Resumo do episódio 10 de The Imperial Coroner 2
> Resumos de The Imperial Coroner 2
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.
