Resumo do episódio 8 de The Imperial Coroner 2
> Resumos de The Imperial Coroner 2
As political tensions rise in the capital, several officials gather to discuss their resentment toward Xiao Jinyu. They are frustrated by his interference in provincial personnel matters under the guise of criminal investigations. One official, Jiang, proposes a strike against the Prince's wife, Chu Chu. Reasoning that the couple is famously devoted to one another, he suggests that dragging the Princess Consort into a scandal would be the most effective way to pull Xiao Jinyu down.
In Nanzhao, the King receives a significant update regarding the Tang general Xie Huaiding. Informants have discovered that Xie Huaiding fathered a son with a singing girl years ago, and the child is now living within Nanzhao's borders. The King mocks the Three Judicial Offices for missing such a vital secret, concluding that Xiao Jinyu is not as meticulous as his reputation suggests.
He notes with satisfaction that their operative, "Peacock," has successfully taken over the spy network surrounding the Prince, and their plan is moving forward. Meanwhile, the Emperor discusses brewing border threats with Xie Huaiding. With the Uyghurs and Tanguts to the north and Tubo to the west all eyeing the Great Tang with hostility, Nanzhao is clearly looking to profit from the chaos.
Though Xie Huaiding is eager to silence their enemies with his halberd, the Emperor remains focused on avoiding the suffering of a full-scale war. Amidst these heavy matters, Chu He brings a bit of home to the capital, offering Chu Chu authentic Qianzhou chili peppers and complaining that the local peppercorns lack the necessary heat.
When Chu Chu prepares to head to the market to buy green plums for her autopsies, Chu He offers to help carry her loads, but You Chen'an insists on going instead. Their presence at the market does not go unnoticed; officials observe the pair from a nearby tavern and call over Vice Governor Leng Baichuan to witness the scene. Seeing the Princess Consort and the Second Prince of Nanzhao together in a seemingly intimate setting fuels local gossip.
Chu Chu later returns to the Three Judicial Offices to deliver an autopsy sheet, jointly signed with You Chen'an, to Xiao Jinyu. Her professional but distant demeanor prompts Jing Yi to tease the Prince about being unsettled by matters of the heart. Xiao Jinyu quickly silences his friend by threatening to tell Leng Yue about Jing Yi’s hidden savings.
Despite the banter, Xiao Jinyu is troubled by the coincidences surrounding Master Shenguan's death, noting that the monk died just as they were closing in on the spy known as Peacock. Suspecting the monk's visit to the Music Office was not for romance, he instructs Jing Yi to investigate the singing girl, Qinxiang. Jing Yi and Leng Yue head to the Music Office to question Qinxiang.
Although she denies knowing the monk, she reacts with shock upon hearing of his death. Their conversation is cut short by the arrival of Zhao Senyao, whom Jing Yi recognizes as his own cousin. Zhao Senyao violently assaults Qinxiang for allegedly using a monk to shield herself. Leng Yue intervenes to save her. Despite the abuse, Qinxiang refuses to provide a statement, claiming they were merely "playing."
However, Jing Yi realizes that Master Shenguan had been treating Qinxiang for a medical condition and died at the Zhao residence. Simultaneously, Gao Luoqian exerts pressure on Vice Minister Huang Lyu of the Ministry of Rites. Using a combination of bribes and blackmail regarding Huang’s secret habits, Gao forces the official to demand the return of Master Shenguan's remains. Huang attempts to intimidate Chu Chu into surrendering the body while Xiao Jinyu is at the palace.
Chu Chu remains firm, stating that without a written order from the Prince or the Emperor, the remains cannot be moved. After seeing the official out, she instructs Wu Jiang to rotate guards in three watches to ensure the mortuary is protected. In search of the truth, Xiao Jinyu visits the monk's disciple, Jing Yuan.
He uses a Zen story about a monk carrying a woman across a river to illustrate that holding onto physical form can hinder the pursuit of truth. Having convinced the disciple, Xiao Jinyu meets the Emperor for drinks. He intentionally consumes several cups of osmanthus wine—a tactic learned from Jing Yi’s father—to get himself drunk and secure an imperial order for Chu Chu to perform a new autopsy.
The Emperor grants the request but warns that he cannot protect the Prince if the investigation stirs up too much political strife. Xiao Jinyu is eventually carried home in a drunken stupor by Wu Jiang and Jing Yi. In his delirium, he clings to Chu Chu, mumbling that since she loves corpses most, he will be a corpse for her. When he complains of heart pain from the alcohol, Chu Chu realizes the lengths he went to for her work.
She stays to care for him briefly before spending the night conducting a thorough examination of Master Shenguan. The following morning, Xiao Jinyu wakes with a massive hangover. Jing Yi teases him about his embarrassing behavior the night before. When Chu Chu arrives, Xiao Jinyu apologizes for trying to distance her from the case to protect her from political fallout.
Chu Chu, however, insists that as a married couple, they are bound together and must face the storms of life as one. She then delivers a breakthrough: her second autopsy has confirmed that the monk’s death was indeed suspicious and part of a deeper conspiracy.
