Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Episode 5 Recap
> Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Recap
Zhao Buyou and Zhao Mo, after escaping with the Hindu man from people trying to kill them, take refuge. Zhao Buyou confirms the Hindu man is from Samboja, a region near Hindu, and he arrived in East Capital six months ago, smuggled on a boat by two merchants. He performed fireworks shows in the business center until he was arrested by officials from the Office of Justice because he lacked necessary documents.
He was then taken to a dark room, where he was forced to create the auspicious sign. Although he couldn't see the person's face in the dark, he noticed something on their thumb, a thumb ring carved with the characters meaning "A mind tranquil as still water." He only saw this detail when the person pointed near his forehead after he initially refused. Zhao Buyou immediately realizes the official described is Di Lun, a prosecutor from the Office of Justice.
Sensing someone is listening outside, he tells Mo to watch the Hindu man and take him to the Kaifeng Court later, while he goes to investigate the eavesdropper. However, the person gets away. When Zhao Buyou returns, Mo tells him the Hindu man ran off because he was terrified of officials, despite Mo's attempts to stop him. With the key witness gone, Zhao Buyou decides they must take a chance.
He buys the white horse they were trying to get earlier and sends it back with Mo to Wen Yue, along with a letter. The letter instructs Wen Yue not to hesitate and to leave the city right away. Wen Yue becomes suspicious of the urgent message and questions Mo further. Mo, unsure of what to say, reveals the letter mentioned a meeting location at the abandoned boat in the graveyard in the eastern suburbs.
Concerned, Wen Yue immediately takes the horse and rides towards the eastern suburbs. Meanwhile, Zhao Buyou goes to meet with Inspector Gu Zhen and Judge Wan Fu. He accuses Di Lun of being the person responsible for both the murder of Li Yan fifteen years ago and the forgery of the auspicious sign today. He claims he has evidence and is himself a witness.
Inspector Gu questions Zhao Buyou's accusations, noting that Di Lun recently had Zhao Buyou dismissed from his position at the Office of Justice and suggesting his claims are driven by resentment and an attempt to frame his former superior. At his own location, Di Lun is informed by a subordinate that Zhao Buyou has met with the Hindu man and has figured out Di Lun's involvement in the auspicious sign. The subordinate reports that he killed the Hindu man.
Di Lun realizes things are coming to light but believes a greater mastermind is behind Zhao Buyou's actions. He decides to let Zhao Buyou lead him to this person. He orders his men to pose as kidnappers and capture Zhao Buyou's entire family, specifically stating he needs them alive for his plans.
Di Lun receives a urgent letter from Zhao Buyou, requesting a meeting at the abandoned boat in the graveyard in the eastern suburbs at the appointed time and asking him to bring two bottles of "flowing glow" wine. Di Lun, intrigued by Zhao Buyou's move, goes to the meeting spot. Zhao Buyou is already there, and confronts Di Lun with an uncharacteristic display of confidence.
Zhao Buyou recounts various humiliating tasks he performed for Di Lun over the years, implying he knows much more about Di Lun's corrupt dealings and his subservience to a hidden master. Zhao Buyou points to the specific boat at the graveyard and accuses Di Lun directly: fifteen years ago, Di Lun hired pirates to murder Li Yan and everyone on that boat.
He emphasizes that Di Lun, a mere prosecutor, wouldn't dare undertake such actions without a powerful figure pulling the strings. Di Lun, enraged by the accusations, draws his sword, calls Zhao Buyou a slanderer, and orders his men to arrest him. Unfazed, Zhao Buyou reveals that Di Lun was promised the lucrative position of Supervisor of Miscellaneous Purchases at the Office of Treasury by his master for his services.
However, Zhao Buyou reveals Di Lun was betrayed, as that position was given to someone named Wei Santong the previous day. As proof, Zhao Buyou shows a purchase order from Wen Yue's umbrella shop, signed by Wei Santong, who has already placed a large order for umbrellas. Just as Di Lun is stunned by this revelation, Wen Yue arrives at the graveyard. Di Lun orders his men to capture her.
Wen Yue fiercely defends herself, using her umbrella as a weapon to fend off multiple attackers. Seeing his men struggling, Di Lun orders them to seize Zhao Buyou instead. This forces Wen Yue to drop her umbrella and surrender to protect her husband. Di Lun has Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue tied up on the boat and orders his men to set it ablaze.
Zhao Buyou, attempting to buy time, engages Di Lun, asking to understand the full truth of the Li Yan case before he dies and hinting that he is expecting help. Di Lun, consumed by bitterness, rants about his impoverished origins, the 20-year contract binding him to his master, the years of dirty work he performed with the promise of the Office of Treasury position, and his master's ultimate betrayal.
He admits his involvement in the Li Yan case but refuses to name his master. He then personally lights the fire. As the flames grow, Zhao Buyou, terrified but resolute, holds Wen Yue's hand and asks her to promise to be with him in their next lives, which she does. He then yells out for Gu Zhen, revealing this confrontation was a risky plan involving the inspector, but he is worried by Gu Zhen's delay.
Miraculously, just as the fire is about to consume them, Gu Zhen and Wan Fu arrive, quickly put out the fire, and rescue the couple. Gu Zhen expresses regret that Di Lun died without revealing his master's identity. However, Di Lun, still alive, appears again and offers to cooperate with Gu Zhen, explicitly confessing to hiring the killer for the Li Yan case fifteen years ago.
Hearing Di Lun's confession, Gu Zhen reveals his own identity: a member of the Jingyuan Triumphant Army and a former subordinate of Commander Li Yan. He displays a tattoo on his forehead confirming this. After fifteen years of searching, Gu Zhen strikes Di Lun down to avenge his commander. Gu Zhen then asks Wen Yue how she managed to escape the boat incident fifteen years prior.
Wen Yue explains she believed Li Yan was a good official, but her master, Water Dagger, killed him regardless. Her master was subsequently killed by their employer's men. Amidst the chaos, when officials from the Office of Justice arrived and began firing arrows, she escaped by jumping into the river. Satisfied that justice for Li Yan has been served, Gu Zhen tells Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue he will find them again later, implicitly allowing them to leave for now.
Shaken but safe, Zhao Buyou is still visibly frightened. Wen Yue stays by his side. He worries about potential future trouble from Xiao Yishui, Wen Yue's senior disciple. Later, Wan Fu questions Gu Zhen about why he chose to kill Di Lun in front of Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue. Gu Zhen explains it was a deliberate act; by having them witness him commit a serious crime, he created a mutual secret, binding them together as allies or "own people."
Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue walk home together. Zhao Buyou admits how scared he was, calling himself a wimp, and expresses awe at Wen Yue's resilience having survived such trauma at a much younger age. Wen Yue reminds him of his earlier assertion that anyone could survive in East Capital. They decide not to leave the city. Still weak from the ordeal, Zhao Buyou relies on Wen Yue for support as they walk home.
