Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 25 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Recap
As the group found themselves trapped in Goodwill House with a giant alligator attacking, Chicken Fed was frantically asked for a way to defeat the beast. He recalled that Tianzhu Incense was the alligator's favorite, its scent capable of lulling it to sleep. Yingtao quickly volunteered to find it, knowing it would be near an alligator statue. She successfully located the incense, lit it, and the giant alligator swiftly fell into a deep slumber.
They then made their escape through a back door Lu Lingfeng had found. Outside, Su Wuming reflected on the incident, acknowledging that the Worshippers of Tuo God were intent on killing them. He revealed a paper found on the body of Officer Ma, indicating he was a spy for the Worshippers who reported their movements. Su Wuming had suspected Officer Ma because his reaction to "chase Li Prefectural Governor" seemed more like an intent to kill.
He Xi, the Minister of Justice, expressed remorse for not realizing his long-time subordinate was a spy. Lu Lingfeng, concerned, worried aloud about the safety of Pei Xijun and Xue Huan back at the Commander’s residence, urging them to return quickly. Their fears proved justified as assassins from the Worshippers of Tuo God had attacked the Commander’s residence. Xue Huan bravely fended them off for a crucial moment, but Pei Xijun was still in grave danger.
Just in time, Lu Lingfeng and Yingtao arrived, swiftly dispatching the assassins and rescuing both Pei Xijun and her servant. Pei Xijun thanked Yingtao for saving her life but was surprised to learn she was Prefectural Governor Li's daughter. Later, she privately shared her doubts with Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng, asserting that Yingtao could not be Li Yu's daughter.
Pei Xijun explained that she had met Li Yu three years ago in Chang'an, and he was then only in his early thirties, too young to have a daughter as old as Yingtao. Her father, Pei Jian, had told her that Li Yu secured his position as Ninghu's prefectural governor by buying an "informal official" post. Li Yu had visited Pei Jian to express his gratitude, and it was during this visit that Pei Xijun had seen him.
Based on her recollection, Su Wuming asked Pei Xijun to draw a portrait of Li Yu. That night, Yingtao managed to escape, incapacitating Chicken Fed and He Xi with knockout incense. Su Wuming later showed Pei Xijun’s portrait to He Xi, who, upon waking, confirmed that the man in the drawing was not the current Prefectural Governor Li. He Xi noted that the current prefectural governor rarely interacted with his subordinates, preferring written communication.
Su Wuming then instructed He Xi to examine the official certificate and imperial edict Li Yu presented upon taking office. Their investigation revealed that while the Ministry of Personnel Administration stamp was authentic and Li Yu's birthplace and parentage were unchanged, his age had been altered on both documents. Pei Xijun deduced that the real Li Yu must have been murdered.
Su Wuming emphasized that the immediate priority for their investigation was to find a way to access the heavily guarded Island of Tuo God. Su Wuming eventually found Yingtao, whom he had been personally tracking to ensure her safety. He pressed her for information about her father's true identity and how he came to replace Li Yu. Yingtao, however, refused to speak until the Worshippers of Tuo God were eliminated, expressing her desire to honor her "good" father.
Su Wuming then took Yingtao to Li Si's grave, reasoning that given Li Si's loyalty and self-sacrifice to protect her father, Chu Xiaosheng would surely come to pay his respects. As predicted, Chu Xiaosheng, Yingtao's father, arrived. Chu Xiaosheng identified himself to Su Wuming, recognizing him as a disciple of Detective Di and a man he respected. He acknowledged that if Su Wuming let him go, it would be a breach of law.
When Yingtao impulsively offered to kill Su Wuming to secure his escape, Chu Xiaosheng stopped her, stating he was there to meet Su Wuming and had "no turning back." He confessed that the woman found in the coffin was a singer Li Yu had known in Chang'an. She had traveled a great distance to be with Li Yu, but her arrival threatened to expose Chu Xiaosheng's identity as an imposter, forcing him to kill her.
He hid her body in a secret passage he had recently discovered in the mansion. Chu Xiaosheng further revealed his plan to lead troops to destroy the Worshippers of Tuo God but found a copy of his "Records of Worshippers of Tuo God" stolen from his bookshelf, and his mansion thoroughly searched, indicating the Worshippers had learned of his intentions. He had two other copies hidden, one of which he had entrusted to Yingtao to take to Chang'an.
Shortly after killing the singer, an assassin, sent by Lu Yong, arrived to kill Chu Xiaosheng. However, an alligator, sent by the Worshippers, appeared and brutally killed the assassin instead. Seizing this opportunity, Chu Xiaosheng hid in a stone coffin and dressed the assassin in his official robe to fake his own death, realizing the Worshippers no longer trusted him. He explained he remained in the tomb because Ninghu was saturated with their spies.
He also shared that the copy of the Records he had given to Yingtao had been taken by the Worshippers. He then handed Su Wuming the last remaining copy of his "Records of Worshippers of Tuo God," urging him to safeguard it and work with Yingtao to eliminate the Worshippers.
When Yingtao pleaded with him to escape and travel the world with her, Chu Xiaosheng refused, explaining that fleeing would reveal his past as a murderer, discrediting his Records and making them useless in bringing the Worshippers to justice. He then entrusted Yingtao's protection to Su Wuming before consuming poison and dying, lamenting his inability to personally eradicate the Worshippers. His suicide was an act to preserve the Prefectural Governor's name and ensure the Records would serve as credible evidence.
Later, Chicken Fed, addicted to Tuo God Wine, persuaded Lu Lingfeng to help him "get" more from Yaoyue Restaurant. They waylaid two Worshippers of Tuo God members who were delivering wine, tied them up, donned their robes, and infiltrated the restaurant. The owner was startled when they demanded ten jars of wine instead of the usual seven but quickly complied.
After they left, the actual Worshippers members and the restaurant owner were brutally thrown into the Swamp of Alligators by Shen Chong, who was ordered to take charge of Yaoyue Restaurant and find who was responsible for the theft. The following day, Su Wuming returned to the Commander's residence. He informed the others about finding Yingtao's father, Chu Xiaosheng, who had committed suicide.
Su Wuming then sampled the wine on the table, recognizing it as Tuo God Wine and realizing Chicken Fed and Lu Lingfeng had successfully completed their mission. He revealed that he had intentionally orchestrated the "theft" to draw attention to them, having secretly used He Xi's informant within the Worshippers of Tuo God to report Lu Lingfeng's actions to Shen Chong.
Soon, Shen Chong and a mob of Worshippers surrounded the Commander's residence, accusing Lu Lingfeng of stealing the sacred wine and demanding Su Wuming hand him over, threatening Ninghu with divine wrath. Su Wuming explained that stealing the Tuo God Wine was considered a severe crime, punishable by execution on the Island of Tuo God, making it the perfect opportunity to send someone to scout the island before the upcoming God Sighting Ceremony on the Double Third Festival.
Lu Lingfeng, acknowledging himself as the "most suitable" choice, stepped forward and openly confessed to the crime, claiming sole responsibility and asserting Su Wuming's innocence. As he was being taken away, Lu Lingfeng reassured a worried Pei Xijun, who had drawn a distinctive leaf on his arm at Su Wuming's instruction.
On the boat journey to Tuo God Island, an anonymous informant (He Xi's contact) secretly revealed to Lu Lingfeng that the tree whose leaf Pei Xijun drew was called the Hitholon Tree, also known as the Blood Silkworm Tree, an Indian specialty that grows in alligator-infested swamps. Alligators, though fond of humans, preferred the leaves of this tree.
The informant also told Lu Lingfeng that the Tuo God River, running alongside the mountain road on the island, would be his only escape route. Once on the island, while being transferred to the Guardian, Lu Lingfeng took his chance. He leapt into the lake, quickly broke his bonds, and successfully escaped. Meanwhile, Su Wuming attended Zeng Sanyi's retirement banquet. Shen Chong arrived, carrying two jars of Tuo God Wine, stating they were a gift from the Tuo God.
He then announced that the God Sighting Ceremony on Tuo God Island would proceed as scheduled the next day, and all Ninghu officials, led by Administrator Gu, were commanded to attend. However, Zeng Sanyi politely declined, citing his pre-arranged plans, which visibly angered Shen Chong.
