The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Episode 32 Recap
> The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Recap
Sui Zhou's hands trembled while he cooked, a sudden tremor that left him unsettled. He was plagued by nightmares, which had become so intense that he almost harmed Dong in his sleep, telling her not to come close when he was sleeping. Tang Fan and his friends were deeply concerned about Sui Zhou's distress, and their care touched him greatly.
Sui Zhou confessed that he frequently dreamed of battles, specifically recalling camping in the wild when the enemy attacked at midnight. He described his fellow soldiers falling one by one, horses trampling over their bodies, and enemy soldiers carrying severed heads, driving them into a cave. Those who couldn't enter the cave were used to block the entrance and then burned alive, their agonizing cries and the smell of burning flesh filling the air.
He remembered his comrades begging him to end their lives. Tang Fan acknowledged the brutal nature of war, stating that every conflict obliterates happiness, leaving only a landscape strewn with corpses and rivers of blood. He recited a verse lamenting the endless war-torn mountain roads, where fallen soldiers' bones outnumber autumn's withered grass. Tang Fan empathized with the veterans who, despite surviving the battlefield, remain trapped in a purgatory of the mind.
Dong, in turn, apologized for disturbing Sui Zhou, reassuring him that she no longer blamed him and that he would eventually heal with time. Meanwhile, Tang Fan spoke with his sister, Tang Yu, about Pei Huai. Tang Fan tried to soften Tang Yu's impression of Pei, who she dismissively called a "playboy."
Tang Fan defended Pei's character, explaining that while he might have been a romantic in the past, he believed that a man could change for the woman he truly loved. Tang Fan then presented Tang Yu with a box of rouge, revealing that Pei Huai had purchased it as a gift for her, suggesting she had misunderstood his intentions. Tang Yu admitted her initial judgment was based on his past reputation.
Tang Fan emphasized that outward appearances and past reputations were fleeting, and instead asked if she had been happy in Pei Huai's company recently. Tang Yu teasingly accused Tang Fan of being "bought" by Pei, but Tang Fan insisted his efforts were solely for her well-being. Tang Yu confessed that she was aware of Pei Huai's feelings and grateful for his care of her and her son, Cheng.
However, as a divorced woman with a child, she feared she would be a burden to him. Tang Fan quickly countered that Pei Huai himself considered her and Cheng to be his happiness, not a burden. Later, Wuyun delivered Aras's past financial accounts and cargo lists to Tang Fan, which Tang Fan had requested to uncover Aras's associates and find clues.
While Tang Fan reviewed the documents, noting the beautiful calligraphy, Qingge unexpectedly appeared in the Iron Market, claiming she was moved by Dora and Aras's story and wished to meet Dora. Tang Fan introduced them. Qingge expressed her admiration for Dora's deep affection for Aras and asked Dora not to mind her humble background. Dora welcomed her, asserting that on the prairie, an eagle's origin was irrelevant.
As they bonded over horses, Qingge revealed her own tragic past, having become an official slave after her father broke the law, eventually being sold to a brothel. She acknowledged her difficult life but claimed to have come to terms with it, like a true prairie person.
Qingge admired Dora's profound love for Aras, admitting her own inability to compare, and offered her insights into men's psychology, gained from her life in the brothel, to help Dora understand Aras's potential feelings. Separately, the Oirat delegation arrived to pay homage to the Ming Emperor. Ding Man, greeting them at the palace gate, grew visibly tense upon seeing a specific ring on the lead envoy's hand.
The envoy then asked Ding Man to verify the tributes and discreetly handed him a hidden note. Later, when the Emperor instructed Ding Man to deliver a memorial to the Minister of War, Ding Man secretly broke the wax seal to read its contents. The memorial stated that the "Blinding Sun" machine crossbow had successfully been tested and returned to the capital, but required minor adjustments by Prince Consort Wang Xian of the Bureau of Provisions.
After reading, Ding Man carefully resealed the document. It was revealed that Aras was, in fact, Ding Man, who had received secret orders from Oirat to capture Wang Xian. Ding Man informed his co-conspirators of Wang Xian's habits: leaving the Bureau of Provisions promptly at "Xushi" (7 to 9 in the evening) for his mansion, always carrying his design drawings, believing his residence was the safest place for them.
Ding Man outlined their plan: at 7:15 PM, they would dig a ditch on Bao'ensi Road to Fuma Avenue, forcing Wang Xian's carriage to detour through Shuangta Temple to the secluded Shoushuitang, where they would ambush him to obtain the "Blinding Sun" design drawings.
When a subordinate voiced concern about the Imperial Guards' constant surveillance on the Oirat delegation, Ding Man dismissed it, stating he had placed decoys within the delegation, as the Guards perceived all Oirats as looking similar, ensuring their operation would not be hindered. Back at Tang Fan's residence, everyone tried various folk remedies to help Sui Zhou with his nightmares. Tang Fan offered him a "soothing decoction" from a medical book.
Tang Yu suggested drawing circles on the western wall while chanting a specific phrase, a method that had worked for her son, Cheng. Dong recounted how a pair of scissors placed under her pillow by Mrs. Li had cured her nightmares. Dora offered a prairie custom: snuggling a bag of millet for a peaceful night's sleep.
Pei Huai, while expressing skepticism about these "metaphysical" methods, gently criticized Sui Zhou's hard pillow and offered his own soft, beloved pillow, jokingly warning him not to drool on it. Deeply touched by their genuine concern, Sui Zhou expressed his profound gratitude and agreed to try all their suggestions, from the scissors and millet to the decoction. Tang Fan then invited Sui Zhou to see the fresh mandarin fish he and Dong had bought.
Afterward, Pei Huai approached Tang Yu in the kitchen and handed her his house deeds. He explained that he would feel more at ease if she held them, seeing as his own place was messy. Tang Yu playfully threatened to throw them into the stove, but Pei Huai reiterated that the deeds were now hers to do with as she pleased. He emphasized that while the deeds were valuable, his feelings for her were immeasurably more so.
Moved by his sincerity, Tang Yu returned the deeds to him, asking him to keep them, and formally entrusted herself and Cheng to his care. Pei Huai then presented them with a dish he had prepared, "By Your Side," congratulating them on their new path together. Elsewhere, Tang Fan continued his investigation. Qingge brought him accounts from the palace, specifically detailing the in-and-out records of rare medicinal ingredients.
She questioned why he, a Ministry of Punishments official dealing with local cases, needed palace records. Tang Fan explained he was tracing the antidote given to Dora, as some of its precious ingredients were not found on the market. He promised to return the account book within two days. As Tang Fan sat at his desk, practicing calligraphy, Qingge observed him. She commented on his calligraphy, describing it as "magnificent, powerful, sturdy, unique, and out of the ordinary."
She deduced that the writer was a "tough and steady" person who would "never stop until they achieve their goals" and "would not even hesitate to hurt themselves" to succeed. Tang Fan, seemingly impressed by her insight, continued his calligraphy practice. Later, he decided to go out, asking his subordinate to cover for him. While Tang Fan was busy with these investigations, he unknowingly drew closer to the truth about Ding Man's identity.
Unbeknownst to him, Qingge was operating under the orders of Li Zilong, approaching Tang Fan under the guise of assistance, but in reality, seeking to covertly acquire his investigation findings. Later that evening, at "Xushi", Ding Man's men executed their plan, ambushing Wang Xian's carriage and stealing the "Blinding Sun" design drawings. Wang Zhi and Sui Zhou immediately arrived at the scene.
Wang Zhi quickly informed Sui Zhou that this was a "top-secret case," instructing him to keep the Imperial Guards on the periphery and not to interfere further. He also ordered other city warding soldiers to clear the area. Sui Zhou then directed Xue Ling and other Imperial Guards to search the vicinity for any clues left by the perpetrators. Wang Xian's kidnapping sent shockwaves through the imperial court.
During a discussion among ministers, one voiced concern over the security lapse, especially given the "Blinding Sun"'s recent successful tests and its potential to revolutionize Ming's military standing. Another minister suggested the Oirat delegation, still in the capital and residing in the Iron Market, were responsible and should be immediately arrested. He warned that any delay could endanger Wang Xian. Wang Zhi, however, offered a more cautious perspective to the Emperor.
He asserted that the kidnappers' sole aim was the "Blinding Sun" machine crossbow, and therefore, Wang Xian, as a Prince Consort and a weapon expert, would likely be kept alive for the time being. He stressed that any rash action could destabilize Ming's diplomatic relations, impacting the entire situation. The Emperor then charged Wang Zhi with the investigation, granting him three days and ordering the Eastern Depot and Imperial Guards to cooperate with the Western Depot. His final instruction to Wang Zhi was paramount: the utmost priority was to locate Wang Xian's whereabouts, and under no circumstances should anyone be allowed to take him away alive.
