The Imperial Coroner Episode 5 Recap
> The Imperial Coroner 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.
