Episode Summary
In this episode, Su Wuming's unauthorized investigation nearly gets a man killed but also reveals the killer has a strange moral code. This leads to a major ideological clash between Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng. While the investigation expands, Jūniáng begins training as an acupuncturist to help Wei Jia. The episode ends on a cliffhanger as Lu Lingfeng connects several clues and realizes the merchant He Bi is likely married to the victim, Wei Jia.
Spoiler Alert
A Risky Move and a Killer's Mercy
Su Wuming Bends the Rules
Su Wuming and Chu Yingtao arrive in Tongji Ward. Su Wuming has a theory, but he has zero official power here. So he does something pretty bold. He decides to use Lu Lingfeng's name to get things done.
He calls for the ward official. He asks about any wealthy merchants living in the area. The official tells him the ward is mostly poor. Big-shot merchants don't want to live there. The only person of any note is a merchant named Chen Chong. He bought the old, repurposed mansion of a former official. This answer gives Su Wuming a very bad feeling.
An Unexpected Reprieve
At that exact moment, Chen Chong is in his own ancestral hall. He's on his knees, crying. He's telling his ancestors how much he's failed them. His family comes from a famous line of scholars. But he ended up a merchant. He feels ashamed, especially after seeing the disgusting behavior of the people in the Golden Light Society.
Here's the wild part. The killer is standing right behind him. The weapon is raised, ready to strike. But the killer hears Chen Chong’s confession. He hears the shame and the regret. And he stops. He actually puts his weapon away. Then he bows respectfully to Chen Chong's ancestral portraits and just leaves.
Seconds later, Su Wuming and Chu Yingtao burst through the door. Chen Chong is still completely terrified. He lets out a scream that brings the Jinwu Guard running.
A Clash of Ideals
Lu Lingfeng finds out what happened. He is absolutely furious with Su Wuming. He yells at him for impersonating him and acting without authority. Chu Yingtao jumps in to defend her boss. She argues that Su Wuming has no official rank. He couldn't get anyone to listen without using Lu Lingfeng's name.
Lu Lingfeng isn't having it. He believes Su Wuming’s actions hurt the reputation of the Yongzhou government. He also thinks it brings shame to his mentor, the great Judge Di.
He sends Pei Xijun and Chu Yingtao out of the room. He wants to confront Su Wuming alone. He accuses him of being prejudiced against the noble gentry. Lu points out that the clues were vague. They could have pointed to many wards. But Su Wuming went straight for Tongji.
Lu then lays out his own philosophy. He says the men who pass the civil service exams are often just book-smart. They have no real talent for governing. The true potential, he argues, lies with the gentry families. Their sons are raised learning about court etiquette and politics. He believes if the gentry could just reform their old, corrupt ways, they would be the best leaders for the country.
Su Wuming listens to this passionate speech. For the first time, he starts to question his own investigation. He wonders if his entire approach has been flawed from the start.
Side Missions and New Skills
Chu Yingtao has a sudden realization. She completely forgot about Master Fei. She left him at the Ghost Market last night. She and Pei Xijun hurry to the sushan shop to find him. The timing is perfect. Pei Xijun needs his help to treat Wei Jia's mental illness.
Master Fei examines Wei Jia. He says her condition is curable. But it will require a long course of acupuncture. The problem is, Wei Jia's family won't let her leave the house. Jūniáng makes a decision on the spot. She will learn acupuncture from Master Fei so she can treat Wei Jia herself. Master Fei is stunned by her natural talent. She understands everything instantly. He agrees to take her on as his disciple.
On the way back, Chu Yingtao uses her powers of persuasion. She lays the flattery on thick. She eventually convinces Master Fei to go back to the Ghost Market with her to find Song Weng.
The Case Escalates
The body count is rising. More merchants have disappeared or been found dead. Lu Lingfeng officially merges the cases. The Yongzhou office is now in charge of the entire investigation. Su Wuming conducts a second autopsy on the victims. He makes a key discovery. The weapon isn't a metal blade. It's some kind of very sharp stone tool.
Lu Lingfeng is out in the city when he notices something odd. The Anshe Society is at the city gate handing out free grain. They give it to the poor and to merchants. But they pointedly refuse anyone from a gentry family. He watches as a poor man from a noble family denies his own heritage just to get some food. Other gentry members see this. They attack the man for dishonoring their class. Du Yu appears and quickly stops the fight.
Later, Du Yu invites Lu Lingfeng to a family banquet. He gives him a critical piece of the puzzle. The Anshe Society's strange rules were created by one person. That person is He Bi.
The Final Clues
Lu Lingfeng goes directly to He Bi. He questions him about the Golden Light Society. He Bi's answers confirm that the killer is exclusively targeting members of that corrupt group.
Next, Lu Lingfeng visits Chen Chong again. He gets more details about the night of the attack, including the shape of the killer's weapon. He also learns another interesting fact. The Du and Wei families originally came from the same part of the country.
That night, Lu Lingfeng brings snacks to Pei Xijun. He finds her drawing a portrait of Wei Jia. Pei Xijun tells him Wei Jia's backstory. Her first husband was from the Dou clan. He got a government post through his family's connections but died soon after. She then remarried a wealthy merchant in Chang'an. She broke all ties with her own family to do it.
As Lu Lingfeng listens, it all clicks. He has a sudden, powerful realization. He suspects that wealthy merchant she married is He Bi.
