Episode Summary
In this episode, Yan Junxian and Meng Buyi both give conflicting stories about their relationships with Hongyao and the night of the murder. Su Wuming develops a theory that the victim was killed by a rare purple snake. The investigation leads them down a path involving valuable snake venom and shady pharmacy deals. The final shocking twist reveals that Hongyao and the servant Mingshi were in love all along and were manipulating everyone.
Spoiler Alert
The He-Said, He-Said in Court
Yan Junxian's Side of the Story
So, Yan Junxian finally tells his story in court. He says that seven years ago, he was stressed about his big exams. He went out drinking with some friends in Pingkang Ward. That's where he met Hongyao. She was the top courtesan. He claims they fell head over heels in love.
From his perspective, Hongyao was never into Meng Buyi. He paints Meng Buyi as just some poor snake catcher from the countryside. He calls him cheap and says he was never good enough for her. It's a pretty low blow.
Meng Buyi's Version
Meng Buyi gets furious when he hears this. He fires back. He accuses Yan Junxian of being the one who abandoned Hongyao. Yan Junxian has an excuse, of course. He says he spent all his money bribing an exam official. He couldn't afford to buy Hongyao's freedom.
Because Yan Junxian bailed, Hongyao tried to kill herself by jumping into a river. Meng Buyi saved her. That's how they ended up getting married. But their marriage was a mess. Hongyao was used to a lively, noisy world. Meng Buyi was quiet and withdrawn. He was obsessed with his weird books about monsters and ghosts. He wasn't exactly a romantic husband. The distance between them just grew.
After they moved to Chang'an, he was too stingy to take her out. He always used work as an excuse. He started to suspect she was secretly seeing Yan Junxian again.
The Real Story of the Murder Night
Two Men in a Closet
Yan Junxian continues his story about the night of the murder. He claims Hongyao invited him over. She supposedly wanted his help getting her husband a better career path. He says things got heated. They almost slept together. But then Zhang San showed up unexpectedly.
This forced Yan Junxian to hide under the bed. Zhang San used to be one of Hongyao's rich patrons. He's broke now. He just came back to collect some silver he had left behind years ago.
Just then, Meng Buyi came home. Zhang San panicked and hid in the wardrobe. Suddenly, a strange noise came from inside the wardrobe. Before Yan Junxian could figure it out, he and Hongyao just ran for it.
Pei Xijun and Lu Lingfeng listen to all this. They feel like both men are leaving out the most important parts. They don't have any real evidence, though. They have to let them go for now.
Su Wuming's Snake Theory
The Legend of the "First-Grade Purple"
Su Wuming is busy reading Meng Buyi's collection of strange tales. A story about a snake demon gives him a huge idea. He grabs Master Fei and heads out, leaving Chu Yingtao to run the dessert shop.
He re-examines Zhang San's body. He tells Lu Lingfeng his new theory. He thinks a purple snake strangled Zhang San. The man passed out and then fell from the wardrobe. This would explain why the knife in his hand was clean. It just fell beside him.
Su Wuming also found old records about this specific snake. It's called "Yipin Zi" or "First-Grade Purple." It comes from a place called Dongyi Island. The islanders there are known for their strange and secret arts. Years ago, the island's chief visited Chang'an. He felt he was treated poorly, so he got angry. He dumped all his special island products into the Qujiang River. This included live "Yipin Zi" snakes.
The snake's venom is a powerful medicine. It can live for sixty years. When it hits that age, its venom turns from red to purple. If you harvest it live at that point, it's an incredible treasure.
The Hunt for Proof
A Close Call for Su Wuming
Master Fei hears this and has a flashback. His own master once used a "Yipin Zi" to save someone's life. Pei Xijun also remembers a key detail. Meng Buyi used to be a professional snake catcher.
The team knows Meng Buyi will deny everything without concrete proof. They decide to split up. One group will check all the pharmacies in Chang'an for snake gallbladders. The other will check the Imperial Medical Office. Yan Junxian works there, so it's a good place to look for clues.
At the medical office, Yan Junxian admits he caught a purple snake once. He claims it escaped and he doesn't know where it is. Lu Lingfeng keeps pressing him. Yan Junxian gets annoyed and threatens to complain to the Emperor. Pei Xijun casually mentions Lu Lingfeng's close relationship with the Emperor. That makes Yan Junxian back down fast.
At the same time, Su Wuming and Master Fei are inspecting the wardrobe. They find a single snake scale. The snake is still in there! It lunges out and wraps itself around Su Wuming's neck. Master Fei freaks out but manages to fight the snake off. He saves Su Wuming just in time.
A Lead at the Pharmacy
Pei Xijun and Lu Lingfeng visit a pharmacy in the West Market. The shopkeeper says he has a "Yipin Zi" for sale. The price is a steep ten thousand cash. Lu Lingfeng gets suspicious and shows his official token. The shopkeeper's attitude changes immediately.
He confesses that a woodcutter brought the snake to him. At first, the shopkeeper didn't know its value. He consulted three famous doctors. They confirmed it was a rare treasure. He and the woodcutter agreed on a price of thirty thousand. They planned to make the trade on the tenth of the month.
The Real Mastermind Is Revealed
That night, Meng Buyi sneaks into a garden. He finds Yan Junxian and demands to know where Hongyao is. He also warns Yan Junxian about his servant, Mingshi. He says Mingshi is a bad guy.
Before he can say more, Mingshi appears from behind. He knocks Meng Buyi unconscious. He then orders a terrified Yan Junxian to bury the body.
Mingshi walks off, but he senses someone is following him. He plays it cool. He goes to a quiet house and walks inside. Hongyao is there, sitting on the bed.
Here's the twist. Hongyao was never in love with Yan Junxian. She fell for Mingshi the moment she saw him. She always believed he was someone special, not just a servant. She tells him how she feels. Mingshi finally admits he cares for her, too.
Yan Junxian, who had followed Mingshi, bursts into the room. Mingshi kicks him to the ground without breaking a sweat. He just mocks him. Hongyao leans against Mingshi's side and gives her former lover a cold, smug laugh.
