Resumo do episódio 19 de The Imperial Coroner 2
> Resumos de The Imperial Coroner 2
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.
