Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 10 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Recap
Su Wuming called Pei Xijun to discuss sending her back to Chang'an. Pei Xijun understood he was concerned about her reputation, but she was reluctant to leave. Su Wuming then admitted he did not want to cater to Lu Lingfeng's wishes and had thought of a way to resolve the situation, though he felt it might be a bit presumptuous towards Pei Xijun.
Pei Xijun had initially considered renting a small courtyard with Xue Huan near the Commander's residence to avoid inconveniencing Su Wuming, but Su Wuming insisted that as the Military Commander of Nanzhou, it was not Lu Lingfeng's place to dictate who lived in his residence. Meanwhile, Lu Lingfeng presented Xue Huan with an unsharpened sword, explaining that a sharpened blade was for killing, which was too brutal for a young lad.
He promised to teach Xue Huan practical martial arts that night, implying it might be the last time he could train him before Pei Xijun’s potential departure back to the capital. The next day, Prefectural Governor Xiong arrived at the Commander's residence for a celebration, having been invited by Su Wuming. Lu Lingfeng, unaware of any good news, assumed the gathering was a farewell feast for Pei Xijun. Master Fei proudly presented a table laden with Nanzhou's famous delicacies.
When Su Wuming announced that he and Pei Xijun had become sworn brother and sister, Lu Lingfeng accused him of currying favor with Assistant Minister Pei for future career advancement. Master Fei initially agreed with Lu Lingfeng, but Pei Xijun's attempt to defend Su Wuming was halted by Su Wuming himself, who chose to admit to the accusation. Despite this, Lu Lingfeng remained unconvinced of Su Wuming's sincerity.
The celebration took on a dual significance as Xue Huan also publicly declared his apprenticeship to Lu Lingfeng, who had given him the sword the previous night. Everyone at the feast, except for a disgruntled Lu Lingfeng, was delighted by the "double happiness." Later, as they drank tea, a Nanzhou specialty known for its elaborate ceremony designed by Zhong Boqi of the Nanzhou Four Scholars, news arrived that Lu Gongfu, the Master of Guqin, had died the previous night.
As they hurried to Lu Gongfu's mourning hall, they encountered Ouyang Quan, a merchant, leaving after paying his respects, stating he did not want to disturb the respected scholars. An administrator remarked that Ouyang Quan would be particularly saddened, as the painting "The Stone Bridge" in his possession would now be worthless.
Inside, Zhong Boqi explained that Lu Gongfu had succumbed to "heartache" from profound grief after Yan Yuanfu's death, even breaking the strings of his ancient Guqin while playing at Yuanfu's grave. Lu Lingfeng found the sudden death suspicious, as he had recently seen Lu Gongfu in good health and heard his vigorous Guqin playing, suggesting no prior illness.
He proposed an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but Leng Ji vehemently refused, even threatening to die himself if they insisted on disturbing his deceased brother. Prefectural Governor Xiong and his administrator advised Lu Lingfeng to proceed cautiously, acknowledging the immense influence of the Nanzhou Four Scholars. While Su Wuming agreed that an autopsy was justifiable, he suggested Lu Lingfeng should have provided his reasons beforehand to gain trust.
He also pointed out the strange disappearance of Lu Gongfu's ancient Guqin, prompting Zhong Boqi to question Leng Ji about the missing instrument and if he was withholding information. Leng Ji, however, remained silent, appearing troubled.
Meanwhile, Lu Li, a wealthy merchant from Chang'an, who had already acquired one "half of a treasure"—Lu Gongfu's ancient Guqin—was determined to obtain "The Stone Bridge" painting, which Ouyang Quan refused to sell despite Lu Li's generous offers over the past four or five years. Lu Li declared he would no longer seek out Ouyang Quan, but would wait for the painting to be delivered to him.
Lu Lingfeng later summoned Ouyang Quan for questioning at the prison after Ouyang Quan avoided him at Wangbin Building. Lu Lingfeng brought up Ouyang Quan's past attempts to join the Nanzhou Four Scholars as the "God of Wine," a reincarnation of Liu Ling, only to be ridiculed and rejected by Lu Gongfu. This public humiliation, which Ouyang Quan admitted a cowherd had witnessed, was suggested as a motive for murder.
However, Ouyang Quan denied killing Lu Gongfu, providing multiple witnesses who could testify to his presence at home the night of the death. Lu Lingfeng accepted his alibi and released him, but ordered his constables, Headman Huang and Headman Xie, to keep Ouyang Quan under close surveillance, stating he had his reasons. Lu Lingfeng also recalled Lin Bao, the disgruntled Guqin player who had been publicly scorned and threatened revenge on Lu Gongfu.
Although patrols had been sent to Lin Bao’s house, he was not found. However, it was known that Lin Bao's lover was the top girl at Zixia Building, a brothel. Lu Lingfeng, upon learning that the brothel had been surrounded by constables, ordered them to withdraw, deeming the approach ineffective. That night, Su Wuming requested the assistance of Master Fei and Pei Xijun for a secret task, instructing them to rest until called upon.
At Lu Gongfu's mourning hall, Leng Ji was keeping vigil. When Zhong Boqi, feeling unwell, excused himself to rest, Leng Ji was left alone. Pei Xijun and Master Fei, disguised as the Black and White Guards of the underworld, appeared and lured Leng Ji away with their eerie pronouncements about taking Lu Gongfu's soul.
With Leng Ji distracted, Su Wuming entered the mourning hall and discreetly examined Lu Gongfu's body, discovering a clear wound on his chest, which contradicted the reported cause of death by heartache. Lu Lingfeng had sent Xue Huan to Zixia Building to apprehend Lin Bao. Xue Huan confronted Lin Bao, who was attempting to flee Nanzhou with his lover, Aman. Lin Bao mocked Xue Huan's unsharpened sword and resisted arrest, boasting about having killed before with his own dagger.
As Lin Bao tried to escape, he was ambushed by a black-clad assassin, Tu Yanpi, who intended to kill him for a reward. Lu Lingfeng arrived just in time, and guided Xue Huan, who used a bamboo stick, to skillfully subdue and capture Lin Bao. Under interrogation, Lin Bao confessed that after being publicly humiliated by Lu Gongfu, he had harbored murderous intent. He admitted to sneaking into Lu Gongfu’s home that night and stabbing him in his sleep.
However, he claimed that in his panic, he fled without taking the ancient Guqin, and had regretted not taking it later. Lu Lingfeng, suspecting he was lying about the Guqin, ordered his constables to use torture to extract the truth. Lu Lingfeng then interrogated the captured assassin, Tu Yanpi, who revealed that he had been hired by Zhong Boqi and Leng Ji.
His task was to capture Lin Bao, extract a confession for Lu Gongfu's murder, and deliver him to Lu Gongfu’s mourning hall at midnight five days later. The scholars intended to carry out a private execution of Lin Bao before Lu Gongfu's burial. Enraged by the hypocrisy of these "scholars" who resorted to hiring a hitman and planning a private execution, Lu Lingfeng immediately ordered the arrest of Zhong Boqi and Leng Ji.
The following morning, Pei Xijun expressed concern to Su Wuming about Lu Lingfeng and Xue Huan, who had not returned all night, though she feigned concern for Xue Huan's youth. Su Wuming teased her about her true feelings for Lu Lingfeng. To cheer her up, Su Wuming offered to take her to Ouyang Quan's residence to admire "The Stone Bridge."
Upon arrival, Ouyang Quan, who had just woken from a recurring nightmare about Lu Gongfu and Yan Yuanfu haunting him, informed them that he had sold the painting yesterday to a Persian merchant who was traveling to Luoyang via Nanzhou.
