Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Episode 9 Recap
> Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Recap
Zhao Buyou visits a rouge shop, inquiring about Qibai Powder. The manager recognizes him and is surprised by his visit. Just then, Zhang Qiniang arrives and follows him into the shop. Zhao Buyou mentions he was recommended the powder by Lady Wu from Wu's bao shop. The manager confirms that Lady Wu is a regular customer who uses the powder daily and purchases two boxes every month.
While Zhao Buyou is at the shop, Wen Yue arrives looking for hand cream. She spots Zhao Buyou with Zhang Qiniang. Zhang Qiniang greets Wen Yue, noting that they have met before and implying they recently discussed makeup tips. Wen Yue, appearing displeased, tells Zhao Buyou she needs him for something and asks him to leave with her.
Zhang Qiniang points out that Zhao Buyou hasn't finished his work and playfully suggests he should go with Wen Yue since he's known to be henpecked. Zhao Buyou tells Wen Yue to go home and make dinner as he is busy with his investigation. Zhang Qiniang then comments on how authoritative Zhao Buyou seems at home. Meanwhile, Zhao Mo'er is engaged in an experiment at home. Zhao Ban'er asks if he is making ice.
He finishes his work and uses a fire lighter, causing a device to float upwards. Excited, he shows his father, Zhao Li, how it flew and concludes that this must be the method used by the Hat Demon. Zhao Buyou visits Wu Qiao at her home to question her further about her cousin, Wu Xiang's, death. He asks about her brother, Wu Ao, who is at the store.
Zhao Buyou brings up Wu Xiang's heavy gambling and how he lost their family mansion, questioning if Wu Qiao feels the loss of the money they earned through hard work selling bao. He asks to see her arm, noting burn marks that look like they are from lamp oil, which contradicts her earlier statement about being burned at a clinic.
Observing that Wu Xiang was found dead on the second floor, he asks how she could have gone up with her disability, suggesting she might have gotten out of her wheelchair. He supports this by pointing out that wheelchair users typically have clean shoes and skirt hems, while hers are dirty. He also mentions finding Qibai Powder on her high dressing table, suggesting her brothers must have helped her reach it, noticing her reaction confirms this.
He then proposes that she and Wu Ao may have brought the night watchman home with them the night of the murder to create a cover-up for the real killer. Wu Qiao asks Zhao Buyou if investigators only focus on the outcome, but he assures her he believes in understanding the cause as well.
She recounts her life after her parents died, when she and Wu Ao were taken in by their cousin, Wu Xiang, a dissolute man who forced her to pretend to be paralyzed and sell bao from a wheelchair to gain sympathy and earn more money. The plan was successful, allowing her to earn enough to buy back their old family home. She explains that with money, Wu Xiang became more controlling and abusive towards her and Wu Ao.
On the night he died, Wu Xiang had lost a significant amount gambling and was violently demanding the property deed from them. When Wu Ao tried to protect it, Wu Xiang began strangling him. In a panic to save her brother, Wu Qiao got out of her wheelchair, grabbed an oil lamp, and killed Wu Xiang. Zhao Buyou expresses understanding for her actions, acknowledging the courage it took to protect her home and family.
He advises her to go with him to the Kaifeng Court to surrender to Inspector Gu and explain everything to seek a lenient sentence. At the Kaifeng Court, Wan Fu takes Wu Qiao into custody, praising Zhao Buyou's skills and inviting him for a drink. Wen Yue suddenly appears, causing Wan Fu to quickly leave. Wen Yue confronts Zhao Buyou about where he was the previous night. He claims he was working on a case and looking for clues.
Wen Yue demands an explanation regarding Zhang Qiniang. Zhao Buyou explains he took on the Hat Demon case because Zhang Qiniang offered a large reward, and he wanted to earn money to buy Wen Yue a mansion. Wen Yue is skeptical, asking if he is only now deciding to be ambitious for their family.
She questions his interest in Zhang Qiniang, sarcastically mentioning Zhang Qiniang's rouge and his skill at peeling iced lychees, and suggests he might prefer to live with Zhang Qiniang. Zhao Buyou complains that she is saying things to make Inspector Gu envious. Gu Zhen, who has been within earshot, intervenes.
He shows Wen Yue a package marked with a dagger symbol and reveals that someone has offered 100 taels of gold to kill Zhang Qiniang, suggesting it's the same person who hired Xiao Yishui. He speculates that this person didn't want Zhao Buyou to know and potentially flee, so they came to Gu Zhen instead seeking help to uncover the truth. Zhao Buyou admits he took the commission to make money, acknowledging Gu Zhen has found his weakness.
Gu Zhen confirms the commission was intended for Wen Yue and believes Zhao Buyou is capable of earning the money. Feeling sidelined by Zhao Buyou's secrecy, Wen Yue declares she will take the commission herself, takes the bag of gold, and leaves. Zhao Buyou then boasts to Gu Zhen about having two women fighting over him, which Gu Zhen finds amusing.
After meeting with Commander Tao, Gu Zhen and Zhao Buyou go to a bathhouse to rid themselves of the lingering scents. Zhao Buyou asks Gu Zhen not to tell Wen Yue about their meeting with Commander Tao, and Gu Zhen agrees on condition that Zhao Buyou doesn't tell Wan Fu.
Gu Zhen reflects on their findings, noting Zhang Qiniang's connection to the powerful Mr. Zou from the South and the intriguing coincidence of the reappearance of the commissioner and the Hat Demon case. He asks Zhao Buyou if he still plans to earn the 100 taels, and Zhao Buyou confirms he does. Gu Zhen reminds him he only has two days left. Elsewhere, Zhang Qiniang speaks with her steward, Kang Qian.
She mentions that a quail soup is made from hundreds of quail tongues, indicating she is aware of details. She questions whether such matters need to be reported to her foster father and makes it clear that upsetting her foster father is equivalent to upsetting her, warning Kang Qian against being overly talkative. She states she knows her foster father sent Kang Qian to her and asks him to speak favorably of her.
Kang Qian assures her he will not speak rashly. Zhang Qiniang then dismisses him, saying he has ruined her appetite and suggesting the quail tongue soup is fitting for him since he seems to enjoy "chewing tongues." At dinner at home, Wen Yue is silent, making Zhao Buyou visibly nervous as he watches her. Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er are also quiet.
Zhao Mo'er eventually says he is full and wants to visit Sun Bo, asking if he has been cleared now that Wu Qiao confessed. Zhao Buyou says he will go to the Kaifeng Court to ask Inspector Gu about it. Wen Yue immediately states she will go with him, insisting that since the commission was addressed to her, she needs to understand the situation and will go wherever he goes.
Later, Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er are together and feel hungry. Zhao Ban'er shares a snack she bought for Sun Bo with Zhao Mo'er. They visit the lodging house where Sun Bo lives, but the landlord tells them Sun Bo, also known as Yi, just left to run errands immediately after being released from prison, needing to earn money quickly. He suggests Sun Bo went towards Mahang Street. After leaving, Zhao Ban'er comments on Sun Bo's difficult life.
Zhao Mo'er advises her not to directly ask him about it. Zhao Ban'er gives Zhao Mo'er her remaining money, asking him to buy Sun Bo a useful gift. Zhao Mo'er then tells Zhao Ban'er to go home and supervise their father, who is playing cards, to ensure he doesn't lose everything while Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue are out. Zhao Ban'er agrees and leaves. Zhao Mo'er is left holding a hat-like object.
While Zhao Mo'er is out, he witnesses a figure he identifies as the Hat Demon causing widespread panic on the street. People flee in terror. The figure emits black smoke and behaves erratically, alternating between crying and laughing, before collapsing and dying. Zhao Mo'er recognizes the figure as Kang Qian, Zhang Qiniang's steward. Onlookers express shock, noting this Hat Demon looks different from the previous one.
Zhao Buyou visits Gu Zhen, who is in a garden, and asks about the Wu family case. Gu Zhen tells him that Wu Qiao confessed to everything, claiming her brother Wu Ao was innocent. Lacking evidence against Wu Ao, Gu Zhen released him. Regarding the Hat Demon, Gu Zhen says Wu Qiao also confessed to it but couldn't provide any details.
Gu Zhen believes Wu Qiao killed her cousin but is not the real Hat Demon perpetrator, and that the Hat Demon incident was a cover-up for their crime. He explains he released Wu Ao as a strategic move to observe who he might contact. Zhao Buyou praises this tactic, calling it a clever way to draw out the true culprits.
Just as Zhao Buyou is speaking with Gu Zhen, Zhao Mo'er rushes to them, breathless, announcing that Zhang Qiniang has arrived at their house with a group of people and has entered. He insists he did not invite her. Wen Yue immediately reacts. At the Zhao residence, Zhang Qiniang arrives in a lavish carriage, drawing attention and envious comments from neighbors who believe the Zhao family must be connected to royalty. Zhang Qiniang begins directing the redecoration of the house.
Inside, she is happily chatting with Zhao Li, who admires flowers she has arranged and praises the newfound royal elegance of their home. Feeling inspired, Zhao Li recites a poem. Zhao Buyou, Wen Yue, and Zhao Mo'er arrive home. Zhao Buyou confronts Zhang Qiniang, demanding to know why she is there and why she is altering their home.
She calmly states that she intends to live there, leaving Zhao Buyou, Wen Yue, and Zhao Mo'er completely stunned, though Zhao Li remains pleased by her presence. Wen Yue tells Zhao Mo'er to take Zhao Li to his room, but Zhao Li is eager to show Wen Yue some calligraphy and paintings. Wen Yue directly asks Zhang Qiniang her purpose.
Zhang Qiniang explains she came because Zhao Buyou promised to help her find the Hat Demon's killer, and now her steward, Kang Qian, has been killed by the Hat Demon, making her afraid she might be next. Wen Yue comments that Zhang Qiniang doesn't seem like she would be afraid. Zhang Qiniang admits she isn't afraid but dislikes being an exposed target while her enemy is hidden.
She acknowledges that her presence, coinciding with the Hat Demon incidents, might seem suspicious but views it as fate bringing them together due to Wen Yue's courage and Zhao Buyou's intelligence. She believes she will be safe staying with them. As they are talking, Zhao Ban'er excitedly rushes in, holding a large, hat-like object and declaring that she has captured the Hat Demon.
