendary "Great Judge," traveled to the capital to participate in the coroner's examination at the Three Judicial Offices. During that exam, she famously mistook Prince Xiao Jinyu for a test subject, but her exceptional talent earned her a place on the team.

After solving major cases and receiving royal honors, Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu have settled into life as both a married couple and professional partners. As the Emperor’s birthday, the Shouchang Festival, approaches, the capital prepares to lift its curfew. However, an unsettling atmosphere grips the palace following a frightening incident involving two guards on patrol and rumors of a haunting among the terrified palace maids.

While preparing for the palace banquet, Xiao Jinyu personally helps Chu Chu with her hair and makeup. Having studied palace etiquette under Leng Yue, Chu Chu is determined to represent the Three Judicial Offices with dignity, viewing this as her first formal appearance in years.

When Leng Yue arrives with their attire, Xiao Jinyu deduces from gold powder and moss on her clothing that her carriage was delayed at the West Market, a display of observation that leaves Leng Yue impressed. Meanwhile, at the palace, several officials grumble about Xiao Jinyu’s interference in their affairs, unaware that Jing Yi is eavesdropping nearby. Chu Chu initially questions why she cannot wear her coroner’s uniform—which she considers her true official dress—to the event.

Leng Yue encourages her, predicting that she will one day break through such prejudices, but for now, Chu Chu is resolute in showing the court that the Commandery Princess Consort is second to none. At the banquet, Xiao Jinyu maintains his professional distance from foreign envoys seeking favors.

When a Nanzhao envoy attempts a verbal provocation, Xiao Jinyu counters by demanding Nanzhao’s cooperation in returning border citizens who were lured away by promises of wealth, insisting the cases remain open until the individuals are returned, dead or alive. As the feast begins, the guests are divided by gender. Chu Chu pays her respects to Consort Hui, who currently manages palace affairs.

When Chu Chu rises, her coroner’s tools accidentally fall from her person, drawing sharp criticism from the wife of the Governor of Jingzhao. Chu Chu calmly defends her profession, and Consort Hui eventually silences the bickering. The festivities are soon interrupted when a human skull suddenly "leaps" out of a pond, terrifying a palace maid. Leng Yue catches the skull, and Chu Chu immediately performs a preliminary examination.

She identifies the victim as a male around thirty years old with a missing tooth and specific dental wear. She explains the skull's movement was caused by a frog hiding inside and estimates the man has been dead for approximately six months. A jurisdictional dispute ensues when Consort Hui insists on handling the matter privately under palace rules. Chu Chu argues that a murderer may still be hiding in the palace.

When Consort Hui’s senior maid, Shi Qing, attempts to seize the skull by force, she is rebuffed by Leng Yue. The commotion brings the Emperor and Xiao Jinyu to the scene. Xiao Jinyu expertly navigates the situation, convincing the Emperor to let Chu Chu—his personally appointed coroner—lead the investigation to ensure a quiet and efficient resolution during the festival. Consort Hui is forced to comply, though the Emperor later reprimands her for her poor judgment.

Chu Chu believes the rest of the remains are still in the pond and notes that the victim likely suffered from chronic toothaches and dietary restrictions, traits his associates would remember. Xiao Jinyu enlists his brother, Xiao Jinli, to dredge the pond while Jing Yi is tasked with questioning the guards and eunuchs. Chu Chu and Leng Yue plan to interview the palace maids the following day.

During the investigation, Chu Chu’s brother, Chu He, arrives with her belongings from home, nearly being mistaken for an assassin in the process. Xiao Jinyu reflects on the value of Chu Chu’s role, noting that her status as a female coroner provides them with essential access to the palace. The group remains suspicious of Consort Hui, with Leng Yue noting that the Consort appears strangely afraid of Chu Chu.

The next day, Xiao Jinli reports that no other bones were found in the pond. Xiao Jinyu suspects the remains were moved by the current or scavenged by fish. While scouting the grounds, he discovers a secluded area in the rockery outside the usual patrol routes. There, Chu Chu finds stunted pumpkin vines, suggesting seeds were accidentally brought to the shaded spot. Nearby, Leng Yue spots signs of wear on the stones, indicating the hidden location has been frequently visited.

Xiao Jinyu investigated the palace rockery, asking his brother, Xiao Jinli, to help measure a worn patch on the stone. He concluded the markings matched the height of a man’s belt, indicating a struggle. Nearby, Chu Chu discovered a bead that Leng Yue identified as a common ornament for palace maids, suggesting a maid was involved in the fight. Soon, the rest of the victim's skeleton was recovered from the pond.

During the autopsy, Chu Chu noted bloodstains on the fontanelle and tooth roots, which pointed to a massive blow to the lower body. She explained that such trauma causes a person to gasp and hold their breath, forcing blood upward. The fracture of the pubic arch confirmed this. Xiao Jinyu theorized the killer was a woman with martial training who used this tactic to overcome a stronger man.

The victim was identified as Wu Liang, a guard known for his frequent toothaches. Although it was believed he had resigned after coming into money six months prior, the discovery of his saber, numbered "Bing Twenty-Three," in the pond proved otherwise. Records showed he was last seen guarding the secluded rockery on the night of the palace garden banquet. As the investigation unsettled the palace, Consort Hui voiced her concerns to the Emperor.

Chu Chu appeared, claiming she could identify the culprit if she could borrow several of the Consort’s maids. During a surprise test, Jing Yi launched an attack on the group. While most of the maids were terrified, Shi Qing instinctively defended herself with skilled martial arts, exposing her hidden abilities. Shi Qing confessed to killing Wu Liang after he insulted her, insisting she acted alone.

However, Xiao Jinyu found it unlikely that she could hide such a secret for six months without suspicion. At Jinyu’s request, Chu Chu examined Shi Qing and confirmed there was no sign of sexual assault. Instead, she discovered a scar on Shi Qing's arm consistent with a defensive wound from a guard’s saber.

Chu Chu concluded that Wu Liang had actually attempted to kill Shi Qing with a throat strike, and she had merely fought back to save her own life. Shi Qing eventually admitted that Wu Liang fell into the pond after she struck his vitals in self-defense. Despite Consort Hui’s pleas for mercy, the Emperor ordered Shi Qing’s execution for the violation of palace rules and the loss of life.

To maintain decorum during the ongoing festival, Xiao Jinyu suggested delaying the sentence until after the celebrations. Afterward, Jinyu comforted a guilt-ridden Chu Chu, reminding her that their duty is to reveal the impartial truth. That evening, Jinyu invited Chu Chu’s brother, Chu He, to dinner. Despite boasting about his tolerance, Chu He passed out after a single cup of Willow Leaf Wine. While drunk, he spoke of Chu Chu’s stubborn loyalty to those she loves.

The next day, Jing Yi and Leng Yue searched Wu Liang’s home. Leng Yue found footprints from two different seasons—peach blossom and mulberry—indicating the house had been searched at least twice. Jing Yi discovered a secret room behind a Go board filled with stolen palace treasures. Jinyu realized Wu Liang was likely a middleman for palace staff stealing valuables due to the state's strained treasury.

While searching, Leng Yue found letters from various maids to Wu Liang, though none were from Shi Qing. Jinyu suspected that Wu Liang might have tried to blackmail Shi Qing, leading to the fatal encounter. Despite the palace’s desire to settle the matter quietly, Jinyu insisted that the Three Judicial Offices must pursue total justice. Later, as Jing Yi nearly leaked a surprise Jinyu was planning for Chu Chu, Jinyu punished him by ordering him to patrol the streets of Chang'an for the night.

Jing Yi is left feeling dejected after being assigned to patrol the streets, lamenting that even Leng Yue refuses to take his side. Leng Yue, however, believes he brought this upon himself by nearly spoiling the romantic surprise Xiao Jinyu had meticulously planned for Chu Chu. Despite his grumbling, Jing Yi reminds Leng Yue that since their marriage, he has handed over his entire salary to her, and he successfully convinces her to treat him to a meal.

Back at the manor, Xiao Jinyu unveils his surprise for Chu Chu: a hand-painted portrait of their wedding day to commemorate the third anniversary of their first meeting. He expresses deep regret for their wedding, which had been a tactical design to capture rebels, even forcing Chu Chu to risk her safety by impersonating the Emperor.

Chu Chu warmly dismisses his apologies, telling him that standing by his side to eliminate traitors made her feel like a heroine from a "huaben". She admits she forgot the date and has no gift to give, but Xiao Jinyu is simply happy to be with her.

They share an intimate moment where Chu Chu recites poetry by Cao Zhi she found in the palace maids' letters, though she remains puzzled by a specific line about being "rescued from beneath the duckweed." The next morning, Jing Yi delivers his report, which includes a list of the city's best food stalls. He also shares a piece of news: the previous night, Wu Jiang got Chu He completely drunk.

In his intoxicated state, Chu He wandered the streets questioning everyone about whether Xiao Jinyu treated Chu Chu well or kept any mistresses, clearly still protective of his sister. Meanwhile, Chu Chu and Leng Yue cross-reference handwriting from palace records to identify the authors of the mysterious letters found in the guard Wu Liang’s possession. When the identified maids are brought in, they are paralyzed with fear, begging for secrecy.

They explain that any scandal involving a guard could lead to severe punishment under palace rules or even death. Chu Chu realizes that while Wu Liang is dead and Shi Qing is prepared to take the blame, the underlying rot in the palace remains a threat; if Shi Qing dies without the truth being told, another predator like Wu Liang will eventually take his place.

Jing Yi informs Xiao Jinyu that while the stolen items from Wu Liang’s stash match most palace records, several pieces of imperial calligraphy and paintings gifted to Consort Hui are missing. He reasons that Wu Liang wouldn't have dared to sell them, as trading imperial gifts is a crime punishable by the execution of an entire clan. Later, while walking through the palace, Chu Chu and Leng Yue witness an older eunuch bullying a younger one.

Chu Chu learns the bully's name is Li Fuping, finally realizing that the "duckweed" mentioned in the letters referred to him. When questioned, Li Fuping disparages a maid named Liu'er, claiming she was "indiscreet" and had suffered a miscarriage. The investigation takes a darker turn when Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu examine the sachets Wu Liang gave to various maids. They discover the sachets contain a mixture of musk and cinnabar—a combination that causes miscarriages and leads to permanent barrenness.

To break the silence, Jing Yi poses as Wu Liang’s ghost to terrify Liu'er into speaking. The truth finally emerges: Liu'er had been cornered by Li Fuping until Wu Liang "saved" her. They began a secret affair, and she eventually became pregnant. However, Wu Liang was a habitual deceiver who was involved with multiple women simultaneously.

He had used the poisoned sachets to ensure Liu'er would never bear his child and later coerced her into stealing Consort Hui’s paintings by threatening to have her entire family executed for her "improper conduct." Liu'er admits that Shi Qing discovered the truth while trying to stop Liu'er from committing suicide.

Shi Qing realized Wu Liang was a predator who had harmed many women in the palace and decided to confront him to seek justice, only to kill him by accident during the struggle. Chu Chu visits Shi Qing in prison and shares their findings. Shi Qing confesses but remains adamant about her silence, fearing that if the truth about the maids' "misconduct" is revealed, they will be shunned for the rest of their lives.

She views her death as a necessary sacrifice to protect the girls' hope for survival. As the execution nears, Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu grapple with a moral dilemma. Xiao Jinyu feels that allowing a woman to die for a criminal like Wu Liang is a betrayal of the laws of the Tang. Chu Chu argues that the law should be a light that heals, not a tool that exposes the trauma of the innocent to public ridicule.

She asks him to wait, hoping for a better resolution. At the execution grounds, just as Shi Qing is offered the poisoned liquor as a final mercy, Liu'er and a group of other palace maids courageously rush forward. They present evidence and declare themselves witnesses to Wu Liang’s crimes, pleading for a reopening of the case. Faced with this collective stand for justice, Xiao Jinyu calls for a stay of execution so the Palace Domestic Service can formally reinvestigate.

Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu celebrate the third anniversary of their first meeting. Reflecting on their past, Xiao Jinyu expresses regret that their wedding occurred amidst the chaos of a mission, but Chu Chu remains deeply content with their life together. Meanwhile, following the revelation that the palace maids were finally willing to step forward, the attending eunuch finds himself in a difficult position regarding the legal proceedings.

Xiao Jinyu orders a formal retrial to clear the innocent, an outcome Chu Chu had patiently waited for. She explains that forcing the truth out of the traumatized maids would have been as dangerous as abruptly waking a sleepwalker; by allowing them to find their own courage, she ensured they wouldn't spend their lives trapped in a psychological nightmare.

When the Emperor learns of the loyalty shown among the maids, he issues an imperial edict pardoning Shi Qing of all charges. Consort Hui, currently overseeing the inner palace, requests to handle the remaining maids' discipline. While she publicly maintains strict palace rules, her intentions are merciful; she suppresses the scandal and arranges for the girls to be quietly sent home after the New Year alongside a group of veteran maids.

Shi Qing later visits Chu Chu to deliver handmade handkerchiefs from the girls as a token of gratitude, heartening Chu Chu with the news of Consort Hui’s hidden kindness. Diplomatic tensions soon escalate as the Nanzhao delegation’s arrival is delayed. Vice Envoy Gao Luoqian attempts to blame the Great Tang for the disappearance of their Second Prince, You Chen’an.

However, Xiao Jinyu counters by revealing that Nanzhao agents have lured over ten thousand Tang citizens across the border with false promises of high-paying gold mining jobs, only for them to vanish. The Emperor, frustrated by Nanzhao’s suspicious behavior, appoints Xiao Jinyu to oversee the delegation's affairs with the authority to act first and report later. In the capital, Chu He informs Chu Chu that he has taken over a pharmacy from a retiring acquaintance.

Xiao Jinyu welcomes him to stay at the manor to help ease Chu Chu’s homesickness. On the pharmacy’s opening day, Chu He draws a massive crowd by offering a specialized health tea recommended by Xiao Jinyu and promising discounts to anyone who knows his sister or the Prince. Amidst the bustle, Jing Yi uses a secret code to capture a Nanzhao spy.

The captive is a newly activated agent who only knows to take orders from a mysterious figure known as "Peacock." Simultaneously, Gao Luoqian receives a secret message instructing him to follow Peacock's lead. When the delegation finally arrives at the outskirts of the city, they claim they were delayed after losing their way. A maid named Yu Luo emerges from the carriage, claiming You Chen’an has caught a severe cold and cannot appear.

Suspecting foul play, Xiao Jinyu insists on proper etiquette, requiring the principal envoy to alight. Gao Luoqian is visibly shocked when You Chen’an actually steps out, having clearly expected him to be dead. Although the Prince maintains a calm facade while presenting the state letter for peace, Chu Chu immediately notices his unsteady gait and the makeup used to hide his sickly complexion. Once settled at the residence, You Chen’an collapses and begins vomiting blood.

Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu intervene, with Chu Chu offering to examine his injuries. Despite Yu Luo’s initial hesitation regarding a coroner's role, Chu Chu explains her skills are necessary to save his life. She guides the maid through cleansing the wound with liquor and hot water, discovering that while an initial treatment was skillful, residual poison remains. She treats the infection just in time, noting that further delay would have been fatal.

You Chen’an reveals he was saved by an old acquaintance—also a coroner—after being pursued through the woods during the journey. As You Chen’an recovers, Jing Yi rounds up several Nanzhao assassins, offering them Tang citizenship and safety for their families in exchange for the truth. Analyzing the situation, Chu Chu finds Gao Luoqian’s indifference to the Prince’s safety bizarre.

Xiao Jinyu explains the political landscape: You Chen’an is the King of Nanzhao’s adopted son, making him a "variable" in a court balanced by established factions. Gao Luoqian, being the brother of the Eldest Prince’s wife, is a staunch rival. Eventually, You Chen’an is moved to the safety of the Three Judicial Offices.

He speaks candidly about his life as a target since age ten, suggesting the King of Nanzhao sent him on this mission as a "sacrificial stone" to test the political waters. Grateful for his life, he provides detailed insights into the internal chaos of the Nanzhao court.

Master Shenguan, an eminent monk from Nanzhao, had become a sensation among the nobility of Chang’an. When the wife of Vice Minister Zhao from the Ministry of Rites sought his services for a prayer ritual, he initially claimed his schedule was already full. However, once she presented a handwritten letter from Consort Hui to ensure his attendance, he agreed to the request.

Despite an extinguished stick of incense being seen as an ill omen by his disciple, Shenguan remained focused on his secret mission in the capital. Observing a peacock that had wandered into the temple, he merely remarked that its presence was a unique karmic sign governed by fate. In the Nanzhao royal court, the King spoke with his eldest son, You Longsheng, regarding the strategic importance of the current situation.

The King revealed that his second son, You Chen’an, was merely a pawn sent to Chang’an as part of a larger game of chess. He warned Longsheng against making reckless moves, believing that by sacrificing the necessary pieces, Nanzhao would eventually emerge victorious. A welcome banquet was held in Chang’an to honor You Chen’an’s arrival. The atmosphere was thick with tension as Vice Minister Huang Lv offered a toast that subtly emphasized Nanzhao’s subservience to the Great Tang.

Despite his lingering illness, many officials pressured the Second Prince to drink. Xiao Jinyu eventually stepped in to de-escalate the situation, drinking a cup of wine on behalf of his wife, Chu Chu, when You Chen’an offered a toast to thank them for saving his life.

Later, Xiao Jinyu explained the grim reality of the Nanzhao court to Chu Chu, noting that Chen’an, born to a lowly mother but thrust into a high status, was being used as a "whetstone" and a shield for the Eldest Prince. Chu Chu felt a deep pang of sympathy for Chen’an, realizing he was a victim struggling to survive in the cracks of a power struggle.

With the night curfew lifted in the capital, the Three Judicial Offices were overwhelmed by a surge of criminal cases. Chu Chu threw herself into her work, performing autopsies for eighteen consecutive hours until Xiao Jinyu insisted she stop to eat. To solve the long-term issue of the heavy workload, he proposed recruiting new coroners to be placed under her command. However, the initial recruitment efforts were discouraging.

Candidates lacked the ability to perform "scene reconstruction," and many were deterred by gossip, suspecting that Chu Chu’s title as the Imperial Coroner was merely an honorary gift given for Xiao Jinyu's sake rather than a mark of her own skill. Hoping to find hidden talent among the common people, Xiao Jinyu arranged for a special apprentice recruitment with fewer restrictions.

Chu Chu's brother, Chu River, helped by posting notices, but his promises of high pay and official ranks attracted the wrong crowd. A large number of applicants turned up, only to flee in disgust upon encountering a disfigured corpse in the autopsy room. Amidst this failure, Chu River reunited with You Chen’an, revealing they were old friends who had met years ago at the Qianzhou border.

The truth of Chen’an’s tragic past came to light: he was the biological son of the Nanzhao King, conceived when the King raped a humble stablewoman. Abandoned at a hunting ground and later fostered in Qianzhou, Chen’an had lived a life of constant endurance. Xiao Jinyu reported these findings to the Emperor, noting that while Chen’an appeared submissive, his true intentions remained unclear.

The Emperor decided to keep the Second Prince in the capital as a guest—and a potential hostage—to maintain leverage over Nanzhao. Meanwhile, the Nanzhao King remained unfazed, plotting to neutralize Great Tang’s capable commander, General Xie Huaiding. Back at the Three Judicial Offices, You Chen’an sought out Chu Chu in the autopsy room, expressing a sincere desire to learn her craft. He passed her test by accurately reconstructing a scene involving a victim who died while squatting.

To seal the deal, he showed her a remarkably detailed anatomical chart of the human body, offering to share it if she accepted him as her disciple. As Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu discussed the delicate political implications of taking Chen’an as a student, Jing Yi brought news regarding Master Shenguan. After monitoring the monk’s movements, Jing Yi discovered that Shenguan, despite his holy reputation, had been seen entering the Bureau of Entertainment in plain clothes.

Investigations revealed that Shenguan had originally been an undistinguished wandering monk from Great Tang before gaining fame in Nanzhao. Xiao Jinyu realized that this connection could be the key to uncovering the mysterious "Peacock" and the Nanzhao spy network. Later, during a private dinner at the Guangtai Tower, Xiao Jinyu broached the subject of the anatomical chart with You Chen’an.

Although the prince claimed the chart was too precious to lend, Xiao Jinyu noted that he had already offered it as a condition for joining the Three Judicial Offices, sensing that the prince was determined to stay close to them.

You Chen'an maintained that his anatomical chart was too precious to lend, suggesting instead that if Chu Chu accepted him as a disciple, the bond of mentorship would make sharing it appropriate. Xiao Jinyu remained firm, stating that entry into the Three Judicial Offices was a significant matter requiring an imperial decree. Consequently, You Chen'an sought an audience with the Emperor, expressing a desire to study forensics in the Great Tang.

He claimed a lifelong interest in the craft and credited Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu with saving his life during several assassination attempts on his journey to the capital. Seeing an opportunity to eventually spread Tang culture to Nanzhao, the Emperor granted his request. Following the decree, You Chen'an voluntarily offered the chart to Xiao Jinyu, apologizing for his earlier "small tricks" and praising the Prince for not using his authority to coerce him.

Xiao Jinyu later explained to Chu Chu that You Chen'an’s induction was a calculated move coordinated with the Emperor to keep the mysterious prince under surveillance. Although You Chen'an appeared simple and straightforward, Xiao Jinyu warned that his lack of flaws was suspicious. He then presented Chu Chu with a replica of the chart he had drawn from memory.

Upon examination, Chu Chu was unsettled; she noted the drawings were so precise they suggested the live dissection of a single individual. More disturbingly, she pointed out that the physical features in the chart—the eyes, nose, and mouth—bore an uncanny resemblance to Xiao Jinyu himself. Dressed in local attire to signal his commitment to the coroner’s path, You Chen'an officially joined the Three Judicial Offices.

When questioned by Chu Chu about the chart’s origin, he admitted he did not know who drew it, only that it had been given to him by his father, the King of Nanzhao. Meanwhile, the Eldest Prince of Nanzhao, You Longsheng, dismissed his brother as a lowborn "stray dog" and decided to let him hide within the Three Judicial Offices while he focused on the King’s orders regarding the Jiaozhou campaign.

In the city, Jing Yi’s men lost track of the popular Master Shenguan amidst the heavy crowds of the lunar rituals. After a fruitless search, Xiao Jinyu intercepted a group of monks from Weiguo Temple transporting a cart of firewood. Noticing the cart was unusually heavy and that Master Shenguan was missing from the group, he ordered an inspection and discovered the Master’s body hidden beneath the wood.

Simultaneously, a secret letter from a contact known as "Peacock" surfaced, warning that a "martyr" would soon appear to incite trouble against the Three Judicial Offices. To uncover the truth, Xiao Jinyu provided a meal for the monks but separated them to write individual statements. He quickly deduced they had been bribed, noticing the weight of hidden gold pieces in their sleeves as they wrote.

While most of the monks claimed the Master died of heatstroke to avoid a diplomatic incident, his youngest disciple, Jing Yuan, broke down and begged for a real investigation into his master's sudden passing. Concurrently, Jing Yi and Leng Yue visited the home of a Ministry of Rites official, whose wife was Jing Yi's aunt. They noticed a heavy scent of incense and used the pretext of admiring a potted rose to probe for information.

Faced with the news of the body’s discovery, the aunt confessed that Master Shenguan had collapsed and died "as if struck by lightning" during a ritual at her home. She admitted to paying the monks to hide the body, fearing the "bad luck" of his death would implicate her family and her relative, Consort Hui. Despite the confession, the disciples maintained that the Master had no known enemies and had not met privately with any Nanzhao envoys before his death.

Gao Luoqian received a cryptic message from "The Peacock" and realized the timing was perfect to strike. He immediately prepared to head to the palace to speak with the Great Tang Emperor. Meanwhile, at the Three Judicial Offices, Chu Chu instructed Wu Jiang to guard Master Shenguan’s remains with the utmost care.

Despite her own lack of religious belief, she sought out the monks to learn about their taboos, hoping to respect their customs as long as it did not hinder the investigation. She explained to Wu Jiang that an autopsy is a difficult process for any grieving family to accept, and following these rituals might ease their sorrow and prevent future legal disputes.

The situation became complicated when You Chen'an warned Xiao Jinyu that autopsying a revered saint like Master Shenguan would lead to severe political repercussions, as Gao Luoqian would certainly use it as grounds to complain to the Emperor. The young monk, Jing Yuan, was also torn; while he desperately wanted to know the truth behind his master’s sudden death, he could not bear the thought of the master’s sacred body being desecrated.

Chu Chu attempted to mediate, promising to preserve the body's integrity. However, citing strict rules regarding contact between men and women, the monks and the Nanzhao mission firmly refused to let a woman handle the remains. The conflict soon reached the palace. During an audience, Gao Luoqian launched an attack, arguing it was fundamentally unfair for Great Tang officials to investigate a case where their own citizens might have harmed a Nanzhao saint.

He specifically targeted Chu Chu, questioning how the Three Judicial Offices could employ a woman as a coroner in defiance of established norms. Despite Lord Jiang’s defense of her exceptional talent, the Emperor eventually ruled that the investigation must continue to avoid further rumors, but he ordered Xiao Jinyu to oversee it personally and strictly forbade Chu Chu from participating to appease the foreign envoys.

After the envoys left, Xiao Jinyu tried to plead Chu Chu’s case one last time, but the Emperor remained firm. He warned that while he valued Chu Chu’s skills, if the trouble she brought to the court outweighed her contributions, she would no longer be allowed to serve. He cautioned Xiao Jinyu not to push her into a political storm that could destroy her.

Returning to his office, Xiao Jinyu followed the imperial order and summoned other coroners, telling Chu Chu to focus on other duties. Chu Chu felt a sting of frustration, realizing that despite the cases they had solved, many still saw her only as the Princess Consort rather than a capable coroner. While Jing Yi and Leng Yue investigated the Zhao residence—learning that the Master had died during a ritual and securing a suspicious-looking flower—Chu Chu devised a workaround.

She approached You Chen'an with an unconventional plan: since he was a member of the Three Judicial Offices and the chief envoy of Nanzhao, no one could object if he performed the autopsy himself. Though You Chen'an admitted he had never autopsied a real person, Chu Chu promised to guide him through every step. Under her meticulous instruction, You Chen'an used a Yin-yang Pestle to examine the body and performed the dissection.

They discovered that Master Shenguan’s congested cardiac vessels pointed toward sudden cardiac failure. You Chen'an noted that Nanzhao monks often bathed in cold water to combat the summer heat, and the strain of performing constant rituals in a new environment likely triggered the fatal heart condition. Chu Chu felt a wave of regret, realizing that if she had deduced this possibility sooner, she might have avoided cutting the master’s body at all.

Xiao Jinyu eventually secured a compromise where the Three Judicial Offices and the Nanzhao mission would issue a joint report, which You Chen'an agreed to sign. Outside, Jing Yuan remained kneeling in the rain, chanting sutras to help his master journey toward the Pure Land. Moved by the young monk’s devotion, Chu Chu ensured that vegetarian meals would be delivered to him regularly. Later, You Chen'an showed Chu Chu his detailed anatomical chart.

She was struck by its accuracy, noting that such detail could only be captured from a body examined immediately after death. When You Chen'an questioned her loyalty to Xiao Jinyu, she explained that he protects everyone under his command, and in return, she would risk everything for him. Xiao Jinyu, standing outside the door, heard her words and was deeply moved, feeling both humbled by her devotion and determined to protect her career.

You Chen'an eventually revealed that his knowledge of anatomy came from his own body. He showed Chu Chu the horrific scars on his back caused by a "cat's tongue" whip. Having grown up as a starving orphan fighting military dogs for scraps, he had learned the intricacies of the human body through a lifetime of pain. That night, Chu Chu stood by the gate and met her brother, Chu He, who had just returned in the rain.

Angry that Xiao Jinyu had seemingly sidelined her, Chu He offered his support, but Chu Chu admitted she understood that Xiao Jinyu was only trying to shield her from public scrutiny. Despite this, she confessed to feeling a sense of hurt, wishing she were capable enough to stand by his side without needing such protection. She told her brother that some truths were meant to be discovered on one's own, hoping Xiao Jinyu would eventually realize that his protection could sometimes feel like a burden.

As political tensions rise in the capital, several officials gather to discuss their resentment toward Xiao Jinyu. They are frustrated by his interference in provincial personnel matters under the guise of criminal investigations. One official, Jiang, proposes a strike against the Prince's wife, Chu Chu. Reasoning that the couple is famously devoted to one another, he suggests that dragging the Princess Consort into a scandal would be the most effective way to pull Xiao Jinyu down.

In Nanzhao, the King receives a significant update regarding the Tang general Xie Huaiding. Informants have discovered that Xie Huaiding fathered a son with a singing girl years ago, and the child is now living within Nanzhao's borders. The King mocks the Three Judicial Offices for missing such a vital secret, concluding that Xiao Jinyu is not as meticulous as his reputation suggests.

He notes with satisfaction that their operative, "Peacock," has successfully taken over the spy network surrounding the Prince, and their plan is moving forward. Meanwhile, the Emperor discusses brewing border threats with Xie Huaiding. With the Uyghurs and Tanguts to the north and Tubo to the west all eyeing the Great Tang with hostility, Nanzhao is clearly looking to profit from the chaos.

Though Xie Huaiding is eager to silence their enemies with his halberd, the Emperor remains focused on avoiding the suffering of a full-scale war. Amidst these heavy matters, Chu He brings a bit of home to the capital, offering Chu Chu authentic Qianzhou chili peppers and complaining that the local peppercorns lack the necessary heat.

When Chu Chu prepares to head to the market to buy green plums for her autopsies, Chu He offers to help carry her loads, but You Chen'an insists on going instead. Their presence at the market does not go unnoticed; officials observe the pair from a nearby tavern and call over Vice Governor Leng Baichuan to witness the scene. Seeing the Princess Consort and the Second Prince of Nanzhao together in a seemingly intimate setting fuels local gossip.

Chu Chu later returns to the Three Judicial Offices to deliver an autopsy sheet, jointly signed with You Chen'an, to Xiao Jinyu. Her professional but distant demeanor prompts Jing Yi to tease the Prince about being unsettled by matters of the heart. Xiao Jinyu quickly silences his friend by threatening to tell Leng Yue about Jing Yi’s hidden savings.

Despite the banter, Xiao Jinyu is troubled by the coincidences surrounding Master Shenguan's death, noting that the monk died just as they were closing in on the spy known as Peacock. Suspecting the monk's visit to the Music Office was not for romance, he instructs Jing Yi to investigate the singing girl, Qinxiang. Jing Yi and Leng Yue head to the Music Office to question Qinxiang.

Although she denies knowing the monk, she reacts with shock upon hearing of his death. Their conversation is cut short by the arrival of Zhao Senyao, whom Jing Yi recognizes as his own cousin. Zhao Senyao violently assaults Qinxiang for allegedly using a monk to shield herself. Leng Yue intervenes to save her. Despite the abuse, Qinxiang refuses to provide a statement, claiming they were merely "playing."

However, Jing Yi realizes that Master Shenguan had been treating Qinxiang for a medical condition and died at the Zhao residence. Simultaneously, Gao Luoqian exerts pressure on Vice Minister Huang Lyu of the Ministry of Rites. Using a combination of bribes and blackmail regarding Huang’s secret habits, Gao forces the official to demand the return of Master Shenguan's remains. Huang attempts to intimidate Chu Chu into surrendering the body while Xiao Jinyu is at the palace.

Chu Chu remains firm, stating that without a written order from the Prince or the Emperor, the remains cannot be moved. After seeing the official out, she instructs Wu Jiang to rotate guards in three watches to ensure the mortuary is protected. In search of the truth, Xiao Jinyu visits the monk's disciple, Jing Yuan.

He uses a Zen story about a monk carrying a woman across a river to illustrate that holding onto physical form can hinder the pursuit of truth. Having convinced the disciple, Xiao Jinyu meets the Emperor for drinks. He intentionally consumes several cups of osmanthus wine—a tactic learned from Jing Yi’s father—to get himself drunk and secure an imperial order for Chu Chu to perform a new autopsy.

The Emperor grants the request but warns that he cannot protect the Prince if the investigation stirs up too much political strife. Xiao Jinyu is eventually carried home in a drunken stupor by Wu Jiang and Jing Yi. In his delirium, he clings to Chu Chu, mumbling that since she loves corpses most, he will be a corpse for her. When he complains of heart pain from the alcohol, Chu Chu realizes the lengths he went to for her work.

She stays to care for him briefly before spending the night conducting a thorough examination of Master Shenguan. The following morning, Xiao Jinyu wakes with a massive hangover. Jing Yi teases him about his embarrassing behavior the night before. When Chu Chu arrives, Xiao Jinyu apologizes for trying to distance her from the case to protect her from political fallout.

Chu Chu, however, insists that as a married couple, they are bound together and must face the storms of life as one. She then delivers a breakthrough: her second autopsy has confirmed that the monk’s death was indeed suspicious and part of a deeper conspiracy.

Following the evening where Xiao Jinyu drank to the point of collapse to secure an imperial decree, Chu Chu performs a detailed re-examination of Master Shenguan. She reveals that the monk’s heart abnormalities were far too severe for him to have functioned normally before death, suggesting they were caused by an external factor. Chu Chu admits she was initially misled by the Buddhist custom of cleansing the deceased, which removed external traces of toxins.

A full autopsy reveals internal organ swelling, lung fluid, and severe ulcerations in the digestive tract—classic signs of a plant-based poison like "gut-breaking grass," which is rare in the Great Tang and originates from the southwest. Xiao Jinyu questions why this was missed earlier, and Chu Chu explains that she had limited her initial inspection to avoid causing Xiao Jinyu political trouble.

Xiao Jinyu reminds her that a coroner’s duty is to speak for the dead, regardless of the consequences or the status of those involved. The investigation gains momentum when Leng Yue and Jing Yi investigate a break-in at their residence where nothing was stolen, but several flowerpots were smashed. They notice a specific pot of roses from the Zhao estate that is suspiciously vibrant despite the extreme summer heat.

Xiao Jinyu tests the soil by placing live fish into water mixed with the earth; the fish die instantly, confirming the soil contains the poisonous remains of the tea that killed the monk. Footprints at the scene lead Jing Yi to suspect his own cousin, Zhao Senyao, an official who oversees military appointments. To confirm the connection, Chu Chu examines Qinxiang, a courtesan who was previously abused by Zhao Senyao.

Chu Chu discovers that Qinxiang is suffering from "syphilis" (red sores), a contagious disease she unintentionally passed to Zhao Senyao. Chu Chu also identifies a specific bite mark on Qinxiang’s hand. Xiao Jinyu then lures Zhao Senyao into a meeting, using an apple to match his dental patterns to the wound on Qinxiang and confirming that Zhao also carries the tell-tale red sores of the disease.

While treating Qinxiang, Chu Chu learns that the courtesan’s tragic life began when she fled a household to protect her secret child from a life of slavery. She had assumed a false identity to enter the Music Office to pay for her son’s medical bills, only for the child to be sold away.

Master Shenguan, remembering a small act of kindness she showed him years ago when he was a hungry monk, had sought her out to help her redeem herself. Chu Chu, sharing her own experience of being an orphan, encourages Qinxiang to stay strong. Meanwhile, Jing Yi uses Zhao Senyao’s deep-seated superstitions to break him. He claims the smashed roses have released a vengeful spirit that will haunt the killer.

Terrified, Zhao Senyao confesses that a "ghost guard" with a Nanzhao accent had been providing him with "longevity pills" to treat his illness. The ghost guard warned him that Master Shenguan’s ritual would drive away the spirits healing him and tricked him into poisoning the monk's tea. Zhao claims he only intended to knock the monk out but panicked and dumped the tea into the rose pot when the monk died.

At the imperial audience, Xiao Jinyu presents evidence of Nanzhao involvement. Despite the protests of the envoy Gao Luoqian, the Emperor demands an explanation from Nanzhao for the internal strife brought to the capital. In Nanzhao, the King admits to the Crown Prince that he personally orchestrated the monk's death to weaponize public anger against the Tang. Finally, a mysterious man named Kongque warns Qinxiang to remain silent about their "scented powder"—a secret southwest treasure—by using news of her lost child as leverage.

Following the arrest of Zhao Senyao for the poisoning of Master Shenguan, Chu Chu was overwhelmed with sorrow. She found it difficult to process how a man as virtuous as the Master could perish because of Zhao’s absurd superstitions. Leng Yue comforted her, affirming that their work at the Three Judicial Offices was essential to ensuring the truth—much like the moon—would eventually be revealed in full.

However, Chu Chu noticed a logical flaw: Qinxiang had claimed the Master was only beginning to treat her and had not yet issued a prescription, yet her reaction to his death was one of soul-crushing despair. Leng Yue agreed, noting that women in Qinxiang’s profession were usually far more adept at masking such deep emotions. Seeking answers, Chu Chu and Leng Yue visited Ciguang Temple, where Master Shenguan had originally entered the monkhood.

The Abbot revealed that Shenguan had turned to the faith after the tragic loss of his wife and child during labor. Though he was the most gifted of the disciples and a likely successor as Abbot, he was eventually expelled after being caught secretly meeting a woman and later bringing a child to the temple, claiming paternity. When shown a portrait of Qinxiang, the Abbot confirmed she was the woman from those years.

He specifically recalled that the child had a distinct birthmark on the back of his neck, a detail that immediately triggered Chu Chu’s memory of the young monk, Jing Yuan. The Abbot then handed over items Shenguan had left behind during a secret return visit, including the infant’s original swaddling cloth. Chu Chu later brought Qinxiang to meet Jing Yuan.

The young monk was initially hostile, blaming the investigation for tarnishing his Master’s clear reputation and subjecting him to wrongful accusations. However, when it was mentioned that the boy was twelve years old, Qinxiang’s composure shattered. She managed to glimpse the mark on Jing Yuan’s neck, confirming her deepest hope. Observing the interaction, Xiao Jinyu deduced that while Qinxiang was the biological mother, Master Shenguan was not the father.

He reasoned that if the Master had truly abandoned her, she would harbor resentment; instead, she showed him only reverence while remaining indifferent toward the child’s actual father. Faced with the truth, Qinxiang confessed. A decade ago, she was a domestic servant who had a secret affair with a young master. Fearing her child would be born into slavery, she fled while pregnant. On the verge of being captured by household guards, she encountered Master Shenguan.

In desperation, she claimed the monk was her husband and the father of her child. Understanding that her life was at stake, the Master accepted the false accusation to save her. He took the child to raise him in safety, while Qinxiang eventually entered the Music Office, hoping to one day redeem her status before reuniting with her son. Qinxiang also revealed a larger conspiracy.

For the past six months, a mysterious man had been forcing her to sell addictive "intoxicating incense" from Nanzhao. This powder made clients, including Zhao Senyao, become obsessed and return repeatedly. As she attempted to leave her old life to stay near Jing Yuan, the mystery man reappeared, threatening the lives of both her and the "little monk" unless she successfully hooked one final high-profile client: Xie Huaian.

Despite the threat, a moment of closure occurred when Qinxiang spoke with Jing Yuan. The boy shared that the Master had appeared in his dream, teaching him that everyone must bear their own karma and highlighting the "debt of gratitude" owed to one's parents, signaling a silent reconciliation between mother and son. Despite solving the murder, Xiao Jinyu remained troubled.

He informed Jing Yi that although the killer was in custody, the Nanzhao mastermind behind the addictive powder was likely still at large. The Emperor had ordered a discreet investigation into the Nanzhao connection to avoid a diplomatic crisis. Noticing Xiao Jinyu’s extreme stress, Jing Yi suggested they "step out of the prison" of the investigation and visit the Music Office under the guise of seeking pleasure to look into the scented powder while helping the Prince relax.

Meanwhile, Chu Chu and Leng Yue encountered a storyteller slandering them in the streets, spinning a scandalous yarn about a "young marquis" and his wife having an affair with a prince from Nanzhao. Leng Yue was ready to use her fists, but they were interrupted by Wan Qianshan, a government official who insisted the matter be handled through official channels.

Zhao Fengming, a military official, also arrived, mocking Wan Qianshan’s sharp tongue while urging the ladies not to take the rumors to heart. The group eventually converged at the Music Office, where they met the dance master Hua Mei, a friend of Leng Yue and Jing Yi. Hua Mei confirmed that the addictive powder had permeated the establishment, with most girls purchasing it from Qinxiang.

While the ladies caught up, Jing Yi urged Hua Mei to "diagnose" Xiao Jinyu’s stubborn state of mind, jokingly warning that the Prince would suffer if he didn't speak the truth to his "physician." Beneath the surface of the evening's entertainment, the investigation into the Nanzhao conspiracy deepened.

At the Music Office, Jing Yi was caught off guard by Leng Yue, who questioned his presence and his companion. Jing Yi tried to maintain his composure, playfully claiming he was there to seek medical help from Hua Mei for a "friend" suffering from a delicate ailment. Leng Yue remained skeptical until Xiao Jinyu clarified the situation. He revealed that years ago, Hua Mei had contracted a contagious and supposedly incurable disease, "ganmei" (syphilis).

Through their efforts, they had discovered a remedy that successfully cured her, and now a friend of Jing Yi was allegedly seeking that same prescription. Inside, Hua Mei spoke privately with Xiao Jinyu, recognizing him as the renowned Commandery Prince An. She observed that his intense desire to protect Chu Chu was born out of a deep love that bred fear.

However, she likened Chu Chu to a tall tree that grows naturally in the wild; she could only flourish when given the space to thrive. Hua Mei suggested that Xiao Jinyu’s harsh self-reproach and constant worry were actually making Chu Chu feel more uneasy and restricted. Their conversation was abruptly cut short by cries that someone had fallen into the water. Qinxiang had plummeted into the lake.

Deputy Prefect Leng, who was patrolling nearby, immediately ordered a rescue, but by the time Qinxiang was pulled from the dark water, she had already stopped breathing. Chu Chu immediately noted inconsistencies, observing that given the time and circumstances, it did not appear to be an accidental fall. Vice Minister Huang of the Ministry of Rites was also present, hosting a secret banquet for Nanzhao envoys.

Worried the scandal would offend his guests, he urged Jing Yi to keep the matter quiet and suggested offering the girl's family a mere ten taels of silver as compensation for her "joke" of a life. Xiao Jinyu was incensed by Huang's coldness. He handed Huang twenty taels and told him that, by his own logic, the Vice Minister's life now belonged to the Prince.

He sternly reminded Huang that an official’s life is meant for the service of the people, not for trampling upon them. Xiao Jinyu ordered the body moved to the Three Judicial Offices. While the room Qinxiang had occupied showed no obvious signs of a struggle, Xiao Jinyu ordered it sealed. During the examination, Chu Chu found fresh scratches on Qinxiang’s neck and bruises on her limbs.

She deduced that Qinxiang had fought back violently, likely leaving a scratch on the hand of her attacker. Despite the risk of infection from the victim's disease, Chu Chu insisted on a full autopsy. She consulted with other experienced coroners to develop a safe protocol, and Xiao Jinyu ultimately supported her, choosing to trust her expertise rather than pushing her away under the guise of protection.

Meanwhile, the Nanzhao official Gao Luoqian expressed frustration with an agent known as "The Peacock," complaining about having to clean up the agent's reckless messes. You Chen’an, who was monitoring the situation, warned Xiao Jinyu that Qinxiang might not have been the ultimate target. He suggested that the killers might have intended for Chu Chu to become infected during the investigation as a way to destroy both her and the Prince.

As the investigation continued, Chu He arrived at the Three Judicial Offices with a meal from Deshun House, including sliced fish and braised pork, to support his sister. Jing Yi, having questioned the staff at the Music Office, returned with a lead on a suspicious patron. The man was described as having a small mustache, a mole near his left cheekbone, and a large birthmark on his right cheek. Xiao Jinyu suspected this man might be linked to Gao Luoqian.

Chu Chu’s forensic work soon yielded a breakthrough. She realized that while Qinxiang’s death appeared to be a drowning, there were no algae or aquatic insects in her respiratory system—something impossible given the state of the lake in summer. This proved she had been drowned in clean water before being thrown into the lake. Returning to Qinxiang’s room, they found a water basin.

Chu Chu realized the killer had pressed Qinxiang’s head into the basin, causing a specific narrow bruise on her neck from the rim as she struggled on her knees. The team also uncovered the truth about Qinxiang’s past. Born Lv Ying, she had once been a household courtesan for the family of the current Cavalry General, Xie Huaiding. The two had been in love, but the General's father had faked her death to separate them.

Despite the tragedy, Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu decided to respect Qinxiang’s silent wish to protect the General’s current life by not revealing her identity to him. Later, a couple claiming to be Qinxiang’s brother and sister-in-law caused a scene, demanding her belongings and a gold bracelet. When they were brought to identify the body, Chu Chu set a trap by showing them the wrong corpse first.

When the couple wept and claimed it was definitely their sister, Chu Chu revealed the deception. Their inability to recognize the deceased proved they were frauds only interested in her valuables.

After exposing the two individuals claiming to be the siblings of the deceased Qinxiang, Xiao Jinyu ordered his guards to beat them until they confessed. Terrified, the pair admitted they were merely con artists hired by a square-faced man who looked like a ghost and spoke with a Nanzhao accent. This mysterious figure had paid them two taels of silver and promised three more upon the completion of their task to steal Qinxiang’s belongings.

In his cell, Zhao Senyao hysterically pleaded for a "ghost messenger" to save his life, eventually identifying the man as Zhou Han, a commandant of the Shence Army believed to be dead. Xiao Jinyu realized the enemy was using the Music Office—a gathering place for the elite—to spread syphilis and incite chaos within the capital.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Chu Chu expressed her deep respect for the heavy burdens Xiao Jinyu carries, while he warned that the shadow war between Great Tang and Nanzhao had already begun. Meanwhile, Gao Luoqian realized that the mastermind known as the Peacock had been using him as a mere distraction. Sensing the need for external intelligence, Xiao Jinyu tasked Leng Yue with a secret mission to leave the capital and locate a specific individual.

The political situation worsened when Wan Qianshan, the Left Remonstrant of the Chancellery, submitted a memorial regarding rumors of an affair between Chu Chu and the Nanzhao envoy, You Chen'an. While the Emperor initially dismissed the report and warned Wan Qianshan to remain silent, Consort Hui later confirmed that the scandal was spreading rapidly among noblewomen.

Summoned to explain, Xiao Jinyu defended Chu Chu, noting that You Chen'an was simply a student at the Three Judicial Offices and that Chu Chu was exhausted from her official duties. As the Emperor left the matter for Xiao Jinyu to handle, the Nanzhao King and his Eldest Prince finalized their war preparations in Jiaozhou, waiting for a key Tang general to fall. Back in Chang'an, several officials invited Wan Qianshan to the Music Office.

Though he initially resisted, he eventually joined them and, in a moment of patriotic fervor, stood up to recite his "Proclamation Against Nanzhao." However, he suddenly collapsed and died mid-recitation. Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu arrived to find sores on his body consistent with syphilis. Despite the local official Zhao Fengming’s insistence that the strait-laced Wan Qianshan could never have contracted such a disease, Chu Chu suspected that the illness, combined with alcohol, led to his sudden death.

When Zhao Fengming refused to allow an autopsy to protect his friend’s reputation, Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu worked together to trick him. Chu Chu described the incredibly complex burial rites required for a scholar of his rank, warning that any error would lead to public mockery. Fearing he would fail his friend’s memory, Zhao Fengming begged Chu Chu to guide the burial process, unwittingly giving her the chance to examine the body.

Later, Jing Yi urged Xiao Jinyu to stop shouldering every burden alone and to trust his friends as his strength. When Xiao Jinyu later asked Chu Chu why she hadn't mentioned the rumors about her affair, she admitted she had been briefly upset but soon forgot about it, as her work for the dead was far more important than the gossip of the living.

Moved by her resilience, Xiao Jinyu compared her to a sturdy tree that deserved a vast sky. Chu Chu’s examination of Wan Qianshan’s clothing revealed a mysterious white powder on his outer robes, though there were no traces of medicine on his inner garments. Xiao Jinyu suspected that Wan Qianshan might not have known he was ill and that someone had tampered with a remedy to make it lethal when mixed with wine, linking his death to Qinxiang’s murder.

The Emperor summoned Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi again, angry over the scandals at the Music Office. Although You Chen'an defended their integrity, the Emperor remained worried about the public panic regarding the spread of syphilis. In a private strategy session, Xiao Jinyu suggested appointing the veteran Xie Huaiding as the commander-in-chief for the Jiaozhou front, with Xiao Jinli as his deputy.

Finally, when the Emperor urged Xiao Jinyu to have Chu Chu leave the Three Judicial Offices for her own safety, Xiao Jinyu refused, insisting that she should not be punished for being a victim of slander. Determined to change public opinion, he decided to take Chu Chu shopping in the busy markets to confront the rumors head-on.

Chu Chu mentions a pastry shop in the East Market she had previously missed because of the long queues, and Xiao Jinyu agrees to take her there. However, the prince has a secondary motive: he intends to use this public appearance to dispel the lingering rumors regarding Chu Chu and You Chen'an. Chu Chu realizes that Xiao Jinyu, who usually disregards gossip, is only taking action now to protect her reputation.

At the shop, the owner tries to offer the treats for free to the Commandery Prince, but Xiao Jinyu insists on paying, pointedly mentioning that his wife has long craved these snacks. The onlookers, seeing the couple's harmony, begin to realize the rumors were unfounded. While walking, Xiao Jinyu meets a young girl selling flowers to buy eggs for her mother, who just gave birth.

He buys her entire basket and distributes the flowers to the crowd to spread "blessings of harmony." They soon run into Gao Luoqian, who is buying sandalwood for worship. Xiao Jinyu hands him a lotus flower, suggesting it is also fit for the temple. Meanwhile, Captain Zhao Fengming visits the Music Office to ask the dancers to adapt a military proclamation into a battle anthem. The women, moved by his patriotism, agree to do it for free.

However, the mood shifts when other patrons mock the military, citing Wan Qianshan’s death and the syphilis outbreak. Enraged, Zhao Fengming gets into a brawl but suddenly collapses and dies. Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu arrive to secure the scene. A preliminary check by Chu Chu reveals syphilis sores on Zhao Fengming similar to those on Wan Qianshan. Xiao Jinyu orders the body moved for an autopsy and detains the participants of the fight.

Later that night, Xiao Jinyu falls asleep at his desk with an open window. When he wakes, he discovers marks on his skin that he initially mistook for mosquito bites are actually syphilis sores. Jing Yi quickly summons Physician Qi Yuan from Sansheng Hall. The doctor first confirms that Chu Chu is healthy, but Chu Chu grows suspicious when Jing Yi mentions the prince is isolating himself in the office.

When the truth is finally revealed, Chu Chu is devastated, believing she accidentally infected him during her previous autopsy work. You Chen'an approaches Jing Yi with an ancient Nanzhao prescription, hoping to repay the prince for his kindness. Jing Yi accepts the formula, which Physician Qi notes follows a different medical logic than Tang practices.

While drinking with You Chen'an, Chu He learns of the prince's "illness" and, misunderstanding the situation, storms the Three Judicial Offices to confront Xiao Jinyu for supposedly visiting brothels. Chu Chu manages to stop her brother, warning him that his shouting will only give their enemies ammunition. Chu Chu eventually speaks to Xiao Jinyu through the door of his isolation room.

Though he jokingly claims he won't open the door because he's "serving people with his looks" and doesn't want to lose favor by appearing unsightly, they discuss the case. Chu Chu reveals a major discovery: while the dancer Qinxiang had lesions on her internal organs, Zhao Fengming’s internal organs were clean. This proves Zhao Fengming did not die of the disease, but of poisoning.

To confirm this theory, Chu Chu plans to negotiate with Wan Qianshan’s relatives to perform a comparative autopsy. In the palace, the Emperor approves General Xie Huaian and Xiao Jinli’s departure for Jiaozhou to defend the border against Nanzhao. The Emperor reflects on the fact that he is gambling the fate of the realm on these young men. His gravity is soon replaced by shock when a report arrives: Xiao Jinyu has been infected with syphilis for several days. The Emperor is left in a state of utter disbelief.

Chu Chu remained devastated by the belief that her own carelessness during an autopsy had infected Xiao Jinyu with syphilis. As she fretted over his weakened state, the situation at the Three Judicial Offices grew dire. Wu Jiang rushed in with urgent news: His Majesty had arrived unexpectedly and was already at the Two Merits Hall. Chu Chu went to greet the Emperor, attempting to shield Xiao Jinyu by claiming he was merely indisposed.

However, the Emperor was not easily deceived, having already heard rumors of the prince's condition. Furious, he accused the Three Judicial Offices of deception and revealed that a complaint had been filed regarding Xiao Jinyu’s recent visits to the Music Office. Deeply pained by these accusations against her husband, Chu Chu took full responsibility.

She knelt before the Emperor, explaining that Xiao Jinyu’s visits to the Music Office were strictly for work and that he had only fallen ill because she failed to properly sanitize herself after an autopsy. She begged to bear the punishment alone. Sensing the tension, Wu Jiang stepped forward to deliver a message from Xiao Jinyu. The prince understood that with the court in an uproar, the Emperor needed a valid reason to continue trusting him.

Xiao Jinyu requested an audience to explain the true nature of the mystery. Despite his illness, Xiao Jinyu met with the Emperor to present his findings. He argued that the red sores were not signs of syphilis but the result of a sophisticated toxin. Chu Chu’s autopsies provided the proof: while the victim Qinxiang showed internal signs of the disease, Wan Qianshan and Zhao Fengming had perfectly healthy organs, meaning they had been poisoned to mimic the illness.

Xiao Jinyu explained that the culprits had targeted these two men—known as the Twin Stars—specifically because they were pillars of the civil and military factions. By making their deaths appear scandalous, the enemy intended to incite infighting at court and erode public trust. Even Xiao Jinyu’s own sudden "infection" was a calculated move to paralyze the investigation.

The Emperor warned that if the investigation touched the foundations of the state, he would prioritize the stability of the realm over Xiao Jinyu’s life. Undeterred, Xiao Jinyu vowed to see the case through. Chu Chu echoed his resolve, asking to work alongside him as his coroner and offering herself as a scapegoat if the investigation failed. Touched by their loyalty, the Emperor allowed them to proceed.

Physician Qi examined Xiao Jinyu and confirmed the presence of a toxin he had never encountered before. The urgency increased when Zhao Senyao began convulsing violently in his cell, hallucinating and screaming for a "ghost guard" to give him more medicine. Physician Qi observed these symptoms and concluded that syphilis does not cause such tremors; it was clear that Zhao Senyao was suffering from the same poisoning as the others.

Amidst the chaos, Xiao Jinyu’s strength failed him, and he fainted. Chu Chu stayed by Xiao Jinyu's side throughout the night. Her maid, Lian Qiao, urged her to eat, noting that the prince would be heartbroken to see her waste away. Chu Chu lamented that she had spent so much of their marriage focused on work that she had barely spent quality time with him.

When Xiao Jinyu finally woke, he hypothesized that since there was a poison, there must be an antidote. He suspected the "ghost guards" were using a specific medicine to keep their victims alive and compliant, likely to mask an even larger conspiracy. The investigation soon turned toward General Xie Huaiding, a key military leader. Jing Yi discovered the General had left his residence for a secret meeting. Suspecting a trap, the team rushed to the Music Office.

There, a mysterious figure was attempting to coerce the General into a "favor" in exchange for information about a woman named Lv Ying. Just as the General was about to drink a cup of poisoned tea, Jing Yi and the others intervened. The culprit escaped, but the General was saved from a lethal dose.

General Xie admitted he had been suffering from the same red rashes and had been approached by a "ghost guard"—identified as Zhou Han—who promised to extend his life in exchange for cooperation. He revealed that he had been lured to the Music Office by the promise of news regarding Lv Ying, a woman from his past. Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu then facilitated a meeting between the General and the young monk Jing Yuan.

It was revealed that Jing Yuan was the son Lv Ying had raised in secret after fleeing the Xie residence. Though Jing Yuan had left the mortal world behind, he assured the General that his mother always spoke of him as a man of honor. Back at the Three Judicial Offices, Physician Qi and Chu Chu analyzed the "life-extending" pills.

They discovered the pills were actually small doses of Five-Stone Dust—a substance banned since the Zhenguan era—encased in a non-toxic shell. This design allowed the poison to release slowly, creating an intense addiction. If a victim became uncooperative, the culprits administered a massive, unshielded dose, causing instant death by internal hemorrhaging, as seen with the Twin Stars. General Xie prepared to lead his troops to Jiaozhou, vowing to defend the Tang.

However, during the march, the General accepted a piece of fruit from a five-year-old child. The fruit was laced with a lethal toxin, and the General died shortly after. The Emperor was horrified that a legendary commander had been felled by such a simple trick. An investigation later revealed that the mother and daughter who provided the fruit were merely innocent pawns who were murdered shortly after to cover the mastermind's tracks.

The Emperor expressed grave concern over the potential infiltration of Jiaozhou by enemy forces, given the meticulously planned series of events. Xiao Jinyu observed that Nanzhao had long coveted the region but, lacking the strength for a direct confrontation with the Great Tang, had resorted to insidious schemes to undermine the state from within. Deeply moved, the Emperor lamented that General Xie Huaiding, a man of unyielding pride and legendary military merit, had ultimately fallen to such despicable tactics.

Admitting he should have heeded Xiao Jinyu’s warnings sooner to prevent this tragedy, the Emperor commanded a thorough investigation and expressed concern for Xiao Jinyu’s own recovery. Chu Chu visited her brother Chu He's pharmacy to collect medicinal ingredients. Chu He, who had recently taken over the business, marveled at the conditioning prescription, noting how Physician Qi had perfectly balanced elements like Scutellaria, White Cardamom, and Fritillaria.

During the visit, Chu He noticed that his assistant, Chang Shou, had mysteriously disappeared. Upon Chu Chu's return to the Three Judicial Offices, she found the gates besieged by angry citizens throwing rotten vegetables. Rumors had spread that Xiao Jinyu had contracted a syphilis infection (syphilis-like poisoning) and was responsible for General Xie’s death. Xiao Jinyu remained composed, explaining that the public’s anger was a result of officials failing to provide the truth promptly.

He viewed the smear campaign as proof that they were closing in on the real culprits. Consort Hui approached the Emperor, expressing guilt over Zhao Senyao’s role in the turmoil and his subsequent "infection" spreading to Xiao Jinyu. She requested that the Zhao family be allowed to take him home for treatment. The Emperor agreed, noting that the Three Judicial Offices was no place for a contagious prisoner.

When Madam Zhao arrived to collect her son, Chu Chu staged a reluctant protest to keep up appearances before finally conceding. She sternly warned that while Zhao Senyao could recover at home, he was forbidden from leaving his residence and must be available for questioning, or the entire Zhao household would face the consequences. Driven by the agonizing itch of his condition, Zhao Senyao defied orders and slipped out to meet a "Ghost Guard" for medicine.

Jing Yi and his men followed him to a secret meeting where Zhao Senyao desperately offered silver for relief. During the exchange, Jing Yi moved in and apprehended the Ghost Guard, who bore a striking resemblance to Zhou Han. However, after two days of interrogation, the prisoner remained silent. Jing Yi grew skeptical, noting that the real Zhou Han never possessed such iron resolve during his previous encounters with the Prince.

Leng Yue soon arrived from the Refinement Quarry with a laborer named Laifu, whom Jing Yi immediately recognized as the true Zhou Han. It was revealed that the Emperor had granted Zhou Han a secret pardon for his past services, allowing him to live under an assumed name to escape his enemies. Zhou Han confirmed he had never left the quarry, supported by his diligent work records.

When questioned about his family, Zhou Han recounted how his mother, unable to support two sons during a famine, had left his younger twin brother at the doorstep of a wealthy family in the borderlands. Xiao Jinyu offered Zhou Han a chance to reduce his sentence by assisting in the case, which he eagerly accepted. Under Xiao Jinyu's direction, Zhou Han went to the Music Office (Jiaofang) to lure out the other conspirators.

Adopting a Nanzhao accent, he convinced a Ghost Guard that he had nearly drowned in a river, losing his supply of medicine. The guard, complaining that his own voice was ruined by a chill, provided three pills as a temporary fix and alluded to their work as a lucrative scam. Meanwhile, Physician Qi reported a breakthrough after testing the toxin on himself and his disciple.

He discovered that the white powder hidden inside a heart-nourishing shell caused red rashes to appear roughly two hours after ingestion. While Xiao Jinyu initially recalled nothing unusual, Chu Chu remembered providing him with lily and mung bean soup on the night he fell ill, identifying it as the likely delivery method for the poison.

As Xiao Jinli prepared to depart for Jiaozhou to stabilize the Southwest and take command of the Annan Army, Xiao Jinyu came to see him off, urging his elder brother to remain vigilant in the perilous borderlands. Back at the investigation, Jing Yi successfully apprehended both the Ghost Guard and Zhou Han’s twin brother at the Music Office. By using a clever ruse to make the twin believe he had been betrayed, Jing Yi extracted a confession.

The younger brother, code-named "Sparrow," revealed that the other guard was "Swan Goose." He admitted to poisoning an apple to assassinate General Xie Huaiding after an earlier plan failed, acting under the direct command of a mysterious figure known as "The Peacock." However, because The Peacock always wore a mask, Sparrow could not identify him. The investigation ultimately revealed that the Ghost Guard "Swan Goose" was actually Chang Shou, the assistant from Chu He's pharmacy.

Xiao Jinyu concluded that Chu He was likely innocent, having only recently acquired the shop. For the time being, Xiao Jinyu decided to keep this discovery from Chu Chu to maintain professional boundaries, though he intended to handle it as a family matter if her brother became further implicated. Jing Yi also noted that a man with a distinctive birthmark associated with the case had vanished, suggesting the mark might have been a clever disguise. Following Xiao Jinyu's orders, Jing Yi went to search Chang Shou’s room for more clues while seeking to question Chu He about his assistant's background.

Following the discovery of disguise tools in Chang Shou’s quarters, Jing Yi confirmed that the pharmacy owner, Chu He, seemed entirely unaware of his clerk's double life. During interrogation, Xiao Jinyu exposed Chang Shou’s use of fake moles and birthmarks to evade detection. Chang Shou eventually confessed to his role in a sophisticated conspiracy: he had used a pharmacy as a front to distribute drugged incense to musicians, a scheme intended to control or assassinate imperial officials.

He admitted to the murders of Wan Qianshan and Zhao Fengming and confessed he had silenced the musician Qinxiang after she discovered his plan to poison General Xie Huaiding. Chang Shou claimed he had never seen the leader of the operation, known only as "the Peacock," as the man always wore a unique, intricate mask. Based on this description, Xiao Jinyu sketched the mask for his investigation.

The most troubling revelation was Chang Shou’s final order: to assassinate a young person within the Three Judicial Offices. While Jing Yi feared the Prince was the target, Xiao Jinyu suspected the actual mark was the Nanzhao second prince, You Chen'an. If a Nanzhao royal were to die in the capital during this period of high tension, it would give Nanzhao a perfect pretext for war.

This theory was reinforced by a letter from Xiao Jinli in Jiaozhou, who reported seeing men disguised as hunters who moved with military precision, transporting carts that reeked of rotting flesh. In Nanzhao, the King expressed satisfaction with the Peacock’s progress and prepared to recall his delegation, hoping the Great Tang’s reluctance to release You Chen'an would serve as a trigger for invasion.

Simultaneously, the Eldest Prince, You Longsheng, and his consort plotted to ensure You Chen'an never returned alive, seeing him as a rival for the throne. Sensing the impending danger, You Chen'an met privately with Chu He, expressing his fear that his journey home would be his "road to the netherworld." Although Chu He offered to seek the Prince's protection, You Chen'an declined, instead asking Chu He for a mysterious, specific favor after the latter attempted to return a lavish gift.

Before departing for his next mission, Xiao Jinyu shared a quiet evening with Chu Chu, surprising her with a garden full of fireflies. This prompted a tender conversation about her past in Qianzhou, where fireflies were her only companions while she studied corpses in mass graves. Xiao Jinyu reaffirmed his commitment to her career, promising to help her forge her own path as a coroner.

He also entrusted her with the residence’s treasury keys and ledgers, explaining that he wanted to provide her with security to compensate for the constraints his royal title imposed on her life. To move his plans forward, You Chen'an requested an audience with the Emperor, proposing a three-day fast at Weiguo Temple to pray for the "ailing" Xiao Jinyu. The Prince arrived during the audience and counter-proposed that he accompany You Chen'an.

He argued that their joint pilgrimage could serve as a memorial for the late Master Shenguan, thereby soothing the grievances of Nanzhao’s followers. The Emperor granted his permission, unaware that Xiao Jinyu intended to use this time to finally expose the hidden plotters. However, the situation took a shocking turn when Jing Yi led a raid on a secret meeting point and captured a man wearing the Peacock mask.

When the mask was removed, the captive was revealed to be Chu He. Though Chu He remained stubbornly silent, Xiao Jinyu ordered the capture to be kept secret to avoid alerting the enemy. Fearing Chu Chu would be the next target due to her connection to Chu He, the Prince assigned Jing Yi and Leng Yue to serve as her personal bodyguards.

As the pilgrimage began, the envoy Gao Luoqian received orders from the Nanzhao Eldest Prince to eliminate You Chen'an, and he resolved to kill Xiao Jinyu as well if he interfered. Back at the Three Judicial Offices, Chu Chu began meticulously reviewing case files, sensing that You Chen'an had been playing a deceptive game. She was joined by Leng Yue, who had "fled" to Chu Chu after an argument with Jing Yi over her poor cooking.

At Weiguo Temple, Xiao Jinyu directly confronted You Chen'an over a game of chess. He accused the prince of weaving a web of "nine truths and one falsehood," pointing out how the prince had systematically interfered with investigations—from the mung bean soup poisoning incident to preventing the proper autopsy of Master Shenguan—all in an effort to destabilize the capital.

At Weiguo Temple, Xiao Jinyu confronts You Chen'an, stripping away the prince's pretense of being a helpless hostage. Jinyu reveals that Gao Luoqian is actively seeking to kill him and that the Three Judicial Offices is his only hope for a safe return to Nanzhao. When You Chen'an questions Jinyu's ability to protect him, the prince is shown that Jinyu has already thwarted a subtle assassination attempt.

Jinyu had discovered a monk brewing a medicinal tea based on a Nanzhao recipe that Gao had recently "improved." Knowing from Chu Chu that You Chen'an suffers from hives, Jinyu identified "Fangfeng" (Siler) in the tea—a common herb that is lethal to someone with the prince’s specific condition. Realizing his own people have turned on him, You Chen'an invites Jinyu to a secret chamber within the temple that night to finally reveal the truth.

Meanwhile, Chu Chu grows anxious, sensing that Jinyu is in grave danger. She realizes that Leng Yue has been shadowing her under Jinyu's orders for protection. Together, they confront Chu He, who finally breaks his silence. Chu He admits that You Chen'an gave him a peacock mask and convinced him to act as a secret intermediary. The Nanzhao prince had claimed he was being hunted by his own brother and needed Chu He to relay messages to hidden protectors.

Believing he was saving a life and fearing he would bring harm to his family if he spoke, Chu He had kept the secret, unaware he was being used as a pawn to distract the Three Judicial Offices. In the border region of Jiaozhou, Xiao Jinli leads a routine patrol and encounters a group of suspicious men disguised as hunters. Noticing a foul, rotting stench coming from their cart, he orders a search.

The "hunters" drop their disguise, revealing themselves as highly trained Nanzhao soldiers. During the skirmish, Jinli realizes the cart is filled with the corpses of Tang civilians rather than game. Though he manages to capture one assailant, he is struck by a poisoned weapon. Just as the situation turns dire, Luo Yan, the leader of the Zhenyuan Stronghold, arrives with her people to drive off the attackers and rescue the wounded general.

Xiao Jinyu arrives at the secret chamber only to find You Chen'an dead from an arrow wound. As Jing Yi joins him, they realize they have walked into a trap. A monk discovers them with the body and raises the alarm, leading Deputy Prefect Leng Baichuan to take both Jinyu and Jing Yi into custody. Vice Envoy Gao seizes the opportunity to confront the Emperor, accusing the Tang officials of murder.

To maintain diplomatic peace, the Emperor is forced to grant a three-day deadline to find the true culprit. He decrees that if the mystery is not solved by sunset on the day after tomorrow, Jinyu and Jing Yi will face execution. Despite being imprisoned, Xiao Jinyu continues his investigation. Consort Hui, with the Emperor’s silent approval, allows Chu Chu and Leng Yue to visit the prisoners. Jinyu presents Chu Chu with incense ash he collected from the scene.

Chu Chu identifies the scent of "Hunmi" (Knockout Herb), a substance she recognizes from medical texts. Jinyu explains that the killing blow was delivered by a hidden mechanical trap tied to You Chen'an’s own body. The trap fired a crossbow the moment anyone moved the prince to help him, effectively using Jinyu’s own compassion to trigger the mechanism. Jinyu deduces that You Chen'an is likely the true "Peacock" and that this entire event was a scheme to disappear.

Drawing on his knowledge of Nanzhao’s rare medicinal plants and the prince's own understanding of forensic science, Jinyu suspects that You Chen'an is not actually dead. He believes the prince used a herbal concoction to induce a state of suspended animation, making his heart and breath seem to stop temporarily. Once the "body" is returned to the lodging house, You Chen'an could revive and escape.

However, since the Three Judicial Offices currently lacks investigative authority, they cannot re-examine the corpse to prove this theory. To break the legal deadlock, Jinyu drafts a formal missive to the Emperor, voluntarily resigning his title as Commandery Prince An and leaving the Three Judicial Offices so that the investigation can proceed without political obstacles.

The King of Nanzhao is consumed by grief and fury over the death of his son, You Chen'an, in the Great Tang. He issues a stark ultimatum: if the Great Tang does not provide a satisfactory explanation within three days, Nanzhao will mobilize its forces for war. While the court cries for vengeance, the Eldest Prince discusses the situation with his consort. She reveals that her brother was not the one who killed You Chen'an.

This leads the Eldest Prince to suspect that the King himself may have orchestrated the assassination to create a pretext for war and to eliminate Xiao Jinyu. This theory is reinforced when the King orders the Eldest Prince to prepare to lead troops to Jiaozhou. In the Great Tang capital, Gao Luoqian seeks an audience with the Emperor to request moving You Chen'an’s body to the delegation lodging for religious rituals.

He argues that the summer heat makes it urgent for the soul to reach the afterlife before the body decays. To avoid further diplomatic strain, the Emperor reluctantly permits the request. Feeling the weight of the impending conflict, the Emperor visits Senior Jing in civilian clothing.

Sensing the dire stakes for the nation, Senior Jing makes a heartbreaking plea: if the situation becomes irredeemable, the Emperor should not hesitate to sacrifice their children, Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi, for the sake of the people. Meanwhile, Chu Chu and Leng Yue investigate the meditation hall at Weiguo Temple. They discover a secret underground path hidden beneath the floor tiles.

Examining the footprints in the dust, Chu Chu identifies two distinct sets of prints that both match You Chen'an's stature. One set shows heavy marks on the heels, suggesting someone had been living in the tunnel for a long time, while the other set is more recent. These findings suggest that the person who died might not be the real You Chen'an, or that he was involved in a much deeper deception.

In Jiaozhou, at the Prefect's Residence, the atmosphere is tense. Yu Lan, the Prefect's wife, presents a document to the chief clerk, Han Ji, claiming she is too frightened to open it. She explains that her husband, Prefect Liu, is returning from the capital because of her difficult pregnancy, and the document arrived ahead of him.

Han Ji opens the scroll and finds an imperial decree: no troops are to be dispatched to the frontier without a specific order while the foreign delegation is in the capital. Han Ji finds the timing suspicious, but Yu Lan remains focused on her "condition" to keep local forces from acting prematurely. Back in the capital, Gao Luoqian hires a specialized coroner to examine the body in secret.

The coroner reveals that the corpse's facial bones and skin had been meticulously altered over a long period through an intricate disguise. Realizing that You Chen'an has successfully faked his death, Gao Luoqian immediately silences the coroner to prevent the truth from leaking. Simultaneously, Leng Yue purposefully leads Gao Luoqian toward the exit of the secret tunnel near an abandoned well to distract him.

This allows Chu Chu to sneak into the Nanzhao delegation lodging under the guise of paying her final respects. Chu Chu examines the body and notices the scars on the chest do not match the stories You Chen'an told her about his childhood hunting injuries. She concludes that the deceased is an impostor. However, Gao Luoqian soon realizes he has been played.

Knowing that if Chu Chu reports the fake death to the Emperor, he will become the scapegoat, he sends suicide warriors to eliminate her. As the three-day deadline expires, the Emperor receives a letter from Xiao Jinyu, who expresses his willingness to sacrifice his life to prevent war as long as the Emperor protects their families. Moved by this, the Emperor dispatches the Imperial Guards to ensure the safety of Chu Chu and Leng Yue.

Despite this, the Emperor is forced to issue a formal decree for the execution of Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi to pacify the Nanzhao delegation. At the Prince An Residence, Wu Jiang fights off the assassins, allowing Chu Chu to escape. She rushes to the palace and arrives just as the execution is about to proceed, declaring to the shocked court that the man who died is not the real You Chen'an.

As the three-day deadline for the execution of Prince Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi arrives, Chu Chu presents a startling revelation to the Emperor. She proves that the man who died at Weiguo Temple was not the Nanzhao chief envoy, You Chen’an, but a decoy. Her investigation uncovered a secret tunnel connecting the meditation chamber to a shrine outside the city, where she found two distinct sets of footprints.

She explains that You Chen’an meticulously designed the temple's mechanisms to kill this stand-in—who had been living in the tunnel for days—allowing the envoy to fake his own death and escape through the subterranean route. Gao Luoqian dismisses the claim as a fabrication, but Chu Chu provides forensic evidence.

The corpse suffered from "giant scar disease," a congenital condition where even minor insect bites leave distinct, spreading marks—a trait You Chen’an lacks, as Chu Chu observed during his forensic training at the Three Judicial Offices. Furthermore, she reveals that during a visit to the inn, she intentionally stained the corpse’s hand with balsam juice to transfer a fingerprint onto her sleeve.

Comparing this to You Chen’an’s official records reveals a mismatch, particularly as the Prince’s records show You Chen’an possessed a rare "reverse loop" pattern. However, Gao Luoqian smugly announces that the body has already been cremated according to Nanzhao rites, destroying the physical evidence. The situation reaches a legal stalemate.

Grand Secretary Jing argues that under Tang law, the case must be classified as one of "doubtful guilt," and he offers to pay the redemption copper for his son and the Prince even if it bankrupts his family. Gao Luoqian threatens war, but the Emperor refuses to be intimidated by Nanzhao's aggression. Amidst the heated tension, Chu Chu suddenly collapses, coughing up blood.

The Emperor orders her return to the manor and issues an oral decree to postpone the judgment, though the suspects remain in custody. Back at the manor, Physician Qi discovers Chu Chu was struck by a lethal "yellow wasp tail stinger," a poison more potent than any he has encountered. While Chu Chu remains in a deep, toxin-induced sleep, Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi wait in the dungeon.

Fearing for Chu Chu’s life, Xiao Jinyu plans to confess so Jing Yi can go free and find You Chen’an. However, the two friends stage a "double act" before the Emperor where Jing Yi takes sole responsibility, claiming he killed the man at the temple to protect the Prince. Xiao Jinyu supports this by reiterating that the victim was a decoy, meaning the act did not target Nanzhao royalty and should be handled solely by Tang law.

The Emperor ultimately exonerates Xiao Jinyu, tasking him with finding You Chen’an to provide a final answer to Nanzhao. Jing Yi is placed under house arrest at his own residence, guarded jointly by the Ministry of Rites and the Nanzhao delegation. Upon his release, Xiao Jinyu returns home to find a tragedy: Nanzhao assassins had raided the mansion while he was imprisoned, and his loyal guard Wu Jiang was killed while bravely defending Chu Chu.

Grieving for Wu Jiang, Xiao Jinyu summons prominent physicians from various clinics to find a cure for the wasp venom. He later meets with Leng Yue and gives her a letter Jing Yi had written for her. To Leng Yue’s fury, it is a "Letter of Separation," intended to protect her reputation should he be executed. Though she vows to settle the score with Jing Yi later, she agrees to Xiao Jinyu’s plan to intercept You Chen’an.

Xiao Jinyu is certain that You Chen’an, now hailed as a "pillar of the state" by the Nanzhao King for his supposed martyrdom, will try to return home to secure his newfound status. Leng Yue sets off to lead the hunt, issuing warrants to all surrounding prefectures. Finally, Xiao Jinyu deals with Chu He, who has been cleared of involvement in the murder.

He learns from Chu He that You Chen’an frequently visited a local pharmacy to drink and vent his frustrations. While investigating the shop, Xiao Jinyu notices a group of pigeons. Chu He explains they were left by a previous owner and that You Chen’an was particularly fond of playing with them. Suspecting these birds might be part of a secret communication network, Xiao Jinyu begins to investigate the identity of the pharmacy's former master.

Xiao Jinyu questioned Chu He regarding the carrier pigeons discovered at the inn. Chu He explained that they had been kept by the previous manager and he had simply continued to care for them, noting that You Chen’an seemed particularly fond of the birds and visited them often. Chu He further recalled seeing the former manager accompanied by a woman who dressed in the style of the Central Plains but possessed the distinct features of someone from Nanzhao.

Recognizing that these pigeons served as You Chen’an’s secret communication link, Xiao Jinyu instructed Chu He to keep them safe. Meanwhile, the search for a cure for Chu Chu’s poisoning—caused by a specific bee venom—grew desperate. Dr. Qi and several other physicians were initially stumped, but Dr. Qi deduced that since the toxin was identified, an antidote likely existed in the environment where the poison originated.

For the time being, he could only use rare and expensive medicines to protect the Princess Consort’s heart. Without hesitation, Xiao Jinyu ordered Lian Qiao to use all the funds in the manor and even sell off their belongings to cover the costs. Leng Yue followed suit, coordinating with the Jing family to ensure they provided whatever resources were needed.

Aware that You Chen’an was still alive, Gao Luoqian sent an urgent message to the Eldest Prince of Nanzhao, warning him of the potential danger if the Three Judicial Offices found You Chen’an first. To cover their tracks, Gao Luoqian planned to eliminate any evidence by forcing Jing Yi to reveal the whereabouts of the "ghost guard" and Chang Shou.

He ordered his men to ply Jing Yi with heavy amounts of alcohol and aphrodisiacs, intending to compromise him with women. Although Jing Yi was forced to drink, he remained sharp enough to recognize their crude tactics. Back at the manor, Dr. Qi found a lead on an antidote within an ancient text, but the required medicine was not available in Chang’an.

As Chu Chu drifted in and out of consciousness, she dreamt of traveling to Qianzhou with her mother and meeting a local witch doctor. Inspired by this, Xiao Jinyu searched the herbal records left by his father, realizing that the same medicinal plant might be known by different names in various regions. He eventually identified the herb under a different name and immediately dispatched men to acquire it. After the treatment was administered, Chu Chu finally woke up.

Xiao Jinyu comforted her, believing that the clues left by his father and the spirits of their parents were watching over them. In Nanzhao, You Chen’an was welcomed back as a hero for his contributions in the Great Tang. The King of Nanzhao praised him and promised to restore his official identity, though he advised patience. When the Eldest Prince arrived, the King commanded him to learn from his brother's perseverance and success abroad.

While Chu Chu worried about Jing Yi’s safety, Xiao Jinyu devised a plan for Leng Yue to infiltrate the place where Jing Yi was being held. Chu Chu assisted by approaching Deputy Prefect Leng, suggesting that she had a specific candidate to send to Jing Yi to ensure he didn't cause trouble. She reminded the Deputy Prefect of his familial ties to Leng Yue, implying he would be held responsible if anything happened to the prisoner.

Under this pretext, Leng Yue was brought inside. Jing Yi immediately recognized her, and the two performed a convincing act for Gao Luoqian, who was eavesdropping outside. Believing Jing Yi had finally succumbed to temptation, Gao Luoqian lowered his guard, while Leng Yue secretly provided Jing Yi with essential heart-saving pills. Later, You Chen’an met with Li Zhang to thank him for orchestrating the scheme against Xiao Jinyu.

Li Zhang admitted that he had used You Chen’an’s anatomical charts to study Xiao Jinyu’s physical build for the frame-up. It was revealed that years ago, Li Zhang had survived by faking insanity, and it was You Chen’an who had saved him. Now, Li Zhang informed You Chen’an of a secret report from Chu He, who was waiting at a post station. When You Chen’an went to meet him, Chu He fell to his knees, desperately begging You Chen’an to provide the medicine needed to save Chu Chu's life.

Chu He, desperate to save his sister Chu Chu, confronted You Chen'an at a post station. When You Chen'an refused to help, Chu He declared that life was meaningless without results and attempted to seize You Chen'an’s sword. During the struggle, Chu He’s hand was sliced open.

He intentionally pressed his blood-stained hand onto a piece of his clothing to create a clear print, then managed to attach the cloth to a carrier pigeon and send it away before You Chen'an’s guards could stop him. As Chu He lay dying, he condemned You Chen'an for manipulating innocent lives and warned that even hell would not welcome a man so wicked.

Despite the coldness of the act, You Chen'an ordered his men to bury Chu He properly, admitting he had never truly wanted to kill him. Meanwhile, Leng Yue slipped back to Xiao Jinyu to retrieve medicine for Jing Yi, who was still being held by the Nanzhao delegation. She reported that Gao Luoqian was keeping a close watch on Jing Yi.

Xiao Jinyu informed her that while You Chen'an’s exact location remained unknown, the recent aggression from Nanzhao at the border suggested the prince had already returned home. He had already dispatched Zhou Han to investigate further. In Nanzhao, the King discussed the upcoming campaign with You Chen'an, focusing on a natural barrier in Jiaozhou that served as the only route to the city. This choke point was easy to defend but nearly impossible to attack.

You Chen'an proposed leading an elite unit to seize it quickly. Later, Li Zhang prepared a dish of roasted silkworm pupae for the prince—a memory from when You Chen'an’s mother sent him away for safety. Li Zhang compared You Chen'an's resilience to the legendary King Gou Jian, encouraging him to stay the course toward his ambitions.

Back in the capital, Jing Yi managed to humiliate Gao Luoqian by tricking him into a foul-smelling latrine under the guise of finding the witness Chang Shou. Enraged, Gao Luoqian ordered his men to beat Jing Yi. This mistreatment prompted Senior Jing to petition the Emperor for justice, lamenting that his only son was being brutalized. When the Emperor summoned Jing Yi to court, the young man appeared heavily wounded.

Gao Luoqian tried to deflect blame by claiming Jing Yi’s wife had beaten him to frame the delegation, but Xiao Jinyu arrived to present the confession of Chang Shou. This evidence linked Gao Luoqian to the poisoning of Tang officials, suggesting the envoy had beaten Jing Yi to destroy evidence. Gao Luoqian argued that the apothecary involved had been sold long ago to Chu He, attempting to shift suspicion to Chu Chu's brother.

The tension reached its peak as Chu Chu entered the court to present the evidence sent by Chu He. She explained that the blood print on the cloth was no more than three days old and perfectly matched You Chen'an’s fingerprint records kept by the Three Judicial Offices. This was irrefutable proof that You Chen'an had faked his death. Facing this testimony, the Emperor ordered Gao Luoqian to be placed under house arrest at the Nanzhao post station.

Jing Yi was cleared of all charges and restored to his office. Heartbroken, Chu Chu later set up a symbolic grave for Chu He, mourning the brother who had sacrificed his life to deliver the truth. Xiao Jinyu began to suspect that Gao Luoqian could not have operated so freely in the capital without internal help. Leng Yue recalled seeing officials from the Capital Prefecture meeting with Gao Luoqian at a post station.

Xiao Jinyu realized the Prefect, Jiang Daohai, might be colluding with Nanzhao. He sent a secret memorial to the Emperor, who was furious at the prospect of treachery within his administration. Seeking more information, Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu confronted Jiang Daohai's wife, Madam Zhao, while she was at a shop picking up a fertility prescription. Xiao Jinyu warned her that her husband was in grave danger.

Madam Zhao eventually revealed that after the death of Master Shenguan, she had seen an exotic woman meeting intimately with Jiang Daohai in his private office. Xiao Jinyu suspected this woman was the spy Hong Luan and that Gao Luoqian was using her to hold leverage over the Prefect. In the border region of Jiaozhou, Xiao Jinli arrived to take command as the Annan General.

He met with Chief Clerk Han Ji, who was overseeing local affairs while the Prefect was away. Xiao Jinli requested full cooperation to prepare the border defenses against Nanzhao. However, their discussion was abruptly interrupted by a frantic report: Nanzhao forces had launched a direct attack on the Tang watchtowers, signaling the start of the conflict.

In Jiaozhou, General Xiao Jinli received reports of a Nanzhao attack on the beacon towers and prepared to mobilize. However, Han Ji, the regional secretary, intervened. Despite Jinli’s recent promotion to Annan Great General, Han Ji produced a secret imperial decree stating that no border troops could be deployed without authorization while foreign envoys remained in Chang’an. Jinli was stunned, suspecting the decree’s existence had been leaked to Nanzhao, allowing them to strike while the Tang army’s hands were tied.

Nanzhao’s Eldest Prince, You Longsheng, led his troops toward a strategic bridge, confident that the Tang forces would not dare to retaliate. Jinli appeared with his personal guards and used the clever excuse that he was merely clearing debris from recent mountain floods rather than deploying the military. When the Prince ordered a charge, he was suddenly flanked by Luo Yan and her bandits from the Mount Zhenyuan Abode.

Trapped between Jinli’s men and the bandits, and facing a sea of fire after Jinli’s troops poured oil on the stone steps, the Prince was forced to retreat. This victory was the result of a coordinated plan between Jinli and Luo Yan to introduce an unpredictable force that Nanzhao had not factored into their strategy. In the capital, Xiao Jinyu tasked Jing Yi and Leng Yue with searching Jiang Daohai’s residence.

Jing Yi discovered a wooden replica of the official seal. Since all legitimate seals were cast in copper, they realized Jiang had lost the original and carved a wooden substitute to hide the crime. However, the wood had cracked over time, leaving a distinct mark on recent documents. Meanwhile, the Nanzhao Vice Envoy Gao Luoqian attempted to flee, but was summoned to the palace.

Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi presented evidence showing that Gao had poisoned several officials during a banquet to coerce them into serving Nanzhao. Those who refused, like Wan Qianshan, had been murdered. Leng Yue arrived with definitive proof after catching the attendant Hong Luan attempting to return the stolen official seal to Jiang Daohai. A search of the Nanzhao lodging inn also uncovered the poisons Gao had used.

Faced with the evidence, Gao desperately tried to shift the blame to Nanzhao’s Second Prince, but the Emperor ordered the Three Judicial Offices to take Gao, Hong Luan, and Jiang Daohai into custody. Following the arrests, Zhao Wanrong visited her cousin, Consort Hui, lamenting her husband’s downfall. Consort Hui remarked that her own favoritism toward the Zhao family had allowed such corruption to fester, but noted that Wanrong had at least been honest with Xiao Jinyu.

Senior Jing later shared a meal with his son, Jing Yi, confessing that during the peak of the crisis, he had asked the Emperor to sacrifice Jing Yi if it meant saving the state. Jing Yi was not resentful, expressing his desire to follow his father’s example of absolute devotion to Great Tang.

Subsequently, the Emperor appointed Xiao Jinyu as an Imperial Censor and sent him to Jiaozhou to assist his brother, fearing the region's complex politics were undermining Jinli’s authority. Jinyu and Chu Chu departed for the south, leaving Jing Yi and Leng Yue to root out Gao Luoqian’s remaining spies in the capital. In Jiaozhou, Prefect Liu finally returned and was informed of the imperial decree by Han Ji.

Disgusted by the situation, the Prefect went to see his pregnant wife, Madam Yulan. In tears, Yulan confessed that Han Ji had forced his way into her room late at night under the pretext of official business and had violated her. Consumed by rage, the Prefect vowed to confront Han Ji. Nearby, Xiao Jinli reflected on his past with Luo Yan, insisting he only saved her years ago out of a general's duty to protect the people.

Luo Yan teased him, noting that his tongue was only good for eating. When Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu arrived at the Prefect’s residence, Han Ji met them with open hostility. He blamed Jinyu for the death of his own wife, who had died of despair during their journey to the south after Han Ji was demoted. Han Ji claimed Jinyu had no authority in Jiaozhou, but Jinyu asserted his power as an Imperial Censor. The confrontation ended abruptly when Madam Yulan rushed in, distraught and reporting that Prefect Liu had suddenly vanished.

Following the mysterious disappearance of Prefect Liu Shijiang in Jiaozhou, his wife, Madam Yulan, frantically seeks help from Xiao Jinyu and his companions. While Han Ji dismisses the matter, suggesting Liu fled to avoid responsibility for the Nanzhao military threat, Xiao Jinyu senses a hidden tension between Han Ji and Yulan. Choosing to conduct an independent investigation, Xiao Jinyu, Chu Chu, and Xiao Jinli track erratic footprints—indicative of a drunken man—into a nearby bamboo grove.

In the grove, they discover Liu Shijiang’s body impaled by several bamboo shoots. Surrounding the corpse, a swarm of poisonous, bluish-green insects has clustered to form a chilling prophecy: "Jiaozhou is a cursed land; all life shall perish. If a new king is not established, no survival is possible."

Chu Chu observes that the scene is unnatural; had Liu simply fallen while drunk, he would have instinctively reached out to break his fall, yet his body lies in a stiff, defenseless pose. Suspecting foul play, Xiao Jinyu notes Han Ji’s uncharacteristic haste in having a local coroner handle the body, a move clearly intended to prevent the Three Judicial Offices from examining the evidence.

Upon re-examining the imperial decree that had previously forbidden Xiao Jinli from deploying troops, Xiao Jinyu identifies it as a forgery. He points out that several characters are perfectly identical, which is impossible in natural human calligraphy. He concludes the document was replicated using the Emperor’s stolen scrolls from the Wu Liang case. Consequently, he prepares to notify Jing Yi in the capital to root out palace conspirators and confirm the forgery with the Emperor.

Meanwhile, in the Nanzhao camp, the Eldest Prince captures a man claiming to be Zhou Han. This individual reveals he was recruited to impersonate the former Tang officer because of their striking resemblance. He discloses that he has been working for "The Peacock"—who is actually the Second Prince—in Chang'an. He explains how the Peacock used poisonous longevity potions to control Tang officials and staged supernatural ruses.

Having barely escaped an assassination attempt by the Second Prince to cover his tracks, he offers this information to the Eldest Prince, who is eager to use it to discredit his brother. Back at the bamboo grove, Xiao Jinyu finds residue of incense used to attract the insects into their formation.

Chu Chu collects a bamboo shoot that provides definitive proof: a bloodstain on the shoot shows that the bamboo grew several inches through the body after the blood had already spilled. This confirms Liu Shijiang was already dead or incapacitated when he was placed there, and the bamboo slowly impaled him as it grew overnight.

Despite Han Ji’s insistence on it being an accident, the local officials—wary of Han Ji’s public conflicts with the Prefect—urge Xiao Jinyu to take charge of Jiaozhou. Xiao Jinyu accepts and orders Han Ji to be confined to his quarters pending further investigation. The investigation into the Prefect’s household reveals a fractured marriage.

A maid testifies that while the Prefect was initially happy to see Yulan, a private conversation ended with him furiously calling her a "beast" before storming off to confront Han Ji. Chu Chu also learns that Yulan’s pregnancy was only discovered after the Prefect had already left for the capital, suggesting a scandalous secret involving Han Ji.

When Chu Chu attempts to check Yulan’s pulse under the pretext of gifting her a pair of mother-and-child bracelets, Yulan reacts with extreme agitation and smashes the jewelry. The mystery takes a horrific turn when Chu Chu’s autopsy reveals insect egg casings and unhatched larvae inside Liu Shijiang’s abdominal cavity. She concludes the Prefect’s body was used as a living vessel for breeding these poisonous insects long before his return to Jiaozhou.

The insects eventually hatched, rupturing his organs and crawling out of his wounds to form the prophecy at the killer's orchestrated moment. Xiao Jinyu confronts Han Ji, revealing that the Emperor had actually sent Han Ji to monitor the Prefect for treason. Han Ji admits he found Liu doing business with Nanzhao merchants but remains evasive regarding his personal relationship with Yulan.

The lethality of these insects is confirmed when Luo Yan discovers a group of Nanzhao soldiers dead from a similar swarm. She uses bonfires to contain the site. Amidst the chaos, news arrives that Granny Chunxi and a young villager named Guo have gone missing. Realizing that the number of disappearing border villagers has surged, Xiao Jinyu concludes the victims are being kidnapped to serve as live test subjects for this dark sorcery of cultivating insects within human bodies.

The tension within the Nanzhao royal family reaches a boiling point as the Eldest Prince, You Longsheng, confronts his half-brother, You Chen'an. Enraged by the slaughter of his troops stationed in Jiaozhou, the Eldest Prince accuses the "lowborn" Chen'an of using depraved poisonous insects to eliminate his men. Chen'an, however, remains unfazed, mocking his brother for failing their father’s mission and looking for a convenient scapegoat.

He dismisses the Eldest Prince's outbursts, pointing out that his brother has always relied on others—from his mother to his siblings—to maintain his status, while failing to manage his own military commands. Meanwhile, in Jiaozhou, Han Ji is consumed by anxiety as Xiao Jinyu’s investigation closes in. He warns Madam Yulan that the Prince is suspicious, but Yulan maintains a cold composure. Recognizing that Xiao Jinyu is a formidable opponent, she decides to target the Commandery Princess Consort instead.

Having heard that Chu Chu hails from the countryside and lacks refined social graces, Yulan plans to visit her personally to probe for information. At the same time, Chu Chu’s research into ancient texts reveals the terrifying nature of the Nanzhao poisonous insects: they enter the body through food, grow as parasites, and eventually burst out to find new hosts. These aggressive creatures are controlled by specific incense, but without it, they spread relentlessly through water and food sources.

Yulan visits Chu Chu, putting on a performance of a grieving widow and claiming that only her unborn child gives her the will to live after Prefect Liu’s death. Chu Chu offers comfort but stays focused on the investigation. To draw the enemy out, Chu Chu reveals that they have identified the insects as human-bred and are on the verge of locating the main breeding facility.

This revelation prompts a panicked Yulan to flee, inadvertently leading Xiao Jinyu’s team straight to her base. Xiao Jinli and Luo Yan follow Yulan to a mysterious Mountain God Temple, a place avoided by locals due to rumors of evil spirits. During their reconnaissance, they rescue a young girl named A-Guo near the site. Chu Chu determines that while A-Guo was fed the poisonous insects, the infection is recent enough to be treated.

A-Guo reveals she escaped through a treacherous, hidden mountain path—a route Luo Yan recognizes from her years at the Zhenyuan Stronghold. Following Yulan's departure, Chu Chu confronts Han Ji with evidence that Yulan’s pregnancy is a complete fabrication. She explains the medical deduction: a woman six or seven months pregnant would show distinct changes in her spine and pelvis due to the weight, yet Yulan’s posture and movement remained unchanged.

Furthermore, Chu Chu’s earlier attempt to feel Yulan’s pulse revealed no sign of a "slippery pulse." A distraught Han Ji confesses how Yulan manipulated him; after a night of heavy drinking, she claimed they had been intimate and used the fake pregnancy to blackmail him into silence. Recognizing that You Chen'an is using the temple as a base, Xiao Jinyu realizes they must act. However, moving the official army without a formal provocation would be politically disastrous.

Chu Chu bravely volunteers to serve as the catalyst; as the Princess Consort, her "abduction" would provide the perfect legal justification for military intervention. Luo Yan pledges to lead her people to protect Chu Chu, while Xiao Jinli prepares a pincer attack through the secret mountain path. In another camp, Zhou Han continues to stroke the Eldest Prince's ego, praising his military prowess while belittling Xiao Jinyu as someone who only succeeds because of his family name.

When news arrives that You Chen'an has surfaced at the Mountain God Temple, Zhou Han advises the Prince to hold back. He suggests letting the two sides exhaust each other, allowing the Eldest Prince to swoop in at the end and claim victory. Before the mission, Xiao Jinyu encourages Chu Chu to face her past.

He understands that her desire to confront You Chen'an is personal, as the villain's betrayal and the death of her brother, Chu He, remain a "thorn" in her heart. He promises that no matter where the battle takes her, he will always find her. The confrontation at the Mountain God Temple reaches its climax as Chu Chu and Luo Yan are met by Yulan and You Chen'an.

No longer hiding, Yulan reveals she is a Nanzhao agent who bewitched Prefect Liu to infiltrate the Great Tang. Chen'an, appearing as arrogant as ever, admits to murdering Chu Chu’s brother because he threatened his ascent to power. He chillingly reveals that the anatomical charts Chu Chu treasures were actually created through the vivisection of live victims at his camp. As Chu Chu realizes the depth of his depravity, Chen'an drops a final warning: he has been stalling for time, and his own surprise force is about to arrive.

At the Mountain God Temple, Chu Chu confronted You Chen’an and Madam Yulan. Yulan remained defiant, mocking Chu Chu’s attempts to gather information and claiming that Tang reinforcements would never arrive in time to stop their "special forces." Meanwhile, Xiao Jinli led the Annan Army through the forest, where they were ambushed by swarms of poisonous insects. Anticipating this, Chu Chu had previously analyzed the insects' eggs and remains to develop a specialized repellent powder.

Under Xiao Jinli’s command, the soldiers used the medicine to disperse the swarm, allowing the army to reach the temple safely and rescue the captive villagers. During the ensuing standoff, Chu Chu strategically provoked Yulan by claiming they found the temple because of her. Yulan’s defensive reaction and extreme anxiety for You Chen’an’s safety confirmed Chu Chu’s suspicion that the woman was deeply devoted to the Second Prince.

Realizing the temple was compromised, You Chen’an and Yulan fled through a secret tunnel, which they detonated behind them to halt pursuit. However, Xiao Jinyu had already anticipated their escape route and was waiting at the tunnel’s exit with a detachment of men. At the facility, Chu Chu realized that more than twenty victims were missing, having been taken by You Chen’an as human shields.

Yulan attempted to incite these sick villagers to attack Xiao Jinyu, promising them an antidote if they killed the Tang officials. The situation grew more tense when Han Ji, the regional official who had been deceived by the Nanzhao agents for years, arrived with reinforcements. You Chen’an tried to entice Han Ji and the other officials to defect with promises of wealth in Nanzhao, but Han Ji remained steadfast.

He condemned the Nanzhao for the suffering they brought to Jiaozhou and declared his intent to atone for his failures through justice. Though You Chen’an managed to slip away during the chaos, Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu discovered the true scale of his malice: the facility was filled with insect shells, revealing that You Chen’an had intended to release the toxins into the wild, turning all of Jiaozhou into a "city of poison" if his plans failed.

While fleeing toward the border, You Chen’an’s paranoia peaked. Suspecting Yulan of being a spy for his father or leaking their location, he brutally murdered her with a rock in a cave. Upon returning to the Nanzhao court, he lied to the King, claiming Yulan had been killed by a rockfall. To his devastation, the King revealed that Yulan was actually You Chen’an’s biological mother.

Years ago, she had volunteered to serve as an undercover agent in Jiaozhou on the sole condition that the King keep You Chen’an by his side at the palace. The King explained that the simple pajamas You Chen’an received every birthday were not signs of neglect, but were handmade gifts from Yulan herself. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, You Chen’an privately mourned his mother while vowing to seize power and seek vengeance against those who caused her suffering.

Back at the mountain stronghold, Luo Yan bid farewell to Xiao Jinli. When he offered a reward for her help, she rejected money and instead demanded a physical token of his promise, arguing that written decrees could be forged. She took his belt as a keepsake, leaving him to return to camp looking disheveled, much to the amusement of Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu. However, the peace was brief.

The King of Nanzhao, learning that Lord Gao had been defeated and captured in Chang’an, ordered the Eldest Prince, You Longsheng, to lead a military strike on Jiaozhou, with You Chen’an serving as supervisor. Internally, You Chen’an began plotting to ensure his brother would never return from the front lines alive.

Amidst the looming war, Chu Chu remained focused on the survivors of the poison camp, bringing in imperial doctors and assuring the villagers that the Tang court would never abandon them.

Following the escape of You Chen'an and the subsequent death of Madam Yulan, Jiaozhou is left in the grip of a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Tang citizens, recently rescued from Nanzhao’s poison camps, are suffering from the agonizing effects of deadly parasites. To make matters worse, the city faces a severe shortage of medical supplies. Xiao Jinyu summons the Maritime Trade Supervisor to secure the necessary herbs, but the official explains that the situation is dire.

With the borders frequently closing due to the conflict and trading ships being plundered by Nanzhao soldiers, the local treasury is nearly empty, and many vital medicines are unavailable. As Chu Chu tirelessly distributes what little medicine they have, she is weighed down by a heavy secret. She admits to Xiao Jinyu that she has been lying to the victims, promising them a full recovery just to give them the will to live.

In reality, she has no idea how to cure them and feels a crushing sense of guilt. Xiao Jinyu reassures her, noting that her "lie" provides the encouragement they need to survive. He reflects on the sinister Nanzhao prophecy—"the new king will not stand, and life will not survive"—realizing the enemy intended to use these innocent lives to create political momentum. To counter this, Xiao Jinyu sends a secret message to Zhou Han, his informant within the Nanzhao ranks.

In Nanzhao, the internal power struggle intensifies. The Eldest Prince's consort is distraught over her brother, Gao Luoqian, who remains a hostage in the Tang capital. She pressures her husband, You Longsheng, to save him. Acting on Xiao Jinyu’s covert instructions, Zhou Han suggests a trade: Nanzhao can use their abundance of herbs to demand peace talks and the return of Lord Gao.

He convinces the prince that the Tang people’s obsession with ethics and the welfare of their citizens will force them to agree. The King of Nanzhao, seeing an opportunity to secure the vital trade port of Jiaozhou through diplomacy rather than risky warfare, authorizes the Eldest Prince to lead the negotiations, hoping the prince can establish the merit needed to eventually inherit the throne. However, the Second Prince, You Chen'an, realizes he is being marginalized.

He sees himself as nothing more than a stepping stone for his brother’s ascension and fears his own eventual execution. He orders Li Zhang to keep a close watch on Jiaozhou, believing that as long as the parasite crisis remains unsolved, they maintain an advantage. He even plots to capture Chu Chu or anyone close to Xiao Jinyu to use as additional bargaining chips. Back in Jiaozhou, reinforcements arrive.

Jing Yi appears as a newly appointed Investigating Censor, carrying the Imperial Sword for Execution, which grants Xiao Jinyu full authority to handle all matters regarding Nanzhao. Meanwhile, Leng Yue arrives with a supply of herbs she gathered along her journey. While treating a child, Leng Yue uses a special topical painkiller—a blend of thornapple, peppermint, and other potent herbs—to painlessly remove a tick. This moment provides Chu Chu with a life-saving epiphany.

Chu Chu proposes a radical solution: a laparotomy. By opening the patients' abdomens, she can manually extract the parasites before they release their toxins. Drawing on her extensive knowledge of anatomy from her work as a coroner and a previous emergency surgery on Xu Rugui, she argues this is their only chance. Xiao Jinyu supports her, arranging for more herbs to be purchased while he prepares for the peace talks.

When Chu Chu presents the plan to the victims, an elderly woman named Granny Chunxi offers to be the first subject, but Chu Chu explains the surgery is too risky for someone of her age. A young girl named A-Guo then courageously steps forward. That night, as they look at the stars, Chu Chu admits her fears to the girl.

A-Guo encourages her, and Chu Chu promises that once she is healed, she will take her to see the brilliant lights of Chang'an. As the formal negotiations begin, Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi face off against the Nanzhao princes. Xiao Jinyu strategically sows discord between the brothers, questioning You Chen'an’s presence since he wasn't on the official list and subtly insulting the Eldest Prince’s intelligence to provoke conflict.

During the heated debate, Xiao Jinyu manages to negotiate for the abolition of taxes on the herb trade, a prisoner exchange for Gao Luoqian, and a demand that the Nanzhao army retreat a hundred miles from the border. While the men are locked in diplomatic battle, Chu Chu begins the surgery on A-Guo. With the help of the local physicians and Leng Yue, she carefully opens the girl's stomach, extracts the deadly parasite, and successfully stitches the wound.

The operation is a triumph, and the news quickly spreads, bringing a wave of relief to the camp. To celebrate the progress of the peace talks, Xiao Jinyu hosts a banquet for the Nanzhao delegation. However, the atmosphere of reconciliation is shattered in an instant. A man dressed in Great Tang military attire suddenly bursts in and lunges at the Eldest Prince with a blade, turning the celebratory feast into a scene of chaos.

Following the assassination of the Eldest Prince at the banquet, Xiao Jinyu acted quickly to contain the scene, ordering his subordinates to stay back. You Chen'an immediately attempted to frame the Tang delegation, accusing them of sabotage and murder. However, Xiao Jinyu exposed his motive, pointing out that You Chen'an stood to benefit most from his brother's death to secure his own path to the throne.

Cornered, You Chen'an threatened to commit suicide on the spot to ensure Xiao Jinyu would be blamed for the deaths of both princes, forcing Xiao Jinyu to allow him to depart. Anticipating the fallout, Xiao Jinyu instructed Xiao Jinli to prepare the army for an imminent conflict. Upon hearing of the tragedy, the King of Nanzhao was gripped by rage and declared he would personally lead his troops into war.

Meanwhile, Chu Chu worked until she fell asleep from exhaustion while performing surgeries to remove poisonous insects from the victims. When she woke, Xiao Jinyu informed her of the political turmoil. Chu Chu’s father also arrived to see her, still mourning the loss of his son, Chu He. Xiao Jinyu expressed his deep regret for failing to protect the family, but the father took pride in Chu He’s heroic sacrifice for the nation.

Entrusting Chu Chu’s safety to Xiao Jinyu, the father accepted the promise that once the conflict ended, the entire family would be moved to Chang’an to live out their lives in peace. As the Eldest Prince’s consort mourned her husband, Zhou Han provided her with crucial evidence: the assassination weapon was a rare steel dagger traced back to a forge owned by You Chen’an.

Despite the consort’s plea for justice, the King publicly dismissed her and told her to focus on the funeral rites to prevent internal strife. Privately, however, the King confronted You Chen'an, revealing he was fully aware that his son was the true culprit behind the murder. The situation escalated the next day when You Chen'an announced the King had suffered a sudden stroke and took control of Nanzhao. In reality, You Chen'an had poisoned his father into a vegetative state.

Observing this cold-blooded betrayal, Li Zhang grew fearful, realizing You Chen'an would not hesitate to turn on him as well. You Chen'an then sent word that any further peace negotiations would require Xiao Jinyu to personally travel to Nanzhao territory. Back at the camp, Chu Chu faced a severe shortage of medicinal herbs. Her father suggested searching a local market where itinerant traders gathered.

Though they secured some supplies, it was still insufficient, leading the father and Leng Yue to investigate another location. During the search, the group became separated, and Chu Chu’s father was abducted by You Chen'an’s men. To ensure her father’s safety, Chu Chu voluntarily surrendered to the captors, leaving word for Leng Yue to tell Xiao Jinyu that she would be safe for now because You Chen'an still required her medical skills.

Learning of the kidnapping, Xiao Jinyu entrusted the border defense to Xiao Jinli and set off for Nanzhao with Jing Yi to uncover You Chen'an's true goals. Upon arrival, Chu Chu comforted her guilt-ridden father, explaining that they were the primary targets of this plot. During the formal meeting, You Chen'an presented the paralyzed King, while the Nanzhao generals remained hostile, insisting that there could be no peace until the blood debt for their fallen prince was settled.

The tension in the Nanzhao royal court reached a boiling point as the Great General demanded an account for the Eldest Prince’s death, refusing to proceed with any peaceful negotiation. You Chen'an, acting as the regent, accused the general of obstructing the peace just to seek military merit for himself. Xiao Jinyu intervened, stating that while the Great Tang would not meddle in Nanzhao's internal affairs, the truth behind the Eldest Prince's death was far more complex than it appeared.

To prevent further immediate conflict, You Chen'an had the Prime Minister escort the Great Tang envoys to the side hall to rest while the King supposedly recuperated from his illness. \\n\\nLater, You Chen'an met Xiao Jinyu privately, reminiscing about their past chess matches at Weiguo Temple. He proposed a mutually beneficial deal: if he successfully ascended the throne with the help of the Great Tang, he would immediately sign a treaty with favorable terms for the empire.

However, Xiao Jinyu cited the laws of the Tang, explaining that an imperial decree to appoint a successor could only be issued after a ruler had passed away. Since the King was only ill, any such appointment would be illegitimate. You Chen'an chillingly hinted at the possibility of the King's imminent death, but Xiao Jinyu remained firm, insisting on the release of Chu Chu and her father first.

\\n\\nSeizing an opportunity to fracture You Chen'an's support, Zhou Han approached Li Zhang with a message from Xiao Jinyu, warning him that once a hunting dog is no longer useful, he is often discarded. When Li Zhang later confronted Xiao Jinyu, he mocked the Prince for being trapped, but Xiao Jinyu countered by asking how Li Zhang could be so sure You Chen'an wouldn't kill him to cover his tracks.

Meanwhile, Leng Yue attempted to rescue Chu Chu, only to find You Chen'an and his men lying in wait. Realizing the danger, Chu Chu urged Leng Yue to escape and tell the Prince she was fine, leaving herself in the regent's hands to avoid further bloodshed. \\n\\nTo ensure total control, Li Zhang suggested moving Chu Chu to the underground palace to be guarded alongside "that person," referring to the incapacitated King.

You Chen'an agreed and ordered that the matter be handled cleanly. Despite her confinement, Chu Chu remained defiant, telling her captors that Xiao Jinyu would never compromise the Great Tang's interests for her sake. Soon after, news arrived that Chu Chu's father had been safely returned to Jiaozhou as a show of sincerity. However, Li Zhang quickly reported that the King had passed away suddenly.

You Chen'an staged a dramatic display of grief before the court, and at Li Zhang's urging, he agreed to ascend the throne to restore the state's foundation. He immediately consolidated power by arresting the Great General for treason. \\n\\nDressed in his imperial yellow robes, You Chen'an visited Chu Chu to announce his reign.

Chu Chu warned him that a person who committed such crimes would eventually face retribution, but the new King claimed that he would be the one to decide how the history books of Nanzhao were written. Shortly after, the maid Yu Luo delivered Chang'an dishes and Chu Chu’s belongings to Xiao Jinyu, relaying a message that the former King was gone and Chu Chu would be released once the Great Tang issued the official decree.

Xiao Jinyu promised to write to the Emperor immediately, ensuring the decree would arrive within three days, but he warned that You Chen'an would pay dearly if Chu Chu came to any harm. \\n\\nOn the day of the investiture, Xiao Jinyu arrived as the envoy sent to confer the title. However, when You Chen'an opened the decree, he found it was completely empty.

Before he could react, the King of Nanzhao appeared in the hall, denouncing the treacherous son who had plotted against his own mother and brother to usurp the throne. You Chen'an desperately claimed this was an impostor found by the Great Tang, but the Luojuzi Army and court officials recognized their true King and knelt in respect, celebrating his apparent resurrection.

\\n\\nThe truth was then revealed: Xiao Jinyu had convinced Li Zhang to atone for his crimes by placing Chu Chu and the King together. Relying on their previous discussions regarding suspended animation, Chu Chu had induced a temporary state of shock in the King to make him appear dead. As Xiao Jinyu had predicted, You Chen'an’s obsession with power led him to rush for military authority, neglecting to properly inspect his father's body.

The King lamented that his decision to let his sons compete for the throne had backfired, nearly turning him into a sacrificial pawn in his own son's game. \\n\\nRefusing to yield, You Chen'an revealed that he had replaced the palace guards with his own loyalists, ordering them to kill everyone present. However, Zhou Han arrived with the Eldest Prince’s consort, and the remaining palace forces surrounded the hall. Faced with overwhelming odds, the rebels dropped their weapons.

Chu Chu stepped forward and spoke of You Chen'an's mother, who had endured so much hardship just so her son could live a stable life. She asked if his current path was truly what his mother would have wanted to see. \\n\\nThe King, moved by fatherly love, pleaded with Xiao Jinyu to spare You Chen'an, promising to agree to any Tang conditions.

Xiao Jinyu insisted that You Chen'an must return to the Great Tang to face trial for his numerous crimes. You Chen'an, realizing his ambitions were over, looked at the group of friends he had always envied. He declared that while his father had been in control of his life at birth, the end of his life would belong solely to himself. He then committed suicide. The King remained true to his word, fulfilling all the terms for peace.

\\n\\nWith the conflict finally over, peace returned to the region. While Chu Chu busied herself treating patients in Jiaozhou, Jing Yi brought a lavish betrothal gift to propose to Leng Yue once more. He confessed that his love was not yet enough and promised to protect her forever. Leng Yue playfully reminded him of the three knots they tied during their marriage ritual, symbolizing three lifetimes.

Since their first life's fate had ended with a divorce letter, she told him he would have to spend the next two lifetimes counting the days and making it up to her, to which Jing Yi joyfully agreed. \\n\\nAs they prepared to return to the capital, Xiao Jinyu asked Chu Chu to take a leave of absence to travel with him, noting that she had spent their three years of marriage working and had rarely accompanied him.

Chu Chu agreed, acknowledging that marital harmony was an important matter. Upon their return, the Emperor praised the group for their bravery in resolving the crisis and protecting the empire. For his distinguished accomplishment, the Emperor bestowed an iron certificate upon Xiao Jinyu, urging them all to continue serving the Great Tang and achieving even greater merit in the future.