Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Episode 22 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Recap
Redyao confessed that she was the one who killed Zhang San. Years ago, she witnessed Zhang San rape and murder her friend Qingqing in Pingkang District using a pair of scissors. Although the incident was reported to officials, Zhang San, whom she described as a villain, escaped justice due to insufficient evidence. Su Wuming questioned why she didn't testify at the time. Redyao admitted she was afraid of retaliation, fearing she would lose the chance to avenge her father.
She eventually planned to hire an assassin to kill Zhang San, but needed money. When her husband, Meng Buyi, a minor clerk with a meager salary, couldn't provide it, she didn't blame him. Instead, she took advantage of Qian Zheng's interest in her, hinting at a romantic involvement to secure the funds for an assassin.
She later regretted her actions and asked Meng Buyi to divorce her, but she firmly stated that she alone was responsible for Zhang San's death, not Qian Zheng. She recounted that on the night of the incident, she had invited Yan Junxian to her home, hoping to uncover Ming Shi's true identity. Unexpectedly, Zhang San appeared, demanding money. Redyao, fearing that her hired assassin had failed, was about to comply when Meng Buyi suddenly returned home.
She quickly hid Zhang San in the cabinet. After sending Meng Buyi away and then Yan Junxian, she returned to find Zhang San lying on the floor. Seeing this as an opportunity, she killed him with the same method Zhang San had used on Qingqing, asserting that the act was hers alone and Meng Buyi was not involved. Su Wuming, however, had doubts about Redyao's testimony, sensing that she was deliberately omitting crucial details.
He directly asked her if she knew about the Perfect Purple snake in the cabinet, which she denied, claiming it must have crawled in by itself as her house was near the Qu River. Su Wuming countered that the Perfect Purple was no ordinary snake, and Meng Buyi had already confessed to intending to use it for murder, indicating they had not had a chance to coordinate their stories. Su Wuming then revealed the full truth.
Seven years ago, Meng Buyi had saved Redyao from attempting suicide, and they later married. Their first two years were harmonious, but then coldness and arguments began. It was during this time that Redyao saw Zhang San open a mutton soup shop and was reminded of Qingqing's death, rekindling her desire for revenge. When Meng Buyi, being frugal, refused her request for money to hire an assassin, Redyao briefly became involved with Qian Zheng.
Qian Zheng, in turn, hired a private detective named Cat to investigate Redyao, who turned out to be Meng Buyi himself. After this incident, Su Wuming deduced that Meng Buyi and Redyao finally became open with each other. Meng Buyi, who loved Redyao deeply and was committed to her, learned her entire backstory, including her father's unjust death and her belief that Ming Shi was the notorious assassin Beacon Fire.
Redyao also suspected Yan Junxian was an enemy, recalling her father's dying words that the instigator would bear the surname Yan. Meng Buyi considered Redyao's father his own father-in-law and agreed that the blood feud must be avenged, but did not want Redyao to risk her life. Meng Buyi devised a meticulous plan: to lure Yan Junxian to their home and kill him using his pet Perfect Purple snake, which he had acquired from Yan Junxian's medicinal garden.
He planned to hide Yan Junxian's body, knowing Ming Shi would then come looking, allowing the snake to take revenge on him as well. However, the plan took an unexpected turn when Yan Junxian revealed his true identity as a mere "puppet" house servant named "Moorhen," not bearing the surname Yan. This revelation stirred Redyao's compassion, leading her to hide him under the bed.
To her surprise, the person who arrived at her door next was Zhang San, not Meng Buyi, demanding money and threatening her life. Meng Buyi's return was delayed because a senior clerk detained him with long stories about snake demons, a distraction that cost Meng Buyi some money. By the time Meng Buyi finally arrived home, Yan Junxian was hidden under the bed, and Zhang San was concealed in the cabinet.
Knowing the danger, Redyao feigned a furious argument, accusing Meng Buyi of lying about his official rank and being unconcerned with her needs. She dramatically demanded a divorce, even cruelly suggesting it was to reunite with Yan Junxian. Meng Buyi, understanding her true intentions, sadly refused her demand and was tearfully driven out of the house.
Su Wuming explained that this theatrical argument was necessary to prevent Zhang San from emerging from the cabinet and going on a killing spree, or Yan Junxian from escaping, which would have thwarted Redyao's long-sought revenge. Su Wuming even mentioned he had recently faced a similar life-threatening situation himself, being saved by Chicken Fei. With Meng Buyi temporarily out of the house, Redyao urged Yan Junxian to escape, even helping him put on his shoes.
As Yan Junxian fled, he inquired about Su Wuming, who introduced himself as a disciple of Master Di. Redyao, deeply impressed by Su Wuming's astute deductions, openly confessed her guilt, acknowledging her admiration for both Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng's dedication to justice. Suddenly, Meng Buyi appeared in the court, vehemently declaring Redyao innocent and attempting to take full responsibility.
He claimed the purple snake was merely his pet, not intended for murder, and that he had been driven to kill Zhang San out of a mistaken belief that Zhang San was having an affair with Redyao. Despite his passionate plea, Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng remained unconvinced by his incomplete testimony. Meng Buyi and Redyao then shared a poignant farewell in the courtroom, hand in hand, promising to be childhood sweethearts and reunite in the next life.
This emotional scene moved many in attendance, including Chicken Fei. However, Su Wuming sought further clarity and arranged for multiple coroners to re-examine the body. Their collective conclusion was that Zhang San had died of asphyxiation, indicating he was strangled by the snake before Redyao stabbed him. Thus, Redyao was not charged with murder, but still faced legal repercussions for defiling a corpse.
According to the new imperial laws enacted after the emperor's ascension, the punishment was three years of imprisonment or facial tattooing. Meng Buyi, concerned for Redyao's beauty and lively spirit, pleaded with Pei Xijun to convey a message to Redyao: he would gladly wait three years for her release if she chose imprisonment, urging her not to disfigure her face.
However, Redyao, prioritizing an earlier reunion with her beloved husband, firmly chose the facial tattooing, asking Pei Xijun to relay her decision to Lu Lingfeng. After her release, Meng Buyi welcomed Redyao to their new home, a residence he had purchased with his years of savings and recent earnings. He named it "Su Garden," revealing that he had learned Redyao's childhood name, "Su," from Qiu Xian, a former colleague and friend of her late father.
Meng Buyi explained that he sought out Qiu Xian, who fondly recalled Redyao's father and her birth. Though Redyao initially felt the house should bear Meng Buyi's name, he insisted it was "ours," and she grew to love the name. Inside their new home, Meng Buyi established an altar with a portrait of Redyao's father, which Pei Xijun had skillfully drawn based on Qiu Xian's memories.
Meng Buyi solemnly promised Redyao's father that he would care for Su (Redyao) for the rest of their lives. He also revealed he had resigned his official post, stating that he would continue as a minor clerk, dedicating his time to writing popular strange tales and catching snakes, which had proven lucrative. He declared he would no longer work as a private detective, wanting a simple life focused on Redyao.
To cover Redyao's facial tattoo, Meng Buyi had diligently learned the art of flower tattooing. He lovingly decorated her forehead with a peony design and reassured her by sharing the story of Shangguan Wan'er, who, after receiving facial tattooing, adorned her forehead with plum blossoms and became even more beautiful. Deeply moved, Redyao expressed her absolute trust in him. Lu Lingfeng and his companions visited the "Su Garden" to congratulate Meng Buyi and Redyao.
Everyone admired Redyao's radiant beauty, enhanced by the peony tattoo on her forehead, which Meng Buyi had personally created. Meng Buyi and Redyao expressed their gratitude to their saviors. Later, Pei Xijun and Lu Lingfeng shared a moment, with Pei Xijun expressing her joy for Redyao finding such a devoted husband, whose profound care made all other men seem less attentive. Lu Lingfeng reciprocated her sentiments, praising her ability to balance justice with compassion.
Meanwhile, the "Liuhe Sushan Shop" was thriving, accumulating a significant amount of silver ingots. Chicken Fei, the nominal boss, initially joked about taking half the profits for himself, but his companions teased him for his apparent greed, reminding him that Pei Xijun had invested the initial capital, even selling a residence. Pei Xijun then presented Chicken Fei with a beautifully silver-gilt wine flask as a gift for his hard work.
Moments later, a messenger arrived, bestowing upon Chicken Fei a gold medal from the Princess, officially recognizing him as the "Chicken Master of Tang." Overjoyed by these honors, Chicken Fei declared he no longer cared for money, vowing that with his new title, he would receive chickens wherever he went, and the flask would make any wine taste like heavenly nectar.
Pei Xijun then entrusted a significant portion of the shop's profits to Su Wuming, explaining that she and Lu Lingfeng had agreed to use the funds to establish an extensive secret agent network for Yongzhou Prefecture. Su Wuming gratefully accepted, promising to use the money wisely to gather vital intelligence, maintain peace in Chang'an, and ensure the stability of the Tang Empire.
His network quickly expanded, recruiting informers from various walks of life, including rice shop clerks, dancers from Pingkang District, ghost market investigators, and even wealthy jewelry businessmen like Yuanbao, who joined voluntarily, driven by his passion for gathering information despite incurring personal financial losses. In a separate development, a musical troupe journeying through a forest encountered a blind woman in white attempting to commit suicide.
While some troupe members made insensitive comments, others offered kind words, but the woman remained silent. Later, Su Wuming informed Lu Lingfeng about a new intelligence report concerning "Black Fire," a notorious assassin from the "Blood Drop" organization. Black Fire was said to be as infamous as Beacon Fire but far more brutal, systematically killing all witnesses, thus concealing his or her true identity. The only known detail was that the assassin always wore white during their attacks.
Lu Lingfeng stated that Black Fire had already claimed 94 lives in Chang'an and vowed to capture and publicly execute the assassin if they dared to enter the city. Separately, Manager Hou from Ruan's Restaurant near Kaiyuan Gate came to the Sushan Shop, attempting to book the entire establishment for a day and demand that Chicken Fei and his staff prepare Sushan on-site to honor two esteemed poets, Gao Da and Wang Youbo.
Manager Hou even offered a gold coin as compensation for closing the shop. Chicken Fei was indignant, refusing to "bow to breathing, so-called distinguished guests" and asserting that common people also deserved to enjoy Sushan. However, Su Wuming and Pei Xijun intervened, stopping the workers from driving Manager Hou away.
Pei Xijun, recognizing the importance of respecting great poets and also acknowledging the staff's need for rest, agreed to have the Sushan made on-site at Ruan's Restaurant the next day at 2 PM, ensuring the poets would be served.
