Episode Summary
Qin Wan is summoned to the capital under a suspicious pretext. To protect her from the influential Marquis of Zhongyong, Yan Chi arranges for her to be adopted by the powerful Yue family. As she begins her journey with her sisters and friend Yue Ning, they are forced to stop in the eerie Sanyuan Village, which is rumored to be haunted by a monster. They find shelter with two mysterious doctors in a place filled with secrets, all while Yan Chi, delayed by a case, rushes to her side.
Spoiler Alert
Coroner's Diary: Episode 12 Spoilers
A summons to the capital sets off a chain of events that will change Qin Wan's fate forever. Qin Yan has arrived in Jingzhou with a royal decree: to escort the three Qin sisters to the capital. While the official reason is to celebrate the New Year, the political undercurrents are strong, with rumors swirling that the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong, Qin Zhaoyu, is the chosen candidate for Crown Princess. Qin Wan is immediately suspicious of the flimsy excuse for their journey. Meanwhile, Yan Chi is eager to return to the capital with Qin Wan but is held back by a new development in the Qingyuan Pawnshop case, which he has been given seven days to resolve.
With only four days left in Jingzhou, Qin Wan bids a difficult farewell to the Grand Princess. The princess is deeply concerned for Qin Wan's safety and future, fearing the wife of the Marquis of Zhongyong will hastily marry her off. She urges Qin Wan to fight for her own destiny and to send word if she encounters trouble. The goodbye is also emotional for Yue Ning, who considers Qin Wan her only true friend. In a surprising turn, Yue Ning's older brother attempts to propose marriage to Qin Wan, but Yan Chi swiftly intervenes. He devises a brilliant plan: he suggests that his aunt and uncle, the Yue family, adopt Qin Wan as their goddaughter. This would elevate her status and, more importantly, place her under their protection, freeing her from the Marquis's control over her marriage. The Grand Princess and the Yue family readily agree, and Qin Wan is officially recognized as a goddaughter of their powerful lineage.
The news of the adoption is met with sour faces from the Qin family, but Yan Chi is visibly thrilled, a fact not missed by the observant Grand Princess. Determined to protect her friend, Yue Ning decides to accompany Qin Wan to the capital, a city she hasn't seen in a decade. The Grand Princess consents and gives Qin Wan a valuable gift for her protection, warning her to keep it a secret from the Qin family.
Forced to stay behind, Yan Chi pays a secret late-night visit to Qin Wan's room. He gives her a token from Prince Rui's mansion, a powerful talisman that will serve as a protective charm in times of danger. Too exhausted to return to his post before dawn, he spends the night resting on her couch. As Qin Wan prepares to depart with her sisters, Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang, the Third Madam gives Qin Xiang strict instructions to win favor with the Marquis to secure a good marriage. In a touching moment, Qin Wan's Second Brother offers her his life savings for support. She accepts only a small portion, reminding him that he is the hope of their family branch and will always be her beloved brother.
The journey to the capital begins with an ominous detour. The group abandons the water route and seeks lodging for the night. They are directed to an inn past Sanyuan Village, a place whispered to be plagued by a man-eating monster. Unfazed by such tales, Qin Wan and Yue Ning press on. The village is unsettlingly strange, and the innkeeper's behavior only adds to the mystery. He speaks of a monster in the tea garden, and the hostile villagers demand that the outsiders leave. Their tense situation is diffused by the arrival of two physicians, Sun Muqing and Sun Haoyue, who offer them refuge at their home, the Baicao Garden.
The garden, however, holds its own secrets. As Qin Wan explores, a hand suddenly reaches out from a locked room; a steward quickly explains it's a patient of Sun Haoyue who becomes violent during his episodes. Later, Qin Wan accompanies Sun Muqing to meet Sun Haoyue, who is with his younger brother, Bai Feijue. They are invited to see Sun Haoyue's ailing wife, Bai Feiyan, but the visit is brief and strange. Sun Haoyue claims she is resting after taking medicine and keeps them at a distance. As night falls, Qin Wan clutches the token from Yan Chi, wishing he were there to help her uncover the truth behind the "monster." Unbeknownst to her, Yan Chi and Bai Feng are already racing on horseback to reach her.
