Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 35 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Recap
The young beggar, Yang Ji, recounted to Lu Lingfeng his strange encounter, describing how he thought he was going to die after being accosted by an "eagle" but woke up unharmed, not even losing his money. Lu Lingfeng, however, dismissed it as a hallucination, instructing Yang Ji to continue buying food for Helan Xue, specifically Zongzi from the Yu family, ensuring every flavor was included. Meanwhile, Lu Lingfeng continued to study "The Tale of Sass".
Su Wuming inquired about his progress, asking if he had located Helan Xue and if Pei Xijun's portrait accurately depicted her. Lu Lingfeng confirmed Helan Xue was indeed at the Resentment Tower in the Ghost Market and that the portrait was remarkably similar, even down to the color and placement of her tear mole.
He then revealed his surprising discovery from the book: its author, Nanshan Salouzi, whom Lu Lingfeng identified as Wang Yuantong (a close friend of Detective Di), seemed to hold no aversion to the Heavenly Empress's outrageous actions but, ironically, satirized Su Wuming's own esteemed master, Detective Di Renjie. Su Wuming confessed that while he didn't notice this on his initial reading, he too had become aware of it upon a closer re-read.
Lu Lingfeng attributed this initial oversight to the author's exquisite prose. With the date set as August 13th, Su Wuming pressed Lu Lingfeng on his confidence in using Helan Xue to trap Sass. Lu Lingfeng admitted he had no such assurance. He further revealed that they were not the only ones monitoring Helan Xue, having observed that Du Ming, the Administrator of Yongzhou, also seemed determined to capture Sass and appeared quite self-assured in his endeavor.
Su Wuming then explained Du Ming's background, stating that Detective Di had recommended him on his sickbed twelve years ago, leading to Du Ming's transfer from Luozhou to Yongzhou as the Judicial Counsellor. Lu Lingfeng, however, found it hard to believe that Detective Di could have planned such an intricate scheme twelve years in advance. Su Wuming maintained his trust in his teacher's judgment, recalling Detective Di's assessment of Du Ming as reckless yet loyal and trustworthy.
With time running out, Lu Lingfeng declared his intention to take a risk, as Helan Xue was his only remaining lead. At the Resentment Tower, Du Ming's subordinate reported a noticeable increase in suspicious individuals around the tower over the past three days, many from outside Chang'an, in addition to Lu Lingfeng's men. Du Ming sensed that Sass was about to make his appearance.
Later, Lu Lingfeng brought Helan Xue a new rouge from the Xiu Chun Garden in Pingkang Fang, commenting on its newness and suitability for her, and even suggesting a "huadian" with gold foil would make her look beautiful. Helan Xue, holding the wrapped rouge, noticed a paper inside with the words "Sass has been punished according to the law of the state."
She began to cry but quickly composed herself, confronting Lu Lingfeng about his true identity as the Judicial Counsellor. She questioned why he was still pursuing her if Sass was already dead, dismissing his earlier fabricated story of meeting her in Pingkang Fang as a child. Lu Lingfeng acknowledged his true identity and explained that he feared Sass's former enemies would soon come after her.
He urged her to leave the Ghost Market, suggesting she either find a good partner or another means of livelihood. Helan Xue, appreciative of his kindness, decided to play a pipa tune for him, remarking that she had not left her room in the Resentment Tower for nearly three years. Helan Xue performed a captivating pipa piece for Lu Lingfeng in the main hall.
Afterwards, she excused herself to freshen her makeup, promising to play "Moonlit River In Spring" upon her return. During this time, Lu Lingfeng had Yang Ji deliver Zongzi to Helan Xue's room. Outside, Du Ming and his men, lying in wait, spotted a wooden bird entering Helan Xue's room, confirming Sass's arrival. Du Ming instructed his subordinates to shoot Sass if he attempted to flee, while he himself entered the room to apprehend him.
Inside the Resentment Tower, a cry of "Save Helan Xue!" erupted, plunging the area into chaos as a fight broke out between a group of rescuers and Lu Lingfeng's team. Lu Lingfeng and Du Ming pursued a white-clad figure fleeing Helan Xue's room, but the person managed to escape. Upon entering Helan Xue's room, they found her gone and Yang Ji unconscious and tied up.
Lu Lingfeng realized that the "Yang Ji" who had just escaped during the commotion was actually Helan Xue, who had used a disguise. Lu Lingfeng gave chase, confronting Sass in a skirmish. From a distance, Du Ming shot and killed Helan Xue as she attempted to escape by boat with Sass. With her dying breath, Helan Xue urged Sass to flee quickly. Despite Du Ming ordering his men to shoot Sass, he managed to jump into the water and escape.
Du Ming, enraged, blamed Lu Lingfeng, claiming his interference had ruined his twelve years of waiting. Later, Su Wuming deduced that the "eagle" Yang Ji encountered earlier, which caused him to faint, was likely an illusion created by Sass. He surmised that Sass had used Yang Ji's face to create the human-skin mask that Helan Xue used to escape. Lu Lingfeng, filled with remorse, regretted his "clever" decision to send Yang Ji, as it inadvertently aided Helan Xue's escape.
He realized that Helan Xue had deliberately used her tears to deceive him when she saw the execution announcement, even knowing Sass was coming for her that night. He conceded that Du Ming was right to call him "trash." Su Wuming, however, urged him not to be hard on himself, expressing greater concern that Helan Xue's death would further enrage Sass, potentially leading to catastrophic events at the upcoming magic show.
Tragically, Yuwen Mukai, the architect and designer of the Sky-scraping Tower, was found dead in his home. His butler had been preparing his new clothes for the tower's completion ceremony the next day. Lu Lingfeng observed that Yuwen Mukai's body was posed like the "Heavenly King Stepping on the Ghost" and suspected he was trying to leave a message.
Du Ming, noting the absence of obvious wounds or poisoning, found the circumstances suspicious and believed Yuwen Mukai's death was connected to the completion ceremony. Lu Lingfeng searched all four temples in Chang'an with statues of the "Heavenly King Stepping on the Ghost"—characterized by holding a three-story pagoda and stepping on an "Yaksha ghost," or "Heavy-duty Ghost" as common folk called it—but found no clues.
The coroner's report indicated Yuwen Mukai had been murdered at close range with bare hands, suffering numerous bruises and broken tendons, implying a painful death. The fact that no one in the residence heard anything suggested the killer was someone familiar with Yuwen Mukai. Su Wuming, despite the risk of his unauthorized presence in the capital, insisted on visiting Yuwen Mukai's residence.
There, a servant explained that the empty coffin was filled with Yuwen Mukai's cherished possessions, as it was inauspicious to leave it empty. Su Wuming correctly surmised that Yuwen Mukai's most prized possession would be the Sky-scraping Tower's design blueprint. The servant confirmed this but added that His Majesty had ordered Chamberlain Feng to have Yuwen Mukai burn all copies to ensure the tower's exclusivity.
Inside the coffin, Lu Lingfeng discovered a small statue of the "Heavenly King Stepping on the Ghost," which the servant said Yuwen Mukai dearly loved. Su Wuming promptly smashed it, revealing the hidden blueprint of the Sky-scraping Tower. With the blueprint in hand, Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng met with Du Ming. The three men, now reconciled and showing mutual respect for their dedication to Detective Di's mission, were perplexed by the complex drawings.
They sought the assistance of Feng Tai, a descendant of Lu Ban. Feng Tai recognized Su Wuming as Detective Di's disciple and recalled being interrogated by Detective Di regarding Sass's use of mechanical wooden birds. Upon seeing the blueprint, Feng Tai immediately identified it as the structural drawing of the Sky-scraping Tower.
He recounted that Yuwen Mukai had brought it to him a year prior, seeking advice on the challenging task of extending the tower from its existing eighteen floors to thirty-three, an order from His Majesty to symbolize the "Heaven of 33 in Buddhism," with the Princess overseeing the construction. Feng Tai also remembered that Yuwen Mukai had brought along a "minor official" who offered a "dangerous" idea, which was ultimately rejected.
He could only recall that this official was a trusted aide of His Majesty and pointed out that the eighteenth floor was the "lethal point" of the entire structure. Meanwhile, Pei Jian deliberately faked a sprained ankle at home, preventing him from attending the Sky-scraping Tower's completion ceremony. He instructed his servant to report his absence to the Imperial Secretariat's Residence.
His daughter, Pei Xijun, saw through his ruse, realizing his unease stemmed from Sass's uncaptured status and Yuwen Mukai's sudden death, leading him to fear danger at the tower. She wanted to warn Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming, but Pei Jian stopped her, confirming Su Wuming's presence in Chang'an for the Sass case. He warned her that Chang'an was on the verge of a "startling transformation" and that his own life might be at risk.
He insisted she stay by his side, telling her that even if she went, she wouldn't be able to enter the Sky-scraping Tower or see Lu Lingfeng. Elsewhere, the Crown Prince was informed of Lu Lingfeng's lack of progress. Worried about Sass potentially causing chaos at the magic show, he had tried to persuade the Emperor to avoid the event, but the Emperor, having endured much suffering before ascending the throne and finding solace only in magic shows, refused.
The Crown Prince, recognizing his duty as heir, resolved to accompany the Emperor, Princess, ministers, and common people to the ceremony, despite the perceived danger. Finally, the grand completion ceremony of the Sky-scraping Tower commenced on the Mid-Autumn Festival. Chamberlain Feng read an edict proclaiming the occasion as a prosperous event for Chang'an and the Great Tang, with the majestic tower symbolizing the dynasty's eternal prosperity.
Du Ming then officially declared the magic show open, featuring various illusionists from different countries. One magician conjured cherries in the air. The Emperor, delighted, tasted one and found it delicious, offering some to the Crown Prince and Princess, who respectfully declined. He then ordered the cherries to be distributed among the common people of Chang'an. Another magician performed a trick, crawling into a small box and emerging as a bird.
The Princess asked Lu Lingfeng for his opinion on the performances. Lu Lingfeng eloquently quoted, "Understand the law and adapt to the change according to the specific situation. It's called transformation and illusion," and reiterated the Crown Prince's earlier point that "magic is clever, but you shouldn't believe it." The Princess, aware that the true Sass was still at large, confronted Lu Lingfeng, recognizing that his presence was due to his concern for her safety, despite his diplomatic reply.
