Episode Summary
A high-profile murder of a bride-to-be sets the stage for Qin Wan to showcase her hidden talents as a coroner. Navigating family politics and skeptical officials, she gains the cautious support of the noble Yan Chi. By performing a shocking autopsy, she uncovers crucial evidence, all while trying to keep the full extent of her abilities a secret from the increasingly suspicious and intrigued Yan Chi.
Spoiler Alert
Coroner's Diary: Episode 2 Spoilers
The ceremony is shattered by chaos when the bride in the ornate sedan chair is found beheaded. As guards rush the terrified Old Madam Qin back to the safety of her residence, her granddaughter, Qin Wan, seizes the opportunity. She lingers, carefully observing the corpse and eavesdropping on the initial interrogations. The bride, Song Rou, was the emperor's choice for the Crown Prince, making this a case of immense political importance.
The first accusation comes from a shocking source: Song Rou's childhood sweetheart. He claims the powerful Yue family was against the marriage and murdered her, demanding he be allowed to take her body back to the capital. Yan Chi, the commanding officer on the scene, immediately locks down the area. Believing the wedding procession holds the key, he detains everyone, refusing to let the man leave.
Seeing this as a chance to prove her worth, Qin Wan hides in a corner, determined to solve the crime. Her goal is to leverage this success to be recommended as an advisor in the capital. Yan Chi notices her lurking but, instead of chasing her away, he cleverly orders his Black Armored Guards to turn their backs to the sedan, giving her a clear, unobstructed view to examine the body. After a quick inspection, Qin Wan confidently concludes that the sedan chair was not the primary crime scene. Her investigation is briefly interrupted by a condescending official, Prefect Huo, who dismisses her insights and tries to have the body moved prematurely. However, once Qin Wan departs, Yan Chi quietly overrules him, ordering the sedan and the body to be moved with extreme care to the public mortuary.
Qin Wan's ambition worries her attendant, Fuling, who points out the danger of a woman seeking such a role and getting entangled with powerful, feuding families. But Qin Wan is resolute, needing only to win the approval of Old Madam Qin. Meanwhile, Yan Chi, though using Qin Wan, remains suspicious. His background check confirms she is an orphan who has lived a secluded life, yet her calm demeanor and sharp skills make him wary.
The political tensions within the Qin household flare up when a servant named Qin Shuang, instigated by Qin Xiang, taunts Qin Wan. The confrontation is overheard by the fiery Yue Ning, who threatens to cut out the servant's tongue before Old Madam Qin intervenes, reducing the punishment to twenty strikes with a rod.
Later, Yue Ning brings Qin Wan to see the Grand Princess. To help ease the princess's anxiety over the murder, Qin Wan reveals her expertise in autopsy. Impressed and grateful, Yue Ning immediately takes her to Yan Chi to be formally recommended for the case. Before Prefect Huo, Qin Wan again challenges the official's premature conclusion that the victim is indeed Song Rou without a proper autopsy. The dismissive prefect challenges her to solve another case to prove her abilities first.
Undeterred, Qin Wan proceeds to perform the autopsy herself. Her clinical and professional approach is a stark contrast to Prefect Huo and the local coroner, who both run outside, vomiting. Alone, Qin Wan discovers the true cause of death. In her moment of triumph, she realizes Yan Chi has been silently observing her the entire time. Wary that he is testing her, she makes a simple request: that he keep her skills as a coroner a secret. Intrigued more than ever, Yan Chi returns to his residence and orders his men to find all the books written by a man named Shen Yi, determined to understand the source of Qin Wan's unusual knowledge and ambition.
