Episode Summary
Luo Qing's discovery at an archaeological site suggests a new, independent tomb, not a satellite pit for Dou Ling. Meanwhile, Liu Shusheng, attempting to raid the Lü family tomb, is outmaneuvered by Mu Jianhui, who, along with Li Yuanguang, is also after treasures. Liu Shusheng's hired hands dig up an empty tomb and one, Feng Sibao, is captured by Lü Fugui's patrol. Yang Qingshi and Qi Dacang investigate a separate thieves' tunnel near a plundered Song Dynasty commoner's grave, finding Yaozhou porcelain fragments. Feng Sibao confesses he was hired by Liu Shusheng. The investigation then leads Qi Dacang to Qingyuan County to collaborate with the local police chief, Wu Zhichuan.
Spoiler Alert
The Lost National Treasure Episode 13: Recap & Spoilers
Unwilling to accept defeat, Liu Shusheng decides to try his luck at the Lü family tomb. With insufficient manpower, his associate Datou suggests bringing in a few individuals from Hedong to bolster their numbers. Meanwhile, Luo Qing's unexpected discovery at an archaeological site draws significant attention, prompting Zhang Fengchun to personally visit the location. Based on the tomb's structure and unearthed artifacts, Luo Qing speculates that this is not a satellite burial pit for Dou Ling, but potentially an independent tomb, offering a new avenue for the ongoing investigation.
Yang Qingshi receives a tip-off: a batch of Song Dynasty porcelain with a suspicious origin has recently surfaced in the Qinchuan antique market. It's suspected to be from either an out-of-town kiln site or a newly plundered local tomb. However, lacking concrete intelligence, the inspection team is limited to conducting inquiries within the market. Li Quan, who is looking after a shop, notices something amiss and immediately reports it to Mu Jianhui. In contrast, Xing Zhaohu waits for his buyer as arranged, from dawn till dusk, but the buyer never appears. Upon learning of this, Mu Jianhui quickly contacts Xing Zhaohu, hinting that the goods in his possession have become too risky to hold.
After receiving a notice from the Cultural Relics Protection Office, Lü Fugui recognizes the urgency of the situation. He quickly contacts Li Dongsheng to arrange night patrols, aiming to prevent tomb raiders from striking. Simultaneously, Yang Qingshi calls a meeting with his inspection team to discuss the origins of the Song porcelain. He hopes Qi Dacang will lead a team to cooperate with the cultural relics inspection team in joint patrols, focusing their search on the Shui Qu and Le Yang areas to locate any thieves' tunnels as quickly as possible. The two groups then split up, each heading to their designated zones to begin their investigations.
As night descends, Mu Jianhui and Li Yuanguang are preparing to dig when they are suddenly struck on the head from behind and lose consciousness. When they awaken, they find their assailant is none other than Liu Shusheng. It turns out Liu Shusheng had been monitoring this location, intending to get there first. Datou, leading the four hastily recruited men from Hedong, begins digging at the spot Mu Jianhui had marked. Unfortunately for them, they uncover an empty tomb, yielding nothing. Just as they are about to withdraw, Lü Fugui and Li Dongsheng arrive with their own men, managing to apprehend one of the tomb raiders, Feng Sibao, while the others scatter and escape in the confusion.
Despite this sudden turn of events, Mu Jianhui remains composed. He cautions Liu Shusheng that entrusting priceless artifacts to Datou was a mistake, warning he could end up like Xing Zhaohu. Alarmed, Liu Shusheng frantically tries to call Datou but cannot reach him, growing increasingly anxious. Shortly thereafter, Datou rushes in to report what happened. Learning his plan has failed, Liu Shusheng storms out of the hotel in frustration. Mu Jianhui and Li Yuanguang exchange a knowing smile.
Later, at a meal, Li Yuanguang is still resentful of Liu Shusheng's interference, believing it sabotaged their original deal. Mu Jianhui offers a different perspective, pointing out that if Liu Shusheng hadn't intervened, they themselves would likely have been the ones caught by the authorities. This realization dawns on Li Yuanguang: Liu Shusheng's actions, though disruptive, inadvertently shielded them from arrest.
The following day, Qi Dacang and his team arrive at Lü Family Village to rendezvous with Yang Qingshi. While interrogating the captured Feng Sibao, Yang Qingshi feels a vague sense of familiarity. A check of the archives confirms his suspicion: Feng Sibao is an old acquaintance, previously known for specializing in looting pagodas. Qi Dacang leads his team in a thorough examination of the tomb. They confirm it is a Song Dynasty commoner's grave, already plundered and holding no further research value. However, nearby, they discover scattered porcelain fragments and another, more concealed, thieves' tunnel.
Yang Qingshi and Qi Dacang both enter the newly discovered tunnel to investigate. Although it has been thoroughly ransacked, they find a few remaining fragments of Song Dynasty Yaozhou porcelain and distinct footprints. They quickly photograph the scene and collect the evidence to be taken back for further analysis. Following record comparisons and more questioning, Feng Sibao fully confesses the tomb raiding group's operational plans, admitting they were hired by Liu Shusheng with the intent of robbing the Lü family tomb. Qi Dacang finds Feng Sibao's testimony highly credible and subsequently updates Zhao Feng on the case's progress.
Forensic analysis confirms the porcelain shards are indeed Song Dynasty Yaozhou ware, but the identity of the tomb's original occupant remains a mystery. To chase down further leads, Qi Dacang takes his team to Qingyuan County to collaborate with the local public security bureau. The chief of the Qingyuan County Public Security Bureau, Wu Zhichuan, is an old police academy classmate of Qi Dacang. He extends a warm welcome to Qi Dacang and his team. However, when discussing the case, Wu Zhichuan states that current leads are scarce. He promises to provide updates if any new information surfaces and suggests that Qi Dacang and his colleagues rest at a hotel for the time being.
