The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Episode 47 Recap
> The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Recap
Disguised as beggars, Tang Fan and Wang Zhi shared a meal at Dong's Restaurant, discussing the unfolding crisis. Tang Fan had deduced that Li Zilong's true intention was to lure the Emperor out of the palace, kill him, and then collude with treacherous officials Wan An, Wan Tong, and Shang Ming to seize control of the royal court by crowning the young prince.
Tang Fan noted that the city was under martial law, with authorities pursuing Sui Zhou and the Emperor, but no one would notice two humble beggars. He also mentioned that he had figured out who leaked their plan, but deemed it unimportant for now. Tang Fan recounted how he had last seen the Emperor, explaining that he had used Yang Fu as a decoy to allow Sui Zhou to escape with His Majesty through a secret tunnel from Huanyi Brothel.
They decided to separate for safety, agreeing to use Dong's Restaurant as a contact point while remaining in disguise. Wang Zhi then instructed Little Loach, a small beggar, to contact Ding Rong to prepare for reclaiming the Western Depot, and to discreetly inform Noble Consort Wan of their situation. He also tasked Little Loach with finding the whereabouts of the Emperor and Sui Zhou.
Meanwhile, Dong, deeply worried about Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, secretly left Tang Yu and her companions after they fell asleep. She hurried back to the capital, where the wanted posters for Tang Fan and the news of Wang Zhi's supposed death initially disheartened her. However, she found Tang Fan, still in beggar's attire, at his old residence.
Relieved that Tang Fan, Wang Zhi, and Sui Zhou were all safe, she followed Tang Fan’s instructions to go to Dong's Restaurant and await news. Elsewhere, Sui Zhou and the Emperor were hidden at Fayuan Temple. Sui Zhou relied on Miss Yu to gather intelligence from the city. He learned of Wang Zhi’s supposed death, with his body displayed in the streets, and that Tang Fan was now a wanted fugitive, accused of attempted assassination.
The city was under strict martial law. Sui Zhou concluded that someone was up to an evil scheme, exploiting the Emperor's absence. To ensure the Emperor's safety, he decided to remain hidden at the temple and asked Miss Yu and Xiulian to continue gathering information, especially about Tang Fan. Unaware of the intricate network working against them, Wan An, Wan Tong, and Shang Ming were strategizing their next steps. Wan Tong expressed apprehension about the Emperor's possible return.
However, the more cunning Wan An and Shang Ming had prepared for both outcomes. If the Emperor returned safely, they would eliminate Li Zilong and appear as loyal officials. If the Emperor truly returned to Heaven, they would ascend as regents to the young Crown Prince, thereby seizing control of the court. In either scenario, Li Zilong's fate was sealed. Their immediate priority, they decided, was to eliminate Sui Zhou and Tang Fan, whom they dismissed as mere "minions."
At Dong's Restaurant, Qingge observed Dong's anxious wait and shrewdly deduced that Tang Fan must still be in the capital. Playing on Dong's innocence and her feigned interest in chess, Qingge managed to extract details about Tang Fan's current "chess game"—which was, in fact, his intricate strategic plan. Dong, hoping to help Qingge win and distract Tang Fan from his perceived obsession, unknowingly revealed crucial elements of his deductions.
Wang Zhi, through Little Loach, successfully connected with Ding Rong, who was disguised as a vendor. Wang Zhi ordered him to prepare to reclaim the Western Depot and contact Noble Consort Wan. Simultaneously, Sui Zhou utilized Fayuan Temple's connections to reach Xue Ling. A monk relayed the Emperor's verbal decree to Xue Ling, instructing him to ready his forces at the Northern Administrative Court and await Sui Zhou's command to reclaim the Yamen, facilitating the Emperor's return to the palace.
Xue Ling, deeply honored, assured the monk that his men were prepared and awaited Sui Zhou's orders for a full-scale assault. Dong diligently served as a crucial link, relaying information between all parties. She informed Tang Fan that the Emperor and Sui Zhou were safe, that Sui Zhou was mobilizing the Imperial Guards, and that Wang Zhi had contacted Ding Rong to reclaim the Western Depot.
Armed with this vital intelligence, Tang Fan, who had finally completed his strategic "chess game," relayed his own counter-offensive plans back to Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi through Dong, initiating a coordinated assault. Just as the final operation was about to commence, Tang Fan discovered that Dong, in her naive attempt to help, had unwittingly revealed all their plans to Qingge. The element of surprise for their counter-offensive was now lost.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tang Fan instantly understood that Li Zilong's faction had won this intelligence battle. Concerned for Wang Zhi's safety, Tang Fan initially intended to send Little Loach to warn him, but then realized Wang Zhi was likely already en route to the Western Depot. He frantically instructed Little Loach to warn Sui Zhou. However, it was too late. Sui Zhou, who had just infiltrated Wan Tong's room, was discovered and ambushed by prepared guards.
The multiple counter-attack routes plunged into extreme peril. Wang Zhi was betrayed by Ding Rong, who had been swayed by Shang Ming's offer of the Western Depot commander position. Sui Zhou was ambushed by Wan Tong's men. Noble Consort Wan, attempting to rescue the Emperor, was blocked by Wan An, who feigned loyalty while citing martial law as an excuse to keep her confined. The Emperor remained surrounded by Li Zilong's forces. With all his allies trapped, Tang Fan was left with no choice but to take a desperate, high-risk gamble.
