Episode Summary
The police, led by Qi Dacang, attempt to use Shanwa to lure out Xing Zhaohu, who they believe still possesses the valuable Song porcelain. However, Shanwa inadvertently tips off Xing Zhaohu. Desperate, Xing Zhaohu tries to sell the porcelain to Mu Jianhui but double-crosses him, leading Mu into a police ambush which Mu evades. Xing Zhaohu then seeks help from Liu Shusheng, offering a prized piece of the porcelain. Meanwhile, Shanwa provides new leads, and Liu Shusheng sends Datou to retrieve the goods from Xing Zhaohu's mistress's salon. Mu Jianhui confronts Liu Shusheng, warning him of the police presence. Datou is spotted by police during the pickup, leading to a chase that ends in Datou's death. Liu Shusheng then kills Xing Zhaohu. While most of the porcelain is recovered, the most valuable piece remains missing. Mu Jianhui meets with Zhao Youlin, vowing to succeed or never return to Qinchuan.
Spoiler Alert
The Lost National Treasure: Episode 15 Recap & Spoilers
The episode kicks off with Qi Dacang and his team strategizing. They're convinced Xing Zhaohu still has the coveted porcelain, and that a man named Datou is their key to cracking the case. Their immediate priority: dig into Datou's background. Based on a tip from Shanwa – Xing Zhaohu had told him to lay low at a hotel after the job – they decide to use Shanwa as bait to draw Xing Zhaohu out.
The plan is set in motion. While the inspection team keeps a close eye on Shanwa in a hotel room, Qi Dacang and his colleagues wait in a car outside. Shanwa, clearly on edge, keeps darting to the bathroom, earning a sharp rebuke from his watchers. The tension ratchets up when Xing Zhaohu calls. Shanwa, following orders, tries to get Xing Zhaohu's location, but Xing Zhaohu is wary, probing if the cops are onto Shanwa. In a moment of panic, Shanwa switches to Mandarin, assuring him everything's fine – a slip-up that doesn't go unnoticed by the police.
This blunder likely spooks Xing Zhaohu. Now desperate, he approaches Mu Jianhui, cutting straight to the chase: he wants to offload the Song porcelain cheaply. Mu Jianhui, however, claims he can only scrape together 200,000. He warns Xing Zhaohu that the cops are all over this, and no one will touch the porcelain. Xing Zhaohu, cornered, agrees to the 200,000, demanding a 100,000 deposit and setting up a meeting at a noodle restaurant for that evening.
Mu Jianhui then contacts Lao Xiao, Zhao Youlin's agent, claiming the Song porcelain is his. Zhao Youlin agrees to meet Mu Jianhui the next day. Mu Jianhui thinks he's hit the jackpot, just waiting for Xing Zhaohu's delivery. But Xing Zhaohu pulls a fast one, leading Mu Jianhui straight into a police trap. Luckily, the quick-thinking Mu Jianhui manages to slip away. Li Yuanguang, who was undercover as a scrap collector, gets the signal to pull out and calmly makes his exit.
With the ambush foiled, Qi Dacang grows suspicious. He recalls Shanwa’s odd switch to Mandarin during the call with Xing Zhaohu and realizes Shanwa might have blown their cover. He immediately hauls Shanwa back for another round of questioning.
Meanwhile, Xing Zhaohu, out of options, throws himself at the mercy of Liu Shusheng. Kneeling and begging for his life, he offers the prize piece of the Song collection – a stunning mallow-shaped bowl with a silver-inlaid rim – as a peace offering. Liu Shusheng, cool as ever, tells his wife, Xiao Feng, to get 100,000 in cash. A grateful Xing Zhaohu promises to reveal where the rest of the goods are hidden later.
Back with the police, Shanwa, eager to redeem himself, gives Qi Dacang a lead on a vehicle and also spills that Xing Zhaohu's mistress runs a hair salon in town. Qi Dacang wastes no time sending his team to investigate. At the same time, Liu Shusheng sends Datou to the salon to pick up the goods, and Datou successfully retrieves them.
Things heat up when Mu Jianhui and Li Yuanguang track Xing Zhaohu to Liu Shusheng's place. They discover Xing Zhaohu has pocketed the 100,000 (likely Mu Jianhui's deposit, as he failed to deliver the porcelain). Li Yuanguang, enraged, attacks Xing Zhaohu, who grabs a wrench, threatening him. The standoff is broken by Mu Jianhui, who warns Liu Shusheng that with Shanwa in custody, the police have the whole area locked down – he should look out for himself, goods or no goods.
Alarmed by Mu Jianhui’s words, Liu Shusheng immediately calls Datou. It's terrible timing: Datou has just loaded the stolen items into his van when the police raid the salon. The terrified salon owner points out Datou. Seeing he's trapped, Datou floors it, calling Liu Shusheng for help as he flees. Qi Dacang and his officers are hot on his tail. In a desperate bid to escape, Datou ditches his van and vaults a highway guardrail, only to be struck and killed instantly by a speeding car.
Realizing it's all over, a grim-faced Liu Shusheng signals Xing Zhaohu into a car and then brutally murders him with the wrench.
Although most of the Song porcelain is recovered, Qi Dacang questions Shanwa again and confirms that the mallow-shaped bowl with the silver-inlaid rim is still out there.
Despite failing to secure the porcelain, Mu Jianhui decides to go ahead with his meeting with Zhao Youlin. At the meeting, Zhao Youlin cryptically warns Mu Jianhui to know his place. Mu Jianhui responds with a solemn vow: if he can't make good on his promises, he will never return to Qinchuan.
