Resumo do episódio 3 de The Imperial Coroner 2
> Resumos de The Imperial Coroner 2
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.
