Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 15 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Recap
Qinghong recounted a dream where she had visited the Wen Temple to pray for her husband's success in the upcoming exams, only to be struck on the head by a book thrown through a window by an unknown assailant. Dugu Xiashu, however, remained suspicious, questioning if she had truly been out that afternoon. Qinghong vehemently insisted it was merely a dream.
Dugu Xiashu then accused her of having an affair, even pointing to her reluctance to cook for him as proof. Qinghong, feeling deeply wronged, retorted that she spent her days at home like a widow while he was always at the Wen Temple. Dugu Xiashu's anger flared as he speculated that she had dismissed their old servants precisely to facilitate her illicit encounters.
Enraged, Qinghong called him shameless and a bastard, ordering him to return to the Wen Temple and "find his Liu Youqiu." Dugu Xiashu attempted to calm her, but she demanded a divorce. He refused, pressing her again about her whereabouts that afternoon. Qinghong finally admitted that she had indeed left the house, intending to visit him at the Wen Temple, but the heavy rain and her fear of his disapproval led her to turn back home.
Later that night, Dugu Xiashu was plagued by nightmares. In one, tormented by visions of his wife's infidelity, he choked Qinghong to death. He awoke abruptly to Qinghong's anxious questions about his thrashing, but he offered no explanation for his nightmare. After falling back asleep, he dreamt he returned to the Wen Temple and confronted Liu Youqiu, his fellow student, about his relationship with Qinghong. In this dream, Liu Youqiu brazenly confessed his fondness for other men's wives.
Enraged, Dugu Xiashu seized a knife and fatally stabbed Liu Youqiu. He awoke in a frenzied state, again confronted by Qinghong. Believing his nightmare was reality, he muttered, "It wasn't a dream," before tragically strangling his wife. The following day, Liu Youqiu's body was discovered in the Wen Temple. Lu Lingfeng learned that Liu Youqiu was a respected scion of a noble family, sent to the temple to diligently prepare for the imperial examinations.
He had only arrived at the temple in early March of that year, whereas Dugu Xiashu had been residing there, immersed in his studies, for three years. Su Wuming then questioned Dong Lang, a beggar who lived in the woodshed next to the ancestral hall. Dong Lang, still recovering from a recent flogging for theft, admitted his deep animosity towards Liu Youqiu, who had often refused him scraps and demanded his expulsion due to his smell.
However, given Dong Lang's injured state, Lu Lingfeng quickly dismissed him as a suspect. The temple servant, Ji Xiang, informed the officials that he had discovered Liu Youqiu's body around 5 p. m. the previous evening while delivering meals. He also mentioned that Dugu Xiashu had left the temple after lunch, stating he was going to buy books and had not returned.
Ji Xiang also confirmed that Dugu Xiashu had a wife, Qinghong, who occasionally visited the temple to bring him fresh clothes. Shortly after, Liu Youqiu's grieving father arrived, accusing the temple of failing to protect his son. Lu Lingfeng then intercepted Dugu Xiashu, who was hastily departing his residence. He confronted Dugu Xiashu, identifying himself as the acting Minister of Justice for Nanzhou. Dugu Xiashu revealed he was on his way to Chang'an to prepare for the upcoming exams.
Lu Lingfeng informed him of Liu Youqiu's death, prompting a feigned display of shock and calls for justice from Dugu Xiashu. Lu Lingfeng found it suspicious that Dugu Xiashu was leaving so abruptly after the murder. Dugu Xiashu explained his departure was due to his renewed confidence after three years of study, eager to begin preparing for the spring exams. During the interrogation, Su Wuming questioned Dugu Xiashu about his whereabouts the previous afternoon.
Dugu Xiashu reiterated that he had gone to Hangu bookstore in the eastern city to purchase more books for his journey to Chang'an. He claimed that after buying the books, he considered returning to the Wen Temple to bid farewell to Liu Youqiu, but knowing Liu Youqiu disapproved of his ambition to study in the capital, he changed his mind and went straight home.
Su Wuming then inquired about Qinghong, to which Dugu Xiashu stated she had left that very morning for her maiden home in He County. He added that she would remain there until he passed his exams, as he would be too ashamed to face her if he failed. Su Wuming noted the dangers of the mountain roads to He County and questioned why Dugu Xiashu had not escorted his wife.
Dugu Xiashu shrugged it off, describing Qinghong as a tough woman who always traveled alone, implying his studies took precedence. Su Wuming suggested that for Dugu Xiashu, Qinghong seemed to hold little importance. He then probed whether Dugu Xiashu and Liu Youqiu had quarreled over the latter's disapproval of his trip to Chang'an. Dugu Xiashu admitted to past disagreements but insisted there were none yesterday and vehemently denied killing Liu Youqiu, citing his peaceful scholarly nature.
Su Wuming, employing a tactic of feigning leniency, allowed Dugu Xiashu to leave, but strictly forbade him from departing Nanzhou until the case was resolved. Lu Lingfeng, observing Dugu Xiashu's shifty eyes, was convinced of his guilt and had Officer Xie secretly monitor him, noting that letting him go was a strategic move to catch him later. Lu Lingfeng then decided to retrieve Qinghong from He County, believing her testimony could be crucial.
However, upon arriving in He County, Lu Lingfeng learned from Qinghong's brother that she had not reached her maiden home. Her brother expressed concern, revealing that the mountain roads between Nanzhou and He County were notoriously perilous, frequently plagued by bandits who preyed on women, abducting and killing them. Lu Lingfeng, furious, initially considered having Xue Huan disguise himself as a woman to lure out the bandits.
Unexpectedly, Pei Xijun volunteered, offering to pose as a woman to draw out the criminals. Despite Lu Lingfeng's initial reluctance to put her in danger, he agreed to the plan after Pei Xijun suggested that she and Xue Huan could pretend to be sisters, with Xue Huan offering close protection. Pei Xijun and Xue Huan, disguised as sisters, embarked on their journey towards He County. Their ruse worked, and they were soon ambushed by bandits posing as a honey seller.
They were taken to the bandits' hideout and held captive. However, a quick search revealed that Qinghong was not among the other abducted women. Xue Huan attempted to lead the captives to escape, but they were discovered, leading to a tense confrontation. Just as the situation escalated, Lu Lingfeng and his men arrived, quickly subduing the bandits.
During the interrogation, it was revealed that the bandit leader was a former rebel general who had escaped a government crackdown years ago and had been terrorizing the mountain roads with impunity due to the inaction of local He County officials. Despite apprehending the bandits, Qinghong remained missing, leading Lu Lingfeng to suspect that Dugu Xiashu might have lied from the outset about his wife's departure.
Meanwhile, Officer Xie reported that Dugu Xiashu was spending his days either buying books or drinking. Lu Lingfeng decided to conduct a covert search of Dugu Xiashu's residence that night. Inside, he encountered a black-clad intruder attempting to find something hidden in a rice jar. Lu Lingfeng confronted the intruder, identifying himself as a justice official, and a fierce fight ensued. The intruder managed to injure Lu Lingfeng with a poisoned hidden weapon before escaping.
Luckily, Fei Jishi arrived in time, applying a counteracting herbal poultice that saved Lu Lingfeng's life. When Lu Lingfeng regained consciousness after nearly twenty hours, he learned from Xue Huan that Pei Xijun had diligently nursed him throughout the night, even changing his clothes, which left him thoroughly embarrassed. Su Wuming arrived to check on Lu Lingfeng, remarking on his improved mood, and, after hearing the details of the incident, proceeded to the crime scene for further investigation.
Su Wuming visited Ji Xiang, who was hunting pheasants in the rain. Ji Xiang offered him tea and expressed his admiration for the scholars, explaining how their presence fostered his own interest in reading. Su Wuming pressed him, reminding him of the gravity of the murder case and that he seemed to be withholding information. After much hesitation and concern about speaking ill of the scholars, Ji Xiang finally confessed.
He revealed that about ten days prior, both he and Dong Lang had overheard Dugu Xiashu angrily threaten to kill Liu Youqiu. A flashback showed Dugu Xiashu, driven by suspicion that Liu Youqiu was seducing Qinghong, confronting Liu Youqiu. In the heated argument, Dugu Xiashu screamed that he would kill him. Liu Youqiu, defiant, handed Dugu Xiashu a dagger and dared him to do it, stating he would rather die by Dugu Xiashu's hand than his father's.
Dugu Xiashu, however, couldn't bring himself to strike. Ji Xiang clarified that Dugu Xiashu's suspicion of an affair stemmed from an incident where Qinghong had visited the temple while Dugu Xiashu was out, but Ji Xiang could not confirm whether any actual impropriety had occurred. He concluded by saying that Qinghong visited the temple about once every ten days.
