Episode Summary
In this episode, the investigation into "Old Cat" leads to Meng Buyi, who has a weak alibi that Su Wuming easily breaks. Pei Xijun draws a portrait of Yan Junxian based on a witness description, revealing him as a key suspect. We learn Yan Junxian is being controlled by his servant, Mingshi. The episode ends with both Meng Buyi and Yan Junxian confessing in the courtroom after being confronted with the evidence.
Spoiler Alert
Two Clients, One Mastermind
An Assassin Walks Into a Shop
The episode kicks off early in the morning. Tiger God strolls right into a silk shop. He is not there for the fabric. He announces who he is and immediately tries to kill Qian Zheng.
Luckily, Chu Yingtao shows up just in time to stop him. She demands to know who hired him. Tiger God refuses to talk. He says it's against the rules of his trade. Chu Yingtao decides to take Qian Zheng in for questioning. Qian Zheng tries to get out of it, saying he's too busy with his business. So, Chu Yingtao just gestures for Tiger God to finish the job. That gets Qian Zheng moving. He begs for his life and agrees to go with them.
The Man with Two Faces
Back at the Yongzhou government office, Tiger God still isn't talking. Su Wuming threatens to have Feng Tai, the guy in charge of the Ghost Market, kick him out. That threat works. Tiger God immediately spills the details.
Here’s the problem, though. The person he describes hiring him, "Old Cat," sounds completely different from the "Old Cat" that Qian Zheng describes. Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng are stumped. But Pei Xijun looks closely at the two sketches. She sees similarities. She picks up a brush and draws a new portrait. It shows the man's real face without any disguises. Xue Huan takes one look and identifies him. It’s Meng Buyi.
The Alibi Game
A Dead End at the Garden
Meanwhile, Meng Buyi is on his own mission. He goes to the medicine garden to see Yan Junxian. He wants to know where Hongyao is. Yan Junxian denies hiding her. Meng Buyi doesn't quite believe him. He asks why Yan Junxian didn't take Hongyao away from Pingkang Ward years ago if he loved her so much.
Yan Junxian is about to tell him the truth. Then he sees Mingshi approaching with tea. He quickly changes his story. He claims he abandoned Hongyao because he was worried it would hurt his career. Meng Buyi leaves, disappointed. On his way home, Xue Huan intercepts him and takes him to the government office.
A Drinking Contest Decides All
In the courtroom, Tiger God and Qian Zheng both point at Meng Buyi. They confirm he was the man who hired them. Lu Lingfeng starts his interrogation. He brings in A Jiang, who testifies that she saw Meng Buyi climb over the wall into his own house the night before.
Meng Buyi denies everything. He says an old clerk can prove he was somewhere else. He argues they have no real evidence and can't legally hold him. Then he just walks out.
Lu Lingfeng believes A Jiang is telling the truth. He has her describe the man who escaped with Hongyao to Pei Xijun. Su Wuming, who actually admires Meng Buyi's writing, still agrees to help Lu Lingfeng. He goes to check on the alibi. The old clerk brags that he's the best drinker in Chang'an and has never been beaten. He claims he definitely wasn't drunk and asleep that night.
So, Su Wuming invites the clerk to a sushan shop. He sets up a drinking contest with Master Fei. The clerk doesn't even make it through a few pots of wine before he's passed out drunk. Master Fei just shakes his head, completely unimpressed. The alibi is officially garbage.
A Portrait of a Suspect
While Su Wuming handles the alibi, Pei Xijun gets to work. Based on A Jiang's detailed description, she draws a portrait of Yan Junxian. Lu Lingfeng doesn't recognize him at all. Pei Xijun suggests they go to the Ministry of Personnel to check his official records.
The Puppet and the Master
We finally get a look at what's really going on at the medicine garden. Mingshi appears to be Yan Junxian's servant. But he is actually the one in control.
Yan Junxian gets back to his room and finds Hongyao is gone. He frantically asks Mingshi where she is. Mingshi turns nasty. He warns Yan Junxian to focus on growing his special herbs for the Emperor. If he steps out of line, he will lose everything. Mingshi reveals his whole plan. Once Yan Junxian becomes prime minister, Mingshi, the humble herb merchant, will hold the real power in Chang'an.
Yan Junxian is furious and argues back. Mingshi reminds him of his past as a house slave named "Shui Ji." The other servants have had enough of Mingshi's abuse. They jump in and start beating him up. Yan Junxian deliberately waits until they're finished before he steps in to stop them. He then pretends to be loyal to Mingshi. He suggests they just go home and retire. Mingshi flatly refuses. He shatters Yan Junxian's dream of marrying Hongyao and living a quiet life.
Confessions in the Courtroom
Right then, Lu Lingfeng and Pei Xijun arrive at the garden. They can tell Yan Junxian is hiding something, so they bring him back to the Yongzhou office.
As they walk in, they hear the justice drum banging. It's Meng Buyi. He's there to file a complaint.
In the courtroom, Meng Buyi finally confesses. He admits he did go back to his house that night to get some paper. When he went into his room, he saw a piece of clothing sticking out from under the bed. He knew immediately that Yan Junxian was hiding there.
Hearing this, Yan Junxian knows the game is up. He realizes Pei Xijun was able to draw his portrait. He confesses on the spot. Meng Buyi completely loses it. He lunges at Yan Junxian and starts choking him. Lu Lingfeng has to shout for the guards to pull them apart.
