Episode Summary
Qin Wan's push for an autopsy on Song Rou is met with resistance, leading her to suspect Wei Yanzhi. She sets a trap during the Lantern Festival to expose him, but it backfires into a real ambush, from which Yan Chi saves her. Using the attack as leverage, Yan Chi forces the approval of the autopsy. Despite an arson attempt on the mortuary, Qin Wan, with Yan Chi's help, examines the body and discovers Song Rou was pregnant, while the Duke of Songguo's head guard is implicated in the fire.
Spoiler Alert
Coroner's Diary Episode 4: A Fiery Revelation
The investigation into Song Rou's death takes a sharp turn as Qin Wan's suspicions of foul play intensify. Based on the discovery of white-toothed ants near the body and the possibility that Song Rou was having a secret affair before her marriage, Qin Wan is convinced that only a full autopsy can reveal the truth. However, her path is immediately blocked. Wei Yanzhi, a key figure in the case, reacts with fury at the mere mention of an autopsy, flatly refusing to allow it. Prefect Huo, wary of angering the powerful Duke Song, seizes on a convenient excuse when his son discovers bloodstains in a nearby banyan grove, using it to postpone the examination.
Angered by the obstruction, Qin Wan's resolve only hardens. The ever-supportive Yan Chi explains the political landscape to her: with the Emperor himself now taking an interest in the case, any attempt by Duke Song to block the investigation would cast deep suspicion upon him. With this understanding, Qin Wan realizes Yan Chi is her ally. She confides in him that she suspects Wei Yanzhi, not just for his opposition to the autopsy, but because he couldn't meet her gaze and his grief seemed disingenuous. Together, they devise a plan: Qin Wan will announce a third, more thorough examination of the body to lure the killer into the open. She believes that during the upcoming Lantern Festival, the culprit will see an opportunity to silence her for good.
The Lantern Festival arrives, a vibrant and chaotic backdrop for Qin Wan's dangerous gambit. Accompanied by Yan Chi, Yue Ning, and an uninterested Wei Yanzhi, she navigates the bustling streets. As planned, Qin Wan separates from the group, knowing Yan Chi is watching over her from the shadows. She boards a decorative lantern float, creating a public spectacle before seemingly vanishing into the night. Yan Chi, feigning panic, begins a frantic search.
Meanwhile, Qin Wan trails a mysterious limping figure she believes to be her quarry. However, she walks directly into a trap and is nearly crushed, only to be saved at the last second by a "coincidentally" passing Yan Chi. The ambush was real, but the target was a decoy; the true Wei Yanzhi was miles away, calmly enjoying music in a teahouse. The failed trap reveals two things: the killer is desperate, and they are connected to the Song family, as Yan Chi's man, Bai Feng, confirms the ambushers were from the Duke's mansion. During the commotion, Qin Wan discovers a fresh wound on Yan Chi's back, a testament to the real danger he faced protecting her.
Armed with proof of the attack, Yan Chi confronts Prefect Huo the next day. He leverages the assault, framing it as an attack by the Song family, to pressure the prefect into finally authorizing the autopsy. That night, as if on cue, the public mortuary is set ablaze—a last-ditch effort to destroy the evidence. But Yan Chi anticipated this. He escorts Qin Wan to the still-smoldering building, where he had already prepared a set of examination tools. Amidst the ashes, Qin Wan performs the autopsy and makes a shocking discovery: Song Rou was pregnant. The final piece of the puzzle falls into place when Prefect Huo's men produce a sketch of the man who bought the oil for the fire—it's none other than the head guard of Duke Song's household.
