Resumo do episódio 16 de The Imperial Coroner 2
> Resumos de The Imperial Coroner 2
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.
