Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Episode 7 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Recap
Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming set up a temporary court on the street, drawing a crowd, particularly young women more interested in Lu Lingfeng himself than the cases. Su Wuming questioned Kuai Wu's wife, who insisted her husband had no enemies, just many friends and a love for bragging. Kuai Wu’s drinking companions added that the previous night, he had been regaling them with tales about Empress Wu Zetian’s reign.
The restaurant owner noted two mysterious groups of customers, one being merchants and another two secretive men. She specifically recalled a white-haired wandering hermit paying a treasure hunter three gold coins for information about the Empress's golden slip and later toasting Kuai Wu, praising his "fascinating" stories. Su Wuming pressed Kuai Wu’s drinking companions further, and they eventually admitted that Kuai Wu had explicitly discussed Empress Wu Zetian's private male companions, implying he was revealing scandalous secrets beyond official records.
The wandering hermit found these tales highly entertaining. Suddenly, Chi Ying burst into the court, distraught, reporting her 17-year-old daughter, Wu Yang, missing since last night. While Lu Lingfeng was initially dismissive, Su Wuming agreed to investigate after Chi Ying’s insistent pleas. At Chi Ying’s house, they found the door lock smashed, the room ransacked, and a window open, suggesting a forced entry.
Chi Ying reluctantly confessed that she had gone to Baifeng House, known for its handsome young men, and had locked Wu Yang in for her safety, fearing something might happen to her. Chi Ying then named Zhang Kuang, a notorious bully who owns a fish shop, as a potential suspect. Lu Lingfeng, accompanied by Xue Huan, confronted Zhang Kuang’s arrogant workers, who boasted of Grand General Lu Tong's patronage and dismissed Lu Lingfeng as insignificant.
Lu Lingfeng instructed Xue Huan to demonstrate his prowess, and Xue Huan quickly subdued the workers. Lu Lingfeng warned them against using Lu Tong's name to intimidate, threatening to demolish their fish shop. The terrified workers revealed that Zhang Kuang, along with his formidable enforcer Mi Ba, had gone to seek revenge on two women, one of whom was named Pei.
Meanwhile, Pei Xijun was trying to comfort Chu Yingtao, suggesting Wu Yang, whom she described as an "innocent and lonely girl," must have had a compelling reason for missing their rendezvous. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Zhang Kuang and his henchmen, led by Mi Ba, who brandished a pair of heavy iron hammers. Zhang Kuang declared his brutal philosophy of "taking profit and avenging grudges" and ordered Mi Ba to kill them.
Lu Lingfeng arrived just in time, chastising Zhang Kuang for his brazen violence in Chang'an. Chu Yingtao, advising Lu Lingfeng to protect Pei Xijun, swiftly disarmed Mi Ba and forced him to kneel before Pei Xijun. Zhang Kuang attempted to flee but was apprehended by Xue Huan. At the temporary court, Zhang Kuang admitted his jealousy over the skincare shop's booming business but vehemently denied kidnapping Wu Yang, even mockingly regretting he hadn't thought of it.
Enraged, Chi Ying attempted to attack Zhang Kuang but was restrained by Su Wuming. Su Wuming noted Chi Ying’s overprotective nature towards Wu Yang, who, Chi Ying insisted, had no friends or relatives in Chang'an and always obeyed her. When Pei Xijun and Chu Yingtao mentioned their plans to meet Wu Yang, Chi Ying reacted with extreme fury, demanding to know why they would make plans "behind her back" and worrying about potential dangers.
Su Wuming calmed her, emphasizing the importance of providing clues to find Wu Yang. That night, the team discussed the case, concluding Wu Yang's disappearance was likely connected to the lucrative beauty powder. Fei Jishi, eager to analyze the formula, received a sample of the "Fairy Beauty Powder" from Chu Yingtao, who stated she had no desire to use it if Wu Yang remained missing.
Chu Yingtao also eagerly volunteered to secretly monitor the landlord, Yu Gong, proud of her new role as a secret agent. Pei Xijun presented her meticulously drawn portraits of the white-haired hermit, the mysterious man, and Wu Yang. Su Wuming was visibly disturbed by Wu Yang’s likeness in the portrait and, after confirming its accuracy, took it, hinting at a more "bizarre" dimension to the case.
The team dispersed to follow their respective leads, leaving Fei Jishi alone and lamenting his sudden loneliness. Su Wuming went directly to the Imperial Palace and presented Wu Yang's portrait to the Princess. The Princess was deeply astonished by Wu Yang's striking resemblance to Empress Wu Zetian in her youth, specifically noting her "dragon eyes, phoenix neck, square forehead, and broad chin."
The Princess expressed a desire to meet Wu Yang and adopt her as a goddaughter, but was shocked to learn she was missing. Su Wuming theorized that Wu Yang's unique appearance was directly linked to her disappearance. Meanwhile, at Yu Gong's villa, his men were found mysteriously asleep, and Wu Yang was gone again. Chu Yingtao, having successfully tailed Yu Gong, revealed her identity as a secret agent and apprehended him.
Under interrogation, Yu Gong confessed his attempt to acquire Chi Ying's beauty powder formula. He recounted how his men had tried to kidnap Wu Yang after Chi Ying, having locked her in her room to prevent her from attending a lion dance, had left. His men broke into the room but found Wu Yang had already escaped through a window.
Later, they unexpectedly spotted Wu Yang at the market enjoying the lion dance and recaptured her, imprisoning her in the villa. However, his guards had inexplicably fallen into a deep sleep, allowing Wu Yang to vanish once more. Back at Yu Gong's villa, Lu Lingfeng, Su Wuming, and Fei Jishi conducted a thorough inspection.
Fei Jishi discovered a tiny hole in the window frame and identified the sedative used on the guards as "madam's incense," a rare and extremely expensive substance, indicating a highly skilled and wealthy abductor. Lu Lingfeng, puzzled by Wu Yang's repeated kidnappings, questioned the motive, recalling Su Wuming's intense reaction to Wu Yang's portrait earlier. Su Wuming then fully revealed that Wu Yang bore an uncanny and "identical" resemblance to Empress Wu Zetian in her youth.
Fei Jishi corroborated this, stating that the beauty powder's formula was not particularly special; rather, Wu Yang's unique appearance was the likely cause of her troubles. However, Lu Lingfeng dismissed this as a potential coincidence and advised Su Wuming not to "make a mountain out of a molehill," a comment Su Wuming found quite irritating. At Chengfo Temple, charcoal seller Tao Bo attempted to rest in the Great Buddha Hall for the night.
Householder Chenkong blocked his entry, citing rules against sleeping there, but Tao Bo, hard of hearing, struggled to understand. Chenkong patiently explained that the hall was closed at night and Tao Bo, despite his small past donation, was only permitted during the day. Tao Bo then pointed out Chi Ying, who was inside praying, asking why she was allowed. Chenkong clarified that Chi Ying had made a substantial donation and was praying for her missing daughter.
Tao Bo grumbled and tried to settle near the Buddha, but Chenkong threatened to summon Buddhist Guangxiao to remove him, prompting Tao Bo to agree to leave when Chi Ying did. Later that night, Chi Ying, praying inside, heard a woman's mournful crying and believed it was Wu Yang. Chenkong dismissed it as mere "ghost cries," a common occurrence in the Great Buddha Hall for several months, and urged her to leave.
Meanwhile, Lu Lingfeng, retracing Wu Yang's supposed escape route, had Pei Xijun jump from a high window. Chu Yingtao correctly deduced that since Wu Yang, like Pei Xijun, lacked martial arts training, someone must have assisted her escape. They then noticed an old man secretly observing them. After a brief chase, the old man was apprehended and explained that Chi Ying had forbidden him from her house.
The following morning, Chi Ying, still furious that Wu Yang had not been found, angrily berated Lu Lingfeng and his team, calling them "useless fools" despite their past triumphs. Lu Lingfeng remained composed, suggesting they would have a proper discussion at her skincare shop once she had calmed down.
