The Imperial Coroner Episode 8 Recap
> The Imperial Coroner 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.
