The Imperial Coroner Recap, Plot, Synopsis
The Imperial Coroner Synopsis
In the late Tang Dynasty, Chu Chu, a young girl from a family of coroner in the southwest mountains, comes to Chang’an alone to realize her dream of becoming a coroner and takes the coroner examination.
Xiao Jinyu recruits Chu Chu as a partner to uncover the mystery of the case. The mystery of Chu Chu’s background breaks the balance of power in the capital, and a power struggle ensues.
With each case solved, the team unravels the mystery step by step and finally solves a shocking case that has lasted for 18 years.
Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu are successfully married, and Chu Chu is finally approved by the emperor and given the status of “Imperial Coroner”, realizing her dream in life.
The Imperial Coroner Recap
Episode 1 Recap
In the middle and late Tang Dynasty, eunuchs assisted Emperor Xuanzong to the throne. To appease them, Emperor Xuanzong allowed them to command the Imperial Armies and guard the Imperial Palace. At the same time, he established the Three Judicial Offices, appointing Commandery Prince An, Xiao Jinyu, to oversee all criminal cases throughout the realm.
The Three Judicial Offices greatly valued the role of coroners, holding annual qualification exams in the capital with no restrictions, ensuring that talented individuals could serve. During one such exam season, coroners from various regions arrived in the capital. Meanwhile, a few days prior, a woodcutter carrying a lantern and a basket had been struck by lightning through a tree, leading to his immediate death. This remained an unsolved mystery.
Among the aspiring coroners was Chu Chu, a young woman from a coroner family in the Southwest, disguised as a man. She traveled thousands of miles alone to Chang'an, a bustling and prosperous city. As she observed the vibrant scene, a carriage suddenly collided with an elder, knocking him to the ground. The driver offered to take the elder to a physician, but the man, constantly mentioning medical expenses, refused.
Chu Chu, initially just observing, noticed something peculiar about his leg injury: it was red but not swollen. She quickly realized he was faking the injury to extort money. Chu Chu publicly exposed the man, revealing that he was a young imposter using burned beech bark to create a fake bruise and that his eyes didn't show the yellowing typical of an older person.
Jing Yi, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, witnessing the deception, immediately ordered his subordinates to apprehend the fraudster. Intrigued by Chu Chu's keen observation skills, Jing Yi introduced himself. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a group of charging eunuchs on horseback, who nearly ran Chu Chu over. Fortunately, Jing Yi swiftly protected her.
Suddenly, Wu Jiang, the Prince's Chief Guardsman, descended, kicking Palace Eunuch Sun Mingde off his horse and quickly bringing the chaotic situation under control. Sun Mingde, recognizing Xiao Jinyu's authority, arrogantly invoked Acting Chief Eunuch Qin Luan's name, disrespecting Commandery Prince An. However, Xiao Jinyu remained unfazed, ordering Wu Jiang to flog Sun Mingde fifty times for riding a horse in a busy market, as per Great Tang law.
Chu Chu, having witnessed the entire incident, was deeply impressed by Xiao Jinyu's impartial enforcement of the law. With the coroner exam approaching, Chu Chu worried about her eligibility. Hearing her concern, Jing Yi handed her a token, assuring her it would grant her entry. Indeed, with the token, Chu Chu smoothly gained access to the Three Judicial Offices. The previous day had been the qualification exam, and now it was the selection phase.
Success meant serving Commandery Prince An within the Three Judicial Offices. Meanwhile, Minister of Revenue Wang Jun expressed his dissatisfaction with Xiao Jinyu for hosting a coroner exam instead of focusing on the unresolved case of Assistant Yan Ming. Minister of Justice Han Ji, fueled by Wang Jun's complaints, was even more enraged, resentful of Xiao Jinyu's imperial favor and his own obligation to take orders from such a young official.
For the coroner exam, Xiao Jinyu used two unsolved cases from the capital as practical tests. One of these was the case of Assistant Yan Ming. Chu Chu, beginning her examination with the woodcutter's corpse, meticulously deduced the process of his death using her self-made tools, including the "Yin-yang Pestle"—a cone-shaped hardwood tool with cotton-wrapped ends for examining the nose and throat.
She noted reddish-brown dendritic patterns on his arms and neck, pale osseous pearls on his finger bones, and the smell of sesame oil on his skin. Despite the severe burns, she concluded that he was a man over thirty, around five chi tall, who had died about half a month prior. She found soot in his mouth and nose, indicating he was burned alive.
Based on a skull fracture, dendritic patterns, and signs of being soaked in water after burning, she concluded he was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm, fell unconscious, and was then burned to death when a lantern he carried ignited sesame oil he was also transporting. Furthermore, she observed old, multiple fractures on his ribs, arms, and shanks, suggesting he frequently engaged in life-threatening fights as his profession.
Her detailed and accurate findings, including her unique method of deodorizing with steamed vinegar, greatly impressed the proctors and Xiao Jinyu. Later, Sun Mingde, limping, accused Commandery Prince An before Emperor Xuanzong of administering private corporal punishment. Emperor Xuanzong then reprimanded Xue Rucheng, Xiao Jinyu's former teacher, for failing to properly guide his student, which had led to discontent among court officials. He ordered Xue Rucheng to ensure Xiao Jinyu exercised restraint.
Years ago, when Xiao Heng, Xiao Jinyu’s father and a prince consort, investigated southwestern rebels, Acting Chief Eunuch Qin Luan had been dispatched to assist. In truth, Qin Luan had conspired to frame Xiao Heng for colluding with Military Commissioner Chen Ying in a rebellion, leading to a battle where Xiao Heng's body was never found. This uncertainty had plagued Qin Luan for over a decade, fearing Xiao Heng might still be alive.
Now, with Commandery Prince An Xiao Jinyu gaining influence, Qin Luan frequently undermined him before Emperor Xuanzong and ordered General Zhou Han to gather intelligence on him. Chu Chu proceeded to the next exam, which involved injury inspection. Unaware that Commandery Prince An was the test subject, she mistook Xiao Jinyu for a "live corpse" and confidently began examining him.
She observed a forehead injury caused by a blunt, roughly polished wooden object from the previous night, and a palm-wide bruise on his left hand from a heavy object, likely a man's foot. She also noted injuries on his palm roots from pressing against a smooth, hard surface, all occurring almost simultaneously. As she attempted to remove his clothing for further examination, Xiao Jinyu revealed his identity, startling her into immediately kneeling and kowtowing repeatedly.
Xiao Jinyu then exposed Chu Chu's true background, discerning from her clothes, the particular scent on them, and her advanced autopsy knowledge that she hailed from a coroner family, not a literary one as she had stated on her application. He detailed his deductions: her oversized, altered, nearly new clothes with dog scratches indicated they belonged to her elder brother, who owned a dog.
The scent of soapberry and atractylodes on her clothes further confirmed a coroner's family, as these were traditionally used for washing by such practitioners. He noted her proficiency in certain unconventional forensic techniques, suggesting her ancestors had been coroners since before the Taizong era. Chu Chu, amazed by his precise observations, mistakenly believed him to be the legendary "Handsome Judge," chief of the Six Gates. Xiao Jinyu, however, denied this, stating he had no such titles.
Despite Chu Chu's attempts to justify her application, Xiao Jinyu remained firm in his assessment but chose not to pursue the matter of her false identity. Instead, he decided to take her to the crime scene for the second case. However, as they exited, they were confronted by a waiter from Fusheng Inn, who publicly accused Chu Chu of absconding without paying her lodging bill.
The waiter presented a jade pendant Chu Chu had left as collateral, making Xiao Jinyu suspicious of her. Chu Chu explained she had lost her money purse and, in a hurry for the exam, left the pendant and a note with her thumbprint, promising to return and pay. Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi recognized the jade pendant as something unusual. He had Jing Yi pay the 37 copper coins owed to the inn.
He then shocked everyone by instructing Wu Jiang to inform the inn's manager that he was permanently renting Chu Chu's former room, forbidding any alterations to its contents, and declared his intention to stay there himself when leisure allowed. This move intimidated the waiter, who quickly tried to retract his claims, but Xiao Jinyu insisted on taking the pendant and Chu Chu's note.
Episode 2 Recap
After impressing Commandery Prince An, Xiao Jinyu, during the initial coroner examination, Chu Chu remains focused on her goal of working for the legendary "Handsome Judge." Her interactions with the intelligent and fair Prince lead her to suspect he is the man she seeks. However, her stone pendant has drawn unwanted attention. Xiao Jinyu, noticing General Zhou Han’s intense interest in the pendant, cleverly deflects the General’s clumsy inquiries about a supposed set of lost keys.
Jing Yi aids him by pointing out the foolishness of a high-ranking official openly advertising such a sensitive loss. Once Zhou Han leaves, Xiao Jinyu returns the pendant to Chu Chu, warning her to keep it safe. On the way to a crime scene, Chu Chu offers Xiao Jinyu homemade ointment for an injury, but she steadfastly refuses to explain the pendant's origin, stating she will only reveal it to the real Handsome Judge.
Meanwhile, Zhou Han reports directly to the eunuch Qin Luan, describing the stone pendant in detail—flat, carved, appearing as one half of a whole, with a blue tassel. Qin Luan instantly recognizes it as the love token between Princess Xiping and the long-lost Xiao Heng. Deducing that Xiao Heng might still be alive, Qin Luan dispatches Zhou Han to apprehend Chu Chu for questioning and sends another agent to Princess Xiping's residence to probe for information.
At the Yan Manor, Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu investigate the murder of Yan Ming. Jing Yi, the first to arrive, explains that Yan Ming went to his study to retrieve valuable calligraphy for a banquet and was never seen alive again. A scream from the study was followed by another from a dancing girl, who claimed to have discovered the body. Despite sealing the manor, no suspect was found.
Through a series of reenactments, Chu Chu determines that the victim, having been stabbed through the heart, would have been unable to scream. Xiao Jinyu deduces that the first scream must have come from the murderer to create a distraction. He further reasons that the dancing girl, who was in the courtyard at the time, must have witnessed the killer.
He concludes she is the culprit, having used ventriloquism to imitate a man's scream and faked being a witness to ensure her own safety after stealing a book scroll. Xiao Jinyu finds the slender murder weapon hidden in the study and sends Jing Yi to arrest the dancer, who is found calmly practicing back at the Dancing Service. Due to her role as a key witness, Chu Chu is ordered to remain in Chang'an.
Xiao Jinyu later has his guard, Wu Jiang, recover Chu Chu’s stolen satchel, explaining that the thief was identified by the distinct scent of a coroner's supplies on both the bag and his person. After paying her for her services, he secretly orders his men to follow her and exchange any counterfeit coins she might spend.
Taking advantage of the situation, Qin Luan complains to Emperor Xuanzong that Xiao Jinyu is disrespecting the court by using a murder victim's body for an exam instead of solving the case. Enraged, the Emperor declares that Xiao Jinyu will be stripped of his title if the case isn't solved by sunset. Qin Luan’s envoy then attempts to bribe Princess Xiping with gifts, but she, aware of Qin Luan's slander against her son, furiously drives him away with a whip.
She privately reaffirms her belief that her husband, Xiao Heng, is still alive, as his tomb is merely a cenotaph containing only his clothes, a fact she keeps hidden from Xiao Jinyu. Following the earlier resolution of a separate lightning-strike death, the Three Judicial Offices post a public notice explaining the phenomenon. As citizens praise the "Handsome Judge," Chu Chu feels a swell of pride, hoping Xiao Jinyu will finally admit to being him.
As she leaves, she helps a limping man who then leads her into a secluded alley. He threatens her with a dagger, demanding her stone pendant. Just in time, Wu Jiang and his men, sent by Xiao Jinyu, intervene and rescue her. The attacker is promptly silenced by a hidden accomplice who escapes. A traumatized Chu Chu bursts into tears upon seeing Xiao Jinyu, yet she insists on examining the dead assailant's body.
Her dedication to her craft, combined with her refusal to explain the pendant, deepens Xiao Jinyu’s suspicions. His men discover that 19 of the 23 coins in her purse are illegal, privately minted currency, matching counterfeit money he has seen before. Xiao Jinyu retrieves a matching pendant from his mother, confirming it is a pair with Chu Chu's. He rules out tomb robbery after confirming with local thieves that his father's grave is untouched.
Wu Jiang reports that the kidnappers were skilled martial artists who concealed their style and only intended to abduct Chu Chu, not harm her. Unable to reconcile the conflicting evidence, Xiao Jinyu decides to write to his associate Leng Yue, an expert on the martial world, hoping to uncover the truth about Chu Chu's origins and the mysterious pendant.
Episode 3 Recap
Commandery Prince An's chief guard, Wu Jiang, expressed concern that a credulous young woman like Chu Chu was in danger in Chang'an. Xiao Jinyu rebuked him, explaining that while parents or friends might advise caution, it is an official's duty to protect the people, otherwise, the court has no use for them. His words resonated deeply with Chu Chu, who recognized the philosophy as identical to that of the legendary "Handsome Judge."
Though Xiao Jinyu denied any connection, Chu Chu's suspicions about his identity grew. Chu Chu presented her autopsy findings on the man who had attacked her. The man, over thirty, was killed by a short arrow to the heart. His limp was feigned, but numerous old and new wounds suggested he was a seasoned fighter.
A thick callus on his right hand indicated frequent knife use, yet a writing callus was on his left, leading Chu Chu to conclude he was a "left-handed scholar and right-handed swordsman." Xiao Jinyu noted this was common for soldiers, as army training mandated right-hand weapon use regardless of natural handedness.
Baffled as to why a soldier would target her, Chu Chu suddenly theorized that the man intended to abduct her as his wife, recalling his promise not to kill her if she cooperated. The guards nearby snickered at her naive conclusion until a sharp glance from Xiao Jinyu silenced them. Meanwhile, Qin Luan, a powerful eunuch who consoled himself by wearing a fake beard, received a report from his subordinate, Zhou Han.
Zhou Han had failed to capture the female coroner due to Wu Jiang's intervention and admitted that the man hired for the job had been silenced before he could be questioned. Qin Luan was enraged that the body was not recovered and that his men had again failed to retrieve the stone pendant from Chu Chu.
He ordered Zhou Han to have his best men monitor Xiao Jinyu and Princess Xiping, threatening Zhou Han's family if he didn't shave his own beard. With night falling and curfew approaching, Chu Chu admitted she had no place to stay, fearing inns would reject a coroner. Xiao Jinyu offered her temporary lodging at the Three Judicial Offices, which also served as his residence, to keep her on hand for the ongoing cases.
While settling in, Chu Chu questioned a maid, Lian Qiao, about Xiao Jinyu's personal life. She was surprised he was still unmarried, remarking that men his age in her hometown were already fathers and musing that he would have beautiful children with a high-nosed, double-eyelidded woman. Lian Qiao mentioned that in Chang'an, such praise was usually directed at Jing Yi, which Chu Chu found strange.
Later that night, Jing Yi was comically thwarted by Wu Jiang while trying to sneak into Xiao Jinyu's residence through a window. He revealed he had tricked the dancer in prison into confessing the location of a stolen scroll in Yan Manor. However, upon his return to the prison, he found the dancer had been murdered with aconitine poison.
The scroll turned out to be a book of anecdotes from the Wuzong Dynasty, heavily annotated by the late Yan Ming, who showed a keen interest in Emperor Wuzong's missing young son, Duke Chang. Xiao Jinyu surmised Yan Ming had been searching for the long-lost duke.
He tasked Jing Yi with investigating the Shen Ce Army for a missing officer matching the dead assailant's description, connecting the military-grade arrowhead found on the body and the Southwest origins of the poison and the dancer. The next morning, feeling she shouldn't live there for free, Chu Chu used her new wages to buy chickens and build a coop, planning to raise them and grow vegetables to earn her keep, much to Xiao Jinyu's bemusement.
Their morning was interrupted by news from Feng Manor: Minister Feng Jie had died suddenly in his bed. Xiao Jinyu asked Chu Chu to accompany him to the mourning hall, disguised as his maid, to perform a discreet autopsy. During a quick lesson on servant etiquette, Chu Chu took the opportunity to check Xiao Jinyu's chest for a distinctive sword scar she associated with the Handsome Judge but was disappointed to find none.
At Feng Manor, Jing Yi created a diversion by "accidentally" knocking over an incense burner, scattering ashes on the deceased. In the ensuing chaos, Chu Chu examined the body and discovered scratches on Minister Feng's chest. When Minister Feng's wife angrily protested the soiled shroud, Chu Chu claimed the falling ash was a sign the deceased's spirit was crying out for justice.
Jing Yi supported her, convincing the widow to change the shroud to avoid damaging the minister's reputation with unsavory rumors. Afterward, Jing Yi's father invited Xiao Jinyu to their home, but he declined, stating he had official matters to discuss with Jing Yi. He then took Jing Yi and Chu Chu to Rugui Tavern. While Jing Yi ordered lavish dishes, Xiao Jinyu ordered authentic dishes from Chu Chu's home province of Qianzhou, explaining his brother was stationed there.
Touched by the gesture, Chu Chu revealed her key finding: the scratches on Feng Jie's chest were not meant to harm, but to save him. To demonstrate, she asked a surprised Xiao Jinyu to lie still like the corpse so she could re-enact the scene.
Episode 4 Recap
As Chu Chu leaned in, seemingly about to kiss Xiao Jinyu, Jing Yi quickly pulled her away. Just then, a maid from the restaurant entered with a tray of fruit, leading to widespread awkwardness among everyone present except Chu Chu. She, however, with a pure heart, was merely demonstrating a resuscitation technique used by some physicians. She explained that the chest scratches on Feng Jie, the Minister of War, must have been inflicted by a woman.
Jing Yi then inferred that Feng Jie's Second Lady, whose family ran a medical clinic and possessed some medical knowledge, might have caused them in a desperate attempt to save him. Jing Yi recalled Madam Feng's fierce reaction when Chu Chu suggested the deceased was wronged, concluding that Feng Jie's death under such circumstances would dishonor his reputation. Thus, the Feng Manor was likely trying to conceal the true cause of his demise.
Despite Jing Yi's seemingly logical explanation, Xiao Jinyu sensed an underlying secret. When Chu Chu reiterated insights about interpreting the silent stories of the deceased through injuries and posture, words Xiao Jinyu recognized from his own father's personal letters, he had an epiphany and decided they needed to re-examine Feng Jie's body. In the imperial hall, Emperor Xuanzong was furious upon hearing reports of Minister Feng's death.
He ordered an edict to be drafted immediately, forbidding all capital officials of seventh rank and above from gathering and drinking on non-holiday occasions, threatening dismissal for any violators. The Emperor was surprised to learn that Xiao Jinyu had already offered his condolences at Feng Manor, remarking that such social niceties were unlike his usual conduct, yet he still insisted that Xiao Jinyu manage such relationships as per imperial decree.
Later, in his own manor, Jing Yi’s mother, Madam Jing, expressed concern over the dangers Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi faced. She also inquired if Xiao Jinyu had brought a maid to Feng Manor, only for Jing Yi's father to clarify that it was a coroner, implying Xiao Jinyu's interest in her. Meanwhile, Wu Jiang informed Xiao Jinyu that Princess Xiping was demanding his immediate return to her manor, or she would personally come to the Three Judicial Chief Ministries.
Jing Yi reported back to Xiao Jinyu after investigating military records at Shen Army camp, confirming that a soldier had suddenly reported going home the previous night and was now nowhere to be found. He teased Xiao Jinyu for taking responsibility for a dancer's suicide case. Jing Yi then revealed that Feng Jie was the third capital official to die mysteriously in public within a month, despite their deaths appearing ordinary.
Xiao Jinyu suggested that seemingly natural deaths could mask the actions of dangerous culprits. As they spoke, they were informed of Qin Luan's arrival. Before meeting him, Xiao Jinyu secretly dispatched Jing Yi to the Court of Judicial Review's prison to offer three previously apprehended tomb robbers a chance to atone for their crimes by retrieving the bodies of the two other deceased capital officials for re-autopsy.
Qin Luan then entered, announcing Emperor Xuanzong’s verbal edict: Xiao Jinyu was to personally apologize to the Feng Manor for allegedly desecrating Minister Feng's body, with a stern warning against any further disturbance. Xiao Jinyu, however, saw this as an opportunity to legitimately re-enter the Feng Manor for further investigation. After Qin Luan departed, his subordinate reported that Chu Chu was from Pingle Town in Qianzhou.
Her mother had died years before her supposed birth, after having her elder brother, Chu He. In the tenth year of Taihe, Chu Chu mysteriously appeared in her father Chu Ping's home.
Qin Luan, connecting this to Xiao Heng's disappearance in the Southwest and Chu Chu's subsequent appearance in a coroner's family in that region less than a year later, suspected she might be Xiao Heng's illegitimate daughter, especially since she arrived in Chang'an carrying what seemed to be Xiao Heng's personal items. He ordered further verification of her identity.
Chu Chu later presented Xiao Jinyu with the book "Legend of the Nine Constables in Six Gates," which she had mentioned earlier as the source of her knowledge about the Six Gates and the Handsome Judge. Xiao Jinyu recognized the handwriting in the book as Chu Chu's from her exam application form. Jing Yi then arrived with the retrieved bodies of the two other deceased officials, confirming they had been secretly placed in the autopsy room.
Discovering the autopsy room and interrogation room in Xiao Jinyu’s residence, Chu Chu excitedly concluded he must be the Handsome Judge, whose home was similarly equipped. Xiao Jinyu, however, dismissed it as mere coincidence, pointing out that he was just a child when she first heard of the Handsome Judge at age six, and his current residence was built only recently.
Xiao Jinyu realized the stories in the "Legend of the Nine Constables" were adapted from cases his own father, Xiao Heng, had solved. He shared this with Jing Yi, noting that only his father and Jing Yi’s father were privy to the details of those cases, but Jing Yi vehemently dismissed the idea that Chu Chu could know his father. Chu Chu then inquired if the two newly retrieved bodies were related to Minister Feng.
She pointed out a non-fatal strike injury on Feng Jie's right brow bone, which had been treated with medicine. She then revealed that the two other deceased officials had identical injuries in the same locations. Chu Chu deduced that a single assailant was likely responsible for injuring all three. To understand how these injuries occurred, she asked Xiao Jinyu to reenact the scenario.
During the demonstration, Chu Chu meticulously described the injuries, concluding that all three victims had fought with someone who intentionally struck them in the same spots on their faces. Jing Yi found it hard to believe, especially given Minister Feng's age, and mentioned Minister of Revenue Liu Yue, who supposedly died from falling off a horse. Chu Chu clarified that Liu Yue's head injury predated his fall and his internal organs were intact, disproving death by falling.
She added that another victim, a shorter man, had river mud in his ear and nose, indicating he fell into a river, yet he did not drown. Unable to definitively determine the cause of death for the two recovered bodies, Chu Chu proposed re-examining Feng Jie’s body to find a clearer answer, a suggestion Xiao Jinyu agreed to.
Meanwhile, at the Feng Manor, Qin Luan’s subordinates plotted to set fire to the funeral hall to destroy Minister Feng's body, fearing exposure of the true cause of death. Madam Feng, worried about her husband's reputation, decided to bury him earlier than planned. Later that night, Xiao Jinyu arrived at Feng Manor with Chu Chu, offering an apology to Madam Feng for "offending" Minister Feng's body earlier, citing Emperor Xuanzong's reprimand.
He insisted Chu Chu, disguised as his maid, offer incense to the deceased. While Chu Chu was led away to the funeral hall—a ruse for her to conduct the autopsy—Xiao Jinyu spoke with Madam Feng. She revealed that Minister Han had brought Feng Jie home the previous night, explaining his head injury as a result of being drunk and hitting something.
Madam Feng also mentioned that Feng Jie usually sought medical attention from the Second Lady, implying she was the one who diagnosed his death. To aid Chu Chu, Wu Jiang and Jing Yi created a diversion, luring the guards away from the funeral hall. At the same time, Qin Luan’s spies, observing Chu Chu inside, decided to set the hall ablaze to eliminate the evidence and Chu Chu herself, preventing her findings from ever being revealed. The funeral hall soon erupted in flames.
Episode 5 Recap
As a cry of "Fire!" rang out, chaos erupted at Feng Manor, and everyone rushed towards the mourning hall. Despite the evident danger, Xiao Jinyu plunged into the flames, determined to save Chu Chu. Miraculously, Chu Chu, who had been unwilling to leave Minister Feng's body, was rescued by Xiao Jinyu, and together they managed to escape the inferno with the minister's remains intact.
News of the fire quickly spread, reaching the Second Madam, who recoiled in terror, convinced that Minister Feng's spirit had returned for revenge. Meanwhile, the masked arsonists fled under the cover of night, but Jing Yi was hot on their trail, witnessing them disappear into the Shen Army's battalion.
Elsewhere, Qin Luan was furious with his subordinate, Zhou Han, not for failing, but for taking the initiative to try and burn the coroner to death—a reckless act that could have exposed them all. Realizing Xiao Jinyu would now certainly proceed with an autopsy, Qin Luan ordered Zhou Han to have Minister Han Ji intervene and stop him.
At the Feng Manor, Madam Feng furiously confronted Xiao Jinyu, accusing him of desecrating her husband's body and setting the fire, even demanding that Chu Chu be buried alive with Minister Feng. Just then, Han Ji and Academician Xue arrived. Han Ji immediately chastised Xiao Jinyu for defying a verbal imperial order and pursuing a personal vendetta, threatening to report him to the Emperor and have his authority stripped. However, Academician Xue, who knew Xiao Jinyu's character, subtly intervened.
He created a distraction by telling Xiao Jinyu that his own hair bun was tilted, a veiled signal that it was time to leave. Before departing, Xiao Jinyu publicly displayed Chu Chu's injured hands—proof of her valiant efforts to protect Minister Feng's body from the fire—thereby silencing the accusations against her. Back at the Three Judicial Chief Ministries, Chu Chu was disheartened, not by the fire, but by the loss of her cherished autopsy tools.
Once she calmed down, Chu Chu relayed her findings: all three victims, including Minister Feng, had died from injuries caused by a powerful, precise blow. She deduced the killer was a trained assailant who struck his victims on the left brow bone and eye socket, causing their heads to hit a hard, protruding surface and resulting in a small skull fracture. The injury was not instantly fatal and initially caused little pain.
However, it led to a gradual blood clot in the brain, causing dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, and eventually, death. In Minister Feng's case, a strong erectile medication he had taken accelerated the process, leading to his rapid demise. Chu Chu explained she had confirmed her findings by opening Minister Feng's skull and then carefully restoring it.
When questioned about this unorthodox procedure, she cited the "Handsome Judge's" teaching that any method leading to the truth is acceptable, as long as it doesn't involve committing crimes or desecrating remains. Intrigued, Xiao Jinyu asked if he was the Handsome Judge she was referring to and questioned her about her stone pendant. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Jing Yi, who burst in through a window.
Jing Yi reported that the five skilled, masked arsonists he had followed had vanished into the Shen Army's battalion, strongly suggesting Qin Luan's involvement. After Xiao Jinyu shared the details of the murders, he instructed Jing Yi to discreetly visit Han Ji to discover the location of the reception banquet held for Minister Feng, believing this would lead them to the crime scene. Though reluctant to visit the "old crow" Han Ji, Jing Yi agreed.
Just as he was about to leave, Chu Chu recalled finding fish mint roots in Minister Feng's teeth during the autopsy, a crucial detail that allowed her to identify Rugui Tavern as the location. Upon their arrival at Rugui Tavern, the team found it seemingly deserted. The manager claimed that the owner, Xu Rugui, had been in his room just moments before, yet he had vanished, despite the doors being locked from the inside.
Chu Chu noticed the kitchen was unusually hot. Acting on this, Xiao Jinyu ordered water to be poured down the chimney. The irregular flow revealed a hidden underground chamber beneath the kitchen, complete with its own stove and a cleverly disguised chimney vent that merged with the main one. Xiao Jinyu entered the secret chamber but immediately felt a wave of dizziness and had to exit, instructing Jing Yi and Wu Jiang to continue the search.
Observing his symptoms, Chu Chu deduced that Xiao Jinyu suffered from claustrophobia. She quietly reassured him that she would never disclose his vulnerability, understanding the professional implications. She then offered him her handkerchief to wipe his brow, and Xiao Jinyu noticed a delicate embroidered pattern on its corner. Inside the chamber, Jing Yi and Wu Jiang discovered shelves filled with categorized files, which appeared to be surveillance records on high-ranking officials.
Episode 6 Recap
Jing Yi and his team searched a secret chamber and found partially burned monitoring records hidden within a bookshelf. These files contained information about Princess Xiping's Manor, including a banquet on the 25th of the previous month, as well as inquiries into Xiao Heng's whereabouts and the activities of Xiao Jinyu and other court ministers. Meanwhile, in the palace, Emperor Xuanzong admonished a new eunuch for clumsiness.
Qin Luan swiftly approached to assist, nearly exposing himself when the Emperor noticed strands of beard caught under his shoes. Qin Luan quickly claimed they were his own hair, shed in his haste to attend to the Emperor, who then dismissed the matter.
Emperor Xuanzong then instructed Qin Luan to order Xiao Jinyu to attend a tea gathering the following day, emphasizing that Xiao Jinyu must be present, even if he had to be "kidnapped," as the Emperor worried about his strained relations with the ministers. Xiao Jinyu meticulously drew Xu Rugui's portrait for an arrest warrant. However, Chu Chu felt Xu Rugui's appearance was unusual, like his features were pieced together from different regions, leading her to suspect he was in disguise.
Her intuition proved correct: Xu Rugui had fled Rugui Tavern and met with General Zhou Han of the Shen Army, where he removed his facial disguise. Zhou Han urged Xu Rugui to leave Chang'an by dawn, warning him about Xiao Jinyu. Xu Rugui confidently asserted that Xiao Jinyu, having only seen his disguised face, could not possibly recognize him, as his true face had been hidden since Xiao Jinyu was an infant.
Zhou Han then informed Xu Rugui that Eunuch Qin had ordered him to hide and await further instructions. At Xu Rugui's hidden residence, Xiao Jinyu observed that Xu Rugui was right-handed and trained in martial arts. After learning that Xu Rugui habitually kept keys in his left sleeve, he deduced that a different set of keys, for another residence, must be kept in the right sleeve.
He also noted that Xu Rugui's shoes had mud and rice paste, indicating a connection to an area with construction. Using a map of Chang'an and the steward's information about Xu Rugui's daily routines, Xiao Jinyu pinpointed a neighborhood for the hidden residence. He dispatched Jing Yi to post the portrait and instructed city gate guards to meticulously check all who entered or exited, especially those dressed as Shen Army members.
Later, officers en route to Tonghua Gate were intercepted by men in black, who merely bought time for Zhou Han before retreating upon a whistle. When the officers reached the gate, they learned that Zhou Han and his men had left the city half an hour prior. At the newly discovered residence, Xiao Jinyu found a unique tassel from Ruyi Pawnshop near a stove.
Observing that the stove was long unused but the storage jars for black beans were clean and frequently moved, he realized valuables had been hidden there. He deduced that Xu Rugui rented lockers at Ruyi Pawnshop and shared them with hired killers, using a tally system for transactions. Given Rugui Tavern's closure, he inferred Xu Rugui had likely just paid the killers, who would now rush to retrieve their money.
He instructed Jing Yi to take Xu Rugui's portrait, interrogate the pawnshop owner for the locker number, and monitor it to catch the killer. A letter from Leng Yue arrived with details about Chu Chu's background. It confirmed that her father's wife had been deceased for years before Chu Chu's arrival, leading the local community to believe Chu Chu was her father's illegitimate daughter, with her birth mother's identity unknown.
The Chu family had only maintained close ties with a solitary witch doctor who had left the region five years ago and remained missing. Xiao Jinyu went to the city gate to question the guards about Zhou Han's departure. They reported that Zhou Han's group consisted of five riders, a carriage, and a flat wagon carrying a corpse in a Shen Army uniform, purportedly a plague victim.
Noticing the wagon's unusually deep tracks for just one corpse, Xiao Jinyu deduced that another person—Xu Rugui—was hidden beneath it. He instructed the guards to let Zhou Han's team back into the city without acting suspicious, so as not to alert him. The next morning, Xiao Jinyu walked Chu Chu back to the Three Judicial Offices. He asked her about the embroidery on her handkerchief, which depicted a bone.
Chu Chu explained it was the fifth rib bone on the left chest, the closest point to a person's heart. Upon arriving at Princess Xiping's Manor, Xiao Jinyu adopted a serious demeanor. His mother, Princess Xiping, was upset about his absence and the commotion at Feng Manor, threatening to have him removed from his post. Xiao Jinyu calmly assuaged her.
During lunch, he presented the monitoring records that mentioned "Xiao Jinyu lynched the remaining members of Chen Ying's party" and "Xiao Heng escaped luckily," revealing that someone was spying on the Princess's Manor. Princess Xiping was shocked. Her shock intensified when Xiao Jinyu mentioned seeing the other half of her engagement pendant in the possession of a girl from Qianzhou. Overwhelmed, she insisted Xiao Jinyu cease his investigation, recall his men, and remove Chu Chu from Chang'an.
Xiao Jinyu pressed her for the truth about his father, emphasizing the danger they faced. Princess Xiping finally revealed that Xiao Heng's grave in Chang'an was merely a cenotaph, as his body was never recovered. She explained that when news of his death reached Chang'an, it coincided with the devastating Ganlu Incident, a fierce power struggle where the eunuch-led North Yamen massacred the minister-led South Yamen. Even her father, the Emperor, was confined during the chaos.
Fearing a full-scale investigation would bring calamity upon her family in the precarious political climate, she accepted the official story given to her by Shen Army General Zhou Han: Xiao Heng had secretly reported the treason of Jiannan's Military Commissioner, Chen Ying, and was murdered by him. By the time the Shen Army arrived, it was too late to recover the body. Hearing this, Xiao Jinyu's expression grew solemn as he concluded that his father might still be alive.
Episode 7 Recap
Years after Xiao Heng's disappearance, his son, Xiao Jinyu, believed his father might still be alive and was determined to investigate his whereabouts. However, Princess Xiping cautioned him, reminding him that seeking justice from the Imperial Court could bring calamity upon him and his brother.
She found the recent sudden appearance of a coroner with a specific pendant and the anonymous delivery of Xiao Heng's investigation records highly suspicious, warning Xiao Jinyu to beware of traps and to particularly guard against the eunuchs. Xiao Jinyu explained that the person who left the records was a suspect in several murder cases, and investigating his father's case was necessary to catch him.
He urged his mother to trust him, vowing to bring his father back safely regardless of the circumstances. Xiao Jinyu then asked if his father had any distinguishing marks, like a birthmark or scar, fearing that his appearance would have changed too much over the years for simple recognition. After some hesitation, Princess Xiping revealed that Xiao Heng bore a specific scar on his chest.
Meanwhile, Sun Deming presented Qin Luan with a tribute from a eunuch who had made a mistake at Jiangshan Hall. Qin Luan, already aware that his disciple was privately benefiting from such arrangements, sternly warned Sun Deming that the palace walls were not airtight. He advised Sun Deming to consider his own safety before acting on his desires, threatening severe consequences if he caused any trouble.
Sun Deming assured Qin Luan that Xu Rugui had "taken care of everything," including the killer's family. Qin Luan then instructed Sun Deming to keep a close eye on Xiao Jinyu, as his reactions would be vital in determining the status of Xiao Heng's case. Later, a man disguised as a scholar left Ruyi Pawnshop with his belongings, only to be immediately attacked by a beggar.
Jing Yi's men swiftly intervened, apprehending both individuals and stuffing a steamed bun into the scholar's mouth to prevent him from taking poison. Elsewhere, Jing Yi spoke with his mother, Madam Jing, who expressed concern about him and warned him about Leng Yue's impending return. Madam Jing questioned why he insisted on pairing Leng Yue with Commandery Prince An when even the Princess was willing to let them marry.
Jing Yi, in turn, deflected by playfully declaring he had a crush on his mother. Jing Yi then encountered Chu Chu and subtly advised her on the ongoing coroner selection test. He explained that the test was not over until Xiao Jinyu himself told her to leave, and she still had a chance to be selected.
To win Xiao Jinyu's favor, Jing Yi suggested she provide him with subtle leads and allow him to explore on his own, as he was drawn to mystery. At the Three Judicial Offices, Xiao Jinyu instructed his men to take the beggar for food and interrogate him later, while he personally questioned the scholar.
Xiao Jinyu quickly unmasked the scholar as a killer responsible for the murders of Liu Yue, Director of the Ministry of Revenue; Lu Chuansheng, Capital Liaison Representative of Qianzhou; and Feng Jie, Minister of War. When the killer feigned ignorance, Xiao Jinyu revealed that Xu Rugui intended to silence him and his family permanently. Startled, the killer's demeanor changed.
Xiao Jinyu pointed to the two strands of colored braids on the killer's wrist, explaining their significance as a symbol of deep familial importance, thus deducing that Xu Rugui was holding his wife and child hostage. The killer then confessed that Xu Rugui had kidnapped his wife and son two years prior, using the braids to force him into a life of assassination.
He admitted to killing occasionally without knowing the victims' identities or motives and denied any knowledge of Xu Rugui's connections to the Shen Army or Lady Liu. He also revealed that the most recent three murders were supposed to be a joint effort, but his accomplice had disappeared half a month earlier, leaving him to commit them alone. Xiao Jinyu then asked him to describe this missing accomplice.
Concurrently, Jing Yi, using a clever bluff, implied to the beggar that the killer had confessed everything, including the beggar's plot against the killer's family. The panicked beggar denied harming them, confirming that the killer's wife and child were indeed still alive. In the courtyard, Chu Chu was meticulously polishing a bronze mirror when Leng Yue arrived.
Leng Yue, having heard rumors, immediately questioned Chu Chu about having "probed His Highness's body and even tried to take off his clothes" during the exam. Chu Chu affirmed the account. Leng Yue, admiring Chu Chu's beauty, playfully asked why a coroner was "polishing a spoon." Chu Chu, in turn, complimented Leng Yue’s striking appearance using precise anatomical observations, declaring that if she were a man, she would marry Leng Yue. Xiao Jinyu then arrived.
Leng Yue, teasingly announcing Chu Chu’s marriage proposal, departed to freshen up. Xiao Jinyu explained that Leng Yue was the granddaughter of Leng Peishan, Military Commissioner of Qianzhou, and her playful demeanor should not be taken seriously. He then instructed Chu Chu to fill out the autopsy sheets for Feng Jie, Liu Yue, and Lu Chuansheng, but to leave the sections for the recorder's and coroner's names blank.
Chu Chu, though slightly disheartened, silently resolved to work hard and become an official coroner with the right to sign her name. Later, Leng Yue, back in Chang'an after a year, noted Xiao Jinyu's improved skills in crafting delicate gadgets and playfully called him "Chief," which Xiao Jinyu politely corrected given their official setting. She explained her sudden return was prompted by Wu Jiang's letter mentioning Xiao Jinyu's encounter with Chu Chu.
Leng Yue had inquired about "Handsome Judge" among her friends but found no information. However, her inquiries into Chu Chu's background revealed that while locals believed her to be an illegitimate child, her father, Chu Ping, was known to be an upright man.
She noted that Chu family members were honest and that Chu Chu's family, including her older brother Chu He, showed her exceptional care when she left Qianzhou for the Coroner Qualification Exam, which suggested she was not an illegitimate child. Xiao Jinyu wondered why her family would allow such rumors to spread if this were true, to which Leng Yue suggested they might simply be magnanimous.
Xiao Jinyu then inquired if Leng Yue had visited Qianzhou during her travels, and she replied that it was the last place she would go. When Chu Chu brought the completed autopsy sheets to Xiao Jinyu, she noticed Leng Yue using a handkerchief Xiao Jinyu used to carry, embroidered with a bone, to wipe paint from her hands.
A flicker of jealousy crossed Chu Chu's face, causing her to crumple the sheets slightly, though Xiao Jinyu accepted them without comment, pleased with her work. He paid Chu Chu for examining the three bodies, acknowledging her near-fatal experience during Feng Jie's autopsy and her crucial role in providing clues to arrest Xu Rugui. Chu Chu, taking the opportunity, asked Xiao Jinyu if he liked "beautiful girls."
He candidly replied that he liked those who made him feel pleased, clarifying that true beauty lies in the joy a person inspires. Chu Chu then inquired about the results of the coroner qualification exam. Xiao Jinyu explained that no one had been officially selected yet, and due to the need to verify her background from Qianzhou, she couldn't receive a qualification immediately, regardless of her test results.
Just then, Wu Jiang arrived with a wanted notice based on a portrait Xiao Jinyu had drawn. Chu Chu immediately recognized the man in the drawing as the body she had examined, the one who was struck by lightning and burned to death. She explained her ability to recognize a face from a severely burned skull by examining the brow ridges.
Xiao Jinyu confirmed her identification, revealing that the man was a killer who had slipped him a note half a month ago, offering to expose an upcoming murder of a court official in exchange for safety, with a meeting planned at a sesame oil shop in the West Market. Xiao Jinyu had waited but the killer never appeared.
He deduced that the killer had likely been discovered by his hirers, fled into the woods outside the city, was struck by lightning, and his lantern accidentally ignited the sesame oil he was carrying. Xiao Jinyu then produced another portrait, and Chu Chu's sudden widening eyes alerted him. He pressed her about her connection to the person in this portrait and the origin of her pendant. Chu Chu, flustered, denied knowing the man or the pendant.
Before Xiao Jinyu could press further, Qin Luan arrived, conveying the Emperor's summons for Xiao Jinyu to attend a banquet in the palace. Xiao Jinyu initially tried to decline, citing his busy schedule. However, Qin Luan insisted, stating that the Emperor had specifically ordered him to bring Xiao Jinyu, even by force, and warned that His Majesty was concerned someone might "eat" him if he didn't attend. Qin Luan also mentioned that Princess Xiping and Academician Xue had been summoned. As Qin Luan delivered his thinly veiled threat, Chu Chu seized the moment to slip away, regretting that she had almost revealed the truth.
Episode 8 Recap
Chu Chu, increasingly worried that her continued presence at the Three Judicial Offices will compromise her identity, begins to feel she might fail to live up to her Uncle Witch Doctor's expectations. As she contemplates leaving, she discovers her travel pass is missing from her bag. She immediately approaches Xiao Jinyu to inform him. Since Xiao Jinyu is preparing to enter the Palace, he reassures her that everything will be fine and instructs her to search her room carefully.
He tells her that if she still cannot find it, Wu Jiang will assist her upon his return. After Xiao Jinyu departs, Chu Chu reflects on her predicament, holding her stone pendant. She recalls Uncle Witch Doctor's words, particularly his advice to speak to the pendant as if he were listening.
Torn between her desire to stay and her need to protect her secrets, she confides in the pendant, acknowledging Xiao Jinyu as the first person to trust her and allow her to perform an autopsy, which makes her want to work for him despite his persistent questions about her past. Wu Jiang soon arrives, and Chu Chu tells him about her missing pass.
Wu Jiang promises to help but first asks her to accompany him to the Ten-Commandment Hall, explaining that Xiao Jinyu has a favor to ask. Inside the hall, Wu Jiang reveals that Xiao Jinyu wants her to examine a burned corpse found recently, to determine if the death was caused by pestilence, as there have been no confirmed reports of plague in the capital. Chu Chu, intrigued and eager to apply her skills, questions why Xiao Jinyu specifically chose her.
Wu Jiang relays Xiao Jinyu's high confidence in her abilities, stating that if she couldn't determine the cause of death, no other coroner in Chang'an could. He assures her she can refuse if she has concerns, but Chu Chu eagerly accepts the task.
Wu Jiang provides her with new steel autopsy tools and a formally sealed Permit of Autopsy, granting her full authority to conduct the examination and instructing her to complete the autopsy sheet herself, which he will promptly deliver to Xiao Jinyu. Meanwhile, at the palace gates, Xiao Jinyu confronts Zhou Han, who is on duty. Xiao Jinyu sternly questions Zhou Han about a Shen Army soldier who died of pestilence the previous night, accusing him of mishandling the grave situation.
Zhou Han defends his actions, explaining the infected body was taken out of town, burned, and buried according to military rules. Qin Luan then appears, feigning admiration for Xiao Jinyu's quick work while subtly reminding him that the Shen Army falls outside the jurisdiction of the Three Judicial Offices, advising him not to interfere. Qin Luan also reassures Zhou Han that the matter of the burned soldier is adequately handled.
Inside the Imperial Hall, Xiao Jinyu apologizes for his tardiness, but Emperor Xuanzong pointedly ignores him. Han Ji seizes the moment to petition Emperor Xuanzong, criticizing Xiao Jinyu's conduct at Feng Manor. Han Ji recounts how Xiao Jinyu brought a female coroner to Minister Feng's home, disrupted the mourning hall, and allegedly caused a fire that nearly destroyed Feng Jie's body.
Xue Rucheng intervenes, explaining that Xiao Jinyu was merely following the Emperor's command to apologize and that the fire was a coincidence. Emperor Xuanzong then directly questions Xiao Jinyu, who admits that someone set the fire at Feng Manor but states the case is still under investigation. He emphasizes that if the female coroner he brought had not bravely protected Feng Jie's corpse, vital evidence would have been lost.
He then turns his attention to Qin Luan, accusing him of neglecting his duty by not reporting the pestilence outbreak in the Shen Army. Emperor Xuanzong, furious at the revelation, berates Qin Luan and immediately orders the Imperial Insignia Guard and Imperial Medical Service to seal off the Shen Army camp for ten days. Qin Luan, admitting dereliction of duty, slaps himself and accepts the command to oversee epidemic prevention.
Despite Xiao Jinyu's partial fault, Emperor Xuanzong acknowledges his merit in protecting Feng Jie's body and, to offset his transgressions, requests Xiao Jinyu to demonstrate his famed tea-making skills. Xiao Jinyu performs with remarkable dexterity, using his unique tools to "paint" intricate scenes of the four seasons in the tea, astounding the assembled officials. Emperor Xuanzong, thoroughly impressed, inquires about the mysterious box Xiao Jinyu used.
Xiao Jinyu candidly explains it is not a tea-making device but an investigative tool for rapidly precipitating impurities from water to aid in evidence collection. This revelation instantly dampens the Emperor's enthusiasm, and he orders the device discarded. Just then, Leng Yue appears, greeting the Emperor warmly. She boldly offers to make tea to restore his appetite, requesting a unique reward if her performance pleases him. Emperor Xuanzong, amused by her spirit, agrees.
Leng Yue performs a mesmerizing sword dance while making tea with grace and precision. Delighted, Emperor Xuanzong praises her and grants her wish: for Sun Mingde to personally lead a horse for her to ride around the Daming Palace. Wu Jiang later reports Chu Chu's autopsy findings to Xiao Jinyu: the burned corpse was not a victim of plague.
Chu Chu's meticulous examination, detailed on the autopsy sheet, revealed the deceased had suffered a broken third rib from an external force, which pierced his lungs, causing him to die from blood loss. Xiao Jinyu, impressed by her expertise, praises her as an excellent coroner. Wu Jiang asks if he should send her findings to the Imperial Medical Service, but Xiao Jinyu declines, stating that sealing off the Shen Army camp is beneficial for his own plans.
Wu Jiang then inquires about Chu Chu's missing pass. Xiao Jinyu instructs him to return it to her, claiming it was found at her previous inn, confidently asserting that Chu Chu will not leave the Three Judicial Offices. Shortly after, Xue Rucheng approaches Xiao Jinyu, giving him a handkerchief containing fragments of damaged autopsy tools found at the Feng Manor fire scene.
He sternly reminds Xiao Jinyu to exercise extreme caution and be wary of spies, especially given the Emperor's previous orders regarding Feng Jie's case. Xiao Jinyu acknowledges the warning, expressing his gratitude. Xiao Jinyu then informs Xue Rucheng of his imminent departure for Qianzhou in the southwest, ostensibly to search for his father, Xiao Heng, whose whereabouts have been a mystery for years.
He then formally requests Emperor Xuanzong's permission for this journey, explaining that he recently discovered his father's tomb contains only clothes, fueling his suspicion that the official report of his father's death was dubious. He reveals that his latest investigation in the capital uncovered evidence that someone has been actively searching for his father for years, and he intends to find him first. While receiving a cloak from Sun Mingde, Xiao Jinyu presents a detailed memorial to the Emperor.
He reveals that Feng Jie, Liu Yue, and Lu Chuansheng were all assassinated by killers affiliated with Rugui Tavern. He explains that an alarming increase in "accidental" deaths over the past decade indicates orchestrated murders, targeting not only officials but also seemingly unconnected individuals. Xiao Jinyu exposes Rugui Tavern as a front for an assassination and information-dealing business, operating with powerful backing given its unchecked existence for over ten years. He expresses particular concern about those who commissioned these killings.
Xiao Jinyu then presents two copper coins, one official and one counterfeit, explaining that nearly 20% of the currency circulating is fake, much of it from Qianzhou. He links this to the victims: Liu Yue, whose duties included coin minting; Lu Chuansheng, who should have reported illicit activities from Qianzhou; and Feng Jie, assassinated after inspecting military affairs in the southwest.
Xiao Jinyu suspects a malicious plot endangering the stability of the Southwest, as anomalies in military affairs, money, and intelligence all trace back to the region. He reveals that Xu Rugui, Rugui Tavern's owner, escaped and destroyed most records, but a record concerning his father was intentionally left behind, suggesting someone wants him to investigate. Xiao Jinyu proposes to use his search for his father as a cover to secretly investigate these interconnected issues and uncover the masterminds.
Emperor Xuanzong, deeply disturbed, grants Xiao Jinyu full authority for the investigation, advising caution and confidentiality to avoid alerting the enemy. When the Emperor offers more guards, Xiao Jinyu declines, stating a large entourage would arouse suspicion, and instead requests only Jing Yi accompany him. Meanwhile, Jing Yi's father discusses Chu Chu with Jing Yi, revealing his investigation found she is not affiliated with any Chang'an factions and advising caution.
He instructs Jing Yi to accompany Xiao Jinyu to the Southwest, implying that Xiao Jinyu has specifically requested him. Jing Yi, musing on Chu Chu's connection to the Prince Consort, Xiao Heng, mentions her jade pendant and the books of legends she possesses, which Xiao Jinyu said contain cases adapted from his father's past investigations.
Jing Yi's father recognizes "Handsome Judge," a nickname he jokingly gave Xiao Heng years ago, believing himself to be the only other person who knew it. This revelation makes him wonder if Xiao Heng could still be alive in Qianzhou.
Episode 9 Recap
Reflecting on her repeated failures in the coroner qualification exam, Chu Chu mused that Commandery Prince An, Xiao Jinyu, seemed to want her to stay. She observed his meticulous and cautious nature, his ability to see through the Shen Army's tricks, and his strict adherence to the law, noting his strong resemblance to the legendary "Handsome Judge" from stories she knew. Later, Jing Yi confronted her, asking if she had coined the title, which she admitted was a joke.
This led Jing Yi to wonder if the Prince Consort, Xiao Heng, might still be alive in Qianzhou. He had initially suspected Xiao Heng might be backing Chu Chu, but news from the Southwest revealed a more concrete link: a witch doctor in Pingle Town, known for turning Xiao Heng's cases into stories, had mysteriously vanished five years prior. This witch doctor, who was mobility-impaired, was only close to the Chu family, deepening Jing Yi's suspicion.
Jing Yi concluded that Xiao Jinyu's trip to the Southwest was not merely for personal reasons, suspecting a looming national crisis. He noted to his father that the three recently murdered officials in Chang'an—Feng Jie, Liu Yue, and Lu Chuansheng—all dealt with Qianzhou affairs. Even the aconitine used in a related suicide was a variety unique to Qianzhou, processed by a local ancient method. Believing these connections were no coincidence, Jing Yi feared a major issue was unfolding.
His father, Lord Jing, then confirmed Jing Yi must accompany Xiao Jinyu, adding that he had a separate, secret task for him to carry out in the Southwest. That night, assassins ambushed Xiao Jinyu in a dark corridor. As his guards fought them, a volley of arrows rained down from a distance, killing all the assailants. Wu Jiang arrived immediately to secure the scene, while Leng Yue, observing nearby, drily remarked on Xiao Jinyu’s growing talent for making enemies.
Wu Jiang later reported to Xiao Jinyu that the eight dead assassins were not from the Shen Army but were death row inmates, and how they escaped prison was unknown. Xiao Jinyu concluded that Director of Palace Eunuchs, Qin Luan, was the mastermind behind this attack, as well as the incidents at Rugui Tavern, the deaths of the three officials, and the "plague."
He detailed how a palace eunuch, on Qin Luan’s orders, had revealed Chu Chu's identity to the Feng family to obstruct the investigation into Feng Jie's death, and how Shen Army men later set fire to the mourning hall and helped Xu Rugui escape Chang'an. Only Qin Luan could command both court factions. Worried for his mother’s safety, Xiao Jinyu explained that he had deliberately announced his departure to force Qin Luan’s hand, compelling him to use his hidden reserves.
He gave Wu Jiang secret instructions on paper, ordering him to memorize and then burn them. Wu Jiang expressed concern over the journey, especially with the "suspicious" Chu Chu. Xiao Jinyu dismissed this, pointing out that Chu Chu had never tried to harm him despite having opportunities. He tasked Wu Jiang with secretly protecting his mother and guarding the case files, stating he could not leave with peace of mind otherwise.
Wu Jiang vowed to manage everything in Chang'an and await his safe return. Afterward, Xiao Jinyu found Chu Chu in her room applying exaggerated makeup, which he mistook for her practicing embalming techniques on herself. After he made her wash it off, she presented him with a "universe mirror" she had crafted from his ladle. She explained its convex side offered a wider view and its concave side magnified objects, making it useful for observing rooms without windows.
Touched by her thoughtfulness, Xiao Jinyu agreed to a pinky swear to keep his phobia a secret. He then officially invited her to accompany him to Qianzhou, explaining that her coroner exam would continue along the way. If she passed, she could work for him; if not, he could at least verify her identity in her hometown. Chu Chu joyfully accepted. Enraged by the failed assassination, Qin Luan ordered Xu Rugui to ambush Xiao Jinyu in Qianzhou.
Believing Xu's familiarity with the region's "wild bandits and thieves" made it an ideal place to kill the prince, Qin Luan also gave a specific order: capture the female coroner, Chu Chu, alive. Meanwhile, a concerned Princess Xiping instructed Leng Yue to join Xiao Jinyu’s group and protect him. Leng Yue joined the party as they were setting off, much to Jing Yi's delight. Xiao Jinyu accepted but warned her to restrain her impulsive tendencies and follow his orders.
In the palace, Emperor Xuanzong unnerved Qin Luan by having him and Sun Mingde present a selection of weapons, from which he chose a famous general's sword. The Emperor then playfully pointed it at Sun Mingde, causing the eunuch to drop to his knees in terror and flustering Qin Luan. Later, a shaken Qin Luan admitted to his subordinate that he could not fathom the Emperor's true intentions for brandishing a sword when there was no war.
At her manor, Lady Jing failed to persuade Princess Xiping to request an imperial marriage decree for Xiao Jinyu and Leng Yue. Frustrated, she returned home and confronted her husband, Lord Jing, demanding to know why he was so insistent on the match. Lord Jing revealed his true motive: it was a strategic move to distance their son, Jing Yi, from Leng Yue.
He had received alarming intelligence that Leng Yue's father, Military Commissioner Leng Peishan, was hiding a serious illness from the court while secretly expanding his army in the Southwest. Fearing Leng Peishan might be planning a rebellion to secure his power, Lord Jing worried that Jing Yi’s close association with Leng Yue could drag their family into a political catastrophe. The group finally arrived at the Guanling border of Qianzhou.
As Chu Chu pointed out the route to her hometown of Pingle, they were ambushed. Xu Rugui appeared, mocking Xiao Jinyu for going to the trouble of having a portrait made to find him and vowing to send him to his death.
Episode 10 Recap
Following the failed assassination attempt in the capital, Manager Xu from Rugui Tavern ambushed Xiao Jinyu's party on the road to Qianzhou. The assassins attacked their palanquin, but Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu escaped into the woods. During the chaotic fight between the guards and assassins, the defenseless Chu Chu was cornered. Leng Yue sustained a minor wound while shielding her from a fatal blow.
The attack was halted by the timely arrival of troops led by Xiao Jinyu’s brother, Marquis Duyu Xiao Jinli, forcing the assailants to retreat. Xiao Jinli explained that he had been sent by imperial edict to receive his brother and had found them shortly after leaving Guanling County.
When Xiao Jinyu noted the attackers were dressed like bandits but fought with disciplined skill, Xiao Jinli identified them as fugitives from the Rugui Tavern case and assured him his men would capture the one Xiao Jinyu had wounded. Afterward, Xiao Jinyu asked his brother for some money. In the carriage, Chu Chu tearfully blamed herself for Leng Yue's injury.
Leng Yue comforted her, stating, "Girls are supposed to protect girls," and lightened the mood by suggesting Chu Chu could buy her a new dress. She explained her minor wound wasn't luck but skill, as a true master learns to control the severity of an unavoidable injury. When Chu Chu asked why she wandered the world instead of enjoying her high-status family life, Leng Yue gave a brief, evasive reply that she simply enjoyed it.
Outside, a frantic Jing Yi offered to summon physicians from the capital for Leng Yue, but she confidently dismissed his concerns, stating Chu Chu was skilled enough to handle her dressings. Meanwhile in the capital, Princess Xiping, worried for Xiao Jinyu, sent her attendant Banxia to Xue Rucheng's manor for news. Banxia relayed the Princess's concern that the Ministry of Personnel was investigating Xue, fearing he might be implicated if anything happened to Xiao Jinyu.
Later, Emperor Xuanzong appointed a reluctant Xue Rucheng as the new Minister of War. Despite Xue's protests that he was an inexperienced scholar, the Emperor insisted, citing historical precedents and his faith in Xue's capabilities. He sealed the appointment by bestowing upon Xue the famed blade of the great general Li Jing as a symbol of authority. The Prefect of Qianzhou, Li Zhang, sent his customary gifts to officials in Chang'an.
Jing Ge Lao, knowing Li Zhang to be worldly but not greedy, accepted the gifts and instructed his steward to return local specialties of equal value. Soon after, General Wu of the Three Chief Judicial Ministries delivered a single copper coin to Jing Ge Lao and left without a word. Recognizing its significance, Jing Ge Lao immediately took the coin to Xue Rucheng. They deduced Xiao Jinyu had sent it to gauge their reactions.
Xue revealed he had also received such a coin and, after comparing it with others, confirmed it was counterfeit. They discussed the rampant illegal minting in the resource-rich southwest, with Jing Ge Lao worrying that Xiao Jinyu's investigation could provoke powerful figures, possibly even the eunuch Qin Luan. Xue Rucheng feigned ignorance about the source, claiming a recent meeting with a regional representative was merely to discuss military affairs for his new role.
On their journey, Leng Yue recounted a childhood story to a talkative Chu Chu. She described how the mischievous Xiao Jinli once fell into a lotus pond, and a non-swimming Xiao Jinyu jumped in without hesitation to save him. The incident left Xiao Jinyu with a severe, lingering cold. A furious Princess Xiping had the pond filled in, and from that day on, a guilt-ridden Xiao Jinli became fiercely protective of his younger brother.
While resting, Xiao Jinyu examined the coins from his brother's military pay, discovering that eighteen of the twenty-three were fakes. This shocked the group, as counterfeiting was a capital offense requiring significant power. When asked about Prefect Li's local reputation, Chu Chu praised him as a good official who funded public works.
Despite this, Xiao Jinyu concluded that Li Zhang must be involved in the illicit operation and made a bet with Leng Yue that the prefect would be waiting for them. True to his prediction, Prefect Li Zhang and other local officials were in Guanling County to greet them upon their arrival. As they entered the town, neighbors gossiped about Chu Chu's return with a group of strange men.
Her brother, Chu He, overheard and confronted her, demanding to know who they were. Xiao Jinyu stepped in, explaining they were from Chang'an and wished to escort Chu Chu home. A suspicious Chu He agreed but warned them his family worked for the just Magistrate Zheng Youde. At the Chu family home, their grandfather, Chu Ping, was furious at Chu Chu for leaving without a word and threatened to punish her.
Xiao Jinyu intervened, but the family remained skeptical of his identity. To prove himself, Xiao Jinyu accurately detailed two past murder cases that the family had worked on, including the specific contents of the official court replies he himself had written, which had overturned the initial findings. Convinced, Chu Ping apologized. Xiao Jinyu explained that Chu Chu was still being tested for a position. That evening, Xiao Jinyu inquired about a witch doctor who once lived nearby.
Chu Ping explained the man, who had crippled legs, had moved away years ago after being shunned by villagers. He was kind, and Chu Chu had often brought him food, forming a close bond. Chu He recalled that during a past bandit suppression campaign, he had told the witch doctor to stay inside for safety, and the man specifically asked Chu He to lock his door from the outside as he left. As night fell, Xiao Jinyu requested to stay at their home.
Episode 11 Recap
After a brief inquiry, Xiao Jinyu requested to stay for the night. Though coroners' homes were considered unlucky, Xiao Jinyu, as a judge, expressed his respect for the profession, stating that they help clear the names of the deceased and assist officials in apprehending criminals. He explained that government offices have mortuaries, and his own home in Chang'an has a room where he has performed autopsies, making him no different from them.
Moved by his words, Chu Chu's grandfather warmly arranged for food and wine. Xiao Jinyu discreetly instructed his subordinates to inform Jing Yi that he would be staying with the Chu family and that Jing Yi should proceed with his own plans. Xiao Jinyu found the Chu family's behavior unusual. He discussed with his brother, Xiao Jinli, that while they treated Chu Chu well, their affection seemed polite rather than familial.
He noted that Chu Ping, her grandfather, showed love in a formal manner and did not scold Chu Chu for her long and sudden absence. Moreover, Chu He did not act like a typical elder brother, displaying suspicion towards Xiao Jinyu and his men instead of gratitude for bringing Chu Chu home safely. This peculiar dynamic convinced Xiao Jinyu to alter his plans and stay to uncover the mystery surrounding Chu Chu and her family.
Chu He privately questioned Chu Chu about her time in Chang'an and grew agitated upon learning that Xiao Jinyu intended to investigate her background for the coroner ranking test. He insisted that Chu Chu abandon her dream of becoming a coroner, but she refused, hoping to become a renowned coroner and bring her family to live in prosperous Chang'an. Chu He was unyielding, stating his strong dislike for Chang'an and ending the conversation tensely.
Simultaneously, an antique shop manager received an anonymous, coded letter: "Fish is unhooked and enters Qianzhou." That evening, Chu Chu prepared a meal to express her gratitude. The atmosphere was pleasant, though Chu He continually cast a scrutinizing gaze at Xiao Jinyu, trying to discern his true intentions. Meanwhile, at the county government office, Jing Yi and Leng Yue attended a welcoming banquet hosted by Prefect Li Zhang and Magistrate Zheng Youde.
Jing Yi abruptly placed a string of copper coins on the table, which Zheng Youde mistook for a reward. After Leng Yue angrily accused him of feigning ignorance, Jing Yi declared that the coins were illicitly minted. The two officials feigned shock, knelt, and accepted responsibility. Jing Yi noted the counterfeits were skillfully made and assigned Li Zhang to investigate the matter.
During the banquet, two other officials secretly discussed how a man named Xu Rugui, connected to Eunuch Qin, had apparently failed in his mission, as the expected news of Xiao Jinyu's death had not arrived. Jing Yi then feigned drunkenness to avoid more questions, a ruse Leng Yue saw through, noting that while Magistrate Zheng was truly drunk, Prefect Li was only pretending.
Back at the Chu residence, Chu Chu brought Xiao Jinyu hangover soup, perceptively noting his gastrointestinal issues from his avoidance of cold food and his habit of holding his hand to his chest. Xiao Jinyu asked her to keep his condition secret from his brother and Jing Yi. Chu Chu expressed her family's happiness at his visit, as they were often ostracized. She confessed her fear that he would reject her after learning of her rumored "illegitimate" birth.
Xiao Jinyu then presented her with a new set of high-quality autopsy tools he had crafted himself during the nights on their journey from Chang'an, leaving her deeply moved. Later, Jing Yi climbed over the wall to meet Xiao Jinyu. He reported that Magistrate Zheng was honest but slow-witted, while Prefect Li was likely feigning ignorance about the counterfeit coins.
He also revealed that the reclusive Chu family frequently offered sacrifices at an unowned grave, suspecting it might belong to Chu Chu's mother. That night, a drunken Chu He challenged Xiao Jinyu to visit the supposedly haunted house of an old witch doctor. Xiao Jinyu, intrigued, accepted and went with Xiao Jinli, Chu Chu, and Chu He.
At the house, they heard an eerie wailing sound, which Xiao Jinyu deduced was merely wind passing through a stone pile in the wall. After Xiao Jinli dismantled the pile, they discovered a hidden compartment containing a preserved male corpse. Chu Chu asserted her authority as a coroner over her intoxicated brother and began the examination.
She found the body was well-preserved with materials like white gypsum and charcoal, and identified a tag from the Palace Domestic Service, indicating the deceased was a eunuch. She explained he was a "wet body"—a corpse dead for years but appearing fresh. Her examination revealed the fatal wound was a piercing blow to the heart, made by a sharp, cylindrical weapon like a furnace lining stick.
Episode 12 Recap
Chu Chu examined the wounds on the deceased, noting they were multiple small, shallow cuts from a sharp weapon. The lethal injury was a single upward stab from the fifth rib on the left, which pierced the heart. She deduced the murder weapon was a hard, cylindrical object with a sharp point, just like the iron rod found with the body. Xiao Jinyu questioned why the murderer would preserve both the body and the weapon in the wall.
Chu Chu explained that the non-lethal wounds on the victim's forearms and torso indicated he was a martial artist adept at minimizing injury. The unusual upward stabbing angle suggested the attacker couldn't reach vital areas like the head or throat, implying they were always about 60 centimeters away from the victim. To better understand the fight, Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu re-enacted the scene, which led a protective Chu He to accuse Xiao Jinyu of taking advantage of his sister.
During the simulation, they realized the attacker's strikes were consistently low, as if originating from a child's height. Since a child would lack the required strength, Chu Chu deduced the murderer must have been kneeling or lying down. This led Xiao Jinyu to suspect the witch doctor, whose injured leg prevented him from standing. Chu He defended the witch doctor, arguing it was a justifiable act of self-defense against the eunuch.
However, Xiao Jinyu pointed out that if he was innocent, he should have reported it to the authorities or at least buried the body. He concluded the witch doctor deliberately preserved the body and weapon as evidence for a future purpose. Chu He recalled that the house became known as "haunted" right after he and his father helped the witch doctor build the new walls.
Xiao Jinyu theorized that the witch doctor used the ghost stories to keep people away, allowing him to hide the evidence from other eunuchs who might be searching for their colleague. Since the deceased was a eunuch, the matter would require an imperial investigation. Xiao Jinyu strictly ordered everyone, especially Chu He, to keep the discovery a secret.
Defying these orders, Chu He rushed home and told his father, Chu Ping, that a body had been found in the "haunted house." He confessed that he had tried to humble Xiao Jinyu with the ghost story, only for the official to solve the mystery. Worried that Xiao Jinyu's investigation would expose Chu Chu's identity, Chu He suggested they flee, but Chu Ping angrily forbade it, stating that running would only confirm their guilt.
They resolved to learn more about Xiao Jinyu's intentions at the Yamen the next day. Later, Xiao Jinyu took Chu Chu aside to speak privately. He revealed that the stone pendant was a token of love his father had made for his mother, and her pendant was the matching pair to his own. He confessed that this was his only lead to finding his long-lost father and pressed her for information.
Believing she had been used, Chu Chu accused him of keeping her by his side only to investigate the pendant, not because he valued her skills. Feeling betrayed and disappointed, she pushed him away and stormed out. Meanwhile, Leng Yue brought breakfast to Jing Yi, who had been searching through archives all night for the tomb of Chu Chu's biological mother. As they talked, Jing Yi suddenly discovered a crucial clue in a case file and rushed to report it.
At the same time, Qin Luan arrived at Princess Xiping's residence to pay respects to the late Prince Consort on behalf of the emperor. The princess blocked his path, struck him with her whip, and warned him not to harm her son, Xiao Jinyu. Their standoff was interrupted by Xue Rucheng, who arrived with the same imperial orders.
Humiliated, Qin Luan retreated to the palace and flew into a rage, furious that his subordinate Xu Rugui had failed to assassinate Xiao Jinyu. His eunuch, Sun Mingde, assured him that a new, foolproof plan was in place. In a room full of empty coffins, Xiao Jinyu stored the eunuch's body in one for safekeeping as evidence.
Jing Yi arrived and shared his finding: a case file from January 9, ten years ago, detailing the suicide of a heavily pregnant Mrs. Xu. Xiao Jinyu connected the date to Chu Chu’s birthday and recalled that Chu Ping had been the one to handle the body. Jing Yi theorized that Chu Chu was an abandoned baby Chu Ping found, noting that the original case files were destroyed in a fire and the re-recorded version was suspiciously brief.
Xiao Jinyu confronted the Chu family with the case record. He declared that Chu Chu was neither a bastard nor an abandoned baby, but a "coffin baby"—a child born from a deceased mother. Overcome, Chu Ping finally revealed the truth. On that night ten years ago, he was hired to dispose of Mrs. Xu's body. Finding it heartless that the wealthy Xu family had just wrapped her in a straw mat, he decided to give her a proper coffin.
As he did, he discovered a living baby inside the corpse. After learning that Mrs. Xu's entire family had been killed and she had fled to her brother for refuge, Chu Ping decided to raise the baby as his own, protecting her from the Xu family's unknown troubles. Devastated, the entire Chu family knelt before Xiao Jinyu, begging him not to punish Chu Chu for her origins.
Seeing her family's desperation, Chu Chu also knelt, offering to reveal everything about the pendant if he would spare them. Overwhelmed by her profound distrust in him, Xiao Jinyu suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed.
Episode 13 Recap
Shen Yu, the new Capital Liaison Representative of Qianzhou, arrived in the capital to investigate an illegal coining case. He felt agitated by the assignment, noting that Commandery Prince An, who had requested his assistance, was known for not playing by the rules despite his thoroughness in criminal cases. Meanwhile, Qin Luan instructed a subordinate to closely monitor Shen Yu, paying special attention to his contacts.
He also ordered Sun Mingde to re-examine records from Rugui Tavern, specifically for anything related to the Southwest and Qianzhou, as he sensed something was amiss. Qin Luan further commanded close surveillance of Princess Xiping's Mansion, Xue's Mansion, Jing's Mansion, and the Three Judicial Offices, vehemently declaring that Duke Chang was unequivocally dead. At her mansion, Princess Xiping expressed profound concern for Xiao Jinyu and Xiao Jinli in distant Qianzhou.
Wishing for their safety above all else, she lamented that being outside court circles made it difficult to protect them. She earnestly asked Xue Rucheng, the newly appointed Minister of War, to look after them and to listen for any unusual news from the Southwest Army, specifically mentioning General Leng in Qianzhongdao. Xue Rucheng admitted he had not yet heard anything of note but promised to gather information for her.
Following his collapse, Xiao Jinyu remained unconscious, causing Chu Chu immense distress. Tearfully, she confessed to her grandfather and father that Xiao Jinyu was Commandery Prince An, who oversaw the Three Judicial Offices. Recognizing the gravity of offending such a high-ranking official, her grandfather offered to take any punishment himself. However, Chu Chu, having been protected by her family all her life, insisted on taking full responsibility to safeguard them.
When a servant announced that Xiao Jinyu wished to see her alone, her brother Chu He attempted to accompany her, but Chu Chu assured him she would handle it. Upon entering Xiao Jinyu's room, Chu Chu formally greeted him. Xiao Jinyu instructed her to raise her head and then announced that, having clarified her family background and reviewed her test performance, he was approving her coroner's certificate.
He admitted to misleading her previously but confirmed her exceptional skills, stating he had wanted to hire her since their first meeting. Xiao Jinyu then explained his cautious approach, emphasizing that as an official, every decision he made affected the safety of those around him, so he had to investigate her background thoroughly for everyone's safety, including her own.
Later, Xiao Jinli worriedly discussed Xiao Jinyu’s condition with Leng Yue, who assured him that the prince was merely exhausted and annoyed, needing only rest. Still anxious, Xiao Jinli wondered what nutritious food to prepare. Meanwhile, Xiao Jinyu continued his conversation with Chu Chu, explaining that he always sought maximum information before acting to ensure his plans were perfect.
He confessed his worry that her undisclosed secrets could lead to irreparable trouble, and that he chose to make her dislike him rather than risk her safety. Chu Chu, however, denied hating him, expressing her admiration for his intelligence and integrity, especially how he "shines like the sun" when solving cases. She admitted she was scared by his kindness, fearing it was an illusion. Xiao Jinyu gently reassured her she was "worth it."
Deeply moved, Chu Chu pledged her loyalty, vowing to become the world's best coroner for him. He dismissed her offer to retake the test, stating her agreement to work for him was all that mattered. As a first task, he requested chicken soup with specific instructions, which she eagerly agreed to make. Afterward, Chu Chu reassured her brother, Chu He, of her decision.
However, Chu He remained worried that she would leave to find her biological relatives or not return from Chang'an. He later confided this fear to his father and proposed a solution: he wished to marry Chu Chu. He earnestly declared his deep affection for her, explaining that he had liked her since childhood and realized he wanted to marry her while she was away for the coroner's test. His father reminded him that Chu Chu's consent was essential.
Unbeknownst to them, Xiao Jinli overheard their conversation. Xiao Jinyu informed Chu Chu that his investigation revealed no record of a natural disaster in Jiannan that could have wiped out a clan at the time of her birth, suggesting her family's demise was a "man-made disaster." He proposed they examine the Xu family's household register to identify her father and investigate his death. Chu Chu then excitedly inquired about Six Gates and the Handsome Judge.
Xiao Jinyu clarified that the "Handsome Judge" was not a real person but an ideal figure from his deceased father's notes. His father, a censor, had solved the cases that inspired the stories, and the Ten Commandment Hall was established based on his records. Chu Chu understood, reaffirming that Xiao Jinyu was the best judge she knew. In Chang'an, several officials discussed the assassination of Yan Ming.
They noted Commandery Prince An had gone to Qianzhou, ostensibly to find his father's remains. Minister Xue recalled hearing Yan Ming drunkenly claim to have found evidence that Emperor Wuzong's son, Duke Chang, was still alive. The officials subtly connected the dots, noting that Qianzhou was Duke Chang's former fief, hinting at a deeper motive for Xiao Jinyu's journey. Sun Mingde reported these conversations to Qin Luan, including the rampant rumor that Duke Chang was alive.
Qin Luan was initially dismissive. Sun Mingde added that Xiao Jinyu's Chief Guardsman, Wu Jiang, had been acting surreptitiously in Chang'an. Pondering if the rumors were connected to Yan Ming's unsolved case, Qin Luan ordered Sun Mingde to immediately investigate the source of the palace rumors, now suspecting Xiao Jinyu's true reason for going to Qianzhou. Chu Chu told Xiao Jinyu about Sir Witch Doctor, sharing a letter he left five years prior before disappearing.
Later, Chu Grandfather gave Chu Chu a precious bejeweled hairpin that belonged to her mother. He described her mother as a beautiful woman from a wealthy family who had clearly endured great suffering. Xiao Jinyu examined the expensive-looking hairpin and decided to sketch it and send the drawing to the capital for investigation, hoping to uncover clues about Chu Chu's parents. That night, Emperor Xuanzong awoke from a nightmare.
Sun Mingde speculated to Qin Luan that the Emperor's fear stemmed from the rumors of Duke Chang's return. Sun Mingde recounted how Emperor Xuanzong had feigned insanity to survive the late emperor, who had tried to kill him before he ultimately took the throne. He suggested the Emperor’s nightmare was of Duke Chang returning to reclaim his birthright, a realization that struck Qin Luan with newfound understanding.
Episode 14 Recap
Rumors circulated fiercely within the palace walls regarding the late emperor's son, Duke Chang, said to have returned from the dead to reclaim the throne. Emperor Xuanzong was deeply unnerved, given that he had previously ordered eunuchs to purge Duke Chang's mansion to secure his own ascension. Qin Luan, the Acting Chief Eunuch who had served three emperors, was well aware of these rumors, which he initially dismissed as mere talk from ignorant men.
However, when censors also reported on the matter, Emperor Xuanzong tasked Qin Luan with uncovering the source of these unsettling whispers. Meanwhile, Xue Rucheng, who was secretly the lineal son of Emperor Wuzong, viewed Emperor Xuanzong as a usurper—his father's uncle who had orchestrated his family's massacre. He harbored ambitions to reclaim what he believed to be his rightful position. In Guanling County, Jing Yi sought out General Xiao Jinli, Xiao Jinyu's brother, to borrow soldiers.
He explained that Xiao Jinyu needed to transport a body hidden at the Chu family's residence to the Yamen for inspection. Jing Yi also acquired two coffins from the Chu family under the guise of transporting a bandit killed by General Xiao’s subordinates.
Later, as Xiao Jinyu, Jing Yi, and Chu Chu arrived at the Guanling Yamen, Magistrate Zheng Youde rushed to greet them, profusely apologizing for his drunken state the previous night, during which he had mistakenly saluted Jing Yi as the commanding officer. Jing Yi corrected him, revealing himself as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and introducing Xiao Jinyu as Commandery Prince An.
Unconcerned by the misunderstanding, Xiao Jinyu instructed Magistrate Zheng to lead him to the archive, specifically requesting the household register of the Xu family. Zheng Youde informed him that Deputy Magistrate Tan Gui now resided in the old Xu family mansion, and Tan Gui’s father, Tan Hong, had once been the Xu family's butler.
At the archive, Xiao Jinyu discovered that the household register only listed Xu Zongfang and his wife, with no information on their ancestors, siblings, or new residence. Zheng Youde explained that a fire had destroyed most of the files before he took office, forcing him to reconstruct them with many omissions. He noted that the fire occurred sometime between the previous magistrate's departure and his own arrival.
Finding the timing suspicious, Xiao Jinyu decided it was not yet time to question Deputy Magistrate Tan. Instead, he proposed opening Lady Xu’s coffin, reasoning that while Tan Hong might lie, Lady Xu’s remains would not. Chu Chu agreed to the exhumation, asserting that she would personally inspect her mother’s body. That same night, Xiao Jinyu learned from his elder brother, Xiao Jinli, that Leng Yue had been seen furtively peeking outside Jing Yi's room.
Xiao Jinli had assumed Xiao Jinyu had assigned her the task. Xiao Jinyu was surprised, explaining he believed Leng Yue had been ordered by their mother to keep an eye on Chu Chu, as she had been inseparable from her until now. Meanwhile, Jing Yi secretly met with Deputy Magistrate Tan Gui in a desolate area.
Tan Gui, revealing he was an agent loyal to Jing Yi’s father, received two drawings from Jing Yi with instructions to send them to the capital. Shortly after Tan Gui departed, Leng Yue arrived, questioning Jing Yi's late-night presence. Jing Yi evasively claimed he had followed a furtive man from the Yamen but lost him. Unconvinced, Leng Yue noticed another set of footprints in a nearby cave, confirming her suspicion that he was lying.
However, she chose not to confront him and departed. Back in Chang’an, Senior Jing, Jing Yi’s father, accompanied Xue Rucheng to an audience with Emperor Xuanzong. Senior Jing proposed a marriage between Leng Yue and Xiao Jinli. He argued that Leng Peishan, Military Commissioner of Qianzhongdao and Leng Yue's grandfather, held immense power in the Southwest.
A marriage alliance would encourage the aging commander to support Xiao Jinli as his successor, thereby allowing the court to gain control of the Leng family's influence and neutralize any potential threat without military intervention. Xue Rucheng secretly resolved to stop the marriage.
In a private conversation later, he argued to Senior Jing that the plan was too risky, expressing concern that if Leng Peishan discovered the strategic intent, both Xiao brothers and their mother, Princess Xiping, would be in grave danger. Senior Jing countered that his own son's safety was also on the line and that the plan would remain secret. Xue Rucheng feigned agreement. The following morning, Xiao Jinyu visited Xiao Heng’s old residence to re-examine clues.
Beneath a wooden table, he discovered a chess board and a drawing of an endgame. Xiao Jinyu and Xiao Jinli played the depicted endgame repeatedly, but regardless of their moves, the game always ended with the same four pieces—a Rook, a Knight, an Elephant, and a Pawn—on the same four squares. Though Xiao Jinyu had not yet deciphered its meaning, he was convinced his father would not have left a meaningless puzzle.
Meanwhile, Chu Chu began the inspection of her mother's remains. She observed that the injury on her mother's forehead, previously attributed to hitting a wall, was not fatal. Instead, she found a distinct fracture at the back of the skull, surrounded by bruising that indicated a severe blow from a blunt object before death. Chu Chu concluded that her mother had not committed suicide but had been murdered.
Episode 15 Recap
After carefully analyzing her mother’s skull and the fractures in the carpal bones, ulnas, and radii, Chu Chu concluded that her mother did not take her own life. Instead, she was deliberately pushed from behind while heavily pregnant, causing her to instinctively brace her arms against a wall to protect her unborn child. The fierce impact resulted in multiple fractures.
When this initial attempt to kill her failed, the murderer struck the back of her head with a blunt object, leading to her death from an occipital fracture. Overwhelmed by grief, Chu Chu resolved to sculpt her mother's likeness from pottery clay. Using the skull as a base and referencing her own features as a guide, she hoped that restoring her mother's face would help identify someone who knew her and lead her to her biological father.
Xiao Jinyu readily agreed to support her in finding the truth. Meanwhile, Jing Yi, who had been secretly observing Xiao Jinyu, sent a letter to his father. The letter revealed that Xiao Jinyu had discovered a eunuch’s corpse in Xiao Heng's former residence. His father, the Master of Jing Mansion, speculated about the eunuch's presence in Qianzhou, linking it to Qin Luan's pacification efforts and subsequent eunuch purges.
He also considered the possibility that the eunuchs, with whom Xiao Heng had a contentious relationship, might have seized the opportunity to kill him. This, coupled with the strange circumstances, led the Master of Jing Mansion to suspect that Xiao Heng might still be alive. He also anticipated Princess Xiping's imminent visit to Xue Rucheng. Indeed, Princess Xiping soon arrived at Xue Rucheng's manor, seeking his urgent assistance to prevent the marriage between Leng Yue and Xiao Jinli.
She explained that if Xiao Jinli were to assume military power in the Southwest, she and her sons would become mere pawns, trapped and controlled, much like her own mother before her. Princess Xiping had already discussed the matter with Emperor Xuanzong, who, though not issuing an immediate decree, had permitted her to stall by requiring divination of their birth dates. She acknowledged her limited time and pleaded with Xue Rucheng for help.
After some contemplation, Xue Rucheng decided to take on the challenge and announced his intention to travel to the Southwest to devise a solution. Back in Qianzhou, Leng Yue approached Xiao Jinyu to clarify their relationship after hearing rumors of an arranged marriage. She plainly stated that she only viewed him as a good friend, and Xiao Jinyu reciprocated the sentiment, affirming his respect for her straightforward and brave nature while also acknowledging their cousin relationship.
Xiao Jinyu, however, pressed her on her true reason for coming to Qianzhou, suspecting it was related to Chu Chu's background. Leng Yue admitted that she came for Chu Chu, feeling a kinship with her due to their shared pursuit of freedom and dreams. Xiao Jinyu then arranged for pottery clay to be sent to Chu Chu in the mortuary, asking Leng Yue to accompany her. Later, Xiao Jinyu noticed mud on Jing Yi's shoes, which aroused his suspicion.
Jing Yi offered a flimsy excuse about an early morning walk to check on local copper coins. Xiao Jinyu then presented Jing Yi with items found in Chu Chu's mother's coffin – jewelry and clothes – asking him to identify them. Jing Yi corrected him, noting they belonged to a married woman, not a young girl. Meanwhile, Leng Yue joined Chu Chu in the mortuary, bringing the clay.
Chu Chu explained her process of using the skull and her mother's burial clothes to reconstruct her mother's face, hoping to identify her. Leng Yue confided that her own parents had died when she was very young and she too didn't remember their faces, having been raised by her aunt, Princess Xiping. Chu Chu offered comfort, explaining her theory that children often resemble their parents, suggesting that by looking in a mirror, Leng Yue might see hints of her parents.
Their conversation then shifted to Xiao Jinyu and Xiao Jinli. Chu Chu expressed her professional opinion that despite being twins, their physical differences were so significant that they did not appear to be brothers from the same parents. She speculated that one might resemble their father and the other their mother. Xiao Jinyu, still harboring doubts about Jing Yi, later questioned his brother, Xiao Jinli, about his swift-moving skills compared to Jing Yi's.
Xiao Jinli, while confident in his general martial prowess, conceded that Jing Yi was superior in swift-moving techniques. He confirmed that Jing Yi could move within ten meters unnoticed if one wasn't paying close attention. This admission further fueled Xiao Jinyu’s suspicion that Jing Yi was the masked individual he had heard spying on him. Concurrently, Qin Luan and Eunuch Sun investigated an inner hall where a eunuch had just committed suicide.
The eunuch had bitten into a capsule of Aconitine from the Western Region, causing immediate death. Searching the room, they discovered a receipt from an Antique Store. Qin Luan then proceeded to the store, where the manager presented him with a beautifully repaired jade pendant. The manager stated the eunuch had simply brought it in for repair without further explanation. The next day, as Leng Yue walked Chu Chu home, they planned to share some local rice noodles.
When Chu Chu briefly separated to buy rice cakes, she was abducted by a middle-aged man who knocked her unconscious in an alley. Leng Yue rushed back to inform Xiao Jinyu. Arriving at the scene, Xiao Jinyu meticulously examined the area, noting carriage tracks and discovering Chu Chu's hairpin deliberately placed under a basket.
He deduced that the abduction was a calculated trap by Xu Rugui, who likely knew of Leng Yue's martial skills and had orchestrated a carriage to block her pursuit. Xiao Jinyu swiftly dispatched his men in two different directions to pursue the kidnapper. Chu Chu later regained consciousness to find herself captured.
Her abductor revealed his identity as Xu Rugui and confirmed he knew she was the coroner working for Commandery Prince An, assuring her that Xiao Jinyu would indeed come for her.
Episode 16 Recap
Driven by intense concern for Chu Chu's disappearance, Xiao Jinyu confronted Jing Yi, demanding to know what he had found in Lady Xu's belongings. Jing Yi admitted to having tracked Xiao Jinyu to the Witch Doctor's house and observing him open the coffin, but asserted that his actions were solely out of concern for Xiao Jinyu's safety. He explained that his father had assigned him a mission to monitor for rebel remnants, fearing Xiao Jinyu might compromise his own safety.
After Jing Yi shared letters from his father, the two men reconciled and calmly resumed their investigation. Analyzing the abandoned items, Xiao Jinyu explained his deduction that Xu Rugui had deliberately left Lady Xu's hairpin for him to find. Jing Yi examined the authentic Sichuan embroidery on the clothes, noting it originated from an imperial workshop, not an ordinary embroiderer. Observing the hairpin's style, he recalled they were popular among wives of high-ranking officials ten to twenty years prior.
They concluded that Lady Xu was likely the wife of a prominent official in Jiannan, possibly connected to the Military Commissioner, who would have access to such precious goods. Meanwhile, Chu Chu regained consciousness and found Xu Rugui, who had removed his disguise, sitting nearby. She was initially resistant, but he captured her attention by claiming to know about her mother. Xu Rugui revealed his true identity as Xu Zongfang, her uncle.
He explained that her mother, Yixiang, had married a military officer named Yun Yi, who rose to become a vice general to Chen Ying, the Military Commissioner of Jiannan. Xu Zongfang recounted that in the eighth year of Emperor Wenzong, Yun Yi and Chen Ying rebelled, resulting in the death of Censor Xiao Heng, Xiao Jinyu's father.
He confessed that after the pregnant Yixiang fled to him for safety, he grew fearful of being implicated and condoned Butler Tan's plan to kill her with a door latch and stage it as a suicide. Xu Zongfang then attempted to manipulate Chu Chu, claiming that Xiao Jinyu, having likely deduced her identity from the remains, would view her as an enemy and seek revenge.
He urged her to seek refuge with him, asserting a blood feud existed between her and Xiao Jinyu. However, Chu Chu, remembering Xiao Jinyu’s advice to stall for time if kidnapped, remained defiant and refused to believe his narrative. As Xu Zongfang was trying to persuade Chu Chu, Xiao Jinyu confirmed his suspicions and had Deputy Magistrate Tan identify Xu Zongfang from a portrait. Xiao Jinyu, Jing Yi, and Leng Yue immediately rushed to the Xu mansion.
Inside, Chu Chu pressed Xu Zongfang to reveal how her mother died. Xu Zongfang brought in Butler Tan, who confessed to killing Yixiang to protect the Xu family. To supposedly "avenge" Yixiang and gain Chu Chu's trust, Xu Zongfang then killed Butler Tan. Chu Chu screamed in horror, alerting Xiao Jinyu and Leng Yue outside. Xiao Jinyu and Leng Yue stormed into the residence, where Butler Tan lay dead.
Xu Zongfang attempted to escape with Chu Chu, but Leng Yue intervened, engaging him in fierce combat. As Leng Yue began to lose ground, Xiao Jinli arrived and swiftly subdued Xu Zongfang. Xiao Jinyu rushed to the now unconscious Chu Chu and brought her back to the Chu residence.
A worried Chu He hurried to prepare medicine for her and overheard Leng Yue and Jing Yi discussing the situation, learning that Xu Zongfang was Chu Chu's uncle and that she was the daughter of a rebel. When Chu He returned with the medicine, he found Chu Chu still unconscious but tightly clutching Xiao Jinyu's hand. He grew visibly jealous and tried to get Xiao Jinyu to leave, but Xiao Jinyu firmly refused to go.
Jing Yi expressed deep concern to Leng Yue about Chu Chu's identity, knowing that the "daughter of a rebel" status carried severe legal consequences. Xiao Jinyu patiently cared for Chu Chu, who upon waking from a nightmare where he abandoned her, instinctively embraced him for comfort. Realizing her actions, she became confused, but Xiao Jinyu reassured her of his unwavering support. Meanwhile, Qin Luan received a letter informing him that Chu Chu was Xu Zongfang's niece and a rebel's daughter.
He immediately ordered Zhou Han to capture and torture Chu Chu for information about Xiao Heng's whereabouts, and to kill Xu Zongfang and his entire family. In the interrogation room, Xiao Jinyu subjected Xu Zongfang to water drop torture. Xu Zongfang quickly broke down, confessing that Rugui House belonged to Qin Luan and that Qin Luan had ordered him to assassinate Xiao Jinyu and capture Chu Chu. Unsurprised, Xiao Jinyu pressed for information on the illegal copper coins and Duke Chang, but a terrified Xu Zongfang claimed complete ignorance.
Episode 17 Recap
Reflecting on recent events, Xiao Jinyu understood Xu Rugui’s scheme: using the hairpin to reveal Chu Chu's parentage in an attempt to sow distrust between them. However, Xiao Jinyu refused to fall into the trap, choosing instead to trust Chu Chu completely while vowing to uncover the entire truth. He connected these events to the murder of Yan Ming, suspecting the scribe was killed after discovering clues that Duke Chang’s young son might still be alive.
Meanwhile, Qin Luan reported to Emperor Xuanzong that the rumors about Duke Chang were started by a new, vulgar eunuch who, after a few drinks, spread nonsense. Qin Luan claimed the eunuch was so timid that he died of a heart attack before he could be brought for questioning. When the Emperor expressed doubt, Qin Luan proposed a solution: to grant posthumous titles to Emperor Wuzong's sons.
He argued that since only the deceased receive such honors, this act of imperial benevolence would naturally quell the rumors. The Emperor agreed, ordering the edict drafted, and also decided to summon Wu Jiang to the palace for an update, as Commandery Prince An had been in the Southwest for some time. The Emperor also mused that if Xiao Heng, Xiao Jinyu's father, were truly in the Southwest, he would not avoid his own son.
Afterward, Sun Mingde privately questioned Qin Luan's handling of the matter, suggesting the eunuch's death was suspicious. Qin Luan explained he was not protecting the eunuch, but himself and Sun Mingde. As the last two officials to see Duke Chang alive, they were being tested by the Emperor. By handling the matter in a way that unequivocally confirmed Duke Chang's death, they would allay any suspicion against them.
In Qianzhou, Xiao Jinyu explained his theory to Jing Yi: the severed communications, illegal coin minting, and suppressed military reports all pointed toward a rebellion. To rebel in Duke Chang’s name, the conspirators first needed to "bring him back to life." Xiao Jinyu believed Yan Ming was murdered so he would find the scroll and conclude Duke Chang was alive, thus starting the rumors himself.
Since that plan failed, the conspirators were now spreading the rumors directly, suggesting their preparations were nearly complete. Concerned for the future, Xiao Jinyu confessed to Jing Yi that if anything were to happen to him, Jing Yi was the only one he trusted to care for his mother and brother.
Observing Xiao Jinyu's uncharacteristic anxiety, especially regarding Chu Chu's identity which he insisted remain secret, Jing Yi correctly deduced that his friend’s distress was because he now had "someone in his heart." Acting on Xiao Jinyu’s instructions, Wu Jiang showed a drawing of the hairpin to Princess Xiping, who recognized it as a gift her mother had given to Madam Jing, Senior Official Jing’s wife. At the same time, Jing Yi sent an identical drawing to his father.
Madam Jing confirmed she had received a pair of such hairpins; she kept one and gifted the other, but would need to check her records to recall the recipient. Hearing this, her son Jing Zhi immediately feigned illness to get leave from the morning court. After Chu He voiced his suspicion that the prisoner in their woodshed was Chu Chu's uncle, Chu Ping went and confirmed it was indeed Xu Zongfang.
Later, an angered Chu He, frustrated that Xiao Jinyu had taken Chu Chu away, went to the woodshed himself. On the pretext of bringing food, he tricked the guards into leaving. He questioned Xu Zongfang, who confirmed his identity and then lied, claiming Xiao Jinyu knew Chu Chu's father was a rebel who killed his own father and was now taking her away to kill her. He urged Chu He to free him so he could "save" his niece.
Just as the naive Chu He hesitated, the guards returned, preventing the escape. Earlier, Chu Ping had offered to officially add Chu Chu to the family genealogy. Chu Chu tearfully declined, asking only that she be buried next to her biological mother and that her adoptive family and Xiao Jinyu visit her grave. Xiao Jinyu, who overheard her fatalistic request, was deeply unsettled. Later, while Chu Chu was washing stones to grill mushrooms, Xiao Jinyu noticed they glowed.
Chu Chu explained that the Witch Doctor told her the stones contained a "spar" that illuminates in light. This sparked a realization for Xiao Jinyu, connecting the glowing stones to a perplexing pattern involving four chess pieces that remained on the board after his games. Chu Chu then took him to the Witch Doctor’s abandoned home, where Xiao Jinyu discovered numerous paintings of Phoenix Mountain and the Yong'an River. He immediately suspected that the stones and the paintings were linked, holding a vital secret.
Episode 18 Recap
Xiao Jinyu connected the dots, realizing his father, Xiao Heng, had been secretly investigated for years by Xu Rugui under Qin Luan's orders. He believed there were more secrets behind the Military Commissioner of Jiannan’s usurpation and that Qin Luan had held back information from the imperial court. The key to finding the answers, he thought, lay in deciphering the mysteries his father left behind.
At his father's old residence, Xiao Jinyu pondered over the drawings left by the man also known as Sir Witch Doctor, which depicted mountains and trees from Guanling County, specifically Phoenix Mountain and Yong'an River. He also noticed that his father had used thick drawing paper for windowpanes, supposedly to block the wind. Following a hunch, Xiao Jinyu asked Chu Chu to draw the curtains.
In the dim room, Chu Chu discovered a small bright spot on the wall, indicating a tiny hole that penetrated it, covered by drawing paper on both sides. When combined with a light source on the other side, the hole projected the bright spot. Xiao Jinyu recognized this as a trick from a historical case where corrupt ministers used the "Borrowed Light" principle to create a map marking hidden money.
He deduced that his father must have used the same method to leave a location clue. Just as Xiao Jinyu made this discovery, a guard reported an incident at the Chu family residence. Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu rushed to the scene, finding the entrance guards incapacitated. They learned that Xu Rugui had suddenly broken free from his ropes, attacked the guards, and attempted to flee. The rope was found to have been cut with a carpenter's tool.
The guards reported that Chu He had spent about 30 minutes alone with Xu Rugui while bringing him food, and Chu He was now missing. During Xu Rugui's escape attempt, a first group of people, dressed like bandits but with Shence Army fighting skills, burst in, determined to kill him. Then, a second group entered; they did not seek to harm Xu Rugui but instead tried to protect him, engaging in a fight with the first group.
Chu Chu inspected the bodies of the deceased intruders and identified them as soldiers based on the calluses on their palms, which were formed from years of military training. Xiao Jinyu analyzed the situation, concluding that the two groups of assailants represented a "fight between the snipe and the mussel." He clarified that Qin Luan’s Rugui House had initially been the buyer, and those who committed crimes in Qianzhou were the seller in a mutually beneficial trade.
Now, with Rugui House’s operations exposed and Qin Luan’s involvement known, his adversaries sought to use Xu Rugui as leverage. By controlling Xu Rugui, they aimed to reverse the power dynamic and become the buyer, threatening Qin Luan. With Xu Rugui severely wounded from the skirmish, Xiao Jinyu ordered Xiao Jinli to take Chu He's dog, familiar with Chu He's scent, and search for both Chu He and Xu Rugui, surmising Xu Rugui could not have gone far.
He also dispatched Jing Yi and Leng Yue to the County Office to gather more men, instructing them to simply state that bandits had attacked. As Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu continued their pursuit, Chu Chu directly asked Xiao Jinyu about her parents, particularly if her father was the rebel Yun Yi. Xiao Jinyu confirmed that Xu Rugui had made such an accusation but stressed it was unverified.
He explained that Xu Rugui intentionally left the hairpin at the Xu Mansion to mislead him into investigating Chu Chu's father, an officer who had worked for the Military Commissioner of Jiannan. This was a ploy to destroy the trust between Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu and force her to join Xu Rugui. Xiao Jinyu emphasized that his original intention was to find Chu Chu's whereabouts, not to investigate her father's identity, which Xu Rugui used as a distraction.
Chu Chu then worried if her father being Yun Yi would bring trouble to Xiao Jinyu. Suddenly, Xiao Jinli arrived with a group of men, reporting that Chu He might have fallen into the river. Footprints on the riverside matched Chu He's, and the dog's reaction confirmed his presence. Xiao Jinli then pulled Xiao Jinyu aside and revealed a conversation he overheard between Chu He and his father. Chu He harbored deep feelings for Chu Chu, wishing to marry her.
Xiao Jinli suspected that Chu He’s actions, including potentially helping Xu Rugui escape, stemmed from his concern that Xu Rugui, as Chu Chu's uncle, might take her away or involve her in his crimes. Chu He might have believed that if Xu Rugui escaped or was killed, Chu Chu could remain safe. Xiao Jinli cautioned Xiao Jinyu not to reveal this to Chu Chu.
Meanwhile, Chu Chu spotted a piece of clothing floating in the river, immediately recognizing it as Chu He's and a sign that he was trapped. Despite Xiao Jinyu’s warning, she instinctively jumped into the water. Forgetting his own inability to swim and a traumatic childhood drowning incident, Xiao Jinyu impulsively followed her into the river, quickly finding himself in distress.
Chu Chu, a skilled swimmer, managed to rescue Chu He from being tangled in water weeds and then pulled Xiao Jinyu to safety. Upon reaching the shore, Xiao Jinli admonished Xiao Jinyu for his rash act, reminding him of his past near-drowning. Xiao Jinyu admitted he had jumped in without thinking, feeling as though he were "under a spell." After everyone was safe, Xiao Jinyu, still recovering, immediately sought out Chu Chu and embraced her tightly, expressing his deep concern.
Chu Chu was momentarily stunned by his intense reaction. Later, as Leng Yue prepared medicine for the still unconscious Chu He, Deputy Magistrate Tan arrived to see Jing Yi. Leng Yue, observing Tan's footprints, identified him as the man Jing Yi had met in the wild that night. Xiao Jinyu then discussed the ongoing search for Xu Rugui. He rejected Xiao Jinli's suggestion to involve mountain villagers, fearing for their safety if they encountered the cunning Xu Rugui.
Instead, he ordered Magistrate Zheng to thoroughly map all possible routes in and out of Guanling County, including mountain paths and waterways, to better analyze Xu Rugui's potential hiding places. Unbeknownst to them, Xu Rugui was indeed hiding in a cave, his hands stained with blood as he ate. Separately, Xue Rucheng approached Emperor Xuanzong, requesting permission to visit the Southwest under the pretext of investigating a missing inspection record compiled by the late Minister Feng Jie.
Xue Rucheng stated that Feng Jie's accompanying officers revealed an additional scroll beyond the three already submitted, containing information on other affairs, which went missing before reaching the capital. Emperor Xuanzong granted Xue Rucheng's request but strictly ordered him not to disclose the purpose of his journey to anyone before his return. Meanwhile, Qin Luan's subordinate, Zhou Han, reported on his surveillance of Shen Yu, the new Capital Liaison Representative of Qianzhou.
Shen Yu had been giving gifts to various ministers, but Zhou Han found nothing particularly suspicious. However, Qin Luan remained unconvinced, believing Shen Yu was "not that simple," and instructed Zhou Han to continue his close watch. Zhou Han also reported that Wu Jiang had given Senior Jing a copper coin from Qian Printing. Qin Luan, upon hearing this, mused that the Southwest would become chaotic with Xue Rucheng heading to Qianzhou and Xiao Jinyu already there.
He also noted that Emperor Xuanzong was contemplating ordering a marriage and mentioned Leng Peishan. Later, Xue Rucheng met Senior Jing, implying his trip to the Southwest was to investigate the illegal copper coin case. Senior Jing expressed concern for Xiao Jinyu's safety, and Xue Rucheng in turn worried about the potential involvement of the Leng family from the Southwest. Back at the Guanling Yamen, Chu He remained unconscious.
Xiao Jinyu, seeing Chu Chu steadfastly at Chu He's bedside, felt a pang of unease. He instructed her to return home to reassure her family of Chu He's safety, but Chu Chu refused, insisting on staying until her brother awoke. Her refusal angered Xiao Jinyu, who spoke sharply, stating that if she considered herself a coroner of the Three Judicial Offices, she must follow his orders; otherwise, there was no need for her to continue working for him. Chu Chu stood frozen, bewildered by his words.
Episode 19 Recap
Commandery Prince An's sudden display of anger surprised everyone, though Vice Minister Jing, observing Xiao Jinli leading Chu Chu away, meaningfully teased Commandery Prince An for his contradictory behavior. On their way home, Chu Chu was puzzled by the prince's reaction. Xiao Jinli was about to explain when Deputy Magistrate Tan Gui unexpectedly interrupted them. Deputy Magistrate Tan Gui approached Chu Chu, seeking to understand the details of his father's demise.
Chu Chu was initially hesitant, as the case involved sensitive matters. However, moved by Tan Gui’s filial distress as he was about to kneel, she relented. She recounted that Xu Zongfang had killed Butler Tan, claiming it was revenge for her mother, an act Chu Chu never wanted. After hearing the account, a saddened Tan Gui pleaded with Chu Chu to keep their conversation a secret from Commandery Prince An, citing his career and the need to avoid suspicion.
As Tan Gui departed, Vice Minister Jing blocked his path in an alley, questioning why there was no reply to the message sent to Chang'an. Tan Gui urged him not to get involved, but Jing Yi astutely deduced that Tan Gui had received a response meant only for him and had successfully verified Chu Chu's identity. Meanwhile, Senior Jing visited Princess Xiping, subtly trying to secure her support for a marriage between Leng Yue and Xiao Jinli.
The princess, understanding his underlying motives, cleverly parried by inquiring about a pair of lily hairpins her mother had once gifted his wife. Feigning agreement with the marriage proposal to Senior Jing, she later confessed her true worries to an aide: she believes Leng Yue has feelings for Xiao Jinyu and is concerned about the military implications of a marriage to Xiao Jinli. She hoped that Mr. Xue, who was traveling with the Emperor, could dissuade him from the match.
The aide then informed her that Xiao Jinyu was at Chu Chu's house, prompting the princess to inquire about the female coroner's appearance. Back in Guanling County, Chu Ping noticed his daughter's sadness and correctly deduced she knew Xu Rugui's true identity. Chu Chu confirmed she knew he was her uncle. At the County Office, Chu He awoke and frantically searched for Chu Chu. Xiao Jinyu confronted him, questioning if he truly saw Chu Chu only as a sister.
Believing Chu Chu was dead, Chu He threatened to fight for his life, but he grew remorseful when Xiao Jinyu produced the filing blade Xu Rugui used to escape. Xiao Jinyu explained the severe consequences of Chu He’s actions, which had endangered Chu Chu and the entire Chu family. Chu He confessed that he helped Xu Rugui after being told that Chu Chu’s father was the rebel who killed Xiao Jinyu’s father and that he feared for Chu Chu's safety.
He also revealed that before he fell into the river, he had followed Xu Rugui and two others as they fled northeast toward Phoenix Mountain. Xiao Jinyu was left in deep thought after learning from Chu He that the local Witch Doctor had vanished before the bridge connecting the county to the outside world was completed five years ago. After much thought, Leng Yue informed Xiao Jinyu about Jing Yi's secret meetings with Tan Gui.
Later, she disguised herself as Chu Chu to lure out the person she believed was targeting her. Jing Yi, deducing from their earlier conversation that Tan Gui intended to harm Chu Chu, had been following him. He witnessed Tan Gui attempt to stab the disguised Leng Yue. At the critical moment, Xiao Jinli intervened and subdued Tan Gui. Xiao Jinyu then emerged, and Jing Yi, realizing he was exposed, revealed that Tan Gui was an undercover operative for Senior Jing.
Under questioning, Tan Gui insisted Jing Yi was not involved in the assassination attempt, claiming he was acting on orders to eliminate Chu Chu, the daughter of the man who allegedly killed Xiao Jinyu’s father. Tan Gui’s goal was to resolve the "rebel survivor" issue to protect everyone from implication. However, Xiao Jinyu staunchly defended Chu Chu, revealing that she was under the protection of his own father, Prince Consort Xiao Heng.
The revelation stunned Tan Gui, who concluded that the Prince Consort must still be alive. Unbeknownst to them, news of the rebel's daughter had already spread in Chang'an. Officials mocked Xiao Jinyu for hiring her. Minister Han Ji, acting on behalf of Eunuch Qin's faction, officially reported Chu Chu's identity to the Emperor. Eunuch Qin and his master conspired to ensure Chu Chu's death upon her inevitable return to the capital, gloating that not even Commandery Prince An could save her then.
Episode 20 Recap
Xiao Jinyu spoke with Tan Gui regarding Chu Chu’s complicated background, which involved an old issue concerning Senior Jing and a previous dynasty, making the situation increasingly difficult. Xiao Jinyu asked Tan Gui, who worked for Senior Jing, if he would be willing to put off killing Chu Chu and first inform Senior Jing of the situation if Xiao Jinyu’s own father desired her release.
Xiao Jinyu explained that since his father, Prince Consort Xiao Heng, had stayed near Chu Chu for years and treated her as his own daughter, there must be something suspicious about her background that his father had discovered. He deduced that the Witch Doctor who contacted the Chu family, though missing for five years, might still be in Guanling County.
Tan Gui, remembering Xiao Heng’s past kindness, agreed to Xiao Jinyu’s request and offered to accompany them in the search for the Prince Consort, believing the truth would be revealed once he was found. After Xiao Jinli and Xiao Jinyu departed, Leng Yue approached Jing Yi, asking if he was alright after Xiao Jinli had hit him.
Though Jing Yi claimed to be fine, Leng Yue insisted on checking him, brushing aside his protests about being on the street as no one else was around. She firmly stated she would skin Xiao Jinli if he dared to hurt Jing Yi again, to which Jing Yi thanked her. Leng Yue simply replied that they were friends. Meanwhile, Chu Chu visited Chu He, who had been flogged.
She anxiously asked why he had been punished, but Chu He downplayed it, saying he requested the flogging to learn a lesson. He tried to prevent her from inspecting his injuries due to her being a girl, but Chu Chu, as a coroner, insisted she was accustomed to examining bodies. Chu He reassured her he was fine.
He then advised Chu Chu to always confide in him and not keep things bottled up, noting that she used to tell them everything but now seemed to only share her troubles with Commandery Prince An. Despite this, Chu He affirmed his commitment to always being her good brother, promising to help her if Commandery Prince An ever bullied her, even at the risk of his life. Chu Chu reaffirmed that he was always her good brother.
Just then, Xiao Jinyu arrived with medicine and, standing outside, he saw Chu Chu embrace Chu He. Misinterpreting their close bond as romantic affection, he felt a deep sense of loss. Later, Xiao Jinli found Xiao Jinyu suffering from a stomach ache and gently carried him back to his room. Xiao Jinli chided his younger brother for neglecting his health and for bottling up his worries.
Xiao Jinyu then addressed a long-held belief, stating that Xiao Jinli had been feeling guilty for years over an incident where Xiao Jinyu saved him from drowning when they were children. This guilt, Xiao Jinyu believed, led Xiao Jinli to constantly defend him, make concessions, and even suggest that Xiao Jinyu claim their father’s title and position as Commandery Prince. Xiao Jinli clarified that his protection came from being an elder brother, not guilt.
He explained that granting Xiao Jinyu the title was more suitable because Xiao Jinli himself had always preferred martial arts and would be unable to join the army if he held the princely title. In contrast, Xiao Jinyu, who already managed the Three Judicial Offices, would benefit from the status, as it would instill fear in other officials and ensure his safety, thus serving both of them well.
Xiao Jinyu acknowledged his own narrow-mindedness and accepted his brother’s reasoning, bringing them closer. In the capital, Qin Luan discussed intelligence indicating a significant individual from the Southwest was likely the mastermind behind recent events. He inquired about Shen Yu, the new Capital Liaison Representative from Qianzhou, noting his origin from Wuhou County, where Duke Chang used to live.
Believing something major was about to unfold in the Southwest, Qin Luan ordered his subordinate, Mingde, to closely monitor the Antique Store, determined to uncover the spy’s benefactor. Meanwhile, Zhou Han went to Pingkang Residence, a brothel, where Xu Rugui’s family – his wife, a concubine, two sons, and a daughter – were being held. Zhou Han handed a packet of poison to the brothel madam, instructing her to administer it to the family.
The madam, after being reprimanded for suggesting she keep Xu Rugui’s concubine, promised to handle the matter efficiently, claiming she would dispose of the bodies by saying they died of disease and burying them in unmarked common graves. Unbeknownst to them, Wu Jiang had already infiltrated the brothel. Seizing an opportunity when the madam left, he quickly swapped the poison. That night, Xu Rugui’s family was transported outside the city, seemingly abandoned as corpses.
Wu Jiang and his men secretly retrieved them, bringing them to the Three Judicial Offices. The bewildered family members soon woke up, and Wu Jiang explained that they were now safe, as in the eyes of their captors, they were already dead. Later, Qin Luan received a report from Zhou Han, falsely stating that Xu Rugui’s family had been successfully killed, which Qin Luan viewed as Zhou Han finally fulfilling a mission.
Xiao Jinyu later confided in Xiao Jinli, recalling his mother, Princess Xiping, had urged him to be wary of eunuchs before he left the capital, saying his father would also have reminded him. He found a eunuch’s corpse in his father’s house, and Xu Rugui had confessed to working for Qin Luan, confirming his mother’s warning was significant.
Coupled with his father’s cryptic chess game, Xiao Jinyu felt there were hidden truths behind his father’s experience in the Southwest that went beyond official records. Therefore, he explained, even if Chu Chu were truly the daughter of a rebel, he could not casually execute her. Xiao Jinli urged Xiao Jinyu not to reveal these dark details to Chu Chu, as she had already been terrified by Xu Rugui’s actions.
Chu Chu, concerned about how her identity might affect Xiao Jinyu, first sought advice from Xiao Jinli. She asked if Xiao Jinyu would face trouble if someone working for him committed a crime, or if he would be angry or sad when encountering an enemy with a blood feud. Xiao Jinli, unable to give clear answers, advised her to speak directly with Xiao Jinyu. Following this, Chu Chu went to Xiao Jinyu’s residence.
Although Xiao Jinyu initially tried to send her away, she insisted on personally delivering something important. She handed him a mirror, which she had retrieved from the Yong’an River that morning. Xiao Jinyu became furious, scolding her for going to the river alone without telling anyone, especially with the rising water levels from recent rains, and for risking her life for "such trash." He forbade her from leaving home without his permission.
Chu Chu then pleaded with him to allow her to accompany him in his search for Sir Witch Doctor, promising that she would not bother him again after they found him. Xiao Jinyu, though still seemingly vexed, agreed to her request. Later, Leng Yue brought medicine to Xiao Jinyu. She playfully teased him about his awkwardness with Chu Chu and his conflicted feelings.
She advised him that a human heart, much like food, should be tended to while warm, as its essence changes if it grows cold. She questioned if he would want Chu Chu’s heart once it had cooled toward him.
Leng Yue noted that while Xiao Jinyu was a good official and brother, he would not be a good husband if he remained cooped up, working constantly, and warned that Chu Chu might be attracted to others if she saw a broader world. Xiao Jinyu, deflecting the conversation, revealed that Jing Yi had been consistently rejecting marriage arrangements, not due to high demands, but because he harbored feelings for someone.
He then encouraged Leng Yue to directly ask Jing Yi who that person was. A few days later, Xiao Jinyu prepared to begin his search for Xiao Heng. He believed that due to his father’s physical condition and the fact that the bridge providing access to the outside world was not yet built five years ago, his father would have found it difficult to leave Guanling County alone and must still be hiding nearby.
Based on light spots indicated in a drawing, Xiao Jinyu pinpointed a location in the southwest of Phoenix Mountain as a potential hiding spot. However, Tan Gui confirmed the area was a dangerous wetland, a large swamp teeming with vipers and scorpions, lacking food and fresh water, making survival highly improbable given Xiao Heng’s impaired mobility.
Episode 21 Recap
Princess Xiping strolled through the imperial garden with Emperor Xuanzong, her thoughts not on the blooming flowers but on Xiao Heng, her late husband. She recounted how Xiao Heng preferred the plain, year-round cattails to the fleeting beauty of flowers. She also reminded the Emperor that their unique love token was not a jewel, but a simple rock, referencing the poem "A Pair of Peacocks Southeast Fly."
For them, the rock was not a comparison to the poem's tragic couple, but a symbol of Xiao Heng's desire to be a steadfast protector for her through all storms. Though moved by their deep affection, Emperor Xuanzong sternly refused Princess Xiping’s plea to cancel Leng Yue's marriage. He reminded her of her duty as a member of the imperial family and the honor of such a match, demanding she not be ungrateful.
He then ordered the imperial astronomer to divine Xiao Jinli's birth date, a task the princess had failed to complete. Later, the eunuch Jinbao reported this conversation to Qin Luan, who was already suspicious of Emperor Xuanzong's recent inquiries about the birthdays of Xiao Jinli and Xiao Jinyu. Qin Luan recalled the widespread gossip from years ago when Princess Xiping gave birth to twins, deducing that the Emperor might finally be investigating Xiao Jinli's true origins.
His anger then turned to Zhou Han, who was sent to inquire about Duke Chang but had yet to return. Qin Luan’s subordinate, Sun Mingde, hinted that Zhou Han was likely enjoying himself at Pingkang Residence on Qin Luan's dime. Frustrated, Qin Luan lamented that if his senior disciple had not mysteriously disappeared while searching for Xiao Heng in the Southwest, he would not have to rely on such incompetent men.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jinyu led his companions to Phoenix Mountain, arriving at a dangerous wetland rife with vipers and scorpions. Despite Deputy Magistrate Tan Gui's fears, Xiao Jinyu was certain this was the location indicated by the Witch Doctor. Chu Chu climbed to a high vantage point to survey the area and spotted three deliberately piled rock structures. Xiao Jinyu immediately recognized them as his father's chess pieces.
By interpreting their arrangement, he grimly deduced that the "chess game" pointed directly into the swamp, meaning his father was inside. While Leng Yue and the others hoped it was merely a clue to another location, Xiao Jinyu explained that his father, being gravely injured and needing to avoid detection, could not have left further clues.
Jing Yi pulled Leng Yue aside, explaining that Xiao Jinyu, who wished for a positive outcome more than anyone, had already considered all possibilities, and his conclusion, though agonizing, was final. Xiao Jinyu then confirmed to Chu Chu that his father was indeed in the swamp, waiting for the "Handsome Judge," and explained that the swamp’s airtight conditions could preserve a body as a "wet corpse." Just then, a soldier announced they had found a body wrapped in waterproof oilcloth.
Back at the Chu residence, the body was laid out for examination. Chu Chu, who knew the Witch Doctor well, requested a dagger to perform the identification. She recognized a unique scald on the man's left arm, confirming he was the one who had given her the pendant. His appearance, height, a leg wound, and an arm scar further solidified that the deceased was indeed Xiao Heng.
When Xiao Jinyu asked for the cause of death, Chu Chu reported finding numerous blood dots and stasis on his face and neck, clear signs of suffocation. She concluded that Xiao Heng had drowned himself. To understand why his father chose such a tragic end, Xiao Jinyu opened a wooden casket Xiao Heng had left behind. Inside were six silk pieces covered with groups of three numbers, which he recognized as ciphers.
Realizing the decoding method had to be universal, not personal, Xiao Jinyu examined the casket itself and discovered two poems inscribed on it. With Jing Yi and Chu Chu's help, they read them aloud. Xiao Jinyu then had a breakthrough when he noticed the word "cress" in the first poem sounded like "chess." He realized the numbers were decoded using reverse phonetic notation, combining initial consonants from the first poem and compound vowels from the second.
The decoded message, written by Xiao Heng, revealed a harrowing story. As Censor for Emperor Wenzong, he had left the cipher in hopes that a brave scholar would solve the puzzles and vindicate the loyal men of Jiannan. During the Ganlu Incident, when Emperor Wenzong sought to eliminate the eunuchs, Xiao Heng was sent with a secret decree to summon Military Commissioner Chen Ying.
However, the plot failed, and the eunuchs seized control, slaughtering officials and slandering Chen Ying's forces as rebels. Chen Ying covered Xiao Heng's escape, but he was cornered, severely wounded, and forced to jump from a cliff. He was miraculously saved by a witch doctor and awoke from a coma a month later to learn the situation was hopeless. The eunuchs, seeking to destroy all evidence, faked an imperial edict offering him titles to lure him out.
To avoid implicating more innocents and to preserve the truth, Xiao Heng assumed the identity of the witch doctor after he passed away. Trapped in Guanling by the treacherous terrain, his broken legs, and the eunuchs' relentless search, he could not contact Chang'an. He was eventually tracked down by a eunuch, whom he managed to kill, hiding the body in a wall as evidence.
Tragically, with his health deteriorating and realizing his end was near, he wrote his final confession and drowned himself in the swamp, hoping his sacrifice would one day bring justice to the wronged.
Episode 22 Recap
Prefect of Qianzhou, Li Zhang, arrived to greet Xue Rucheng, addressing him as Duke Chang. Operating under his true identity as Prince Chang, Xue Rucheng acknowledged Li Zhang's long journey and inquired if Commandery Prince An, Xiao Jinyu, had discovered anything in Qianzhou. Li Zhang assured him that Xiao Jinyu had only stumbled upon the illegal coin case, which Li Zhang had since taken over, promising to handle everything meticulously.
Prince Chang cautioned Li Zhang to be extremely careful and not expose their activities. Shortly after, an official document from Chang'an arrived, containing an imperial order to arrest Chu Chu. Prince Chang was surprised that Li Zhang also knew of Chu Chu, whom Li Zhang identified as the rebel Yun Yi’s daughter.
Li Zhang confirmed he was tasked with arresting her and expressed concern that a direct confrontation with Xiao Jinyu, who kept Chu Chu by his side, could hinder their grand plan. Prince Chang dismissed Li Zhang, privately reflecting that Li Zhang was unlikely to outwit Xiao Jinyu and that a backup plan was necessary. Chu Chu discovered a secret imperial decree from Emperor Wenzong among Xiao Heng's belongings.
The decree had summoned Military Commissioner Chen Ying and his troops to Chang'an, proving his actions were not rebellious but in support of the Emperor. Chu Chu believed this evidence could overturn Chen Ying’s case. Xiao Jinyu affirmed that this was his father's last wish and was also crucial for Chu Chu's own survival. He stressed that revealing the truth would ignite a massive political firestorm, necessitating meticulous preparation to avoid implicating more innocent people.
He solemnly promised Chu Chu he would vindicate her parents and prove her innocence, and she placed her complete trust in him. Jing Yi gave a letter to Vice Minister Jing, Tan Gui, for delivery to his father, Senior Jing, urging caution against a "real enemy" within the court. Overcome with remorse, Tan Gui confessed to having executed nine of Chen Ying's subordinates, all of whom proclaimed their innocence before death. He deeply regretted never questioning them about the truth.
Jing Yi explained that only a few generals knew the full story; the well-trained soldiers were merely following orders and were truly innocent. Tan Gui lamented his own failings as an official, declaring his readiness to accept any punishment for his role in the deaths of loyal men. Pained by his father's fate, Xiao Jinyu pressed Chu Chu for details about his injuries. Chu Chu hesitated, but at his insistence, she revealed the truth.
Xiao Heng's chronic leg injury was not from a fall but from a severe gash. He had hidden the nature of the wound to avoid being tracked, allowing no one to treat it. Chu Chu explained that an open gash, unlike a fracture, was susceptible to infection, which led to an incurable bone disease that spread throughout his body. The recurring, excruciating pain eventually became unmanageable, leading to his death.
Xiao Jinyu was devastated to learn of his father’s prolonged, silent suffering. Unbeknownst to them, Xiao Jinli stood outside, listening to the entire conversation with a heavy heart. Later, Grandfather Chu found Chu Chu staring at her hairpin and gently asked if she missed her mother. He assured her that her parents had a loving relationship, recounting how her eight-month-pregnant mother endured an arduous mountain journey to Qianzhou to protect her unborn child.
Chu Chu, recalling her examination of her mother’s remains, agreed that her mother must have deeply loved her father to preserve his last surviving family member. Grandfather Chu then subtly asked about her feelings for Xiao Jinyu, but Chu Chu admitted she had not yet made a decision. Xiao Jinyu visited his father's desolate room, reaffirming his vow to complete his father's mission.
He then received an urgent message from Chang'an: Xue Rucheng was coming to Qianzhou with an imperial order to arrest Chu Chu. Xiao Jinyu immediately instructed Xiao Jinli to take his soldiers and guard the Chu family residence, forbidding anyone from being taken without his explicit permission. Xue Rucheng arrived at the Guanling Yamen and met privately with Xiao Jinyu.
After congratulating him on his appointment as Minister of War, Xue Rucheng addressed the Emperor's decree for Xiao Jinli to marry Leng Yue. He revealed that Senior Jing had suggested the marriage to the Emperor as a way for Xiao Jinli to take control of the Leng family's military power.
He then shifted the topic, inquiring about Feng Jie’s missing case summary from his southwest patrol and subtly questioned if Xiao Jinyu suspected his own brother, Xiao Jinli, might be unknowingly manipulated. He advised Xiao Jinyu to return to Chang'an soon. Meanwhile, in Jiangshan Hall, Senior Jing advised Emperor Xuanzong to entrust the investigation of the illegal coin case to Xiao Jinyu, who was already in Qianzhou. The Emperor agreed and ordered a decree to be drafted.
At the Chu residence, Xiao Jinli and Leng Yue's playful bickering over a chicken drumstick was interrupted by Jing Yi. Their squabble was cut short when Li Zhang arrived with his men, declaring his intent to arrest the "rebel's daughter" under imperial command. Xiao Jinli and his guards blocked their path. A clash ensued as Li Zhang’s men tried to force their way in.
In the chaos, Li Zhang seized Chu Chu, but Leng Yue swiftly drew her sword and wounded his arm. Just then, Xiao Jinyu and Xue Rucheng arrived. As Li Zhang held her, Chu Chu noticed numerous tiny scars on his palm. Asserting his authority, Xue Rucheng ordered Li Zhang to stand down, stating that Xiao Jinyu would handle the matter. Li Zhang retreated.
Inside, Xiao Jinyu showed Xue Rucheng his father’s preserved corpse and the petition decoded from his casket, which revealed the truth about Chen Ying’s supposed rebellion. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Xue Rucheng advised an immediate return to Chang'an to report to the Emperor. However, Xiao Jinyu stated that he could not yet return. He explained that a crucial witness, the wanted criminal Xu Rugui, was hiding in Qianzhou.
Xiao Jinyu had already sealed the county and sent men to search Phoenix Mountain, where traces of Xu Rugui had been found. He informed Xue Rucheng of his plan to personally lead a search on the mountain the next morning. Xue Rucheng cautioned him to be careful.
Episode 23 Recap
After Xue Rucheng sent Xiao Jinli away, he revealed Xiao Jinyu's affection for Chu Chu. Xue Rucheng advised Xiao Jinyu to give up on Chu Chu, as she came from a family of coroners and was now involved with the remnants of the rebel party, making their social statuses vastly different. However, Xiao Jinyu never judged people by their status. Having been taught by Xue Rucheng since childhood, he was educated this way.
With the truth still unclear, he would naturally not let anyone take Chu Chu away from him. Xue Rucheng was also helpless against Xiao Jinyu. Xiao Jinyu drew Madam Xu's portrait based on the sculpture Chu Chu had made, and couldn't help but sigh that if Chu Chu were an ordinary person, she wouldn't have to take such risks.
After all, he could protect Chu Chu's safety during the day, but her future fortune or misfortune was unknown, and ultimately, it remained a major concern in his heart. Since both Xiao Jinli and Leng Yue strongly resisted the imperial decree of marriage, Xiao Jinyu offered them advice and guessed that this matter must involve the interests of the Military Governor of Qianzhong Dao.
Considering the peace of the Tang Dynasty's southwestern border defense, Xiao Jinyu instructed Leng Yue to write a casual greeting letter in his tone and send it promptly to the camp for General Leng, to test the waters.
Wu Jiang had just returned from outside and hadn't even warmed his seat when he suddenly heard that Qin Luan had sent people to investigate the matter of the Princess Manor dismissing servants in its early years, especially in the year Xiao Jinyu and his brother were born. That night, Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu hesitated for a long time, wanting to find each other but not knowing what excuse to use.
Until Xiao Jinyu made up his mind, and just as he was about to open the door, he saw Chu Chu standing at the entrance holding a bowl of medicinal soup. Chu Chu, as she had promised earlier, specifically came to let Xiao Jinyu deal with her as he saw fit. However, Xiao Jinyu did not blame her; instead, he thanked her for accompanying the Witch Doctor Uncle for many years and fulfilling a filial duty for him.
Now, with internal troubles and external threats facing the imperial court, Xiao Jinyu was both worried about Chu Chu's safety and hoped she could marry him, not just for protection, but more so from his heart. As soon as his words fell, Chu Chu was greatly shocked. After a moment of stunned silence, she frantically found an excuse and rushed out the door.
Leng Yue took some wine to find Chu Chu, unexpectedly finding her sitting in the courtyard in tears. After asking, she learned that Xiao Jinyu had proposed impulsively. Although Chu Chu had a good impression of Xiao Jinyu, she was concerned about her background and truly couldn't agree to him. Understanding Chu Chu's thoughts, Leng Yue hoped she could reconsider, as she would surely regret it if she missed her destined fate.
Ever since he saw Chu Chu leave, Xiao Jinyu was completely puzzled and regretted being too impulsive just now. When Jing Yi learned of this, he proactively offered him strategies to win the lady's heart. Qin Luan received a secret report about the Xiping Princess Manor, and his doubts deepened, so he re-inquired about the market rumors with Sun Mingde.
According to Sun Mingde, if an ordinary woman were pregnant with twins, a doctor would diagnose it in just six to seven months, but only after giving birth to the twins did the Xiping Princess report the good news to the palace. Even the imperial physicians who took her pulse did not report it in a timely manner.
Because of this, Qin Luan believed there was a secret hidden within and immediately ordered Sun Mingde to send people to find those involved in the matter back then, insisting they be brought back alive. After several days of stay, Xue Rucheng was about to leave Qianzhou and return to Chang'an.
However, just as he was saying goodbye, Chu Chu and Jing Yi suddenly ran over, admitting that Chu He had gone to find Xu Rugui alone and had not yet returned. Xue Rucheng believed that Chu He, having grown up in Guanling County, was much more familiar with the geography than others.
So, Xiao Jinyu, following the clues provided by Chu Chu, led people to search and indeed found Chu He and Xu Rugui under the hollow of a thick Yuelao Tree. Fortunately, Xu Rugui had lost too much blood, and Chu He easily knocked him unconscious. Because he had rendered meritorious service in finding the person this time, Xiao Jinyu no longer held the matter of unauthorized release against him, considering it a balanced outcome of merits and demerits.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Astronomy had already matched the Bazi for Xiao Jinli and Leng Yue. Now they were just waiting for the army to return to promote Xiao Jinli's official rank and choose a date for the wedding. Han Ji petitioned Emperor Xuanzong of Tang to urge Xue Rucheng to apprehend the remnants of the rebel party and bring them back, which consequently caused Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's dissatisfaction.
Qin Luan felt that Xue Rucheng and the Xiping Princess had a very close relationship and inevitably had other intentions. If he were to secretly communicate with the Leng clan, it would likely become a future problem. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, inspired by Qin Luan, became suspicious. Grand Secretary Jing learned of Xiao Heng's predicament through a letter and felt very regretful.
Episode 24 Recap
As the private minting of copper coins case was of great importance, and Chu Chu informed Xiao Jinyu that Li Zhang had small wounds on his hands, Xiao Jinyu guessed that Li Zhang must be involved, but lacking evidence, he still needed to stay in Qianzhou to investigate secretly.
As for Xue Rucheng, who needed to return to the capital to report, Xiao Jinyu was willing to entrust Xu Rugui to him, after all, this person was Chu Chu's maternal uncle, who, for his own self-preservation, killed Chu Chu's biological mother back then, and later joined Qin Luan, becoming his minion. Now that the plan had failed, Qin Luan regarded Xu Rugui as a discarded pawn and wanted to silence him.
Fortunately, Wu Jiang had already rescued Xu Rugui's family. If Xue Rucheng brought him back to Chang'an and promised his family a way out, he believed Xu Rugui would reveal all the truth before the Emperor. Hearing Xiao Jinyu say this, Xue Rucheng agreed to only take Xu Rugui back to the capital.
However, a capital official suddenly arrived with an imperial decree, ordering Xiao Jinyu to thoroughly investigate the private minting of copper coins case, and also relaying a message from Grand Secretary Jing to him. After Xue Rucheng and others gradually left Qianzhou, Chu Chu's small courtyard finally regained its tranquility. Xiao Jinyu, following Jing Yi's strategy, personally purchased cosmetics and brought back a few fresh flowers for Chu Chu.
However, Chu Chu was not interested in cosmetics, and even the few fresh flowers were thrown into the swill bucket by her. Xiao Jinyu was completely puzzled, so he simply went to discuss the reason with Jing Yi. Just then, Leng Yue entered from outside, and immediately recognized that these flowers were pig feed, which meant Xiao Jinyu's attempt at courtship failed and instead became a joke.
Leng Yue guessed that Xiao Jinyu was not good at pleasing women, and that the so-called cosmetics and flowers were probably Jing Yi's idea behind the scenes. Xiao Jinli thought that while his younger brother's courtship was acceptable, he shouldn't rush into things without proper thought, so he reminded him that he should prove his sincerity in his own way, rather than asking others for advice.
Ever since the imperial decree reached Qianzhou, Li Zhang completely changed his previous attitude, even personally visiting to apologize and show his loyalty, willing to fully assist him in thoroughly investigating the private minting of copper coins case with all officials within Qianzhou. Li Zhang verified the output of each mine under his jurisdiction one by one, and wrote down the investigation process in a case file, handing it over to Xiao Jinyu and truthfully reporting the results.
Jing Yi deliberately asked him about the cause of the private minting of copper coins. Li Zhang pretended not to know, only guessing that the counterfeit minting den should be near Phoenix Mountain. Xiao Jinyu knew that Chu Chu would definitely ask to go with them, and instead of restricting her movements, it would be better to keep her close for easier protection.
In contrast, Xiao Jinli was still worried about the imperial decree granting marriage, while Li Zhang, following Xue Rucheng's instructions, planned to lure Xiao Jinyu and the others to the den for an ambush, quietly eliminating them. The next day, everyone went to Phoenix Mountain to search. Following the flow of living water, they found an abandoned porcelain kiln, and under Chu Chu's guidance, they finally located the porcelain kiln.
Li Zhang found something unusual on a wall, and quickly called Xiao Jinyu and the others over. He then watched him press a mechanism to open a stone door. Xiao Jinyu quietly observed Li Zhang, and ordered everyone to enter the stone chamber with torches. As there were no doors or windows around, Xiao Jinyu's old ailment recurred.
Chu Chu quickly went to help him, and after much effort, they walked through the tunnel, entering the interior of the stone chamber and seeing a large number of boxes filled with counterfeit money on the ground. Now that the den was known, Xiao Jinyu publicly exposed the reason for the private minting of copper coins. If it were an ordinary person, they would never gratuitously produce such realistic counterfeit coins.
But if the mastermind was a local official in charge, as long as they subtly manipulated the accounts, the labor costs for minting money could be paid through public funds from the yamen treasury via accounting entries, ensuring huge profits with minimal investment. Li Zhang was greatly startled by this, and so he forced himself to remain calm.
He originally intended to pin the blame on Magistrate Zheng Youde, but Xiao Jinyu exposed that his construction of bridges in Guanling County was merely to provide convenience for his illicit activities, yet it had become a celebrated achievement among the common people.
Episode 25 Recap
Seeing that Xiao Jinyu had exposed the truth behind the private minting of copper coins case, Li Zhang was enraged and no longer bothered to conceal anything. As he gave an order, explosions were heard from outside the cave, and the surrounding stone caves collapsed in response. Xiao Jinyu subconsciously protected Chu Chu, but did not notice that Li Zhang, filled with murderous intent, had pulled out a dagger and stabbed at him.
Just as Xiao Jinyu was defending against Li Zhang's attack, Chu Chu quickly picked up a stone and threw it at Li Zhang, finally knocking him unconscious. However, Xiao Jinyu inhaled a large amount of anesthetic smoke, coupled with his fear of secret chambers, he then fell into a nightmare, as if sinking into the sea. At a critical moment, Chu Chu proactively hugged Xiao Jinyu and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and Xiao Jinyu gradually woke up.
As the cave entrance was blocked by huge rocks and would take several hours to clear, Xiao Jinli couldn't get in to rescue them and had to find another way. Chu Chu finally breathed a sigh of relief seeing Xiao Jinyu safe and sound, whereas Xiao Jinyu, through this incident, determined that Chu Chu had fallen for him, and why she chose to avoid him was what concerned him most.
Facing Xiao Jinyu's repeated questioning, Chu Chu could only tell the truth, stating that she grew up in a family of coroners, and no one was willing to accept such a woman, even discarding anything she touched. Although Chu Chu was very grateful for Xiao Jinyu's tolerance and help, she had already decided to be a female coroner for life, and therefore did not want to see the dignified Prince An criticized because of her identity.
After understanding Chu Chu's true thoughts, Xiao Jinyu once again expressed his feelings, hoping that she would not care about outside gossip, as two people in love could overcome all difficulties. Chu Chu was inspired by Xiao Jinyu, and then let go of her worries. She admitted that she loved Xiao Jinyu in her heart, whether now or in the future, and so she proactively hugged him, promising to always stay by his side, never to be separated.
Although Xiao Jinyu got his desired lady, the most crucial issue now was to quickly find an exit from the cave. After all, Li Zhang daring to stay inside the cave indicated that there was still a secret passage leading to the outside.
Seeing Li Zhang lying unconscious on the ground, Chu Chu tied a pig-trotter knot on him, so no matter how much he struggled, he wouldn't be able to break free, and it would only get tighter, allowing him to be carried away with a carrying pole when going down the mountain. Xiao Jinli and others followed the cart tracks and found another cave entrance.
Everyone found the cart loaded with gunpowder, but they did not find where Xiao Jinyu was held. Leng Yue and Jing Yi argued endlessly over this, annoying Xiao Jinli greatly. He took the soldiers and continued to search deeper. The soldiers found cart tracks at the fork, but Leng Yue chose a swept-clean cave entrance, believing that Li Zhang had a guilty conscience and had sent people to cover up evidence beforehand.
Xiao Jinyu and Leng Yue were testing the wind direction separately, but only the two of them were familiar with this method. Chu Chu thought Xiao Jinyu was asking for a hug and proactively threw herself into his arms, unexpectedly creating a comical scene. Fortunately, Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu determined their location through the sound of water and, with everyone's help, left the cave along the ropes.
When Xiao Jinli sent people to carry Li Zhang out again, unexpectedly Xue Rucheng had already taken him away a step ahead. When Xiao Jinyu protected Chu Chu out of the cave, his arm was strained. Considering Xiao Jinyu's left arm injury, everyone could only return to the Chu family's small courtyard first. Old Mr. Chu helped reset his dislocated arm.
Just as he and Chu Ping returned with medicine, they heard Xiao Jinyu's confession to Chu Chu and immediately felt relieved. As Li Zhang's body could not be found, Jing Yi found an excuse to notify the officials to operate as usual, without panic. Xiao Jinyu believed that Li Zhang was a pawn in this coin minting case, and there was probably a mastermind behind it, so he decided to continue staying in Qianzhou.
General Leng received a letter from his granddaughter Leng Yue, which was originally just an ordinary family letter, but it made him feel confused. Meanwhile, Xue Rucheng's team encountered an attack on their way back to the capital, and he was scratched on the arm by an assassin.
Episode 26 Recap
Li Zhang is now missing, and the Prefectural Office suddenly caught fire last night. According to subordinates' reports, all those who set the fire were officers and soldiers of the Southwest Military Commissioner. However, Xiao Jinli only brought a few soldiers this time, so it's impossible for more than twenty people to appear out of thin air, unless they were dispatched from the camp, which would mean the person who gave the order was General Leng.
Coincidentally, at this time, Xiao Jinli finally found Li Zhang near the cave. However, Li Zhang was completely insane. After waking up, he knelt on the bed performing a grand ceremony, mumbling something that seemed to be related to His Highness. Xiao Jinyu felt a premonition of danger and quickly ordered Xiao Jinli to instruct his trusted subordinates to quickly cordon off the courtyard. No one was allowed to approach without permission, except for Leng Yue and Jing Yi.
County Magistrate Zheng Youde was forced to leave the courtyard. Only Leng Yue and Jing Yi were allowed to enter the house. As soon as they arrived, they saw Xiao Jinyu speak as Prince Chang. As expected, Li Zhang reacted quickly, directly prostrating himself before Xiao Jinyu, still in that panicked state. However, the information he revealed was baffling.
When Xiao Jinli heard Li Zhang shout that Prince Chang was of the legitimate bloodline, he quickly knocked the other party unconscious, as such words were a capital offense. However, Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi both believed that Prince Chang was still alive.
Even without concrete proof, the mastermind behind cutting off communications between Chang'an and Qianzhou and instructing Li Zhang to privately mint copper coins must be recruiting soldiers and horses under the banner of Prince Chang, plotting to usurp the throne. As this matter involved many parties, Jing Yi disagreed with returning to the capital rashly to report to the imperial court, rejecting Xiao Jinli's proposals one by one.
Xiao Jinyu believed that Feng Jie's murder during his inspection of military affairs was very likely related to this group. He feared that a large rebel army was in the Southwest, and if they were to act rashly and alert them, it would inevitably lead to a direct confrontation between the rebels and the imperial court, plunging the common people into war. Leng Yue, hearing Xiao Jinyu's analysis from the side, took out General Leng's reply letter.
Through the letter's content, she learned that strange incidents frequently occurred in the Military Commissioner's army, with several people going mad and committing suicide, suspected to be caused by evil spirits. Therefore, General Leng invited Xiao Jinyu to personally investigate. Although Xiao Jinyu knew that the other party had deliberately set a trap, he still decided to put himself in danger to find the true instigator.
Xiao Jinyu wanted to arrange for the Chu family to go to a safe place to protect them. However, he had not been able to fulfill his promise to take care of Chu Chu for life. He should have protected Chu Chu well, but now that the charge of being a descendant of a rebel still weighed on Chu Chu, he had to let Chu Chu take risks with him.
Instead, Chu Chu didn't mind at all and took the initiative to kiss him, in this way reassuring him. Their time together became increasingly sweet. Chu He stood outside the window, witnessing the whole scene, feeling uncomfortable. However, as long as he thought of Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu loving each other, he had no right to object.
Xiao Jinyu handed Chu He a token and the Chang'an address, stating that if Chu He was worried about his sister, he could visit Chang'an anytime. Because the journey ahead was extremely perilous, Chu Chu didn't care at all and was willing to follow Xiao Jinyu, no matter what difficulties they encountered. Leng Yue sat alone on the rooftop, drinking alone. On the surface, she seemed calm and unconcerned, but her worries were already clearly written on her face.
Only Chu Chu could truly empathize with the constant fear of a loved one committing a serious crime. Fortunately, Jing Yi was there to comfort her, which greatly relieved Leng Yue, though she was even more angered by General Leng's heartless behavior towards their parents.
Jing Yi comforted Leng Yue, saying that as mortals, it was inevitable to feel depressed by unconfirmed speculations, but she should also understand that the final truth might be completely different from what they currently imagined. Grand Secretary Jing received intelligence about the Military Commissioner's army camp, becoming increasingly aware of the dangers in the Southwest. Princess Xiping also discovered that someone was secretly investigating the secret of dismissing the servants.
Emperor Xuānzong of Tang was furious upon learning that Xue Rucheng had been intercepted and his prisoner snatched while returning to the capital, and now Xu Rugui's whereabouts were unknown. Qin Luan thought this matter was related to Zhou Han, but his expression changed drastically upon hearing that Zhou Han had failed.
Episode 27 Recap
The specific circumstances regarding the prisoner carriage being hijacked are currently unknown. After all, Xue Rucheng took this person away from Xiao Jinyu. The fact that these hijackers injured Xue Rucheng is enough to indicate that this matter is related to Prince Chang. Considering that a third party is working against them in the dark, Qin Luan notified Sun Mingde to find out the whereabouts of Xu Rugui as soon as possible. Zhou Han found no clues at the Boguzhai.
Instead, he conveniently took two jade ornaments. Qin Luan was utterly disappointed with him, and he ordered to continue guarding the Boguzhai, not to let any suspicious person go. However, after searching through various channels, Zhou Han finally apprehended two insiders involved in the Princess's Mansion incident from that year. They are a maid and a wet nurse. After his proper arrangements, they are already on their way back to the capital.
Qin Luan was somewhat satisfied upon hearing this news. He simply took Sun Mingde to Xue Rucheng's residence. On the surface, it seemed to be for a visit, but in reality, it was to discern the truth from falsehood. He even grabbed Xue Rucheng's arm tightly, causing his previously bandaged wound to reopen and bleed again. After Qin Luan left, Xue Rucheng's expression turned grim. He swore that once he ascends to power, he would definitely eliminate this person.
As Jing Yi needed to pretend to be injured or sick to infiltrate the medical office and gather information, Chu Chu imitated a folk remedy, using willow bark pasted on his calves and burning them to fake bruise marks. And then applying crushed croton beans, which could not be wiped off and looked so real that they could deceive ordinary doctors. To achieve the effect, Jing Yi had no choice but to choose an arm abrasion, thereby deceiving everyone.
Considering that military regulations restrict women from entering the main camp, even if General Leng sent a letter of invitation, Xiao Jinli still reminded Chu Chu and Leng Yue to be extremely careful. He was also worried about Jing Yi's acting skills. Xiao Jinli led everyone to the military camp. Fortunately, Jing Yi performed well, and his identity did not arouse suspicion.
In addition, Xiao Jinli explained that he had rescued soldiers while passing through Qianzhou, so he was quickly arranged to rest in the medical office. When Leng Yue saw General Leng, she still had an unwilling expression. General Leng, on the other hand, seemed accustomed to it. He not only personally came out to entertain Xiao Jinyu and others, but also had Deputy General Hou Bin detail the military situation.
Through Hou Bin's narration, Xiao Jinyu learned that the evil occurrences began half a month ago. Soldiers frequently went inexplicably insane. Due to different individual constitutions, the severity of the madness varied. Some recovered their senses after going mad, completely forgetting what had just happened, while others committed suicide in their delirium. Xiao Jinyu asked Chu Chu to take Leng Yue to examine the bodies.
However, General Leng believed that Leng Yue, not being a coroner, was not qualified to enter. Just as Leng Yue could not help but retort, Xiao Jinyu quickly spoke up to stop her, thus averting the conflict between the grandfather and granddaughter. According to Chu Chu's examination results, the three suicidal soldiers died from drowning, burning, and hanging, respectively. Each method of death was extremely painful. Logically, if one wanted to commit suicide, they could choose an easier method.
However, this counter-intuitive behavior truly puzzled Xiao Jinyu. Chu Chu believed that to find out the true reason, an autopsy was necessary. Xiao Jinyu readily agreed and instructed her to start preparing. Princess Xiping learned that Qin Luan had found the maid who had been dismissed from the mansion. So, she sent Lian Qiao to intercept Zhou Han's carriage at the city gate. However, she discovered that the maid had already been swapped by Qin Luan.
Under the maid and wet nurse's narration, Qin Luan confirmed that one of Princess Xiping's children was adopted from outside the mansion. Therefore, he instructed Sun Mingde to thoroughly investigate the child's origin. Because Lady Chen Ying and Princess Xiping were very close back then, even though she later died in childbirth, it is possible that, like Chu Chu, the child was born in a coffin.
If it could be confirmed that Princess Xiping adopted the remnants of rebels, Qin Luan could seize this opportunity to report to His Majesty, thereby wiping out the Xiao family in one fell swoop.
Episode 28 Recap
Xiao Jinli told Xiao Jinyu about the list of personnel who had left the army that he had investigated, and the two of them also found suspicious points among them. Moreover, during Xiao Jinli's absence, several bandits who had been incorporated into the barracks escaped. These bandits had all been trained under Hou Bin, and their training period was less than four months.
On the other side, while General Leng was not in the barracks, Leng Yue secretly sneaked in and searched everywhere, finally finding the letter he had hidden in a box. It so happened that General Leng returned from outside. Unaware of the other person's identity, he was about to draw his sword to capture her alive, but upon seeing it was Leng Yue, he immediately stopped.
However, Leng Yue completely ignored him, turned around and left, then handed the letter to Xiao Jinyu. Elder Jing learned from his butler that Qin Luan was secretly investigating the matter of the twins, so he ordered his people to continue tailing him and report his movements at any time. At this time, Qin Luan's birthday was approaching, and he was about to be promoted to Chief Eunuch of the Palace.
When Sun Mingde was checking the congratulatory gifts, he suddenly discovered that Boguzhai had sent a copper ruyi. Qin Luan saw the missing poetic lines on the back of the ruyi, and knew that Xu Rugui was in the other party's hands. If he wanted to take the person away, Qin Luan would have to go to the appointment himself.
As night fell, Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi met in secret, and he asked him about what had happened in recent days. According to Jing Yi, because the first injured soldier was from the medical institute, rumors of evil spirits at work spread from within the medical institute. Xiao Jinyu found it suspicious, so he specifically instructed Jing Yi to pay special attention to Wu Chen, the civil official in charge of military supplies.
Xiao Jinyu received a secret letter from Chang'an, knowing that the Princess's Mansion had encountered trouble. As for Chu Chu's autopsy results, they were far more complex than imagined. Although the specific reasons for the cases could not be clarified, the state of the deceased before death could generally be defined as being like living dead.
Because people no longer breathe after death, but the three deceased still had breath before dying, just unable to perceive pain, it was very similar to the widely rumored killings by evil spirits. Thinking of this, Chu Chu felt a chill in her heart. Xiao Jinyu saw she was somewhat scared, so he asked her to go to his barracks to rest first.
However, Chu Chu wanted to stay with Xiao Jinyu, so just as the two were staying up late investigating the case, Jing Yi suddenly appeared to be mad, as if deeply trapped in an illusion, seeing several soldiers about to take Leng Yue away, so he raised his knife and started slashing wildly at his surroundings. Fortunately, at the critical moment, Xiao Jinli stepped forward and knocked him unconscious, while Leng Yue helped with acupuncture treatment.
When Jing Yi woke up again, he no longer remembered what he had just done; all his symptoms were no different from those of the maddened soldiers. Chu Chu to prevent Jing Yi from being exposed in front of General Leng, subtly reminded him several times to remember his identity. General Leng could not get to the bottom of it, so he simply left the barracks first.
Hou Bin and Zhao Jie were suspicious of Jing Yi, but Xiao Jinli managed to brush them off. On the other side, Elder Jing learned that Xiao Jinyu and his party had gone to General Leng Peishan's army. Although Elder Jing knew that Prince An would have proper arrangements, he still sent a message to the southwest for the Jing family's people there to be ready to follow Jing Yi's orders at any time.
Under everyone's questioning, Jing Yi carefully recalled any suspicious people or incidents before his madness, and suddenly realized that Hou Bin had once delivered food to the medical institute, and his gaze was rather strange. As for anything else, there were no further issues, and Jing Yi had been extremely careful at the medical institute, even secretly changing his water and food when he drank and ate.
Leng Yue felt puzzled by Jing Yi's symptoms of madness, especially when she saw the ointment Xiao Jinyu brought to treat sores and toxins, she immediately thought of the Datura flower. Although the Datura flower is a good painkiller and valuable, the entire plant is poisonous, especially its seeds, which are highly toxic.
They have a slight sweet taste upon entering the mouth, and can even cause different levels of toxicity and lead to hallucinations depending on the number of seeds ingested. Leng Yue had once seen someone in Lingnan Mountain mix this medicine with other drugs to achieve the effect of Wushisan. According to Leng Yue's statement, most possibilities of poisoning were ruled out.
Jing Yi was no longer in danger, so Leng Yue planned to sneak into the barracks under the cover of night to put the letter back, but she was caught red-handed by General Leng. Because of this, Leng Yue learned the truth about the Ganlu Incident from General Leng's mouth.
She finally realized that she had misunderstood her grandfather for many years, and especially after taking his pulse, she discovered that he was already suffering from an old bone disease and did not have long to live.
Episode 29 Recap
Earlier, Xiao Jinli had discovered that more than twenty soldiers had left the camp to procure supplies. In fact, they were acting on Wu Chen's orders, and this number happened to match the number of people who went to set fire to the prefectural office. Xiao Jinyu stated that there was another group among those who kidnapped Xu Rugui that day, and their intention was clearly to capture Xu Rugui alive.
Moreover, someone in the army had indeed led a team out. However, Wu Chen himself had no military power to speak of. Therefore, Xiao Jinyu believed that there was someone with greater military power behind Wu Chen. Chu Chu asked if it was Leng Peishan, but Xiao Jinyu did not dare to answer rashly. At this moment, Xiao Jinli came to report.
He stated that the soldiers who went out to procure supplies were led by Hou Bin, and these soldiers were actually bandits who had been recruited. The two then prepared to go to Hou Bin's residence, but just as they reached the entrance, Hou Bin suddenly went mad and stabbed himself to death with a knife. By the time Chu Chu and others entered the barracks, Hou Bin had already breathed his last.
Chu Chu needed to perform an autopsy as soon as possible, because Hou Bin's wounds were severe, and if they delayed any longer, the evidence might disappear. Because Chu Chu needed to perform a dissection, Hou Bin's subordinates strongly objected upon seeing this. General Leng came in and reprimanded everyone, forbidding anyone from obstructing, and dispatched two people to accompany Chu Chu for the autopsy.
Xiao Jinli felt remorseful because Hou Bin committed suicide, stating that if he had arrived a little faster, Hou Bin might not have died. Xiao Jinli casually picked up an arrow from Hou Bin's barracks, claiming that when he first joined the army back then, Hou Bin was hit by an arrow protecting him. Xiao Jinli had originally wanted to take one of the arrows, but Hou Bin kept it to warn Xiao Jinli.
Xiao Jinyu was curious why Hou Bin shouted 'child' when he died. Xiao Jinli then explained that Hou Bin once had a loving wife who died in childbirth, and this had always been Hou Bin's deep sorrow. Just as Xiao Jinyu was comforting Xiao Jinli, he suddenly noticed a jar Hou Bin used to keep dung beetles.
He smelled it and found the scent a bit strange, thus realizing that Hou Bin had festering sores, and most soldiers in the camp used this folk remedy for treatment. Not long after, Chu Chu had completed the autopsy. She found that Hou Bin, like other corpses, seemed to feel no pain when committing suicide, and his abdomen had also been completely disemboweled by him.
Because Chu Chu found this situation, Xiao Jinyu guessed that the previous few people all had festering sores and had used dung beetles for treatment. Although Chu Chu said some details were unclear, it could indeed be concluded that the deceased had been exposed to dung beetles before their death. Meanwhile, General Leng tied up Leng Yue because he did not want her to be involved in the military camp chaos.
Leng Yue furiously cursed her grandfather, calling him a traitorous official and a villain, accusing him of being consumed by ambition and disregarding the lives of the Leng clan. General Leng angrily declared that everything he did was for Leng Yue and the Leng clan. While the grandfather and granddaughter were arguing, Xiao Jinyu arrived with Chu Chu. Xiao Jinyu asked General Leng if he had met Feng Jie.
General Leng replied that because he perceived his remaining time was short, he did not wish to publicize the matter, so he told Feng Jie about it and asked him to report it to the Emperor. He had thought that Xue Rucheng's new appointment as Minister of War was for this matter, but unexpectedly, he left without even coming to the military camp.
Xiao Jinyu told Leng Peishan the facts he had deduced, and only then did Leng Yue realize that everything her grandfather did was for her. At this moment, Chu Chu noticed that the moxa sticks used by Leng Peishan were somewhat strange. Leng Yue smelled them and discovered that the moxa sticks contained cinnabar, which would produce poisonous gas when burned. General Leng stated that these moxa sticks were given to him by Wu Chen.
Sure enough, when everyone went to Wu Chen's room, they found it empty. Through this incident, Xiao Jinyu confirmed his guess: the poisoner was Wu Chen, who had put the poison in the dung beetle jars that everyone used. Xiao Jinli also investigated the family situations of several soldiers who committed suicide. These people were not present when the incidents occurred in their homes, so they all felt very guilty inside.
And the hallucinations they experienced after being poisoned were all related to their suppressed inner pain. Leng Peishan sent people to track down Wu Chen, who was eventually found dead in a well. Chu Chu's autopsy concluded that Wu Chen drowned, dying between the fourth and fifth watches last night. However, Xiao Jinyu suspected that this person might have been killed by someone else and asked Chu Chu to examine the body in detail.
At this time, Han Ji in the imperial court was very displeased with Xiao Jinyu and demanded that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang recall Xiao Jinyu to the palace for punishment. However, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang did not blindly comply but chose to wait and see.
Episode 30 Recap
Based on General Leng's answer, Xiao Jinyu concluded that there was a larger conspiracy behind Wu Chen. After all, Wu Chen alone could not have achieved that level, and Wu Chen had no grudge against General Leng. Therefore, no matter what, Wu Chen had no reason to poison him, unless there was a mastermind controlling him.
However, Xiao Jinyu was currently unsure of who the other party was, so he could only speculate that this person was still within the military camp. Therefore, he needed to cooperate with General Leng to try and draw the person out. After hearing Xiao Jinyu say this, General Leng probably understood that someone intended to seize the camp, so he cooperated with Xiao Jinyu.
Since General Leng had been poisoned and was in very poor physical condition, Leng Yue carefully helped General Leng. After he sat down, she went to pour water, but to her surprise, General Leng couldn't even hold the cup steady. Seeing General Leng's body become like this, Leng Yue was both worried and sad. She vowed that after the military matters were over, she would personally take him to Chang'an to find the best doctor for treatment.
However, General Leng refused Leng Yue, claiming that he had more important things to do here than just his life, otherwise Leng Yue would not have followed Xiao Jinyu here. General Leng knew his own condition, so he did not want to witness chaos in the military camp at the end of his life. Leng Yue could not refute General Leng, but she still wanted him to take care of his body.
Faced with his granddaughter's plea, General Leng had no choice but to agree. Just at this moment, after the soldiers steamed Wu Chen's body and laid it flat on the table, Chu Chu had already prepared all the materials. Leng Yue brought over the freshly steamed plum cake.
Chu Chu ordered someone to turn the body over, then applied vinegar to Wu Chen's body, attached a piece of paper, and finally placed a piece of plum cake on top, waiting for a long time like this. Xiao Jinyu rushed over to inquire about the examination results of the body. Chu Chu said to wait a moment. When the time was almost right, she took down the plum cake and the paper.
With Chu Chu's subsequent actions, bruises appeared on Wu Chen's body. Because the body had been submerged in well water, it would normally take at least two days for bruises to show, but using this method, the bruises could be revealed quickly. After seeing the bruises, Chu Chu stated that Wu Chen did not commit suicide but was knocked unconscious and then thrown into the well, ultimately dying by drowning.
At this point, Xiao Jinyu already knew who that person was, so he and General Leng put on a show. As expected, Zhao Jie betrayed them and, with his subordinates, began to seize the camp. Because General Leng was well-prepared, Zhao Jie was ultimately captured. Just as Zhao Jie was about to escape, Xiao Jinli quickly chased after him. Due to the chaotic fighting, Xiao Jinli accidentally killed Zhao Jie.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Xiao Jinyu searched Zhao Jie's room for secret texts and also found unsent secret texts inside a brush handle. However, the secret texts were all patterns. Xiao Jinyu found the Shijing through books, and since Xiao Jinyu was very familiar with the Shijing, he quickly deduced the content of the secret text, thereby learning that the mastermind was in Chang'an. On this side, Qin Luan, who had received the bronze ruyi scepter, arrived at Boguzhai.
The owner of Boguzhai stated directly that Prince Chang wanted to cooperate with Qin Luan and threatened him with Xu Rugui. That year, Prince Chang's residence was brutally massacred during the night, and it was not mountain bandits who carried out the massacre, but imperial soldiers from the palace. Prince Chang, who was behind the owner of Boguzhai, was willing to join forces with Qin Luan to eliminate the tyrannical emperor and reclaim the throne.
Qin Luan had no choice but to agree, but when he spoke with Sun Mingde, he believed that eliminating Xiao Jinyu was the most important task at hand, and other matters could be addressed gradually. Later, he met Han Ji in the palace and, due to the previous incident, reminded him to act cautiously, otherwise, if the Emperor became angry, his entire clan might not be safe.
Leng Peishan found Xiao Jinyu to inquire about the true identity of the Qianzhou soldier they brought, because he noticed that his granddaughter Leng Yue looked at that Qianzhou soldier with affection and concern. Leng Peishan then guessed that this person was Jing Yi, the Deputy Minister of Dali Temple. Xiao Jinyu also admitted Jing Yi's identity.
Chu Chu examined the soldiers who were killed while seizing the camp with Zhao Jie and found that among them were not only bandits but also true soldiers. Xiao Jinyu suspected that there was more to this matter and asked Xiao Jinli to investigate.
Episode 31 Recap
Everyone found two identical account books in Wu Chen's barracks, thus deducing that he procured double the amount of supplies each time. Since he was able to pocket an extra sum of money, it must have been deducted from the military pay, which meant that the soldiers' salaries were the fake copper coins from this private coinage case.
Considering the serious implications of the matter, and having already pursued the rebels and seized their supplies, if they were to recover the fake money from the soldiers again, it would undoubtedly affect military morale. Therefore, Xiao Jinyu believed that they should not alert the enemy for now. Instead, they should quickly raise enough real money and secretly replace the fake ones. Leng Yue and Chu Chu wanted to contribute, so they handed all their personal assets to General Leng.
Despite this, General Leng gently refused, as no matter how difficult things were for him, he would not take money from two children. At the same time, Boguzhai received news and instructed their staff to prepare quickly to welcome the rebel army from outside the city at any time. The next morning, Jing Yi and others brought in several large boxes of copper coins to solve the urgent problem.
This stemmed from Xiao Jinyu's order to officials at all levels in Qianzhou to take five thousand copper coin samples from their storerooms and send them to the army, under the pretext of screening for privately minted copper coins. Furthermore, he ordered the military commissioner's army to send personnel to assist in the investigation. These officials naturally dared not disobey and were even afraid of being implicated, so they all conducted careful inspections before the copper coins left the treasury.
Once the imperial court allocated funds, the coins could be returned to their respective county offices. However, since the copper coin issue had been resolved, there was now an even more pressing matter. Xiao Jinyu re-examined the conscription situation in Qianzhou and suddenly discovered that the Qianzhou army had been frequently harassed by mountain bandits in recent years. Not only were they always defeated by the bandits, but they even had soldiers abducted by them.
Although Qianzhou had a history of banditry that was repeatedly suppressed but never fully eradicated, a major reason for this was naturally Li Zhang's intentional protection. Li Zhang first sent rebels into the Qianzhou army through conscription. After their training was complete, he would have them forcibly taken out of the barracks and mixed in with the mountain bandits. Then, when the military commissioner was ordered to suppress the bandits, they would voluntarily surrender and be incorporated.
In this way, large numbers of rebels changed their identities three times, naturally and continuously infiltrating the military commissioner's army, completely undetected. To prevent rebels from mixing in with examinees and entering Chang'an, Xiao Jinyu and his team decided to find a way to stop them. Little did they know that Qin Luan had already found a good reason to persuade Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and dispatched his Shence Army to guard the city gates, strictly preventing any misfortune.
Wu Jiang tried to leave the city but was stopped by Zhou Han. The two bickered for a while, and Zhou Han eventually gave up, angrily watching Wu Jiang walk away. During this time, General Leng had clearly seen that his granddaughter had someone she liked, and that person was the young master from Grand Secretary Jing's family. Although Leng Yue quickly denied it, her shy demeanor could not escape General Leng's sharp eyes.
That evening, General Leng proactively sought out Jing Yi for a heart-to-heart talk. Although he was dissatisfied with Grand Secretary Jing trying to arrange a marriage bestowal between Xiao Jinli and Leng Yue, he also knew there was a misunderstanding in the matter. Despite being at odds with Grand Secretary Jing, General Leng admitted that Grand Secretary Jing was a person who valued affection and hated evil like an enemy.
General Leng decided to temporarily stay with the army to stabilize morale and would not return to Chang'an with them. At this moment, he solemnly entrusted Leng Yue to Jing Yi, signifying his approval of this good match. Hearing this, Jing Yi was first surprised then overjoyed. He immediately rose and bowed deeply to General Leng, pledging that in this life, he would not seek achievements or fame, but only Leng Yue, to accompany him until old age.
According to reliable news from Wu Jiang, everyone learned that to prevent Xiao Jinyu from returning to the capital, Qin Luan had specifically set up an ambush of assassins along the necessary path into the capital, staking out day and night. Leng Yue sought out Luo Yan, the second-in-command of Zhenyuan Escort Agency, and asked her to have her brothers participate in a big show.
At that time, Luo Yan would impersonate Chu Chu to lure the enemy out, taking the opportunity to eliminate them in one fell swoop. As for Xiao Jinyu and his group, they had already left Qianzhou. Grand Secretary Jing received a letter from Jing Yi from Qianzhou and finally understood the whole story. He also blamed himself for rashly misunderstanding General Leng earlier, which almost led to a big mistake.
However, court officials were now all focused on the matter of the twins, and even Han Ji wanted to extract information from Imperial Physician Chen. Grand Secretary Jing proactively sought out Princess Xiping to inquire about this matter and frankly admitted that he had been entrusted by Xiao Heng years ago to secretly protect the princess's mansion, hoping to free her from future worries.
Episode 32 Recap
Through various clues, Elder Ge Jing has already deduced the identity of his eldest son, Xiao Jinli. As for the specific details, Princess Xiping still needs to truthfully inform him. Now that Qin Luan is secretly seeking out old acquaintances to use the child for his schemes, Princess Xiping is in a state of disarray. Her only option is to tell Elder Ge Jing the truth and ask for his help.
It turns out that long before Xiao Heng went to the Southwest, Madam Chen Ying anticipated this calamity. She simply drank a labor-inducing medicine, gave birth to her son, and then passed away. A servant from the Chen household brought the child to her doorstep. Princess Xiping, out of pity for the innocent infant and her deep affection for Madam Chen Ying, secretly adopted the child and falsely claimed to have given birth to twins.
After many days of arduous travel, the group finally arrived outside Chang'an City. Jing Yi blended in with a group of courtesans, successfully deceiving Zhou Han and entering the city. As for Chu Chu and Xiao Jinyu, they hid at the bottom of a food crate in Guangtai Tower. Although there were slight troubles during this time, they fortunately avoided suspicion.
At this time, Bogu Zhai had made proper arrangements within Chang'an City, just waiting for coordination from both inside and outside to welcome the rebel army into the city. Even though Xiao Jinyu had strictly instructed General Leng to seal off information, and no military reports were sent back, a tragedy ultimately could not be avoided. Especially when he personally witnessed the Xue residence catch fire and his mentor perish in the flames, he was immediately overwhelmed with grief.
While Chu Chu was examining the cause of Xue Rucheng's death, Xiao Jinyu, Jing Yi, and others investigated the surroundings of the Xue residence. They surprisingly found an issue on a pillar. Just as they were about to deduce the source of the fire, Xiao Jinyu suddenly thought of something, and his words came to an abrupt halt. Coincidentally, at this moment, Chu Chu hurriedly ran over and stated that the deceased was not Xue Rucheng.
It was clearly the corpse of a man around twenty years old, and the cause of death was strangulation before being thrown into the fire to create a false impression. The Xue residence's butler reacted intensely upon hearing this, accidentally dropping a Ministry of War Minister's token. Chu Chu then discovered several plants of "She Miemen" (snake-destroying) in the courtyard, a plant typically cultivated only by households in the Southwest. Because of Chu Chu's words, Xiao Jinyu suddenly understood.
To confirm Xue Rucheng's true intentions, he rushed to the Three Judicial Offices overnight to search through archives. He found a memorial from the Ministry of War, thus learning that Xue Rucheng had already obtained intelligence about the Southwest military, confirming his identity as the late emperor's son. The reason Xue Rucheng wrote the document in advance and left it at the Ministry of War was merely to prepare for two possibilities.
Since the uprising and capture of the camp were of great importance, Zhao Jie must have made an agreement with him. Counting ten days from the day of the camp's capture would be the latest day for urgent military reports to reach the capital, which happened to be today. If Zhao Jie succeeded, he could rebel in the name of Prince Chang. If Zhao Jie failed, he could instigate chaos within the court, buying himself time to maneuver and escape.
Just as Xiao Jinyu had expected, Xue Rucheng had planted his useful people and plotted until now. First, he used a dancer to kill Yan Ming, and then used the cause of Yan Ming's death to stir up public opinion about Prince Chang being alive, after which he raised an army under the banner of Prince Chang. However, despite Xue Rucheng having killed so many people, he never expected Xiao Jinyu to uncover the private minting of copper coins case.
After all, Xue Rucheng had planned to widely distribute the counterfeit money among the populace, causing the current court to lose all credibility, thereby winning back the people's hearts for his own use. Even the wisest person makes mistakes. Because of the intervention of Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu, Xue Rucheng's plan was obstructed.
He had intended to seize military power in the Southwest in the name of Prince Chang, but unfortunately, Xiao Jinyu had already preempted him and seized control of the Southwest. Now, Xue Rucheng's feigned death and escape were also to implement his next plan. He used a self-inflicted injury ploy to abduct Xu Rugui, and also obtained the secret of Xiao Heng's last will, using these to coerce Qin Luan into colluding with him.
At the same time, when Qin Luan learned that Xiao Jinyu and others had entered the city, he immediately instructed Sun Deming to arrange the subsequent actions. Afterwards, Imperial Physician Zhang was discovered to have hanged himself in his room in the palace, making the situation even more complicated.
Although the mastermind had been traced, Xiao Jinyu was still at a loss, even blaming himself that as an official of the Three Judicial Offices in charge of criminal cases, he not only failed to maintain stability for the Great Tang but repeatedly missed opportunities. Seeing this, Chu Chu's heart ached. She took the initiative to go and hug Xiao Jinyu, proclaiming that he had shielded the people of the Southwest from disaster, and such bravery deserved praise.
This made Chu Chu admire and feel relieved. She vowed to stay by Xiao Jinyu's side forever, sharing hardships together. Under Chu Chu's encouragement, Xiao Jinyu finally felt much better and resolved to bring Xue Rucheng to justice without fail.
Episode 33 Recap
Imperial physician Zhang Shu suddenly hanged himself. Han Ji searched for clues at the crime scene and found the pulse record placed on the table. It recorded Princess Xiping's pregnancy details. All signs indicated that the princess had only carried one child that year, but had falsely claimed to have two sons to the outside world. Xiao Jinyu brought Chu Chu to investigate Zhang Shu's cause of death and encountered Han Ji.
Just as Han Ji ordered his men to arrest Chu Chu, Xiao Jinyu fortunately appeared in time to stop them. Xiao Jinyu took out the certificate proving Chu Chu was a coroner of the Three Judicial Offices. Because of this certificate, Han Ji was not qualified to take Chu Chu away. After Han Ji angrily left, Chu Chu couldn't help but ask about the source of the certificate.
She then learned that even before the coroner's examination, Xiao Jinyu had already applied to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang for a blank certificate jointly stamped by the Ministry of Personnel and the Three Judicial Offices. As long as the information of the employed person was filled in, it would immediately become effective. Worried that Chu Chu might misunderstand him, Xiao Jinyu proactively explained the matter to her, hoping that Chu Chu could stay by his side forever.
Chu Chu pretended to be haughty, but still couldn't outsmart Xiao Jinyu, instead being teased by him. Their time together was exceptionally sweet and warm. Regarding the matter of Zhang Shu, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang personally interrogated Princess Xiping, with Grand Secretary Jing and others listening in. Han Ji presented evidence one by one in front of everyone.
First, he brought in the former wet nurse and maid from the princess's mansion, then revealed that Princess Xiping had adopted Chen Ying's orphan. To conceal this matter, she had dismissed all those who knew the inside story from the mansion. Now, in Han Ji's view, the reason Princess Xiping was not afraid of her servants speaking out was simply because she had privately detained their relatives, including the wet nurse and maid present.
Years later, the two eagerly longed for their families and saw the princess's two sons grow up, so they wanted to redeem their relatives from Princess Xiping. However, their request was refused, and they were even almost harmed. Even though Han Ji spoke with conviction, Princess Xiping still vehemently denied everything, finding it utterly ridiculous that Han Ji inferred she had threatened Zhang Shu and forced him to hang himself.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was convinced and intended to make Princess Xiping confess, but unexpectedly, Xiao Jinyu suddenly arrived. He directly stated his purpose and pointed out that the pulse record presented by Han Ji must have been forged by someone else. After explaining his view, Xiao Jinyu proposed re-examining the pulse record. He found that the paper of the pulse record was old, but the handwriting was new.
Furthermore, the ink used was a royal imperial product from three years ago, not something an ordinary imperial physician could easily obtain. Because Xiao Jinyu had previously simulated the crime process with Chu Chu, he concluded that Zhang Shu had been suffocated into unconsciousness before hanging himself. As for why the two imperial physicians saw Zhang Shu kicking the stool and hanging, it was entirely due to the killer's sleight of hand.
To present the crime process more intuitively, Xiao Jinyu specifically arranged a room to resemble a suicide scene, including its furnishings and the truth. Everyone went to observe. Unexpectedly, upon opening the door, they saw a dummy hanging from the beam automatically kick off the stool. However, it was only through Xiao Jinyu's explanation that they suddenly realized the truth.
It turned out that after suffocating Zhang Shu into unconsciousness, the killer deliberately hung a hemp rope from the beam and made it look like Zhang Shu had committed suicide. Then, a stool was placed diagonally at the deceased's feet, with the deceased's feet blocking the stool's surface. A brush was propped up at the point where the stool touched the ground, ensuring the stool would not fall.
When Han Ji arrived with the imperial physicians and pushed open the door, they would naturally touch the fine stick connected to the brush, causing the stool to fall with the brush, creating an illusion that made everyone mistakenly believe it was real. The killer painstakingly arranged this setup, which seemed perfect but actually had a flaw: he could not leave through the main door, only escape by jumping out the window.
However, in his hurried escape, the killer failed to notice that his undershirt was torn by a wooden splinter on the window sill, leaving behind a thread. Under Xiao Jinyu's interrogation, Sun Mingde dared not reveal his undershirt to prove his innocence and frantically pleaded with Qin Luan to intercede for him.
However, Qin Luan, knowing the plan had failed, simply twisted Sun Mingde's neck on the spot, claiming it was to eliminate internal threats and protect Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's safety. Nevertheless, Xiao Jinyu had enough evidence to accuse Qin Luan of being the mastermind. Xiao Jinyu reported the findings of his trip to the southwest, stating that he had found his father Xiao Heng and the evidence he left behind. He then immediately notified his subordinates to bring the relics and evidence to appear before Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in court.
Episode 34 Recap
Chu Chu faced the imperial power with neither servility nor arrogance, personally presenting the waist token carried by the deceased eunuch. It turned out to be from the imperial palace attendants, all under Qin Luan's jurisdiction. Qin Luan panicked at the sight and wanted to continue defending himself, but before he could even speak, he was rebutted by Xiao Jinyu into silence. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang discerned right from wrong and immediately ordered Qin Luan to be imprisoned.
He also held Han Ji accountable, removing him from his position as Minister of Justice, demoting him two ranks, and sending him home for half a month of reflection. Han Ji repented after this incident, realizing he had been deceived by villains and had wrongly served as a judicial official. He finally apologized to Xiao Jinyu, and the two reconciled silently.
Because Qin Luan's case was long-standing and involved many people, and also because Xiao Heng was implicated, considering his relationship with Xiao Jinyu, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang instructed Grand Secretary Jing to preside over the investigation, with the Three Judicial Offices assisting. Qin Luan's calm reaction after being arrested made Xiao Jinyu suspect he had a backup plan, warning Grand Secretary Jing to be extra cautious. With the wrongful case reopened, Princess Xiping finally put a worry to rest.
Moreover, this was originally her imperial son-in-law's last wish. Chu Chu also voluntarily returned the stone pendant; the two merged stones were the token of betrothal he used to seek the princess years ago. Xiao Jinyu learned through Chu Chu that he was Chen Ying's son, but he still regarded Princess Xiping as his birth mother. He was grateful for her years of nurturing and hoped to continue staying at the Xiao residence to serve Princess Xiping.
Even though the plan changed, Xue Rucheng still had a counter-strategy. Qin Luan, on the other hand, entered Dali Temple Prison as if he were returning home, dancing and humming a loose beat all the way to Grand Secretary Jing.
No matter how Grand Secretary Jing interrogated him, Qin Luan remained unhurried, even attempting to win over Grand Secretary Jing, asserting that the Emperor of Great Tang had a title but no real power, like flowing water that could change at any time. Xiao Jinyu observed Qin Luan from behind the interrogation room wall, discovering that he was constantly watching the clepsydra and calculating the time.
This indicated that the other party had made thorough preparations in advance, and if he couldn't return to the palace at the appointed time, there might be a change in the palace. Grand Secretary Jing and Jing Yi, following Xiao Jinyu's method, deliberately staged a "regicide" drama in front of Qin Luan, successfully extracting crucial clues from his mouth. After Grand Secretary Jing and the others left, Xiao Jinyu personally came to Dali Temple Prison.
Seeing Qin Luan still feeling smug, he shattered his scheme with just a few words. Compared to Qin Luan's cunning and treachery, Grand Secretary Jing was even more resourceful. He had anticipated that disrupting the clepsydra would be useless against Qin Luan, so he simply turned the tables, forcing Qin Luan to seal his own fate.
Despite this, Qin Luan was still fantasizing about the palace coup, believing that even if Xiao Jinyu possessed extraordinary abilities, he could never assemble troops within two ke.
However, just in case, Xiao Jinyu had long prepared two backup plans: first, betting that Qin Luan, having lived in the palace for a long time, was unfamiliar with the route from the Imperial Medical Bureau to Dali Temple Prison; second, asserting that Qin Luan was unfamiliar with the interrogation room of Dali Temple Prison.
The current location was actually the Yeting Prison within the palace, which meant it would take less than half a ke from here to Jiangshan Hall, and soldiers had already been ambushed all around, just waiting for the rebel army to appear. After Qin Luan learned the truth, his emotions became agitated. He then threw his head back and laughed loudly, crashing into a wall and dying. All of Qin Luan's followers were captured.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang narrowly escaped death and couldn't help but sigh that he had been protected by his Third Brother. At the same time, he commended the young eunuch Jin Bao, who had been undercover near Qin Luan for a long time, which allowed him to glimpse Qin Luan's ambition.
However, not long after Qin Luan's death, Zhou Han suddenly disappeared, and even the Divine Strategy Army was missing a large number of people, clearly indicating they had defected to Xue Rucheng.
Knowing full well that Zhou Han would be like adding wings to a tiger for Xue Rucheng, Xiao Jinyu still patiently awaited his opportunity, even instructing Wu Jiang to secretly escort Zhou Han out of the city, just waiting for him to become an advantageous move in the future. Meanwhile, Xue Rucheng incited the crowd in the name of Prince Chang.
Jing Yi investigated and found that Li Zhang's mother was once an embroiderer in Prince Chang's residence, and Zhao Jie's father was once a guard in Prince Chang's residence. As for the others, they all died in that coup, which is why they followed Xue Rucheng in rebellion. That year, Prince Chang left the palace due to smallpox, and before he left, he was treated by Imperial Physician Zhang Shu.
Therefore, why Zhang Shu was suddenly murdered was clearly related to Prince Chang's secret. As for the "Prince Chang" Xue Rucheng, who now wanted to force a palace coup, his true identity was Xue Tang, a household servant of the princely mansion. Precisely because Xue Rucheng had plotted for many years, seeing the throne just one step away, he would achieve his goal even if it meant snatching chestnuts from the fire.
Due to being unable to coordinate with Qin Luan from inside and outside, coupled with limited manpower, and an inability to accurately obtain information about Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, he could only seek suitable opportunities, such as extremely small banquets that could gather the emperor, imperial relatives, and loyal officials.
Episode 35 Recap
Leng Yue arrived at the gate of Leng Manor late at night. Jing Yi knew Leng Yue was going home to visit, so he took out the key given by General Leng and opened the main gate of Leng Manor. Seeing the scene inside her home, Leng Yue missed her parents and also understood why her grandfather had not returned to Leng Manor for many years.
Leng Yue thanked Jing Yi for what he had done for her, quietly kissed him, which greatly surprised Jing Yi. Inspired, Chu Chu decided to marry Xiao Jinyu. After all, when Prince An marries his princess consort, imperial relatives and court officials would definitely come to congratulate, thus luring out Xue Rucheng. However, Xiao Jinyu did not agree. He did not want Chu Chu to get involved in danger again, especially when it concerned a major life event.
Seeing Xiao Jinyu's concern for her safety, Chu Chu was deeply moved and became even more determined. Regardless of the good or bad fortune that would follow, they had already sworn an oath to stay together until old age in this life. Finally, under Chu Chu's persistent persuasion, Xiao Jinyu reluctantly agreed, as this was at least the only feasible method.
Considering that royal marriages always emphasize matching social status, Chu Chu anticipated that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang would surely oppose this marriage due to her background, and thus decided to give up her work as a forensic examiner. Although Chu Chu was a bit reluctant, her original purpose for becoming a forensic examiner was to eliminate evil, and now there was precisely such an opportunity.
Rather than having two people make sacrifices, it was better to bear the burden alone and protect Xiao Jinyu. Initially, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was furious upon learning of Xiao Jinyu's request for an imperial decree to grant the marriage. But when he heard of Chu Chu's great benevolence and righteousness, and moreover, that she was the descendant of loyal martyrs, he readily agreed and posthumously conferred the title of Imperial Son-in-Law on Xiao Heng.
Now that Xiao Jinyu's good fortune was approaching, the relationship between Leng Yue and Jing Yi was also gradually warming up. Just as the two were strolling on the street, they suddenly saw a man publicly shouting "Long live Prince Chang!" and then collapsing unconscious, with two lines of ink characters visible on the back of his clothes.
Fortunately, Xiao Jinyu had anticipated beforehand that someone would pretend to be supernatural in crowded areas of Chang'an, so he had them wait for the rabbit by the stump, and indeed, they made a new discovery. Xue Rucheng sent someone to abandon Xu Rugui on the street behind the Three Judicial Offices.
Xiao Jinyu inspected the wheel tracks at the entrance and determined from the details of the distiller's grains that it must have been a carriage from a distillery in the city. Xu Rugui, who had not been seen for many days, now seemed to be suffering from a severe illness, trembling uncontrollably and lapsing into unconsciousness.
Chu Chu, fearing Xu Rugui's condition would worsen, proactively helped him examine his wounds, while Xiao Jinyu, when he was lucid, successively posed several questions. Jing Yi debunked the mystery of the 'divine miracle' in front of the onlookers. Xue Rucheng knew his assassin had been exposed, but he had already made preparations and was calmly waiting to catch the turtle in the jar.
According to Xu Rugui's description, he only had fragmented memories, vaguely recalling being confined in a place with distiller's grains, where he was forced to swallow bitter medicine in addition to being fed steamed buns and plain water daily. Xu Rugui vaguely remembered that just before leaving, he was suddenly fed a pill by that group of people, and apart from that, he received no other food.
Xiao Jinyu could not understand why Xue Rucheng had not killed Xu Rugui; this became a key suspicious point. Coincidentally, Wu Jiang, while tracking Zhou Han, discovered that he actually led people to scout the Xiao Clan Ancestral Temple, seemingly planning some conspiracy. Based on Xu Rugui's symptoms, Leng Yue inferred that he seemed to be suffering from symptoms consistent with a small amount of ricin poisoning.
Logically, with his current poisoning symptoms, at most it would be a headache and fever, similar to a cold, and certainly not fatal. Xiao Jinyu guessed that Xue Rucheng's purpose in sending Xu Rugui here was to kill him, and the method should be related to the pill inside Xu Rugui's stomach.
Chu Chu felt something was strange upon hearing Leng Yue's description, and coupled with Xiao Jinyu's conviction that the pill Xu Rugui swallowed was problematic, she decided to personally use a knife to dissect out the undigested pill, promising to ensure Xu Rugui's life would not be in danger. Leng Yue volunteered to assist Chu Chu, while Xiao Jinyu and Jing Yi deduced the gathering place of the rebellious faction in the study.
Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
The pill Xu Rugui swallowed was nothing more than something that looked like gluten, mixed with castor bean poison on the outside, and refined mercury with Gelsemium elegans inside. Chu Chu noticed that Xiao Jinyu looked unusual and couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, but Xiao Jinyu quickly concealed his emotions and had Leng Yue send Chu Chu to the palace to prepare for the wedding.
However, as soon as Chu Chu left, Xiao Jinyu could no longer control his temper. Although he had suspected Xue Rucheng would have a conspiracy, he did not expect him to target Chu Chu. Because Xue Rucheng knew well that if Xu Rugui died in the Three Judicial Departments, Chu Chu would definitely perform an autopsy on Xu Rugui, and then toxic gas would spread, not only poisoning Chu Chu, but also killing Xiao Jinyu and others.
Thinking that the wedding day was two days away, Xiao Jinyu could no longer sit idly by. He took Wu Jiang to apprehend Zhou Han, forcing him to become an informant and infiltrate Xue Rucheng's side. Xue Rucheng learned that the plan had failed again, and became enraged, deciding to give a grand gift himself, as he had wished. Xiao Jinli received news from Xiao Jinyu, and led his people to Chang'an overnight, quietly awaiting further arrangements.
Xiao Jinyu noticed Luo Yan's token hanging from Xiao Jinli's waist, and thus thought their marriage was imminent, so he couldn't help but tease him. Compared to the tense atmosphere of the Xiao family, Madam Jing was quite pleased. She had no daughter to marry off, so she wanted to oversee and prepare Chu Chu's dowry.
Princess Xiping saw her younger son was about to get married, so she urged her elder son to put it on the agenda quickly, planning to introduce him to noble ladies from prominent families in the city. Just then, Leng Yue came in from outside. Princess Xiping took out a pair of family heirloom jade bracelets, giving one to Leng Yue for her to present to Chu Chu, and keeping the other one until Xiao Jinli took a wife.
Chu Chu was worried that Princess Xiping would disdain her status, but after seeing the jade bracelets, a great weight was finally lifted from her heart. On the day of the wedding, Chang'an city was bustling with grandeur. Both sides of the streets were filled with onlookers, watching as dozens of palace attendants carried the sedan chair and stopped in front of Prince An's Mansion.
Zhou Han led his men to stake out a nearby pavilion and instructed his subordinates to report the situation to Xue Rucheng. Only the Bogu Zhai Shopkeeper thought something was amiss and feared a trick. Just as Xue Rucheng intended to observe further, Leng Yue and Jing Yi suddenly led their people charging in. They had originally intended to use this opportunity to destroy the fake "Prince Chang's" lair, but instead, they were surrounded by the enemy.
Because he already had critical hostages in hand, Xue Rucheng did not have to worry about Xiao Jinyu's schemes, and grandly stormed into Prince An's Mansion. What was once a deep master-disciple bond had now turned into enmity. Xiao Jinyu publicly exposed Xue Rucheng's identity, angrily denouncing him for causing chaos under the false name of Prince Chang. Leng Yue and Jing Yi, moreover, would rather die than surrender, absolutely refusing to become his bargaining chips to restrain Xiao Jinyu.
In fact, long before the wedding eve, Xiao Jinyu had already contacted Elder Jing's family of three, as well as Leng Yue and others, and they had seriously discussed countermeasures. According to Xiao Jinyu's plan, Leng Yue and Jing Yi were to feign defeat and become Xue Rucheng's captives. Only by making him feel that he had gained the upper hand first, would he unleash his full power and fall into the trap set in Chang'an city.
Because Zhou Han would tamper with the ropes, Leng Yue and Jing Yi could seize the opportunity to escape. Xue Rucheng would certainly order Zhou Han to use the opportune moment when the backyard was empty to sneak in through the side door and head to Hengxiang Pavilion, where Chu Chu would be waiting, disguised as Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. The moment Xue Rucheng saw Chu Chu, he was instantly shocked.
Xiao Jinyu demanded to replace Chu Chu as Xue Rucheng's hostage, but in reality, he had set up a mechanism inside the door, calculating the range and angle, just waiting for Xue Rucheng to step within range to ensure a successful strike. Xiao Jinyu found it hard to part with the master-disciple bond of many years, so he asked if Xue Rucheng had ever been sincere.
Unfortunately, Xue Rucheng had been manipulative from beginning to end, ultimately disappointing Xiao Jinyu, who then struck a decisive blow, personally witnessing Xue Rucheng die on the spot. After the wedding that day, Chang'an city once again resumed its prosperous state, free from gloom.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, considering the Xiao family's meritorious service in eliminating corrupt officials, drafted an imperial edict to bestow rewards one by one, and approved Princess Consort An, Yun Chu Chu, to resume her identity as a forensic examiner, permitting her to assist Xiao Jinyu in investigating doubts, judging cases, warning against evil, and punishing wickedness.
