Episode Summary
The episode sees two major deaths that deepen the central mystery. First, Madam Tan is found hanged in what looks like a suicide, but Qin Wan's autopsy reveals she was drugged with Datura seed powder, implicating Pang Fuliang.Soon after, Liu Renli is also found dead in a lake, with evidence suggesting murder despite appearances of suicide. The discovery of a large sum of money and clues related to stagecraft leads Qin Wan to suspect that the Shuangqing Troupe is connected to both deaths.
Spoiler Alert
Coroner's Diary: Episode 18 Spoilers
The episode kicks off with a tense moment as Qin Wan and Fuling, feeling someone closing in on them, instinctively push the person into the water. To their surprise, it's the Pang family's eldest son. When his younger brother mocks him, the enraged eldest son tries to attack them but is stopped by Qin Wan.
The plot quickly thickens when a maid discovers Madam Tan hanging from a beam in her room. Yan Chi and Bai Feng rush to Qinghui Garden upon hearing a signal whistle. At the same time, Qin Yan, Liu Renli, and Pang Fuliang are informed of her death. Qin Wan and Yan Chi arrive to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the enigmatic Madam Tan.
Liu Renli immediately accuses Pang Fuliang of murder, but Pang Fuliang denies it, warning that if their past secrets are exposed, none of them will escape. Qin Wan's initial examination suggests suicide, but she determines an autopsy is necessary to be certain.Meanwhile, a hungover Yue Ning and Yan Li return, and upon seeing Qin Wan performing the autopsy, they both feel sick to their stomachs.
The autopsy reveals a crucial clue: Datura seed powder.When questioned, Pang Fuliang admits that Madam Tan had visited him the previous day. She had proposed a deal: a thirty percent stake in the Shifang Inn in exchange for the Shuangqing Troupe. He claims he refused and threw her out. With conflicting evidence in two consecutive cases, Qin Wan is puzzled, but Yan Chi reassures her.
Later, the Pang's eldest son attempts to make a move on Qin Wan under the guise of bringing her lamp oil, but a drunk Yue Ning and Yan Li quickly chase him away. Annoyed by his advances, Yan Li has the eldest son beaten up. When the injured man demands treatment from Qin Wan, she uses her acupuncture needles to inflict considerable pain, much to Yue Ning's delight. Yan Chi then assigns Yan Li and Yue Ning an important task: to investigate the Shuangqing Troupe by questioning their rivals. Their investigation is spurred on by the news that Li Muyun has taken the salt transport ledgers back to the capital, leaving Liu Renli in a state of constant anxiety.
In a touching moment, Yan Chi gifts Qin Wan a handwritten journal by Shen Yi. Their moment is interrupted by the sound of opera singing. They investigate and find Qing Niang searching for her mistress's adopted daughter. Their search leads to a horrifying discovery: Liu Renli is dead in the water. Pang Fuliang suggests it was suicide out of guilt, pointing to the official seal left behind. However, Qin Wan notices white powder on the deceased's mouth and nose, as well as a spear wound, indicating the former civil official had never stopped his martial arts training. When a staggering 100,000 taels in silver notes are recovered from the lake, Qin Wan immediately connects the death to the stage tricks of the Shuangqing Troupe, certain they are deeply involved in the murders.
