Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 23 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Recap
Su Wuming and Pei Xijun attempted to persuade Chicken Fed to abstain from alcohol. Chicken Fed, however, grumbled that Su Wuming hadn't managed to get him any Tuo God Wine, which he had sworn to drink exclusively in Ninghu. If forced to quit drinking, Chicken Fed declared it would be a sign of Su Wuming's incompetence as Ninghu's Military Commander.
Su Wuming, acknowledging the strange circumstances in Ninghu, reflected on the innkeeper's previous mention of Tuo God's towering true form, admitting his own ignorance regarding the existence of deities in this world, which his teacher, Di Renjie, had taught did not exist. Realizing he had overlooked details earlier, Su Wuming returned to the Lin Inn.
The innkeeper clarified that one could only see the Tuo God from behind a curtain, and warned Su Wuming, as the Military Commander, that while he could question anything and anyone else in Ninghu, he must never doubt the Tuo God, or risk losing his life. Meanwhile, Shen Chong received a copy of the "Records of Worshippers of Tuo God," purportedly presented to the Shrine by Administrator Gu Wenbin, who claimed it originated from merchant Lu Yong.
This document detailed the various crimes committed by the Worshippers of Tuo God. Shen Chong immediately prepared to travel to Tuo God Island to report this to Tuo God. He informed Tuo God that the records were identical to a previous copy and likely penned by Li Yu, the recently deceased Prefectural Governor. Shen Chong expressed concern that Li Yu's daughter, Yingtao, who was now in Ninghu and skilled in martial arts, might possess more copies of the incriminating records.
If these were to leave Ninghu, the consequences would be dire, requiring swift action. Shen Chong also mentioned Su Wuming's recent disrespectful actions, such as demanding God Wine and associating with merchants who owed money. Tuo God, recognizing Su Wuming as a disciple of Di Renjie and a highly skilled investigator, advised caution, indicating that Su Wuming should not be dealt with hastily. Later, masked assassins from the Worshippers of Tuo God ambushed Yingtao.
Fortunately, He Xi, the Judicial Advisor (Minister of Justice), intervened and rescued her. He Xi explained that most Ninghu officials were connected to the Worshippers and acknowledged her distrust. However, he believed the Worshippers were complicit in her father's death, an suspicion confirmed by the recent attack. He implored Yingtao to share any information Li Yu might have told her about the Worshippers and the reason for his death, affirming his commitment to solving the case.
When Yingtao remained silent, He Xi advised her to stay hidden and not attend her father's vigil, warning of the extreme danger. At a welcoming banquet hosted by Administrator Gu for Su Wuming, an official, Minister Zeng, openly lamented the lack of freedom in Ninghu, unable to even choose what to drink and longing for the Nantian Wine now replaced by Tuo God Wine. Su Wuming questioned Administrator Gu about the Worshippers of Tuo God's extensive involvement in state affairs.
Gu Wenbin vaguely replied that Su Wuming would understand in a few months, and that as long as tasks were completed, the specifics of who performed them didn't matter. Dissatisfied, Su Wuming excused himself to attend Li Yu’s vigil. At the vigil, Yingtao arrived to mourn her father. She suddenly saw a figure resembling him, which startled her into fainting. Su Wuming, entering the hall, confronted the "ghost" and then revived Yingtao.
Returning her sword, he introduced himself as the new Military Commander of Ninghu, expressing admiration for Li Yu and explaining his presence. Yingtao recognized him from the temple incident and was surprised he was a commander. She accused him of ruining her plans earlier and distrusted his promises, believing all Ninghu officials were tied to the Worshippers.
She claimed her father's ghost appeared because he couldn't rest in peace, dismissing Su Wuming's suggestion that it was a hallucination caused by grief. Moments later, Worshippers of Tuo God assassins attacked, demanding the Records of Worshippers of Tuo God. When Yingtao refused, they attempted to strip her. Su Wuming angrily intervened but was quickly overwhelmed. Just as he was about to be killed, Lu Lingfeng arrived, saving Su Wuming and capturing one assassin.
Su Wuming wanted to interrogate the captive, but Yingtao, after feigning an attack and releasing a hypnotic drug, incapacitated both Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng, then killed the assassin and disposed of his body. The next day, Su Wuming thanked Lu Lingfeng for saving his life. Lu Lingfeng downplayed his heroism, stating he had only come to Ninghu to check on Su Wuming, a scholar who might struggle in this strange city where everyone feared Tuo God.
Su Wuming then conducted a closer examination of Li Yu's corpse. He noted calluses on the left hand, suggesting long-term knife-holding rather than writing, and a distinct red birthmark on the back of the hand. Lu Lingfeng concurred that the body was likely not Li Yu. Meanwhile, Shen Chong, furious at the failed assassination and the unexpected intervention by Su Wuming's "powerful subordinate," ordered the immediate capture of Lu Yong.
He asserted that Lu Yong's caution was futile against the pervasive influence of Tuo God's believers throughout Ninghu. Shen Chong presented a bound Lu Yong before Administrator Gu and Minister Zeng, accusing him of murdering Li Yu. Lu Yong, in a defiant confession, admitted to hiring an assassin to kill Li Yu, whom he called a "bastard official" in cahoots with the Worshippers of Tuo God, thus deserving death.
He then demanded to know the whereabouts of the Records of Worshippers of Tuo God he had entrusted to Gu Wenbin, implying Gu Wenbin was also involved. Gu Wenbin denied all knowledge, while Minister Zeng expressed confusion, noting the coroner’s report stated Li Yu was devoured by a giant alligator. He Xi, arriving at this point, challenged the validity of Lu Yong's confession, pointing out the contradiction with the autopsy findings.
He also revealed his own investigation suggested Li Yu had joined the Worshippers of Tuo God before his death. Su Wuming supported He Xi, reiterating his request to assist the Judicial Advisor in "catching ghosts," given his experience with criminal cases as a former county magistrate. Gu Wenbin reluctantly agreed. Minister Zeng then mused philosophically that ghosts "cannot be believed to exist, but also cannot be believed not to exist." Su Wuming proceeded to interrogate Lu Yong in prison.
He confirmed that the assassin hired by Lu Yong was indeed Xiao Qi, a famous left-handed swordsman with a red birthmark on his left hand, and that Xiao Qi had not returned for the remainder of his payment. Su Wuming explained that the body found was Xiao Qi's, not Li Yu's.
He advised Lu Yong to feign a strong desire for death to ensure his safety in prison, promising to save him from lawful execution, though he could not protect him from the Worshippers of Tuo God. Convinced Li Yu was still alive, Su Wuming, accompanied by Lu Lingfeng, went to Li Yu's villa, reasoning that Yingtao's "ghost sighting" was actually Li Yu himself.
They confronted Li Si, a mute servant, whom Su Wuming deduced could hear but had become mute later in life. He questioned Li Si about Li Yu's whereabouts, pointing to food being brought into the villa. As they pressed Li Si, a giant alligator suddenly attacked. Lu Lingfeng struggled against the creature, but Su Wuming, recalling from a "Book of Natural History" that alligators had acute hearing, advised using loud noises to confuse it, allowing them to escape.
Back at the residence, Chicken Fed tended to Lu Lingfeng's wounds. Su Wuming theorized that Li Yu had used Xiao Qi’s body to fake his own death, knowing he was in grave danger, and speculated that Li Yu was the author of the Records of Worshippers of Tuo God. Lu Lingfeng, still attempting to distance himself from Pei Xijun, refused to stay at the Military Commander's Residence, despite Chicken Fed's jokes about Su Wuming's stinginess.
Su Wuming called this behavior cowardly, but Lu Lingfeng asserted he was acting for Pei Xijun's sake, as he intended to wander the jianghu and did not want her to suffer with him. Pei Xijun, having overheard his heartfelt words, understood his intentions. She bravely told him that while she once couldn't imagine life without him, she now had found her own purpose. She tearfully promised not to pester him further.
Unable to bear her sadness, Lu Lingfeng finally embraced her, declaring he would no longer leave. Chicken Fed, witnessing this tender moment, remarked that Lu Lingfeng was no longer the "young boy of Chang'an." Their embrace was briefly interrupted by Xue Huan, another disciple, who sheepishly apologized for his ill-timed arrival. Lu Lingfeng, accepting his change of heart, playfully punished Xue Huan for the interruption by ordering him to prepare bath water, claiming exhaustion from fighting the alligator.
