Resumo do episódio 15 de The Imperial Coroner 2
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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.
