The Imperial Coroner Episode 4 Recap
> The Imperial Coroner 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.
