Resumo do episódio 7 de The Imperial Coroner 2
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Gao Luoqian received a cryptic message from "The Peacock" and realized the timing was perfect to strike. He immediately prepared to head to the palace to speak with the Great Tang Emperor. Meanwhile, at the Three Judicial Offices, Chu Chu instructed Wu Jiang to guard Master Shenguan’s remains with the utmost care.
Despite her own lack of religious belief, she sought out the monks to learn about their taboos, hoping to respect their customs as long as it did not hinder the investigation. She explained to Wu Jiang that an autopsy is a difficult process for any grieving family to accept, and following these rituals might ease their sorrow and prevent future legal disputes.
The situation became complicated when You Chen'an warned Xiao Jinyu that autopsying a revered saint like Master Shenguan would lead to severe political repercussions, as Gao Luoqian would certainly use it as grounds to complain to the Emperor. The young monk, Jing Yuan, was also torn; while he desperately wanted to know the truth behind his master’s sudden death, he could not bear the thought of the master’s sacred body being desecrated.
Chu Chu attempted to mediate, promising to preserve the body's integrity. However, citing strict rules regarding contact between men and women, the monks and the Nanzhao mission firmly refused to let a woman handle the remains. The conflict soon reached the palace. During an audience, Gao Luoqian launched an attack, arguing it was fundamentally unfair for Great Tang officials to investigate a case where their own citizens might have harmed a Nanzhao saint.
He specifically targeted Chu Chu, questioning how the Three Judicial Offices could employ a woman as a coroner in defiance of established norms. Despite Lord Jiang’s defense of her exceptional talent, the Emperor eventually ruled that the investigation must continue to avoid further rumors, but he ordered Xiao Jinyu to oversee it personally and strictly forbade Chu Chu from participating to appease the foreign envoys.
After the envoys left, Xiao Jinyu tried to plead Chu Chu’s case one last time, but the Emperor remained firm. He warned that while he valued Chu Chu’s skills, if the trouble she brought to the court outweighed her contributions, she would no longer be allowed to serve. He cautioned Xiao Jinyu not to push her into a political storm that could destroy her.
Returning to his office, Xiao Jinyu followed the imperial order and summoned other coroners, telling Chu Chu to focus on other duties. Chu Chu felt a sting of frustration, realizing that despite the cases they had solved, many still saw her only as the Princess Consort rather than a capable coroner. While Jing Yi and Leng Yue investigated the Zhao residence—learning that the Master had died during a ritual and securing a suspicious-looking flower—Chu Chu devised a workaround.
She approached You Chen'an with an unconventional plan: since he was a member of the Three Judicial Offices and the chief envoy of Nanzhao, no one could object if he performed the autopsy himself. Though You Chen'an admitted he had never autopsied a real person, Chu Chu promised to guide him through every step. Under her meticulous instruction, You Chen'an used a Yin-yang Pestle to examine the body and performed the dissection.
They discovered that Master Shenguan’s congested cardiac vessels pointed toward sudden cardiac failure. You Chen'an noted that Nanzhao monks often bathed in cold water to combat the summer heat, and the strain of performing constant rituals in a new environment likely triggered the fatal heart condition. Chu Chu felt a wave of regret, realizing that if she had deduced this possibility sooner, she might have avoided cutting the master’s body at all.
Xiao Jinyu eventually secured a compromise where the Three Judicial Offices and the Nanzhao mission would issue a joint report, which You Chen'an agreed to sign. Outside, Jing Yuan remained kneeling in the rain, chanting sutras to help his master journey toward the Pure Land. Moved by the young monk’s devotion, Chu Chu ensured that vegetarian meals would be delivered to him regularly. Later, You Chen'an showed Chu Chu his detailed anatomical chart.
She was struck by its accuracy, noting that such detail could only be captured from a body examined immediately after death. When You Chen'an questioned her loyalty to Xiao Jinyu, she explained that he protects everyone under his command, and in return, she would risk everything for him. Xiao Jinyu, standing outside the door, heard her words and was deeply moved, feeling both humbled by her devotion and determined to protect her career.
You Chen'an eventually revealed that his knowledge of anatomy came from his own body. He showed Chu Chu the horrific scars on his back caused by a "cat's tongue" whip. Having grown up as a starving orphan fighting military dogs for scraps, he had learned the intricacies of the human body through a lifetime of pain. That night, Chu Chu stood by the gate and met her brother, Chu He, who had just returned in the rain.
Angry that Xiao Jinyu had seemingly sidelined her, Chu He offered his support, but Chu Chu admitted she understood that Xiao Jinyu was only trying to shield her from public scrutiny. Despite this, she confessed to feeling a sense of hurt, wishing she were capable enough to stand by his side without needing such protection. She told her brother that some truths were meant to be discovered on one's own, hoping Xiao Jinyu would eventually realize that his protection could sometimes feel like a burden.
