Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 34 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Recap
Upon learning the author of "The Tale of Sass" signed himself as Nanshan Salouzi, Lu Lingfeng astutely deduced that the individual likely hailed from the Taiyuan Wang family, given their historical nickname "Salou Wang family," which implied a self-deprecating jest about their status. This realization helped Su Wuming identify the potential author, but he remained perplexed as to why this person would be residing in Zhongnan Mountain and how to locate them among the multitude of recluses there.
Pei Xijun then offered her father, Pei Jian's, extensive "Book of Nanshan's Recluse", a personal compilation of 891 recluses that was updated every one or two months. However, even after consulting the detailed book, Su Wuming found that his suspected author was not listed. He considered the possibility that "Nanshan" might refer to another location or that Pei Jian's records were incomplete, ultimately suggesting he visit Pei Jian directly.
Lu Lingfeng, however, cautioned against this, reminding Su Wuming that his unauthorized presence in the capital was already a serious offense. Lu Lingfeng, acting on Su Wuming's behalf, visited Pei Jian, bringing the "Book of Nanshan's Recluse". He expressed admiration for Pei Jian's meticulous work and inquired about a specific individual not in the book: a member of the Wang family, a former colleague of Detective Di, and someone knowledgeable about Sass and the Concubinus Institution.
Pei Jian, drawing from his memory, identified the person as Wang Yuantong, noting that unlike other recluses, Wang Yuantong held a current official position, albeit living in Zhongnan Mountain. When Lu Lingfeng reported this back, Su Wuming affirmed that Wang Yuantong was indeed the person he had suspected.
They then discussed Wang Yuantong's history: he was once the Senior Aide to Prince Xiang (the current Emperor), later promoted to Assistant Minister of the Phoenix Cabinet, exercising the power of a prime minister. He had staunchly opposed Empress Wu's establishment of the Concubinus Institution, leading to his humiliating appointment as its Assistant Chief under Empress Wu's favorite, Zhang Yizhi.
This disgrace prompted him to resign and return to his hometown of Shazhou, but not before visiting the ailing Detective Di. A year prior, the current Emperor, recalling Wang Yuantong, sent Pei Jian to invite him back, assigning him the minor role of Chief of the Department of Bamboo, which explained his long-term residence in Zhongnan Mountain's largest bamboo forest. Su Wuming concluded with certainty that Wang Yuantong was indeed the author of "The Tale of Sass".
Next, Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming examined Pei Xijun's newly completed portrait of Helan Xue. Su Wuming initially wondered why a teardrop mole depicted in the painting wasn't explicitly mentioned in "The Tale of Sass". Pei Xijun, with remarkable insight, explained that the book's poetic description of tears turning red as they fell implied a "red teardrop mole," interpreting the momentary visual effect of a tear tracing the mole's color.
Lu Lingfeng noted Helan Xue's probable age of 35 or 36, aligning with the book's detail of Sass celebrating her 24th birthday twelve years ago. Impressed by Pei Xijun's perceptiveness, Lu Lingfeng proposed they split up: Su Wuming to Zhongnan Mountain to question Wang Yuantong, and he would search for Helan Xue. Lu Lingfeng then enlisted Yang Ji, the young boy he had taken under his wing, who revealed his proper name, to accompany him.
Lu Lingfeng, admitting his unfamiliarity with such establishments, dispatched Yang Ji to the Cloud Tower in Pingkang Fang with Helan Xue's portrait. Yang Ji was instructed to pose as Helan Xue's son and demand her return.
When the manager reacted violently, Lu Lingfeng intervened, apprehending him and extracting the information that Helan Xue had left the Cloud Tower two or three years prior for the Resentment Tower in the Ghost Market, having consistently refused redemption, as she was evidently waiting for someone. Lu Lingfeng's subordinate informed him that Imperial Guards were strictly forbidden from entering the Ghost Market, citing a past incident where some of their ranks had perished there.
Lu Lingfeng, acknowledging his judicial role, decided against involving the Imperial Guards. He sought to collaborate with Administrator Du Ming, offering his new lead on Sass. However, Du Ming dismissed Lu Lingfeng's pursuit as mere ambition, reminding him of his duty to manage civic order for the upcoming magic show. Du Ming then reallocated Lu Lingfeng's men to his own command, refusing to share any clues about Sass, determined to claim all credit for the capture.
Left with limited options, Lu Lingfeng turned to his old acquaintances at Chang'an County: constables Jia, Luo, and Liu. They eagerly agreed to assist, reminiscing about past adventures with Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming. Lu Lingfeng dispatched them to the Resentment Tower, promising them "beauties." Upon their return, the constables, though nauseated by the establishment's atmosphere, confirmed Helan Xue's presence.
They reported her reclusive nature, stating she only received visitors who paid in gold and had been awaiting someone for over two years. They also described an unsettling feeling within the tower, as if unseen eyes constantly watched them. Impressed by their findings, Lu Lingfeng then instructed them to embed themselves within the Resentment Tower until the Mid-Autumn Festival to gather more information.
Equipped with this information, Lu Lingfeng ventured alone to the Resentment Tower during the day, a time when the Ghost Market typically did not operate. After some initial resistance from the manager, Lu Lingfeng, offering a substantial amount of gold, insisted he was searching for his "old lover, Xue," expressing his willingness to pay any price. Despite the manager's skepticism about his age, Lu Lingfeng was eventually led to Helan Xue's room.
There, he attempted to gain her trust by fabricating a romantic history, claiming he had seen her perform the "pipa reversely" at the Cloud Tower when he was thirteen, vowing to return for her after making his fortune. He even recounted specific details of a beauty pageant where she had triumphed. However, Helan Xue was not deceived. She quickly realized he had read "The Tale of Sass" and was an official attempting to use her to capture Sass.
She angrily dismissed him, acknowledging that she had been under surveillance by his kind for over a decade. Meanwhile, Administrator Du Ming, learning of Lu Lingfeng's successful infiltration of the Resentment Tower, acknowledged Lu Lingfeng's capability. He confided in his subordinate that he had been monitoring Helan Xue for twelve years, a crucial mission assigned to him by Detective Di.
Du Ming was convinced that Sass would make his move to retrieve Helan Xue before the upcoming magic show and ordered intensified surveillance on her. Elsewhere, Su Wuming and Yingtao arrived at Wang Yuantong's residence in Zhongnan Mountain. Yingtao expressed disdain for the apparent recluse's lavish lifestyle, complete with music and singing girls. Su Wuming, introducing himself as Detective Di's disciple, explained his mission to capture Sass and fulfill his master's dying wish.
He presented his evidence, demonstrating that Wang Yuantong, under the pseudonym Nanshan Salouzi, was the author of "The Tale of Sass". Su Wuming meticulously linked details from the book, such as the "Bichen Pearl" at Detective Di's sickbed, Wang Yuantong's past in the Concubinus Institution, and the "Salouzi" reference, to Wang Yuantong's known history.
Wang Yuantong confirmed his identity and past humiliations but dismissed "The Tale of Sass" as a mere pastime written from "hearsay," claiming he had no further clues about Sass or Helan Xue. Su Wuming, though disappointed by the lack of new information, politely thanked him, affirming the trip was worthwhile simply for meeting his master's old acquaintance. Following his unsuccessful direct approach, Lu Lingfeng continued to dispatch Yang Ji to the Resentment Tower with Chang'an delicacies for Helan Xue.
During one such delivery of roasted camel hump, Yang Ji was waylaid and knocked unconscious. He eventually awoke and completed his delivery, apologizing for the now-cold food. Helan Xue, however, was unfazed, inviting him in for wine, which he politely declined. Unbeknownst to them, a masked figure observed Helan Xue's room from a hidden vantage point outside.
