Episode Summary
Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming investigate the disappearance of a young woman named Wuyang. The case becomes complicated when they discover Wuyang is the spitting image of the young Empress Wu. An initial suspect, Zhang Kuang, is cleared, while the first kidnapper confesses he lost Wuyang to a second, more sophisticated kidnapper. The investigation leads the team to a mysterious temple and raises suspicions about Wuyang's overly strict mother.
Spoiler Alert
A Public Spectacle and a New Case
So, Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming decided to work outside for a change. They set up a temporary public office right on the street to handle cases. You can probably guess what happened next. A crowd of young women showed up. They were not there for the legal drama. They were there to get a look at Lu Lingfeng.
While all this was happening, a new lead popped up. A local tavern owner mentioned something interesting. A strange, white-haired man was in his place last night. He was paying big money for information about the late Empress Wu’s golden slip. At the same time, a guy named Kuai Wu was loudly trashing the Empress’s reputation.
Su Wuming tracked down one of Kuai Wu’s drinking buddies. The friend confirmed the story. He said after Kuai Wu made some rude comments, the white-haired man actually raised his cup in a toast to him. Before they could dig any deeper, a woman named Chi Ying ran up to them in a panic. Her daughter, Wuyang, was missing. They went to her house and found the room was a total mess. The door and windows were wide open. When they pressed her, Chi Ying admitted she left her daughter home alone to go out drinking.
A Dead End and a Roadside Ambush
The Angry Mother
Chi Ying immediately suspected a man named Zhang Kuang was behind it. The team headed over to the fish market where he works. His employees were arrogant. They tried to use their boss’s connection to an official named Lu Tong to intimidate everyone. That was a mistake. Lu Lingfeng just gave Xue Huan a little nod. Xue Huan cracked his knuckles, and suddenly everyone was very cooperative. They confessed that Zhang Kuang had taken some guys to find Pei Xijun and Cherry. He was looking for revenge.
Cherry Throws Down
Right at that moment, Pei Xijun was with Cherry, trying to cheer her up. They were walking back into the city when Zhang Kuang and his thugs blocked their path. One of them was a huge man named Mi Ba. He was built like a tower and carried two massive iron hammers.
Zhang Kuang gave the order, and Mi Ba charged straight at them. Cherry was in a tough spot. Her dress was restrictive, and she also had to protect Pei. She couldn't fight at her best. Just when it looked bad, Lu Lingfeng flew in out of nowhere. He kicked Zhang Kuang, who was trying to sneak up from behind. With the immediate threat gone, Cherry moved fast. She took down the giant Mi Ba in just a few moves.
They hauled Zhang Kuang back to the public hall. He admitted he was after their secret face cream formula. But he swore up and down that he had nothing to do with Wuyang’s kidnapping.
The Face That Launched a Thousand Problems
A Shocking Resemblance
Su Wuming spoke with Chi Ying again. He noticed she was extremely strict with her daughter. She basically forbade Wuyang from going out or having friends. When Chi Ying found out that Pei and Cherry had invited Wuyang to hang out, her mood shifted completely. She got cold and angry. This made Su very suspicious.
Later, the group was discussing the case. Pei Xijun drew portraits of the white-haired man and the missing girl, Wuyang. When Su Wuming saw the drawing of Wuyang, his jaw dropped. He was completely stunned. He grabbed the portrait and left without a word.
We find out where he went. He went directly to the Grand Princess. He showed her the drawing. The reason for his shock was finally clear. Wuyang looks exactly like a young Empress Wu. The Princess was intrigued and wanted to meet the girl. But Su had to tell her that Wuyang was missing. He now believes her face is the very reason she was taken.
The First Kidnapper Confesses
The story then cuts to a man named Yu Gong. He was holding Wuyang in a private villa. The problem is, she's gone. The ropes are cut, and the room is empty. Just then, Cherry arrives to arrest him. He immediately panicked and confessed everything.
He said he had sent men to kidnap Wuyang earlier. They saw her mother, Chi Ying, refuse to let her watch a lion dance. Chi Ying then locked Wuyang in her room. After the mother left, Yu Gong's men broke in. But Wuyang had already climbed out the window and escaped. They thought the job was a failure. Then, while passing through the market, they saw Wuyang watching the lion dance. They grabbed her then and took her to the villa. So, he was the kidnapper. But now she's been kidnapped a second time, from him.
A Temple of Secrets
Lu Lingfeng, Su Wuming, and Master Fei searched the villa. They found a tiny hole in the window frame. Master Fei examined the people who had been knocked out. He concluded that a very expensive and rare sleeping incense was used. This wasn't the work of an ordinary criminal.
Lu couldn't understand why Wuyang was such a target. He remembered Su's strange reaction to the portrait. Su finally told him the truth about her resemblance to the late Empress.
The scene shifts to a place called Chengfo Hall. An old charcoal seller named Tao Bo tries to find a spot to rest for the night. A monk named Chenkong tried to stop him, but Tao Bo is hard of hearing and just ignored him. He saw Chi Ying inside, praying for her daughter's return, and settled down in a corner.
In the middle of the night, a woman's cry echoed from outside the temple. Chi Ying jumped up, thinking it was Wuyang. The monk, Chenkong, calmly told her not to worry. He said it was just the "ghostly wails" often heard around the temple. Nothing to see here.
Elsewhere, Lu and Pei were retracing Wuyang's likely escape route. They spotted an old man spying on them from the shadows. They caught him. The old man claimed he couldn't return to his own home because of Chi Ying. The next morning, Chi Ying found out they still hadn't found her daughter. She flew into a rage and accused them all of being useless.
